reSource July-September 2016 | Issue No. 3
Renaissance is Brewing in Oakland!
2 Renaissance graduates open beer businesses in Oakland
Princess Beauty Salon The Bridge to Beauty is the Bridge to Community
YCore & Renaissance Connecting Social Change Makers Through Entrepreneurship
Contents Our Mission Renaissance is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit social impact organization. The mission of Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is to empower and increase the entrepreneurial capacities of socially and economically diverse women and men, and thereby strengthen our communities through the creation of sustainable new businesses, new jobs, and the promotion of financial self-sufficiency.
PHOTO BY K ANA HAMMON, YCORE E XECUTIVE DIREC TOR
Above: YCore and Urban FIRE Students gathering after class held at the Oakland Housing Authority
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CEO Note Join the Renaissance Community
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Featured Programs and Activities
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Our Funding Community
Build a business and build a vibrant community with Renaissance.
Renaissance Stories Renaissance is brewing in Oakland! Inspiring stories of two Renaissance graduates who started their beer businesses in Oakland.
Princess Beauty Salon
After opening her business, Princess Beauty Salon, Margarita Moreno has done far more than making customers feel beautiful inside and out. She is building a community.
Volunteer Spotlight YCore & Renaissance
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Classes, Workshops and Events
Connecting social change makers through entrepreneurship
Renaissance offers classes, workshops, and events to grow your business, skills and network.
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With our new website launched, SoMa CoWorking Spaces ready for market, and new curricula underway, we’re ready to party! Luckily we have just the thing: Join us on September 10, 2016 for the Renaissance Summer Makers Popup.
This year we are delighted to honor Pamela H. David, executive director of the Walter & Elise Haas Fund, and three extraordinary graduates, at our annual event Small Business Big Impact 32:15 on October 6, 2016.
Inside Spotlight Farewell to New Sector Alliance Intern Keith Scott In his ten-month internship with Renaissance, Keith Scott provided tremendous support and developed excellent research on access to capital in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood.
**Denotes Renaissance graduate
CEO Note About Renaissance Looking forward to our next 30 years of impacting Bay Area communities, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center is poised to help thousands of individuals achieve personal, financial, and social transformation through the power of small business. Renaissance has helped open more businesses than any other nonprofit in the Bay Area, and according to the Aspen Institute, posts the best record for business longevity. From inception to business planning, access to capital and resources, and ongoing assistance that growing businesses require, Renaissance fuels community vitality by empowering individuals to start businesses that bring jobs, character, and sustainable economic health to the local economy.
Join the Renaissance Community!
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elcome to reSource, Renaissance’s magazine for and about entrepreneurs and those who love and support them. At Renaissance we are honored, every day, to see the transformational power of entrepreneurship. We know that with Renaissance’s end to end training – from ideation to business planning, launch, sustainability and growth, our clients are bringing new products and services to the marketplace while they are creating sustainable living wage jobs for themselves and other residents, building better futures and strengthening the social fabric of our communities. Whether you would like to have a beer (or two or three…), get a new hairstyle, need a mannequin, or enjoy the Bay Area’s best Barbeque, funnel cakes or empanadas, it is our small business owners who are making our communities great places to live. It is their hard work, ingenuity, courage and grit that leads them to take their cherished family recipes, their talents and passions, along with the technical skills, confidence, resources and entrepreneurial community that Renaissance provides, that allow them to take that bold leap and transform their dreams into “Open for Business” signs. Running your own business isn’t easy, nor is it for the light hearted. Our business owners have made the choice to do something different, conduct business on their own terms and put their financial futures into their own hands. As you read through reSource, please take a moment to learn about our entrepreneurs, enroll in a class or workshop, or refer someone to our services. And to celebrate our small business owners – please join Renaissance on Thursday, October 6th as we host our annual benefit, celebrating the 32nd anniversary of Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and the 15th Anniversary of Renaissance Bayview. We are delighted that we will be honoring Pam David, Executive Director of the Walter & Elise Haas Fund, as well as our entrepreneurs of the year: Margarita Moreno of Princess Beauty Salon, Melissa Myers of The Good Hop Bottle Shop and James Mabrey of Your All Day Every Day Janitorial Services. For more info please see pages 10-11 or visit our website at RenCenter.org/Annual-Event.
Sharon Miller | CEO P H O T O B Y K I M B E R LY C H A S E | L I T T L E S PA R K S M E D I A**
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Renaissance Stories
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GOOD HOP
Renaissance is brewing in Oakland! By Xhorxha Nikolli
Two Renaissance clients from Oakland, Viet Vu and Melissa Myers, attended our Business Planning class at our SoMa location. Both opened bars, each with a different appeal and niche audience. Both returned to Renaissance to give back, helping new students by advising and sharing their knowledge. Learning from others’ experience is an important piece of an entrepreneur’s education.
Melissa Myers & The Good Hop Bottle Shop
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elissa Myers worked as a professional brewmaster for 16 years before she was ready to call the shots and open her own brewery. She tried to start her business for about five years, but didn’t get far on her own. She decided to enroll in our Business Planning class. On the first day of class students were asked to estimate how much they would need to start their business and Melissa estimated $1.5 million dollars. Paul Terry, the class instructor, pulled her aside and said “After class, we’ll talk.”
she had, she would have done things differently and her business would have launched way sooner. Melissa is now back at Renaissance receiving financial advice to support her growth from our Financing Resource Center and sharing her experience with current students. Melissa was a guest speaker at our Start Smart class in May 2016 and provided valuable insights to our would-be-entrepreneurs. She advised students on how to acknowledge their weaknesses, know what to farm out and ask other people to help, learn how to trust people, how to find customers and how to become your own brand, she actually wears one of her Good Hop Shop t-shirts nearly every day so people know her and her product.
The Business Planning class helped Melissa create stepping stones to achieve her dreams. One of the most important steps was doing deeper financial analysis. It helped her decide it was a better idea to begin by opening a bottle shop instead of a brewery. And this is how The Good Hop Shop was born. Located in Oakland, The Good Hop Shop offers 450 bottles to drink on site or buy to go and has 4.5 stars on all the review sites. Though her business is booming, Melissa laments not enrolling in Renaissance's Business Planning class sooner. If
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The Good Hop Bottle Shop 2421 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612 thegoodhop.com
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Renaissance Stories
PHOTO BY JOHN STORE Y | FOODSTORE Y56.COM
Viet Vu and Hoi Polloi Brewpub and Beat Lounge Four years ago Viet was working full-time as a paralegal. Feeling bored and unenthusiastic about his profession he determined that the only way he could grow in his career was to apply to law school. Attending law school to become a lawyer was not something he wanted to do. He didn’t know what to do, but he did know that he wanted to be more creative and independent.
Viet came to speak at Renaissance’s Business Planning class graduation in May 2016, offering congratulations and guidance to graduates. With all that he has learned he had five tips to share with graduates: 1. Be patient. After four years planning and just two years since launching, Hoi Polloi is still in its infancy. Viet finds he is still constantly learning and making changes.
Viet became interested in brewing through his father, who was a brewer. The two talked about opening a brewery together one day but that dream would never be able to become true as a result of his father contracting liver cancer and eventually passing due to the disease a few months later. For a time Viet thought that his dream of starting a brewery ended with his father’s passing. However, a year later he decided to cash in his 401K (which in hindsight he doesn’t recommend doing!), and enroll at the same brewing school his father had studied at years prior. Viet eventually graduated brewing school in the summer of 2011.
2. Be flexible. A business plan seems solid, but it’s not. Be prepared for inevitable changes 3. Get advice. But don’t necessarily take it! Every one has something to say. It’s up to you to use critical thinking and make the best decision. 4. Pay for your time if you can afford it. Hire people to do administration and bookkeeping.
He then enrolled in Renaissance’s Business Planning class and it took two more years of working as a Contract Analyst and saving every penny before he decided to launch Hoi Polloi Brewpub and Beat Lounge.
5. Take time for yourself. Business can be all-consuming, but don’t let it be. Your brain needs time to refresh. Don’t burn-out! Hoi Polloi Brewpub and Beat Lounge 1763 Alcatraz Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703 Facebook.com/HoiPolloiBrewing
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Renaissance Stories
PHOTO BY LUIS VISCARDO
P H O T O B Y M A R G A R I TA M O R E N O
Princess Beauty Salon
practical know-how, something we call conocimiento in my native language, that I would not have without Renaissance.”
The Bridge to Beauty is the Bridge to Community By Crystal Rasmussen
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Many questioned Margarita Moreno’s choice of location when Princess Beauty Salon opened in 2001 because her block of Mission Street in Daly City was full of vacant storefronts. Since then, more businesses have arrived and, at her suggestion, are receiving support from Renaissance. Together, they have built a neighborhood where all can shop, eat and become even more beautiful at Princess Beauty Salon. Her business has grown beyond her expectations!
an you imagine doing what you love while making others feel good about themselves? This is exactly what Margarita Moreno, owner of Princess Beauty Salon in Daly City, prides herself on. For Margarita, the journey hasn’t always been easy. In 1991 she emigrated from Mexico to the United States where she began to study cosmetology to fulfill her dream of running her own beauty salon. Taking after her parents her parents who grew vegetables in Mexico and sold them in bulk to provide for her and her seven brothers, she wanted to support her family with her drive and passion for business and beauty.
With Renaissance’s help, Margarita hired three new employees. Her business is running smoothly, and her customers are happy. With the addition of hiring her niece as an employee, she couldn’t ask for anything more. The Mayor of Daly City recognized Margarita for changing the neighborhood, commending her leadership in supporting locally owned businesses to grow and flourish around her shop. Princess Beauty Salon has helped build the bridge of entrepreneurship in the community. When we asked Margarita what is the biggest reward of owning her business, she cheerfully stated, “being able to support my mom and dad in Mexico and my motherin-law in the U.S.”
Margarita enjoys making customers happy and helping them feel better about themselves. "It’s not just about makeup, but their attitude changes.“She says that the change is noticeable when her clients walk out of the salon. She provides everyday services in the salon as well as beauty services for weddings and Quinceaneras, a traditional Mexican party for a young girl turning fifteen. When she began her business, many people predicted that she would not succeed. She says “the path wasn’t always easy because I didn’t have the business training or the support that I needed.” As she struggled to make ends meet, she heard about Renaissance on Univision’s morning show. She enrolled in Renaissance’s intensive Spanish language Start Smart and Business Prep classes where she developed her business plan, mastered her finances, and began to pay herself a salary. As for her training, Margarita says “it is this type of reSource
Renaissance is proud to have clients such as Margarita Moreno who demonstrate what it takes to be an entrepreneur and how building that bridge can cultivate change in neighborhoods that may not have experienced that impact if not for change drivers like her. Princess Beauty Salon 6290 Mission St, Daly City, CA 94014 PrincessBeautySalon.net
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Volunteer Spotlight project provided a means to turn frustration into an opportunity to work toward social and economic justice. After interviewing Renaissance clients, the Renaissance YCore learned many lacked computer skills and reliable access to computers and wireless internet, and discovered the need for skills in marketing and digital payments. Collaborating with Renaissance staff, they developed a training using smartphones as their primary interface. Using the mobile payment processing system Square, and digital marketing platforms Yelp, Facebook, and Linkedin, they taught technical marketing and management skills, presenting the live feed from their smartphones on an overhead projector, and keeping the presentation interactive and lively. Though the YCore group was prepared for the lack of access to technology, members of the team told us it was surprising and moving to experience the digital divide first-hand - a stark contrast to their offices at Yelp and Airbnb.
YCore & Renaissance
After completing the project YCore volunteer Sophia Deng recounted, “We have been deeply moved and changed by working with Renaissance.”
Connecting Social Change Maker Through Entrepreneurship By Genessa Kealoha
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t’s early Saturday morning in West Oakland and six young tech professionals rearrange tables and chairs, test their presentation technology, and hurry around to prepare a classroom. At 9 am they’ll be face to face with a diverse student body, along with curious colleagues from Renaissance, to present an intensive training on digital payments and marketing.
We are deeply thankful for the work that YCore has done with us at Renaissance. With their help and that of so many of our volunteers, we are building bridges to entrepreneurship together, empowering people to make better lives for themselves, their families and ultimately our communities.
These young professionals worked towards this three-hour presentation for six months as a result of asking the question: ‘How can we bridge the gap?’ The gap, project lead Ellen Yan said, was the feeling she got when she walked around her neighborhood, South of Market in San Francisco. She was frustrated seeing people struggle to get by in contrast to the rising affluence. She would have felt even more frustrated had she not been able to address the issues head-on through YCore, a volunteer group that led her collaborate with Renaissance. YCore is a nonprofit organization that inspires young professionals to get involved in the social sector–now, not later.
Members belonging to the Renaissance YCore volunteer team include Ellen Yan at Airbnb, EE Hou at shopkick, Sophia Deng at Instacart, Sophia Lee at Triage Consulting, Noah Gilmore at Yelp, and Kana Hammon, Executive Director of YCore. Their work culminated in an exciting technology training program.
YCore.info
Their mission - to inspire, support and connect the next generation of social change makers with high-impact philanthropic opportunities - led YCore to create a volunteer project with Renaissance. Renaissance has an established track record of helping Bay Area women and men become economically self-sufficient for over thirty years, and works with 81% low to moderate income clients. Providing people with the tools of entrepreneurship is a proven avenue to self-sustainability and long-term impact. The YCore and Renaissance volunteer PHOTOS BY K ANA HAMMON
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Classes, Workshops & Events For the most up-to-date list of classes visit RenCenter.org/calendar Mid-Peninsula: 1848 Bay Road, East Palo Alto
Getting Started: Orientation
Wed 9/7
Orientation
Th 9/8
Kareen Boncales
Tue 8/9
11:00-12:30 p.m.
Kareen Boncales
Wed 8/24
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Kareen Boncales
Wed 9/7
11:00-12:30 p.m.
Kareen Boncales
Wed 9/28
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Kareen Boncales
Mon 9/5
6:30-8:30 p.m.
TBD
Th 8/17
6:30-8:30 p.m.
TBD
Th 8/24
6:30-8:30 p.m.
TBD
Th 8/31
6:30-8:30 p.m.
TBD
6:30-8:30 p.m.
TBD
Th 8/18
6:30-8:30 p.m.
TBD
Th 8/25
6:30-8:30 p.m.
TBD
Th 9/1
6:30-8:30 p.m.
TBD
6:30-9:30 p.m.
TBD
Business Planning Class Create a practical, effective business plan for your business. The classes address every aspect of starting and growing a business, including marketing, management, finance, and customer development. You will receive individual consultations, coaching on how to get funded, financial templates, and a business plan review. Cost: $500 - $1000 14 weeks/26 sessions (scholarships available)
SoMa: 275 5th St., San Francisco Tu 9/13
6-9 p.m.
Paul Terry
Business Prep
Mid-Peninsula, Doelger Senior Center: 101 Lake Merced Blvd, Daly City Th 8/11
TBD
Business Planning
Mid-Peninsula: 1848 Bay Road, East Palo Alto Th 8/10
6:30-9:30 p.m.
Richmond: 3925 MacDonald Ave., Richmond
SoMa: 275 5th St., San Francisco 6:00-7:30 p.m.
TBD
Mid-Peninsula, Doelger Senior Center: 101 Lake Merced Blvd, Daly City
Are you ready to start or grow your own business? Are you thinking about it? Determine your business readiness and get the tips and resources, including an overview of Renaissance’s classes and services, to help you succeed. Cost: Free
Thurs 7/28
6:30-9:30 p.m.
Learn business basics and determine the viability of your business idea. The course covers fundamentals of marketing, operations, and finances. Cost $50-$300 9 sessions (scholarships available)
Richmond Chamber of Commerce: 3925 MacDonald Ave., Richmond
Richmond Chamber of Commerce: 3925 MacDonald Ave., Richmond
Th 7/21
6:30-9:30 p.m
Robbie Kunkel
Wed 7/6
6:30-9 p.m.
Bret Sweet
Legal Workshop
Wed 8/3
6:30-9 p.m.
Bret Sweet
Wed 9/7
6:30-9 p.m.
Bret Sweet
Free monthly legal workshops taught by the San Francisco Community Business Law Center. Workshop themes include Intellectual Property, Before You Sign That Lease and How to Write an Independent Contractor Agreement. Cost: Free
Skill Building
Learning Basics: Start Smart Start Smart
SoMa: 275 5th St., San Francisco
Define your goals and start planning your business. You will use a Business Model Canvas to put your ideas on paper and develop them to meet the needs of your market. Cost: $120 for 4 sessions (scholarships available)
Wed 7/20
6-8 p.m
TBD
Wed 8/17
6-8 p.m.
TBD
SoMa: 275 5th St., San Francisco
Wed 9/21
6-8 p.m
TBD
Mon 8/8
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6:00-9:00 p.m.
TBD
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Classes, Workshops & Events Weebly: The Easiest Way to Make A Website!
Pasos Simples
A hands-on three hour workshop introducing Weebly: The Easiest Way to Create Your Own Website, Blog, or Online Store! Cost: $15
Un programa de empoderamiento y planificación de negocios. Los temas incluyen, estudios de mercado y planificación, fijación de precios y promoción de productos, análisis del punto de equilibrio, el flujo de efectivo y la organización del tiempo invertido en su negocio. 11 semanas. Costo: $100 - $350 (Becas disponibles)
Richmond: 1500 MacDonald Ave., Richmond Wed 7/13
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fermin Alvarez
For Women
SoMa: 3269 Mission St, San Francisco
Renaissance Women’s Network
Mierc 9/7
Join us on the second Wednesday of every month for an evening of mingling, storytelling, and connecting with inspiring woman business owners! Each event features a special guest speaker followed by focused support groups. Cost: $15 per event or $60 for series
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Guest Speakers
Wed 8/10
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Guest Speakers
Wed 9/14
6:30-8:30 p.m
Guest Speakers
Susana Gama
Richmond: 1500 MacDonald Ave. Richmond Martes 9/6
6-9 p.m.
Susana Gama
Comience y Crezca con Confianza
Capital One Cafe: 101 Post St., San Francisco Wed 7/13
6-9 p.m.
En esta clase usted definirá su sueño, escribirá una declaración de misión y empezará a planificar su negocio. Utilizará un Plan visual para plasmar y desarrollar sus ideas de manera que satisfagan las necesidades de su mercado. Costo: $120 (Becas disponibles)
Mid-Peninsula, Doelger Senior Center: 101 Lake Merced Blvd, Daly City
Orientación de Renaissance Este taller es para propietarios nuevos o potenciales de pequeñas empresas que desean aprender y utilizar los siete factores críticos del éxito que son clave para el éxito de una pequeña empresa. Costo: gratis
Martes 9/6
Mid-Peninsula, Doelger Senior Center: 101 Lake Merced Blvd, Daly City
Mid-Peninsula: 1848 Bay Road, East Palo Alto
Martes 8/9
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Martes 8/16
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Martes 8/23
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Martes 8/30
6:30-8:30 p.m.
6:30- 9:30 p.m.
TBD
Mid-Peninsula, Sequoia Adult School: 3247 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park Jueves 9/8
Lunes 9/12
6:30- 9:30 p.m.
6:30- 9:30 p.m.
TBD
TBD
Weebly: La forma más sencilla de crear un sitio web!
Jueves 8/11
6:30-8:30 p.m.
En este taller de tres horas para principiantes o expertos, usted aprenderá como planificar, diseñar, crear, publicar y robustecer la presencia de su sitio web en la red usando el programa Weebly. Costo: $25
Jueves 8/18
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Richmond: 1500 MacDonald Ave., Richmond
Jueves 8/25
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Jueves 9/1
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Mid-Peninsula, Sequoia Adult School: 3247 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park
Mierc 8/17
6:00- 9:00 p.m.
Fermin Alvarez
Mid-Peninsula: 1848 Bay Road, East Palo Alto Lunes 8/8
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Lunes 8/15
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Lunes 8/22
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Lunes 8/29
6:30-8:30 p.m.
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Featured Programs and Activities
Renaissance Wins Lean for Main Street Challenge
Welcome to Our New Website We hope you’re excited to use our fresh new website – we are! It’s easy to navigate and clean with an up-to-date design. We would even say it’s beautiful. Take a peek at our new and amazing calendar RenCenter.org/Calendar. It was a huge undertaking and we couldn’t have done it without the many people involved who made it happen.
By Kareen Boncales
Is there really a demand for your product or service? What problem are you solving and how are your target customers already solving this problem without you? Lean Startup helps new entrepreneurs answer these questions by encouraging them to get outside and talk to actual potential customers. Lots of them!
Special thanks to our SAP volunteer team lead by Greg Muira and Vickie Brown for making it so feature-rich and user-friendly. Thanks to Erin Kodama, our web developer with her grace under pressure. She launched our site and several others just in the nick of time before giving birth. Congratulations to Erin and her new son! Thanks to Julio Martinez, our graphic designer who has been working with us for years and is always superb in carrying our brand through every assignment. Thanks to Ronan Sberlo of Red Oak Web Design for creating our directory. And finally, special thanks to the Renaissance staff for hard work creating the website, and learning to use our new WordPress content management system. It’s no easy feat to learn a new tool. We appreciate you being up for the challenge!
The Lean Startup philosophy emphasizes the importance of doing customer discovery and validation to determine whether a new product or service has enough customers to make the business viable. For a successful business launch, you must figure out who will be your customers then create a solid action plan to target them. The Lean Startup curriculum will help you to do exactly that. We are excited to announce that Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center won the US SBA’s Lean for Main Street competition in February, and was selected to develop and launch our own version of the National Science Foundation’s Lean Startup curriculum!
Though we’ve launched, a website is never done. If you have any feedback, send suggestions to Genessa at GKealoha@ RenCenter.org
Renaissance was one of only five economic development organizations across the U.S. to be given the award, which gave Renaissance the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. and participate in an intensive online training on the Lean Startup curriculum. April Gilbert of Renaissance SoMa and Tim Russell of Renaissance Mid-Peninsula attended the kickoff of the training (See photo in front of the West Wing of the White House with other winners of the SBA award.)
For more information: SAP volunteers: Greg Muira and Vickie Brown Julio Martinez, Graphic Design: Juliomartinez.carbonmade.com Ronan Sberlo, Red Oak Web Design: RedOakWeb.com Erin Kodama, Web Design: ErinKodama.com Directory: RenCenter.org/Business-Directory Calendar: RenCenter.org/Calendar
We are piloting the curriculum at our SoMa location starting Monday August 8th. Visit our calendar to sign up!
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Featured Programs and Activities Renaissance Bay Area Makers Popup Our great thanks to Bank of America for its very generous sponsorship for Renaissance’s Summer Makers Popup that will be presented, in partnership with Popupsters, Working Solutions, Kiva Zip and The Yard at Mission Rock Don’t wait for a holiday as an excuse to dance to live music, shop from your favorite local vendors, and have a good time - it’s summer! Come celebrate with us just for fun at Renaissance Bay Area Makers Popup on Saturday, September 10 at The Yard at Mission Rock in San Francisco, next to the AT&T Park. • Shop from over 30 local Bay Area makers • Have fun playing outdoor games in the sun • Dance to live music
Saturday, September 10, 2016 • 11-6 p.m. • The Yard at Mission Rock 3rd St. & Terry A Francois Boulevard, San Francisco
For up-to-date information Visit RenCenter.org/Event/Summer-Makers-Popup-2016/ Discover West Marin, enjoy your stay and SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES.
Co-Working Spaces Available 275 5th Street (at Folsom) San Francisco SoMa
Large Cubicles
Download the free app now and find out about great views, unique local merchants and stay updated with the latest Marin County activities.
$400 monthly, $250 weekly, or $50 daily
Small Cubicles
$350 monthly, $225 weekly, or $45 daily $525 - $600 security deposit for long term rental
Go to visitmarin.org/highlights-
Workspace Features:
and-news/visitmarinapp for de-
• • • • •
tails or search “Visit Marin” in iOS or Android stores to download.
Dedicated and flexible spaces available Access from 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday Wireless internet access Lounge area with natural light Quarterly networking event for workspace tenants
In the Neighborhood
visitmarin.org Hold the Beautiful Marin County in Your Hands!
• Three blocks from Market St. and all public transportation • Walking distance from the Yerba Buena Gardens • Three blocks from the SFMOMA • Dozens of cafes, restaurants and bars
Available at Additional cost
• Access to color printing, copying, scanning and fax • Storage lockers • Private conference room
The RISE of West Marin
• Large classroom rental
Special thanks to Wells Fargo for their RISE grant enabling Renaissance to support businesses in West Marin. We reached out to over 100 businesses in the area providing marketing and financial advising, and are promoting the area as a whole by marketing the fantastic Visit Marin app in partnership with the Marin Visitors Bureau.
for more information contact: Rob Taylor 415.348-6224
rtaylor@rencenter.org
PHOTO COURTE SY OF MARIN CONVENTION & VISITORS BURE AU
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Our Funding Community Renaissance’s Annual Event
Small Business — BIG IMPACT
Special Thanks: Pam David, Executive Director of the Walter & Elise Haas Fund
Small Business — BIG IMPACT Thursday, October 6, 2016 San Francisco Design Center Galleria 6 – 9:30 pm
Renaissance is delighted to honor Pamela H. David, Executive Director of the Walter & Elise Haas Fund, at our annual event Small Business Big Impact 32:15 on October 6, 2016. The event will celebrate Renaissance’s thirty-second anniversary and our fifteenth anniversary serving the Bayview Hunters Point community. We would not be celebrating this momentous milestone without trailblazers for social and economic justice like Pam. Her visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to create economic opportunity enabled Renaissance to bring our small business programs and services directly to emerging and established entrepreneurs in the Bayview Hunters Point community in 2001. That support has empowered entrepreneurs and Renaissance recent award winning businesses like Brigette LeBlanc, owner of LeBlanc and Associates; Marcel Banks, owner of Frisco Fried; and Deundra and James Hundon, owners of Universal Martial Arts Academy to become successful businessmen and women and leaders in the community. Please join us in thanking Pam and celebrating 32:15.
Renaissance’s annual fundraising benefit and awards celebration, Small Business- BIG IMPACT will be held on Thursday, October 6th at the San Francisco Design Center Galleria from 6 – 9:30 p.m.. Renaissance will celebrate two critical milestones: the Thirty-Second Anniversary of Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center and the Fifteenth Anniversary of Renaissance Bayview. We will recognize three extraordinary Renaissance entrepreneurs with our Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, and the Renaissance Pop Up Café and Marketplace will showcase Renaissance graduates’ unique food, beverages, products and services. For tickets and sponsor opportunities, please visit: RenCenter.org/Annual-Event/ If you have questions, please contact: Development Associate Wendy Guzman wendy@rencenter.org or 415-348-6209.
Join Us! P H O T O B Y T R I S H T U N N E Y P H O T O G R A P H Y **
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Our Funding Community Renaissance Women’s Leadership Council
Renaissance Launches the Renaissance Women’s Leadership Council On May 26th, at the home of Board Member Alison Davis, Renaissance launched the Renaissance Women’s Leadership Council, a new initiative to support lower-income Bay Area women as they strive to achieve economic independence for themselves and their families through small business ownership.
Renaissance would like to thank the following founding members of the Council for their generosity, vision and leadership in helping women like Yvonne achieve economic mobility, including: Charmaine Detweiler, Chair; Alison Davis; Margot Fraser; Helen Russell; Marjorie Sennett; Nancy Sheppard; and Marion Weinreb.
Women gathered from throughout the Bay Area to learn about how Renaissance is expanding programs and services for women, ensuring that all English and Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs have access to Renaissance’s critical womenfocused training, resources, networks and ongoing support necessary for success.
We’ll be hosting more house parties and womenfocused events. If you are interested in learning more about how you can become a part of the Renaissance Women’s Leadership Council, please contact Development Director Amy Harris at 415348-6207 or aharris@rencenter.org.
Long-time Renaissance client, Yvonne Hines, owner of Yvonne’s Southern Sweets, shared her story with guests. Yvonne always had a passion for making mouthwatering Southern American style homemade sweets. For years, she treated her family and friends, but when Yvonne learned she was pregnant with her daughter and couldn’t afford child care on her salary, she started selling her signature pralines at local events. In 2005, Yvonne took the plunge, quit her low-paying job, and came to Renaissance to grow her business. Now, with critical training, resources, networks and ongoing support from Renaissance, Yvonne is operating a thriving bakery on Bayview’s Third Street Corridor.
YvonnesSouthernSweets.com
P H O T O S B Y G E N E S S A K E A L O H A**
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Inside Spotlight for new interns and volunteers working at Renaissance. Renaissance Richmond Manager, Bret Sweet tells us “Keith is a true problem solver. He uses his intuition and data to identify gaps in systems and produce solutions.” When asked what was the greatest reward of interning at Renaissance Keith kindly responded “working in communities like Bayview and Richmond, seeing the passion and drive that clients have to start business. It has been rewarding to be part of the process in helping people improve livelihoods.”
Farewell to New Sector Alliance Intern Keith Scott By Lucero deLeon
As we come close to summer time, we have to say our goodbyes to our fabulous New Sector Alliance Intern Keith Scott.
As for advice for future interns working in non-profits, he states “you never know what to expect. It’s important to be able to adapt and maintain an entrepreneurial mindset. Be willing to iterate, to try, to fail and don’t get bogged down if you make a mistake. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.”
Keith joined Renaissance through the New Sector Alliance 10-month leadership development program designed for people who want to work in the social sector. The program provides trainings about the non-profit sector and participants create a capacity building project. Keith’s project resulted in the Access to Capital Resource Guide.
Keith has done such incredible work at Renaissance. Thank you for your contributions and your willingness and your hard work! We wish you all the best in your future endeavors!
Keith told us that he was drawn to Renaissance because of his interest in our mission. Keith comes from an entrepreneurial family. He has spent time supporting his mother in running her small business and has also worked with entrepreneurs in the Philippines and in Bangladesh. Keith came to Renaissance in October 2015 and worked at Renaissance’s Bayview and Richmond centers. His work in Bayview led him to research why people in the neighborhood were having trouble accessing capital for their small businesses. He found that the requirements to obtain a business loan were high and inhibitive for many clients in the Bayview neighborhood. Most aspiring entrepreneurs lacked sufficient collateral, had low credit scores or no credit history. His research entailed reaching out to banks and nonprofit lending organizations, and researching scholarly articles about financial services.
FOUR Renaissance businesses were listed in the San Francisco Business Times List of 50 TOP LGBT businesses!
As a result, Keith created the Access to Capital Resource Guide for Renaissance clients to understand and get connected to capital based on their particular needs. In the Resource Guide, he includes programs that help bridge the gap through access to capital such as: Neighbor Fund, Kiva, Working Solutions, Lending Circles, Grameen America, Opportunity Fund, Main Street Launch, and many more.
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The Renaissance Richmond office received Keith’s support twice a week, where he worked on our Data and Evaluation helping to track the intake of new clients, updating information on existing clients, and assessing the efficacy of Renaissance’s programming through refining our evaluation methods. He also assisted with community outreach and marketing. Keith created a wonderful onboarding package and presentation
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Our Staff SOMA
RICHMOND
Kareen Boncales Program Coordinator
Lucero deLeon Program Coordinator
April Gilbert Program Director
Bret Sweet Program Manager
Ming Hu Program Associate
ORG-WIDE
Lawrence Jackson Door Monitor
Aracely Barrios Finance Coordinator
Yamilet Gonzalez Program Coordinator
Wendy Guzman Development Associate
Ericka Green Program Coordinator
Amy L. Harris Development Director
Kismeth Harris Program Assistant
Genessa Kealoha Executive Associate
Keith Scott New Sector Alliance Fellow
Lisa Kirvin Managing Director
Marcus Tartt Center Manager
Jon Jimenez Macuso Impact Data Analyst
MID-PENISULA
Lucinda Martin HR Manager
Crystal Rasmussen Program Coordinator Timothy Russell Program Director Luis Vizcardo Program Coordinator
Sandor Straus Board Chair* Managing Member Tigmera, LLC Gerry Barañano Treasurer, Vice Chair* Principal RevLaunch Company
Fermin Alvarez TAP Program Manager
BAYVIEW
Jaime Caudillo Program Assistant
Our Board
Sylvie Brillaud Executive Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer Bank of the West Bryan Ignozzi* Vice Chair Partner PriceWaterhouseCoopers Craig Jacoby Secretary* PartnerCooley LLP Philip Frerich Audit Chair Region Finance Manager Vice President Robert L. Chan Former Director of Marketing and National Sales Syncor International
Sharon Miller CEO Philip Smith Finance Director Robert Taylor Facilities & Operations Manager
Alison Davis Managing Partner Fifth Era Feleciai Favroth** President & CEO Skincare by Feleciai Lynn Fernandez Senior Vice President Retail Bank Administration Comerica Bank Neal Gottlieb** Founding Twin Three Twins Ice Cream Ashley Grech Area Manager San Francisco & North Peninsula JP Morgan Chase Business Banking Roland Pan Technology Executive Laura Thompson Principal Thompson Concepts Group Feliciano Zavala** Founder & Owner Peninsula Party Rentals
* Denotes Executive Committee member ** Denotes Renaissance graduate
Lily Trienens Grants Manager
Special Thanks to Our Volunteers We are so fortunate to receive help and guidance from our volunteers. Each one is critically important to Renaissance and our clients. Special thanks to those who gave us their extended support in recent months. Luisa Alberto, Speaker, Fred Arm, Client Consultant, Bianca Cerna, Social Media, Crissie Collins, Marketing Consultant, Nina Cooper, Speaker, Conrad Cheeks, Client Outreach, Sophia Deng, YCore & TAP Program, Charmaine Detweiler, Renaissance Women’s Leadership Council Chair, Heidi Gibson, Client Consultant, Noah Gilmore, YCore & TAP Program, Mae Go, Harvard Business School Community Partner, Judi Henderson, Speaker,Rachael Grossman, Fundraising Advisor, Jamie Henson, Client Consultant, EE Hou, YCore & TAP Program, Sophia Lee, YCore & TAP Program, Gail Lillian, Client Consultant, Wendy Lieu, Client Consultant, Nona Lim, Speaker, Trish Lynch, Client Consultant, Raymond Magpantay, Harvard Business School Community Partner, Robin Marks, Client Consultant, Lauren Miller, Client Consultant, Nay Mintin, Impact Data, Xhorxha Nikolli, Marketing & Communications, Molly O’Kane, Client Consultant, Johanna O’Kelly, Marketing Consultant, Beth Pride, Client Consultant, Isobel Schofield, Client Consultant, Eloisa Serrano, Client Consultant, Ja Shia, Client Consultant, Don Spradlin, Harvard Business School Community Partner, Kimberly Stevens, Client Consultant, Felicia Vallera, Client Consultant, Alicia Van Fleteren, Client Consultant, Don Weil, Harvard Business School Community Partner, Kota Yamazaki, Digital Marketing Strategist, Ellen Yan, YCore & TAP Program, Sharon Zimmerman, Client Consultant
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Renaissance has helped over 10,000 Bay Area Businesses. Are you next?
Renaissance Soma 275 5th Street San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 541-8580
Renaissance Bayview India Basin Plaza 1325-B Evans Avenue San Francisco, CA 94124 (415) 647-3728 Renaissance Mid-Peninsula 1848 Bay Road East Palo Alto, CA 94303 (650) 321-2193
Renaissance Richmond 1500 MacDonald Avenue Richmond, CA 94801 (510) 221-2000