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I have had the privilege this summer to be an intern at MWF for the WEI Team. With this being my first internship, I had no idea what to expect. Little did I know that my experience here would be nothing short of transformative. The team here gave me the warmest welcome and has made … Read more
Embrace the entrepreneurial spirit this August as we join the nation in celebrating National Black Business Month. Throughout this month-long observance, we pay tribute to the incredible achievements of black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, who have made a profound impact on our communities and economy. Among the approximately 124,551 black-owned businesses, an impressive 28.5% (35,547) of … Read more
Female entrepreneurs are entering the startup space in large numbers. In fact, the number of women entrepreneurs has more than doubled within the past 20 years. According to the Small Business Trends Alliance, the reasons women give for starting their own businesses are 1. Become their own boss 2. To pursue their passion 3. To … Read more
It is with mixed emotions I write my final blog as Michigan Women Forward’s Chief Lending Officer. My journey with MWF began nearly nine years ago when I joined the board as a volunteer. The journey has been one that took me from volunteer to full time employee and allowed me to play a prominent … Read more
As we strive to level the playing field for entrepreneurs at MWF, we recognize there are various factors that impede entrepreneur’s ability to access the resources required to be successful. Access to a network, capital, and time are all barriers that many entrepreneurs face but even the most successful can be halted by biases. At … Read more
Recently, we completed the spring Digital Marketing Series sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal. Three virtual sessions gave forty-seven participants tools and resources to develop their online presence and digital marketing plans. Workshop topics included Mapping Your Customer Journey, Developing a Digital Strategy, and Basics of Google Ads and Video Marketing. MWF partnered with Katrina Turnbow, founder … Read more
As the Technical Assistance Business Consultant at Michigan Women Forward, I have enjoyed seeing businesses grow over the past year and a half. I truly value the impact of our work and being part of the WEI (Women Entrepreneurial Initiative) Team. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking at the Let’s Get Your Business Funded W/ … Read more
Kristen DeVries Vice President & Executive Director, WMU Foundation A Michigan native (married to a native Kalamazooan), Kristen believes that the power of higher education lies in its ability to transform lives, empowering individuals to envision themselves changing the world, then providing the tools for them to do just that. She has spent her career … Read more
Rachel Baas slowly backs up her newly renovated 1968 Shasta Compact Camper into the driveway of the historic Belknap home in Heritage Hill. Tufts of orange and yellow hair peek out of the window. “Is this good?” she calls out, swiftly shifting into park. As Rachel begins her set up, she begins sharing her journey … Read more
Comcast RISE stands for Representation, Investment, Strength and Empowerment. Comcast RISE was created in 2020 to help small businesses hard hit by Covid-19 recover and thrive. During its initial two-year program, 13,000 small businesses were awarded with over $110 million in monetary, marketing, and technology grants. Comcast RISE is one of several programs that Comcast … Read more