Program Creates Stronger W.O.M.E.N.
September 15, 2009
By Jeremie Guy
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Entrepreneurship has traditionally been dominated by men, but the Entrepreneurial Development & Assistance Center (EDAC) at Morgan State University has implemented a program that reverses the norm and arms women with the power and resources to create their own empires.
EDAC has created a variety of business programs and opportunities that serve local businesswomen throughout Maryland, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and Virginia, with a particular focus on women/students attending Morgan State University.
W.O.M.E.N. (Women Owned & Managed Enterprise Network) is one of five innovative centers under the EDAC umbrella. The others include Government Contracting Assistance Center, Center for Minority Venture Capital, Innovation Business Center, Center for Global Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Management and the Economic & Community Outreach Center. EDAC also provides outreach support to the next generation of entrepreneurs through a collaboration with a private nonprofit organization called EYE (Engaging Youth Entrepreneurs) for Change, a program that empowers Baltimore youth (ages 10-18) to take charge of their futures through entrepreneurial skill building.
Omar Muhammad, director of EDAC, says, “We want everyone to experience some form of entrepreneurship. Through our centers, we offer the resources to assist budding and existing entrepreneurs with their entrepreneurial pursuit.” EDAC at Morgan State is funded through the U.S. Department of Education, Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, and the Strengthening Historically Black Institutions Graduate Program — Title III Grant.
W.O.M.E.N. has worked to establish a network of resources that support women in developing and maintaining competitive businesses. W.O.M.E.N. was created four years ago to further promote the efforts of women and students who received business services from EDAC, and its entrepreneurial conference has become a capstone event. The W.O.M.E.N. planning committee is comprised of five women and one man who have come together from a variety of business backgrounds to prepare future women business leaders. The committee represents business leaders from such diverse backgrounds as banking (Sherrice Davis), financial planning (Stacie Price), event planning (Lynnette Easley and Yvette Racks), youth advocacy (Natasha Cross), student and community leader, (Kandi Morris) and radio talk show host and director of EDAC (Omar Muhammad).
The committee helps organize the annual conference, quarterly workshops and networking events. Their diversity and expertise allows W.O.M.E.N. to address the needs of women in business on just about every level. The annual W.O.M.E.N.’s conference offers workshops, training sessions, information seminars, networking, and commerce exchange as well as honoring several women business leaders with awards and scholarships. The 2009 W.O.M.E.N. Entrepreneurial Conference is the premier event for women interested in owning or growing their businesses. Now in its third year, the W.O.M.E.N.’s Conference was the first of its kind in the Baltimore area.
Women attending this conference will learn lessons from emerging business to the established business. Monique Greenwood, owner of Akwaaba Mansion Bed and Breakfast headquarted in New York, and Jewel Diamond Taylor, author and motivational speaker, are scheduled to take the stage as the 2009 morning and afternoon keynote speakers. These women have motivated and encouraged other women in developing their businesses and both are living their dreams as business owners.
The attendance for the 2009 W.O.M.E.N. Conference is expected to double, with more than 500 participants expected. Lynnette Easley, conference committee co-chair, is hopeful that this year’s conference will continue to bring women together who have the dreams and aspirations to one day start her own business.
Easley explains, “This is a true opportunity for women to put aside all those fears that keep them from living their dreams. This is a day that we aren’t employees, we aren’t mothers, we aren’t aunts, we are WOMEN, and it’s time we focused on what WE want!”
This year’s conference is especially timely because as the economy continues to decline, women-owned businesses are surprisingly on the rise, with women turning hard times into opportunity. According to Woman Entrepreneur Magazine, a recent article published in USA Today states that “a recession is a great time to start a business.” With companies such as Trader Joe’s, Disney and Hewlett-Packard that all started during some tough economic times, many women are rethinking Corporate America. According to the 2007 Women’s Business Research Journal, some 6.7 million women owned businesses, and 7.2 million jobs have been created by women-owned businesses.
The 2009 conference will be held at the Calvin and Tina Tyler ballroom at Morgan State University on Sept. 19, 2009 from 8am – 4pm and costs $40. Tickets can be purchased online at womenconf2009.eventbrite.com or by visiting the website at womenconference.myevent.com. For more information on EDAC, please contact the EDAC offices at (443) 885-3663.
