2012 Faith & Finances Resources and Information e-Guide

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THE SISTAHS MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

Making the Net Work for Your Net Worth

2012 e-Guide

Resources & Information
COMPILED BY:
THE SISTAHS MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL | P.O. BOX 401121 | REDFORD, MI 48240-1121
www.TheSISTAHSMinistry.com | TheSISTAHSMinistry@yahoo.com

Veronica Denyse Truell, MA Chapter Director
Shanick Moore-Bartell, MI Chapter
Crystal Radford, MI Chapter Program Director
Cheryl Braxton, NY Chapter Director
Valarie D. Coleman, PA Chapter Director
Tiffany R. Easley, TN Chapter Director
Wanda J. Burnside, Soul SISTAHS Café Administrator
Magdaline Joyce Ihaza, International Director (Africa & Italy)
Pastor Joshua Gona, International Director (India)
Sharnae Coakley, SISTAH Teen Director
Celeste E. Tolliver-Kelley, Co-Founder & Director
About The SISTAHS Ministry International

The S.I.S.T.A.H.S. Ministry began in August, 2006 in Michigan and grew nationally to five other states, currently having
four other State Chapters (Massachusetts, New York, Nevada, and Pennsylvania). Our main objective is to unite women
and teenage girls to impact their world, with a specific concentration of helps to victims of domestic violence, at-risk
teenage girls and teenage mothers. The S.I.S.T.A.H.S. Ministry also seeks to uplift God through encouraging and edifying
women and teenage girls to move forward in the blessings of the Lord. The Ministry seeks to combine the gifts and talents
given to women and teenage girls (through the written Word, journalistic gifting, businesses and fellow ministries) and to
be a viable Christian women's resource where one can find food for the soul, hope in the difficult times, and network to
collaborate with other organizations and ministries to make an impact in the community. As of October, 2008 the
enlightening force of God's Word, through The SISTAHS Ministry, was enlarged internationally into Torino, Italy and
Nigeria, Africa and in June, 2009 the Hebron Prayer Church of India commenced their chapter of The SISTAHS Ministry
under the covering of Pastor Joshua Gona.

In January, 2008 the Ministry sought to spread the word and share the gifts of women and teenage girls nationally and
internationally through hosting the Living in Favor and Empowerment (L.I.F.E.) Radio Broadcast on BlogTalkRadio.

As the Ministry sought to become more tangibly connected with the local Metropolitan Detroit community of women and
teenage girls, the annual SISTAHS Embracing the Elevation Conference was organized. The first Conference was held
Friday, August 28, 2008 wherein over 200 women and teenage girls were hosted, and thus community and non-profit
relations began. In order to provide a holistic program to impact the lives of women and teenage girls, the SISTAH Teen
Mentoring Initiative was established in October, 2008 with Director Sharnae Coakley. As an expansion of the SISTAH
Teen Ministry, and in further coordination of a holistic program, annual events were organized: Bowling Blast and "All the
Single Ladies" Dating & Relationships Workshop.

In March, 2009 the Lord sanctioned the expansion of the Ministry through tangible written evangelism online and SISTAH
Talk E-Magazine emerged. Endeavoring to accomplish the mission of the Ministry, SISTAH Talk has shared the stories of
some of the nation's most prominent and rising business women, preachers, pastors and authors.

Through ministry and service, The S.I.S.T.A.H.S. Ministry International has empowered, informed and inspired many
women and teenage girls nationally and internationally through collaboration and partnership with local non-profit
organizations, such as Sisters Acquiring Financial Empowerment (S.A.F.E.), Helping Individuals Succeed (H.I.S. Agency),
The Edwin Denby Center for Teenage Girls/Mothers, Women In Touch, Detroit Rescue Mission's Genesis House II,
Detroit Federation of Youth and Covenant House. The Ministry has been a support to many women in business and in
ministry through networking and collaboration, and has been recognized for their work in the community. In October, 2010
the Ministry was sought to conduct a weekly bible study session with the Women's Recovery Program of Operation Get
Down (Detroit, MI).

As the Lord has brought to fruition the programming through empowerment workshops and activities, The S.I.S.T.A.H.S.
Ministry International continues to seek to maintain the inspirational and informative community and business
relationships nationally, as well as internationally through the anointing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Saved by grace
In the beauty of holiness
Seeking to serve and encourage all women
Taking back what the devil has attempted to steal from us
Anointed by the power of God presenting our bodies
Holy and acceptable unto God which is our reasonable
Service
Contributing Resources
MOVING AHEAD THROUGH FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
©FEBRUARY, 2009 – THE ALLSTATE FOUNDATION

SISTERS ACQUIRING FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT
O.P.E.N. FOR BUSINESS CONFERENCE

WOMEN WORK! THE NATIONAL NETWORK FOR WOMEN’S
EMPLOYMENT

3|Page
Making the Net Work for Your Net Worth
2012 e-Guide Resources & Information
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PERSONAL REFLECTION & ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................ 1

HANDLING YOUR PERSONAL FINANCES .............................................................................................................. 4

GETTING YOUR BUSINESS STARTED .................................................................................................................. 12

BUSINESS PLAN ................................................................................................................................................... 17

SEVEB WAYS SOLOPRONEURS CAN GROW A HOME BUSINESS ...................................................................... 18

STARTING A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION .......................................................................................................... 20

HOW TO START A HAIR SALON ............................................................................................................................ 22

HOW TO START A CHILD CARE BUSINESS .......................................................................................................... 23

HOW TO START A CLOTHING STORE ................................................................................................................... 25

MARKETING 101 .................................................................................................................................................. 27

NETWORKING 101 ............................................................................................................................................... 29

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID .................................................................................................................. 31

SISTAHS SERVICES & BUSINESS NETWORK ..................................................................................................... 41

COACHING SERVICES........................................................................................................................................... 42

SPEAKERS AND FACILITATORS BUREAU ............................................................................................................ 56
PERSONAL REFLECTION & ASSESSMENT

Setting goals not only gives you an ongoing roadmap for success, but it shows you the best alternatives
should you need or desire a change along the way. You should review your goals on a regular basis.

1|Page
PERSONAL GOALS WORKSHEET

1. What is the goal I want to obtain?

2. The most important reason I want to obtain this goal is:

3. What I like best about this goal for myself is:

4. Within five years, I would like to be:

5. When I look back over the past five years, I feel:

6. My financial condition as of today is:

7. The next thing, with regard to obtaining my goal, I must do is:

8. The most important part of my goal is (or will be):

9. The area of my goal I really excel in is:

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SELF-ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET

1. List at least five to seven things you like to do or are good at.

2. List five to seven things you are not good at or you don’t like to do.

3. If there were three to five products or services that would make my personal life better, what would
they be?

4. If there were three to five products or services that would make my business life better, what would
they be?

5. When people ask what you do, what’s your answer (list one occupation or whatever mainly occupies
your week)?

6. List five things you enjoy about your work.

3|Page
HANDLING YOUR PERSONAL FINANCES

EMOTIONS & MONEY

When making purchases, compare prices to be sure you are paying a fair price. Don’t overpay because
you “fall in love” with something. Don’t spend more than you can afford. If you pay more than you can
afford, it will take longer to achieve your financial goals.

Step 1:
Write down your goals and identify how much time and money it will take to achieve them.

Step 2:
Keep your written goals in a place you will see them and remind yourself often of the priorities you have
set. This may help you keep you on track if your emotions start to take over.

Step 3:
Examine your feelings and consider if you are being tempted to overspend based on emotion. If so,
consider an alternative way to meeting your need and remind yourself of how you will feel when you are
successful in meeting your financial goals.

DEALING WITH STRESS

STRESS: The reaction of the body and mind to everyday challenges and demands.

STRESSORS: Anything that causes stress, anticipated or unexpected.

HANDLING STRESS: Practice Relaxation Techniques
Redirect Your Energy
Seek Support

MANAGING STRESS: Time Management – Plan Ahead
Stay Away from Caffeine and Other Substances
Laugh
Pamper Yourself Physically
Keep a Positive Perspective
Do Something You Enjoy
Talk It Out with Someone
Be Assertive

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STRESS SELF-EVALUATION

MY TOP 10 STRESSORS:

10.

5|Page
PERSONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TIPS

INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO TREAT YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN ON A BUDGET

Treating Yourself: Treating Your Children:
 Give yourself a manicure  Bake them a cake
 Enjoy your favorite desert  Read them a story
 Read a good book  Rent a video or Borrow from library
 Spend time with a friend  Play their favorite game
 Go for a walk  Invite their friends over for a sleepover
 Invite friends over for a potluck

BUDGET AND MONITOR. Don’t let spending habits turn up the heat and push your budget into the red.
Track household spending and plan ahead where possible.

KEEP YOUR BALANCES LOW. You know that exceeding your credit limit results in a hefty fee. Running
close to your limit on any credit line makes prospective lenders nervous and is reflected in your credit
score.

THINK BEFORE YOU CLOSE LONG-RUNNING LINES OF CREDIT. Your credit score rewards you for having
well-established long-running lines of credit. If you take a new card consider keeping the old one active by
charging a couple small items and paying them off each month.

REDUCE IDENTITY THEFT RISK. Make sure your unwanted offers find their way to the recycling pile.

MONITOR YOUR DEBT PAYMENT PERCENTAGES. “Credit Obligations” should be limited to no more than
20% of your monthly income. If more than a fifth of the income is covering credit obligations, you should
avoid taking on additional debt.

SAVE, SAVE, SAVE. Saving in the key to a brighter future. Try to put away a little something every pay
period, no matter how little the amount might be. Even $5 or $10 a month can add up…!

TRY CREDIT OFFSETS. Debit cards are not only a convenient way to spend, some can actually encourage
you to save. Find out if your financial institution offers a “rounding up” feature that automatically bumps
your debit card purchase to the next whole dollar and deposits the extra change into an attached savings
account.

COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR LENDERS. Don’t let a temporary problem grow into a long-term difficulty.
Communicate with your lenders when you see trouble on the way. If a job loss or family issue could lead to
late payments, contact the lender sooner, rather than later.

6|Page
PERSONAL BUDGET FORM

Monthly Income (Checks or Cash):

Monthly Fixed Expenses:
Rent / Mortgage (Principal, Tax, Insurance) ______________
Life Insurance ______________
Medical / Health Insurance ______________
Vehicle Insurance ______________
Disability Insurance ______________
Household Insurance ______________
Car Payment ______________
Other Loan Payments ______________
Savings ______________
Emergency Savings ______________
Other (List) ______________

Monthly Flexible Expenses:
Utilities (Electric, Gas, Water, Phone, Fuel, etc.) ______________
Credit Card Payments ______________
Auto Maintenance (Gas, Oil Change) ______________
Food (Home and Away) ______________
Clothing ______________
Household Supplies ______________
Medical / Dental ______________
Recreation / Entertainment ______________
Church Donations ______________
Childcare ______________
Education ______________
Personal Allowance ______________
Other (List) ______________

Total Monthly Expenses: ______________
Total Income Minus Total Expenses: ______________
Add or Minus Balance from Previous Month: ______________

7|Page
REVIEWING YOUR CREDIT REPORT

How do I know if I have good credit?

The only way to know whether or not you have good credit is to review your credit report. Your credit report
shows whether or not you’ve paid credit card bills and loans on time, how much you owe to creditors and
whether you have unpaid loans. Review your credit report annually. Upon request, each of the three credit
reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) must provide you a free copy of your credit report
every 12 months. The free report does not include your credit score. To obtain your credit score, you will
have to pay a small fee.

Annual Credit report Request Service | P.O. Box 105281 | Atlanta, GA 30348-5281
1-877-322-8228 | www.AnnualCreditReport.com

Equifax | 1-800-525-6285 | www.Equifax.com
Experian | 1-888-397-3742 | www.Experian.com
TransUnion | 1-800-680-7289 | www.TransUnion.com

Does Checking Your Credit Report Lower Your Credit Rating?

Checking your credit score or pulling your own credit report does not hurt your credit rating. The credit
scoring system is set up so that inquiries made by a consumer checking his or her own credit score or
credit report do not count in any way whatsoever towards lowering or raising one’s credit score. In
addition, credit inquiries made by credit card companies or mortgage lenders checking your credit report to
send you pre-approved offers do not count either. However, if you respond to these offers and the credit
card company or mortgage lender pulls your credit report to do a more thorough investigation, it does
count. It also counts every time you apply for any sort of financing, housing, insurance, employment, etc.,
and your credit report is pulled.

How Much Does it Affect Your Credit Score?

Each credit inquiry can lower your score by five points. The FICO scoring system counts multiple inquiries
made in a 14-day period as one inquiry. All inquiries made within 30 days of the credit score being
calculated are ignored. If you are shopping for a mortgage or car loan, apply with various lenders within
the same week to protect your credit score.

Calculation of Credit Score in Five Categories

Payment History

 Account payment information on specific types of accounts (credit cards, retail accounts, etc.)
 Presence of adverse public records (i.e., bankruptcy)
 Severity of delinquency (how long past due)
 Amount past due on delinquent accounts or collection items
 Time since past due items, adverse public records or collection items
 Number of past due items on file
 Number of accounts paid as agreed

8|Page
Amounts Owed

 Amount owing on accounts
 Amount owing on specific types of accounts
 Lack of specific type of balance, in some cases
 Number of accounts with balances
 Proportion of credit lines used
 Proportion of installment loan amounts still owing

Length of Credit History

 Time since accounts opened
 Time since accounts opened by specific type of account
 Time since account activity

New Credit

 Number of recently opened accounts and proportion of accounts that are recently opened
 Number of recent credit inquiries
 Time since recent account opening(s)
 Time since credit inquiry (ies)
 Re-establishment of positive credit history following past payment problems

Types of Credit Used

 Number of various types of accounts (credit cards, retail accounts, etc.)

Your score considers both positive and negative information in your credit report. Late payments will lower
your score, but establishing or re-establishing a good track record of making payments on time will raise
your score.

9|Page
SAVINGS STRATEGIES

Types of Savings Accounts

Interest-Earning Savings Account: You will earn about 2% interest on your savings and receive a monthly
statement in the mail. Funds can be withdrawn at any time.

Money Market Account: Pays ½% higher interest than Savings Accounts, but may require a higher
minimum balance. You can usually make as many deposits as you like for free, but you can only write
three checks each month.

Certificates of Deposit (CDs): Money is tied up from 3 months to 6 years. CDs will offer the highest
interest rates, depending on the term you choose. There are stiff penalties for early withdrawals.

Individual Development Accounts

IDAs help low-income teenagers and adults start guided Savings Accounts and learn about money. IDA
program participants work with local non-profit organizations and financial institutions to learn about
handling money responsibly and increase their savings.

What can an IDA program do?

 Commits you to saving under guidance for a year
 Helps you set up an account at a nearby bank
 Helps you create a budget and decide how much you want to save
 Educates you about economic responsibility through regular workshops
 Provides you with savings-match grants that will double your savings

What can IDA funds be used for?

 Home Ownership
 Business Development
 Education or Training
 Asset Building

Who is Eligible?

 Eligible for TANF
 Eligible for the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
 Have an income less than 2 times the Federal poverty line (approximately $37,000 for a family of
four in 2004)
 Have no more than $10,000 in assets excluding an automobile and a home

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How Can I Get an IDA?

 Find out which financial institutions and non-profits in your community offer IDA programs.
 Visit or call a non-profit institution that administers IDAs and enroll in the program.
 Plan your savings goals and monthly contribution with the help of the staff member.
 Complete a letter of agreement with the organization administering the IDA program.
 Attend free financial literacy trainings.
 Begin to make regular deposits to your IDA and you will receive savings-match grants.
 When you have met your goal, you can spend you savings on education, business development or
home ownership.

IDA NETWORK
Phone: (202) 408-9788
Fax: (202) 408-9793
Web: www.IDANetwork.org
E-Mail: IDAInfo@cfed.org

ALTERNATIVES FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Phone: (607) 273-4611
Toll Free: (877) 273-AFCU
Fax: (607) 277-6391
Web: www.Alternatives.org
E-Mail: AFCU@alternatives.org

For fact sheets about the IDA programs in your state or to contact a local Assets for Independence agent,
visit www.ACF.HHS.gov/AssetBuilding/States.html or call (202) 401-4626.

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GETTING YOUR BUSINESS STARTED

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE

Business Etiquette is knowing and observing the rules of conduct that will maintain good relations with
others without offending the other person. It applies to what you say, what you do and how you look. It
also covers what you don’t do or say.

ETIQUETTE is not a “fluffy” practice. It is a business-building concept of putting human values back into
the workplace. A positive, professional image is critical in building rapport, the “fundamental
compatibility” that influences the subconscious decision processes of others.

Management Consultants recommend that we understand behavior expectations in the areas of
networking, office meetings, traveling, dining with clients, and telecommunications (phone and e-mail). In
all face-to-face interactions (whether in the workplace or at a social occasion) first impressions are critical.
ETIQUETTE is especially important in early stages of a relationship. Experts say that most people decide to
establish an ongoing relationship or not in the first four minutes they spend with someone.

Business etiquette seems like common sense. Unfortunately, it is not common practice. Rarely are “good
manners” part of a job description, but they are critical in efforts to win and keep friends and business
associates. Business manners are indeed the ultimate customer service tool.

BUSINESS ETIQUETTE TIPS

Telephone
Do Do Not
 Plan a telephone call as you would a letter;  Put a person on hold if you have initiated the
begin by identifying yourself and your reason call. You are obligated to complete it without
for calling. interruption.
 Project your voice clearly into the phone.  Forget to leave your phone number on a
voice message even if you “know” the
person has your number. Make certain that
you do not speak too quickly when giving
your number.
 Return calls promptly.  Leave voice mail messages lasting more
than three minutes.

Business Attire
 Understand that dress impacts the  Wear excessive jewelry or fragrance with
seriousness with which you are taken; business attire.
different levels of dress command different
levels of respect. Wear clothing that is not
overly provocative in the normal business
environment.

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Business Cards
 Treat business cards as gifts; instead of  Write on cards in front of the giver; this is like
merely dealing them out, offer them as a defacing a gift. You should write notes about
personal means of communication. the function and information requests once
you have left the event.

Business Meetings
 Distribute agendas to attendees 24 hours in  Delay the starting time, nor allow the
advance meeting to last longer than scheduled.
 Arrive on time.  Have a cellular phone ring in the middle of a
meeting, and do not make matters worse by
answering a phone.

E-Mail
 Check e-mail frequently and respond within  Send confidential, insulting or slanderous
24-36 hours. information or any material you would not
like made public.
 Keep your messages short, usually no more  Use e-mail for political or individual personal
than two paragraphs. gain.
 Watch your tone or language; e-mail lacks  Get too informal. Use standard English, and
the verbal cues of face-to-face interaction. think of it as relaxed.
 Use asterisks for emphasis, rather than all
capitals, which is considered screaming.

Networking
 Prepare. Find out who will be attending a  Chitchat. Discuss appropriate business
gathering; plan objectives; do relevant issues and find complimentary things to say
reading so you will have worthwhile ideas to about others’ accomplishments.
share.
 Go with the ideas that everyone has  Beeline for people you already know. Aim to
something to teach you. meet at least three new people.
 Introduce yourself with a one-line description  Spend more than three or four minutes with
of your business. a new acquaintance, monopolizing his or her
time, unless it is clear that additional time is
mutually acceptable.
 Wear your nametag on your right shoulder;
that is the natural place for people to look
when they shake your hand.

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ASK YOURSELF…

1. AM I PREPARED TO SPEND THE TIME, MONEY AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO GET MY BUSINESS
STARTED?

2. WHAT KIND OF BUSINESS DO I WANT?

3. WHAT PRODUCTS / SERVICES WILL MY BUSINESS PROVIDE?

4. WHY AM I STARTING A BUSINESS?

5. WHAT IS MY TARGET MARKET?

6. WHO IS MY COMPETITION?

7. WHO IS UNIQUE ABOUT MY BUSINESS IDEA AND THE PRODUCTS / SERVICES I WILL PROVIDE?

8. HOW SOON WILL IT TAKE BEFORE MY PRODUCTS / SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE?

9. HOW MUCH MONEY DO I NEED TO GET MY BUSINESS SET UP?

10. HOW LONG CAN I HAVE TO FINANCE THE COMOPANY UNTIL I START MAKING A PROFIT?

11. WILL I NEED TO GET A LOAN?

12. HOW WILL I PRICE MY PRODUCT COMPARED TO MY COMPETITOR?

13. HOW WILL I MARKET MY BUSINESS?

14. HOW WILL I SET UP THE LEGAL STRUCTURE OF MY BUSINESS?

15. HOW WILL I MANAGE MY BUSINESS?

16. WHERE WILL I HOUSE MY BUSINESS?

17. HOW MANY EMPLOYEES WILL I NEED TO START UP?

18. WHAT TYPES OF SUPPLIERS DO I NEED TO CONTACT?

19. WHAT KIND OF INSURANCE DO I NEED TO INVEST IN?

20. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO ENSURE I AM PAYING MY TAXES CORRECTLY?

14 | P a g e
START-UP COSTS WORKSHEET

CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS – ONE-TIME START-UP EXPENSES

START-UP EXPENSES AMOUNT DESCRIPTION
Advertising Promotion for opening the business
Building Construction Amount per contractor bid and other
Cash Amount needed for the cash register
Decorating Estimate based on bid if appropriate
Fixtures and Equipment Use actual bids
Insurance Bid from insurance agent
Lease Payments Fee to be paid before opening
Licenses and Permits Check with City or State offices
Miscellaneous All other
Professional Fees CPA, Attorney, etc.
Remodeling Use contractor bids
Rent Fee to be paid before opening
Services Cleaning, accounting, etc.
Signs Use contractor bids
Starting Inventory Amount of inventory required to open
Supplies Office, cleaning, etc.
Unanticipated Expenses Include an amount for the unexpected
Other
Other
Other

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START-UP COSTS WORKSHEET

REPEATING MONTHLY EXPENSES

EXPENSES AMOUNT DESCRIPTION
Advertising
Bank Service Fees
Credit Card Charges
Delivery Fees
Dues and Subscriptions
Health Insurance Exclude amount on preceding page
Insurance Exclude amount on preceding page
Interest
Inventory See ** below
Lease Payments Exclude amount on preceding page
Loan Payments Principal and interest payments
Office Expenses
Payroll Other than Owner
Payroll Taxes
Professional Fees
Rent Exclude amount on preceding page
Repairs and Maintenance
Sales Tax
Supplies
Telephone
Utilities
Your Salary If applicable for first three months
Other

TOTAL START-UP COSTS Amount from preceding page

*Include the first three months’ cash needs unless otherwise noted.
**Include amount required for inventory expansion. If inventory is to be replaced from cash sales, do not include here. Assume
sales will generate enough cash for replacements.

Find more forms for your business at www.Entrepreneur.com/Formnet.

16 | P a g e
BUSINESS PLAN

A business plan is a written description of your business's future. That's all
there is to it--a document that describes what you plan to do and how you
plan to do it. If you jot down a paragraph on the back of an envelope
describing your business strategy, you've written a plan, or at least the
germ of a plan.

Business plans can help perform a number of tasks for those who write
and read them. They're used by investment-seeking entrepreneurs to
convey their vision to potential investors. They may also be used by firms that are trying to attract key employees,
prospect for new business, deal with suppliers or simply to understand how to manage their companies better.

So what's included in a business plan, and how do you put one together? Simply stated, a business plan conveys
your business goals, the strategies you'll use to meet them, potential problems that may confront your business and
ways to solve them, the organizational structure of your business (including titles and responsibilities), and finally,
the amount of capital required to finance your venture and keep it going until it breaks even.

Sound impressive? It can be, if put together properly. A good business plan follows generally accepted guidelines
for both form and content. There are three primary parts to a business plan:

 The first is the business concept, where you discuss the industry, your business structure, your particular
product or service, and how you plan to make your business a success.
 The second is the marketplace section, in which you describe and analyze potential customers: who and
where they are, what makes them buy and so on. Here, you also describe the competition and how you'll
position yourself to beat it.
 Finally, the financial section contains your income and cash flow statement, balance sheet and other
financial ratios, such as break-even analyses. This part may require help from your accountant and a good
spreadsheet software program.

Breaking these three major sections down even further, a business plan consists of seven key components:

1. Executive summary
2. Business description
3. Market strategies
4. Competitive analysis
5. Design and development plan
6. Operations and management plan
7. Financial factors

http://web.sba.gov/busplantemplate/ExecSummary.cfm

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Seven Ways Solopreneurs Can Grow a Home Business
http://www.entrepreneur.com/blog/219433

Home-based businesses with a sole owner can only grow so much, right?
Wrong.

With a little creativity you can keep expanding your home business,
without hiring employees or renting an office. Here are seven tips for
increasing revenue at your home business while keeping it a one-person
show:

1. Use technology. From scheduling newsletters and social-media
dispatches to issuing blog-post notifications via email, automate as much
as possible. Collaboration tools such as Citrix Systems software can also
help you readily pass off or work in the same document with colleagues and consultants without having to
send giant email attachments or deal with a courier service. Additionally, video conferencing or call
forwarding technology can do wonders for helping your little company appear much bigger -- and more
professional.

2. Outsource. These days, freelance marketplaces such as Elance and vWorker.com make it easy -- and
relatively inexpensive -- to find contractors for a wide variety of roles, from accountants to virtual
secretaries. There's no law that says you have to make official, full-time hires to grow. Increasingly, I'm
encountering high-revenue, fast-growing companies that have few, if any, official staffers and are driving
growth entirely through contract labor.

3. Watch for opportunities. Entrepreneurs' prime advantage over big companies is the ability to be nimble
and shift gears quickly if a new opportunity emerges that might lead to more business. That's what home-
based franchisor Patricia Beckman did when she saw a need for a standardized virtual-assistant chain.
Now her VA business, Cybertary, has 25 franchisees and is growing.

4. Treat your business like a business. Don't neglect the back-office end of your business. For instance,
consider using an online invoice system such as FreshBooks or Intuit's Bill Manager. Being able to
systematically track your payments and expenses will not only save you time, it's also more professional in
the eyes of customers or clients. Keep regular business hours so clients can rely on you.

5. Invest for growth. Yes, being home based can help reduce overhead, but you still need to put money into
the business to keep it thriving. After all, you've got to spend money to make money, remember? And that's
true no matter where your business is based.

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6. Don't forget your plan. Know your goals for the business and keep your focus on the steps you need to
take to achieve those goals. Beckman recommends keeping your business plan nearby and referring to it
often. And as plans change, update it.

7. Get out there. Some solopreneurs use being home-based as an excuse to never meet with clients in
person. That's a mistake. Get out of that home-office cave -- you can build stronger bonds with clients in
face-to-face meetings. Attend networking events to keep growing your rolodex and gain exposure to new
ideas.

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STARTING A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

What kind of non-profit organization do you want?
How big do you want it to be?
Will it be more formal or informal?

Technically, you can start a non-profit organization in your living room, on social networks like Twitter and
Facebook, or even through e-mail.

If your non-profit is more formal, decide if you want business to be carried out under your name, or do you
want to get a business license so your non-profit organization is legally separated from you? Note, if it is a
separate legal organization it can own its own property and have its own bank account.

Will your non-profit organization be exempt from federal and other taxes? If so, you will need to file with
IRS to be a “tax-exempt” organization. In order to do this, a non-profit organization must fall under the
category of being a corporation, community chest, fund or foundation in order to receive tax-exempt status.

Decide on an Organization Name

 Will the non-profit bare your name and be tied to your personal image?
 What will the name means to you?
 Check the availability of your name and determine whether businesses with similar names detract
or enhance from your organization’s mission / values. Determine whether state law requires you to
include an identifying word such as “incorporated,” “limited,” “corporation,” or an abbreviation of
such a term if you choose to go with a formal corporation.

Write a Mission Statement

 Ask yourself what your goal or purpose is a non-profit organization.
 Try to include a description of what you think your non-profit organization’s primary benefits and
services to clients will be.
 Think about what values will guide how you do business.
 Ask yourself how you want others to view your non-profit organization.

Recruit Board Members

Find people to help you! Your board members can be official or just an inform group of people that you call
and ask questions. It just depends on how big your organization is and how much help you need. To
protect your intellectual property or clients, you may want to consider having your board members sign
non-disclosure agreements. Seek legal advice if you think this will be necessary.

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Other Things to Remember

 Consult a lawyer to help you fill out all the appropriate paperwork
 Get advice and help from trusted friends
 Make a Budget Plan
 Keep detailed records

Resources:
“7 Essential Nonprofit Start-up Tips”
www.Nonprofit.About.com/od/gettingstarted/tp/tipsstartup.htm

“Welcome to Starting a Non-Profit”
www.Starting-a-Non-Profit.net

“How to Start a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization”
www.Wikihow.com/Start-a-501c3-Nonprofit-Organization

“Checklist” Start a Nonprofit”
www.SmallBusiness.Findlaw.com/Business-Structures/Non-Profit/Incorporate-Non-Profit-Checklist.html

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HOW TO START A HAIR SALON
To start a hair salon, creating a business plan and raising the money you will need to launch are
prerequisites, of course. In addition, thinking ahead about how the business will run in these ways will help
you make better decisions before your launch. Remember, there is no shortage of importance placed
on salon business plans. Be sure you're ready before you jump in.

Employees Who Will Make Customers Into Clients

Cutting and styling hair is a very personal service for many women and a growing amount of men. These
customers often develop personal relationships with their stylists. Starting as a small operation, you will
most likely need employees who will build these relationships and make your customers into clients who
value their connection with the stylist.

When hiring, look first for experience and a track record of having an ongoing client base. Also, look
beyond technical skill to social qualities which will make customers want to keep returning to this person.
And because you'd like to keep the employee with you for the long haul, look for those who are less likely
to quit. Your new hires should be relatively settled in the area and in their lives. They should be satisfied
with the salary and other incentives you can offer them to stay.

Space and Capacity Decisions

The amount of space that you need flows from the service capacity you want for your salon. Be careful to
not have too many extra stations and stylists waiting around or to lose too many customers due to long
wait times or filled appointment schedules. Extra stations mean you overspent on equipment and on real
estate, but turning away customers will have you kicking yourself for not getting a larger space or
designing the space more efficiently. Remember that you cannot control the flow of traffic entirely as not
all customers will make appointments ahead of time. Customers will have to wait sometimes and you will
have idle capacity at other times. Projecting the right number of stylist stations is a gamble, but one that is
the first step for all of your other financial projections of cost and revenue.

Hair Care Products

Start choosing products you would like to use in your salon early to build relationships with the distributors
of those products. Ideally, you can sell the products that your stylists use in order to cut down on your
supply cost and to create an additional revenue stream for the salon. You may want to work with your top
stylists to choose these products, as they will be the best salespeople for products they believe in. Also,
consider that customers will be more interested in your salon's expert guidance on these products than in
making their own choices from a vast array of products. The choices they have should be relatively
straightforward depending on the type of product they want, their type of hair, and their budget.

The first step to starting a hair salon is to develop your hair salon business plan. Growthink provides
products and services to help you develop a professional business plan and turn your dream into reality.

http://www.growthink.com/businessplan/help-center/how-to-start-a-hair-salon

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HOW TO START A CHILD CARE BUSINESS
Pay special attention to each of these steps to move your child care business from a mere concept to
launch-readiness.

Location and Opportunity

Knowing the general area where you will open your child care center and spotting a good opportunity for
the business are so closely entwined that it is difficult to do one without the other. The location must offer
entrance into a customer market that has a clear need for your services, either because they are not being
served by the existing businesses or because they could be served much better by yours. The opportunity
for you to do a better job in the child care business is only relative to the location and market situation you
choose.

Team

At this point it would make sense to at least consider the team you will need to assemble, if not start
preliminary talks with some key partners with complementary skills. If you are the child care expert, you
may need someone with sales skills or business management experience, or visa versa. If you do start to
talk to potential partners at this point, you can benefit from their experience and ideas as you move
forward with other planning steps, although you may have little idea of the terms of a partnership
agreement until you think further about the numbers related to this opportunity.

Incorporation

Incorporating the company is a legal process of registering with the federal, state, and local governments
which allows you to begin protecting yourself through the limited liability offered by an LLC, S-Corp, or C-
Corp structure. It is not overly expensive, and if you are more or less certain that you will launch in some
form, you might as well take this step now.

Plan

Creating the business plan, whether you use a business plan consultant, or do the grunt work yourself, is a
prerequisite in most cases before moving further. You simply won't be able to assemble the needed capital
for the considerable expenses of launching a child care center without a business plan, unless you have
significant cash savings already. And even if you plan to use the savings of yourself and your partners,
credit cards, and personal or home equity loans to fund the launch, your operational success is much
more assured if you can clearly document your plan. The writing process is a process of discovery where
you will learn how much you don't know or have thought through only superficially.

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Funding

Finally, you must put together this needed funding to build out your center, buy equipment and supplies,
pay for marketing, purchase licenses and insurance, and see the company through until revenues are
greater than the bills. For this type of business, looking to local angel investors and lenders, such as
banks, may be the best route to take. You may find it best to fund your launch with a combination of debt
and equity.

The first step to starting a child care business is to develop your child care business plan. Growthink
provides products and services to help you develop a professional business plan and turn your dream into
reality.

Finish Your Plan Today With Our Quick & Easy Template!
If you want to create your own business plan quickly and easily, we now offer a business plan
template that allows you to develop a professional business plan in hours or days, not weeks or months.

Visit this link to learn more: http://www.growthink.com/products/business-plan-template

http://www.growthink.com/businessplan/help-center/how-to-start-a-child-care-business

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HOW TO START A CLOTHING STORE
Your choice of a customer target market (the customer group you will seek to sell your clothing to) for a
new clothing store will influence most aspects of how your business is run. Different challenges present
themselves depending on whether you target the high-end, middle tier or discount markets.

High-End Market

To be a high-end clothing store, look to sell products of the highest quality, fashion, or both, to discerning
customers who buy clothes for the statement they make rather than just to cover their skin. When seeking
this market, you face choices as to whether you will focus on the products of one or a few high-end
designers, or whether you will carry many designers and focus on a certain type of garment. Your
marketing and operations work will be focused around supporting the high-end brand you want to create
by emphasizing fashion and not the price customers have to pay.

Mid-Market

At the middle of the market you may face more competition, but also find you have more leeway to
differentiate your store through factors other than fashion, like service or variety. Many department stores,
offering a broad range of moderately priced clothing, are in this market. By offering higher variety than
other retailers, department stores draw in customers who aren't sure what they'd like to purchase and
those who are looking for non-clothing items as well. With a new, small store, be careful to consider how
you can compete against stores that offer this level of variety.

Discount Market

Some customers seek high-end and mid-market quality at discount prices. Stores like Filene's Basement
serve these customers by clearing out older designer fashions. Other discount customers are simply
looking for the most inexpensive clothing regardless of brand associations. To serve this market, stores
like Wal-Mart lower costs across the board to offer the lowest possible prices to customers. Extreme
efficiency, like that achieved by Wal-Mart, is difficult to achieve, making this a very difficult market to break
into successfully. If local conditions present a specific opportunity (no big competitors are around yet) then
you have a better chance.

Niche Markets

You can find success by narrowing in on certain customer niches (i.e., older women, teens, expectant
mothers, young men). By choosing a certain market segment in this way, you narrow the customers you

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can sell to, but also effectively narrow the competition you must deal with. If you choose well and narrow
down enough, you may find you are the only store of your size in driving distance and can take advantage
of an unserved or growing market.

The first step to starting a clothing store is to develop your clothing store business plan. Growthink
provides products and services to help you develop a professional business plan and turn your dream into
reality.

Visit this link to learn more: http://www.growthink.com/products/business-plan-template

http://www.growthink.com/businessplan/help-center/how-to-start-a-clothing-store

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MARKETING 101

Creating a Great Business Card
Success is in the cards when you've got business cards that convey the right message.

A business card is an integral part of any good marketing plan. For its size and cost, it's probably the most
powerful part. Of course, you can't expect your business card to tell the whole story about your company.
What you should expect it to do is present a professional image people will remember. A business card can
make or break a client's first impression of your company. In fact, this little card makes as much of an
impression as your personal appearance-the suit you wear or the briefcase you carry.

Choose a card style that's appropriate for your business, industry and personal style. If you're a funeral
director, for example, you don't want to be caught handing out day-glow cards with cartoon figures on
them. If you're a mechanic whose specialty is converting old Beetles into dune buggies, a formal, black-on-
white engraved card will probably be dropped into the nearest circular file. When crafting a design, start
with the style that best supports the business image you wish to project. To help you get started, here are
five different card styles for you to consider:

 Basic cards. A basic card is usually printed in black ink on plain white or cream stock. This is a good
style to choose when utility is all you need. It's a no-nonsense approach that can appeal to clients
and prospects who would not be impressed by fancy design features-the people who want "just the
facts, ma'am." The design is simple, and the information is clear and concise.
 Picture cards. Having your face on your card-whether it's a photograph, a drawing or a caricature-
helps a contact remember you the next time he or she sees you. Images representing a product or
service, or a benefit your business provides, can help you communicate your business better than
dozens of words. A splash of color (rather than just black and white) is often helpful on a picture
card, too.

 Tactile cards. Some cards are distinguished not so much by how they look as by how they feel. They
may use nonstandard materials, such as metal or wood, or have unusual shapes, edges, folds or
embossing. Tactile cards tend to be considerably more expensive than regular cards because they
use nonstandard production processes such as die cuts. But for some businesses, this more
unusual card may be worth the price.
 Multipurpose cards. A card can do more than promote your name and business-it can also serve as
a discount coupon, an appointment reminder or some other function. It may also provide valuable
information that the average person may need. For example, a hotel may include a map on the
back of its card for any guests who are walking around the local area. A card of any type can be
made multipurpose by adding any of these types of features.

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 Outside-the-box cards. A wildly original, fanciful or extravagant presentation can draw extra
attention. Creativity knows no bounds-except the amount of money you wish to spend. Some
examples are cards made of chocolate or that folded out into a miniature box to keep small items
in.

Now It's Time to Order
Once you've settled on a basic idea for your business card, it's time to head to the printer. There are four
primary considerations when ordering business cards:

 Weight. Most business cards are printed on 80-pound cover stock.
 Finish. Of the three available-smooth, linen and laid-the smooth finish is the most popular.
 Color. Right now, two-color cards predominate. If you're selecting from a catalog, there are between
five and 15 standard colors to choose from. If you have another ink color in mind, your printer can
show you a Pantone Matching System book, which includes every shade under the sun.
 Quantity. It generally pays to print more cards rather than fewer, because the printer's cost is
primarily in the setup.

Design Resource
For more detailed descriptions of the different types of business cards, take a look at It's in the Cards. In it,
Ivan Misner, Candace Bailly and Dan Georgevich review more than 2,000 business cards from 10
countries and select more than 200 examples of some of the best, which are shown throughout the book
in full-color.

One Final Tip
Though this may sound like obvious advice, it might cost you another trip to the printer if you don't heed it:
Include the essentials. This means your name, title, company name, address, phone number (or numbers,
if you want to include your cell), e-mail and Web site. If someone wants to contact you after receiving your
card, you sure as heck want them to be able to.

Compiled from articles written by Kim T. Gordon and Ivan Misner previously published on Entrepreneur.com.

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NETWORKING 101
Effective business networking is the linking together of individuals who, through trust and relationship
building, become walking, talking advertisements of one another.

1. Be genuine and authentic, which is essential to building trust and relationships, and seeing how
you can help others.
2. Ask yourself what your goals are in participating in networking meetings so that you will pick groups
that will help you get what you are looking for. Some meetings are based more on learning, making
contacts, and/or volunteering rather than on strictly making business connections.
3. Visit as many groups as possible the spark your interest. Notice the tone and attitude of the group.
Do the people sound supportive of one another? Does the leadership appear competent? Many
groups will allow you to visit two times before joining.
4. Know the organizer. Make is a point either when you arrive at the event or prior to leaving the
event to thank the organizer for putting the event together. Let them know you enjoyed the event
and look forward to all the great connections the event will allow you to make. Be sure to let the
organizer know you are interest in attending future events.
5. Hold volunteer positions in organizations. This is a great way to stay visible and give back to groups
that have helped you.
6. Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations. This means questions that ask who, what,
where, when and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no. This form
of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.
7. Smile. Smiles are approachable. No one likes anyone with a perpetual frown on their face and you
never know when someone will snap a photograph. Stay away from negativity, focus on the positive
and always be prepared for a photo opportunity.
8. Other assistance. If you really like the event/group, offer that you’d like to be a part of helping to
organize future events by volunteering time and some of your core capabilities. Help your fellow
social networkers by advancing their goals, sharing their goals with others or by introducing them to
a new contact in your network. Make a solid public recommendation if you honestly believe in what
they have to offer.
9. Be polite. Enter conversations gently and in a meaningful way with something to add. Don’t
interrupt existing conversations in progress, but work your way into conversations. As a
conversation hits a full or comes to a conclusion, start it again, this time with a twist. Avoid cursing.
There is no need to curse and swear to make your point. If you’re succinct in your discussion,
people will get the point. Use words like F*&K and SH*T become very unattractive after a while
and show a certain lack of professionalism after some time.
10. Meet the influencers. Take time to understand who the influencers are in the room, who are long
time members and pay deference to their contributions to the organization. Share your
experiences with them about the group. Ask questions of the influencers as they know a ton about
the group and how to become established within the group. Perhaps you can help an influence in
some other area of life and they can help you within the social network group?
11. Meet the newcomers. Show a bit of bi-partisanship and don’t put all your focus on the influencers
or the organizers at the time. A newcomer could one day become an “influencer”, so you should try
to meet some of them, it’s important to show the rest of the group that you are not just knowing to
network up, but that you care about the development of the entire group.

29 | P a g e
12. Don’t sell and don’t spam. Tread lightly on the commercial approach. Don’t blanket the party with
your pitch, your business card or with how great you are. If you try to sell things to your social
network and you constantly GLOAT, chances are you will be rejected in some way.
13. Become known as a powerful resource for others. When you are known as a strong resource,
people remember to turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc. This keeps you
visible to them.
14. Write as an expert. Write articles on topics related to your industry and contact editors about
submission guidelines for trade publications.
15. Have a clear understanding of what you do and why, for whom, and what makes your doing it
special or different from others doing the same thing, in order to get referrals, you must first have a
clear understanding of what you do that you can easily articulate to others.
16. Be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others may help you. Too often people in
conversations ask, “How may I help you?” and no immediate answer comes to mind.
17. Follow through quickly and efficiently on referrals you are given. When people give you referrals,
your actions are a reflection on them. Respect and honor that and your referrals will grow.
18. Call those you meet who may benefit from what you do and vice versa. Express that you enjoyed
meeting them, and ask if you could get together and share ideas.
19. Be known as a connector. Connect those persons in your networks that could benefit from making
each other’s acquaintance. You’ll be in the good graces of those who you connect for expanding
their network in a meaningful way.
20. Find new events, go to them and cross-connect the contacts you meet at one group with their
contacts from another. Turning your friends on to new events helps them understand that you care
about their development.

Resources:

“99 Tips for Successful Business Networking”
Contact Information, (301) 469-8015
SuccessCoach@erols.com | www.StrategiesForChange.com

“101 Basic Tips for Online and Offline Social Networking”
www.BlueGlass.com/Blog/Social-Networking-101-basic-tips-for-online-and-offline-social-networking

“Valuable Networking Tips for Professional and Personal Growth”
www.Life-Balance.net/2007/10/08/valuable-networking-tips-for-professional-and-personal-growth

30 | P a g e
SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID
https://treas-secure.state.mi.us/osg/welcome.asp

Michigan.gov Home MI Scholarships Home Login Contact Us Help

WELCOME

Welcome to Michigan Scholarships
Online, your delivery system for
helping students attend Michigan
colleges through the state's
Competitive Scholarship, Tuition
Grant and Post Secondary Access
Student Scholarship (PASS)
programs. For additional information
try the State of Michigan Paying for
Higher Education website.

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Scholarships And Grants | findtherightscholarship.com

www.findtherightscholarship.com

Michigan Scholarships - Scholarships By State - College ...

http://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/college-scholarships/scholarships-by-state/michigan-
scholarships/

Michigan Scholarships

Michigan scholarships are one potential source for funding your education and ensuring you are not drowning in debt
once you graduate. Like students across the nation, those residing in or attending college in Michigan will need some form
offinancial aid to help them get through college. By using their state as one of the search criteria, Scholarships.com will
help Michigan students find the money they need to obtain a postsecondary education. Below are a few examples of
Michigan scholarships students may find at our site. By conducting a free scholarship search, students can find additional
information about these and other scholarships based on location or additional criteria.

Aileen Lee Scholarship
Application Deadlines: August 27, Annually
Aileen Lee Scholarships are awarded to incoming freshmen at the University of Oregon each academic year in
recognition of students who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence throughout their high school career in
leadership, service and academic excellence. Criteria: Applicants must be out-of-state students beginning their first year
at the UO Selection: Three men and three [...] More

Tall Clubs International Student Scholarships
Application Deadlines: Varies
Annually, at the Tall Clubs International Convention, TCI awards student scholarships of up to $1,000 each to tall students
who are under 21 years of age and attending their first year of college in the following fall. The recipients must also meet
the TCI height requirement minimums of 5'10" for women and 6'2" for men. If you are interested in applying for a TCI
Scholarship Award, please read [...] More

Carson Scholars Fund, Inc.
Application Deadlines: Varies
Carson Scholars Fund, Inc. aims to recognize and reward students in grade 4-11 who have earned the highest level of
academic achievement. Emphasis is placed on students' performance and desire to maintain a strong academic record,
as well as humanitarian qualities that have a positive impact on society. To be considered for nomination, students must:
Be enrolled in grades 4-11, be nominated [...] More

WMU Nontraditional Student Scholarship
Application Deadlines: Varies
Eligibility Criteria: Born before January 1, 1977 Admitted to WMU in a degree granting or graduate certificate program
U.S. citizen or permanent resident Michigan resident since July 1, 1999 Filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) prior to application deadlines Enrolled on a part-time basis Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for undergraduates
or 3.2 for graduate students Meeting [...]More

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WMU Charter Township of Kalamazoo Scholarship
Application Deadlines: Varies
Eligibility Criteria -Be a high school senior who has lived in the Charter Township of Kalamazoo during your junior and
senior year of high school (with certification by a high school official of your address during your junior and senior year) -
Be admitted to WMU by June 1 as a freshman in a degree granting program for fall -Have a junior and senior year
cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the [...] More

The Heidelberg College Out Of State Grant
Application Deadlines: Varies
In order to qualify for the Heidelberg College Out Of State Grant, the applicant must be resident of a state other than Ohio
and attend Heidelberg College. This grant is renewable for four years as long as the student is making satisfactory
academic progress. For more information, please visit http://www.heidelberg.edu/financialaid/futurestudent/scholarships
[...] More

AQHF Dr. Gerald O'Connor Michigan Scholarship
Application Deadlines: December 01, Annually
Scholarship assistance will be awarded to a Michigan resident who is a member of the American Quarter Horse
Association or American Quarter Horse Youth Association. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, academic
merit and American Quarter Horse involvement. Recipient will receive a $2,000 four-year scholarship. For more
information, please visit our [...] More

University of Michigan Grand Rapids Alumnae Trust Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student is a female student entering the second year or above at the University of Michigan, with a permanent residency
(three-year minimum) in Kent County or adjoining counties of Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo or
Ottawa. Must have financial need and a minimum 3.0 GPA. For more information, please visit our [...] More

GRCF Patricia & Armen Oumedian Engineering Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a full-time student at Kettering or transferring from Grand Rapids Community College to Kettering. Must
be a resident of West Michigan or currently be employed by a West Michigan Kettering Co-op employer, demonstrate
financial need and have a minimum 3.0 [...] More

GRCF Grand Rapids Combined Theatre Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a full-time theatre arts major at an accredited college/university with theatre experience at one of the
local community theatres. Must provide three letters of recommendation and have financial need. For more information
about this award, please visit our [...] More

GRCF Mathilda & Carolyn Gallmeyer Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a Kent County resident (five-year minimum) pursuing undergraduate studies in painting/fine arts. Must
demonstrate artistic talent, have financial need and a minimum 2.75 GPA. For more information on this and other GRCF
scholarships, please visit the Grand Rapids Community Foundation [...] More

GRCF Melbourne & Alice E. Frontjes Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a Kent County resident (three-year minimum) pursuing an undergraduate degree at Central Michigan
University, Western Michigan University, GRCC, University of Michigan or Michigan State University. Must demonstrate
financial need and have a minimum 2.75 GPA. For more information about this award, please visit our [...] More

GRCF Audrey L. Wright Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a Kent County resident (three-year minimum) pursuing an undergraduate degree in foreign language or
education. Must have financial need and a minimum 3.0 GPA. For more information on this and other Grand Rapids
Community Foundation scholarships, please visit our website. [...] More

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GRCF Guy D. & Mary Edith Halladay Graduate Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a Kent County resident (two year minimum) and a graduate-level student at a Michigan college. Must
have financial need and a minimum 3.0 GPA. For more information on this and other GRCF scholarships, please visit the
Grand Rapids Community Foundation [...] More

GRCF Mildred E. Troske Music Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a Kent County resident (two-year minimum) studying music at a camp or an undergraduate music major.
Must have financial need and a minimum 3.0 GPA. For more information about this award, please visit our [...] More

GRCF Harry & Lucille Brown; Jack Family; & Robert & Hilda Mitchell Scholarships
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a resident of Kent County (three-year minimum) pursuing an undergraduate degree at any accredited
college in the U.S. Must have financial need and a 3.3 minimum GPA. For more information on this and other GRCF
scholarships, please visit the Grand Rapids Community Foundation [...] More

GRCG Violet Wondergem Health Science Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a resident of Kent or Ottawa counties in Michigan majoring in a health service related field at any
accredited Michigan college or university. Must have financial need and a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. For more
information about this award, please visit our [...] More

GRCF Hackett Family Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a senior at or have graduated from any Grand Rapids public high school in Grand Rapids, Michigan and
is an undergraduate attending an accredited college/university or skilled trade school of their choice. Preference is given
to women of color. For more information, please visit our [...] More

GRCF Elmo Wierenga Alumni Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a senior at Ottawa Hills HS pursuing full-time undergraduate studies at any two- or four-year accredited
school in the U.S. Must have financial need and a minimum 2.5 GPA. For more information about this award, please visit
our [...] More

GRCF Camilla C. Johnson Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a senior at Union High School in Grand Rapids Michigan entering college full time in the fall. Must
demonstrate financial need and a minimum 2.6 GPA. For more information on this and other Grand Rapids Community
Foundation scholarships, please visit our [...] More

GRCF Vivian M. Kommer Scholarship Fund
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a senior at West Catholic HS in Grand Rapids, Michigan entering undergraduate studies in business or
pre-law. Must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. For more information on this and other GRCF
scholarships, please visit our [...] More

GRCF Walter C. Winchester Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a senior graduating from a Grand Rapids, Michigan public high school, demonstrate need and have a
minimum 3.3 GPA. For more information about this award, please visit our [...] More

GRCF Keith C. VanderHyde Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be a senior or graduate of Ottawa Hills HS in Grand Rapids, Michigan pursuing a full-time undergraduate
degree, have financial need and a minimum 3.0 GPA. For more information, please visit our [...] More

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GRCF Paul Collins Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be an undergraduate-level student studying fine arts or applied arts at Aquinas, Calvin, GVSU, GRCC or
Kendall. Must be a resident of Kent County (Michigan), have a minimum 2.5 GPA, have financial need and demonstrate
artistic talent. For more information on this and other GRCF scholarships, please visit the Grand Rapids Community
Foundation [...] More

GRCF Altrusa International of Grand Rapids Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must be from Kent, Allegan, Ionia, Ottawa, Montcalm or Muskegon Counties (six-month residency minimum) and
returning to college or entering college after sitting out of school for at least two years. Must demonstrate financial need
and provide two letters of recommendation. For more information on this and other Grand Rapids Community Foundation
scholarships, please visit the GRCF [...]More

GRCF Dr. William E. and Norma Sprague Ohio University Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Student must have a permanent residence in the Michigan counties of Kent, Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Montcalm, Muskegon,
Newaygo or in Athens counties in Ohio, and be pursuing a full-time undergraduate or graduate degree at Ohio University.
Must have financial need and minimum 3.0 GPA. For more information on this and other Grand Rapids Community
Foundation scholarships, please visit our website. [...]More

Miller Johnson West Michigan Diversity Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
Students of color accepted to or presently attending an accredited law school within the U.S. with a permanent residence
in Michigan. Must demonstrate financial need and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. For more information, please visit our
[...] More

MGMA Midwest Section Scholarships
Application Deadlines: May 01, Annually
The ACMPE Scholarship Fund Inc. supports and promotes health care leaders' personal and professional growth toward
the advancement of the profession. The program supports individuals who, by virtue of experience, current position and
plans demonstrate potential for contributing to the medical practice management profession. To be eligible for this
scholarship, students must be: - Enrolled in an [...]More

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals
Application Deadlines: December 01, Annually
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals is a full-year work-study fellowship program
with a strong focus on cultural exchange. CBYX annually provides 75 young Americans with an understanding of
everyday life, education, and professional training in Germany. The program begins in July and includes two months of
intensive German language training in Germany (no prior [...] More

North American International Auto Show High School Poster Contest
Application Deadlines: November 16, Annually
The contest is open exclusively to Michigan students currently enrolled in grades ten through twelve. The contest is not
open to Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) members, their families or family members of the judges. No shared
work is allowed. Entry limit: two per student. Entries must be submitted to the mailing address above. Posters must be
postmarked or dropped off by 5 p.m. EST [...]More

Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship
Application Deadlines: June 17, Annually
The eligible applicant must be a graduating high school senior or a high school graduate continuing their education at an
accredited institution in the year in which they are applying. They must be a resident of Michigan and a youth exhibitor at
the Michigan State Fair for a minimum of three years prior to the year of application. All questions on the application must
be answered to be [...] More

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GRCF Englehardt Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
The Englehardt Scholarship is for students who are: - Seniors attending Lowell High School (no residency limitation) -
Seniors attending any public, private, charter or home-based school and reside in the City of Lowell, Township of Lowell
or Township of Vergennes - Full-time undergraduates at accredited four- or two-year colleges, or approved technical
schools - Posessing a minimum grade [...] More

The Gerber Foundation Dan Gerber Sr. Medallion Scholarship
Application Deadlines: February 28, Annually
The Gerber Foundation Dan Gerber Sr. Medallion Scholarship is a competitive scholarship program established to
recognize and honor academic excellence among graduating seniors from each of the five school districts in Newaygo
County, Michigan. Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.71. The scholarship provides $8,000, in aggregate, to be
applied to tuition, fees, and books over the course of [...] More

The Gerber Foundation Merit Scholarship
Application Deadlines: February 28, Annually
The Gerber Foundation Merit Scholarship is a competitive scholarship program established to recognize academic
achievement among graduating seniors from Newaygo and Muskegon Counties, Muskegon. Students must have a GPA
between 2.0 and 3.7 to apply. The deadline for application is February [...] More

JSU Alabama McGee Scholarship
Application Deadlines: March 01, Annually
The JSU Alabama McGee Scholarship is for approximately $2,000. Any non-Alabama resident with 28 or above ACT
score or SAT score of 1260 or above may [...] More

ESA Marsh Scholarship Program
Application Deadlines: May 15, Annually
The Marsh Scholarship Fund, the largest and longest running scholarship program in the U.S. surfing community,
annually awards approximately $8,000.00 in financial aid to ESA surfers. The Marsh Scholarship Program began when it
was instituted in 1981 by former ESA Executive Director Dr. Colin J. Couture to recognize and honor the
accomplishments of the Marsh Family of North Carolina and young [...] More

Michigan Competitive Scholarship Program
Application Deadlines: Varies
The Michigan Competitive Scholarship is a program funded by the state of Michigan and is based on both financial need
and merit. Students may use Competitive Scholarship funds at degree-granting Michigan public and independent
postsecondary institutions. Awards are restricted to the cost of tuition and fees. Student must take the ACT test prior to
entering college and achieving a qualifying [...] More

Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation's University Scholarship & Research Grant
Application Deadlines: January 31, Annually
The Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation is pleased to announce its annual university scholarship,
research grant and laptop grant program, aimed at encouraging deserving female students to pursue information
technology and technical careers. This year's competition commences immediately and is open to women, of all ages,
pursuing technology degrees and certifications at the college [...] More

Michigan Tuition Grant Program
Application Deadlines: Varies
The Michigan Tuition Grant is a program funded by the state of Michigan and is based on financial need. The Tuition
Grant is intended to provide students with increased access and choice to attend independent, degree-granting, nonprofit
Michigan postsecondary institutions. Awards are restricted to the cost of tuition and fees. Students must file a Free
Application for Federal Student Aid [...] More

NAPA Research and Education Foundation Scholarship Program
Application Deadlines: Varies
The NAPA Research and Education Foundation Scholarship Program(NAPAREF)currently provides funding for
undergraduate or graduate students who are U.S. citizens and enrolled in full-time civil engineering, construction
management, or construction engineering cirriculum at an accredited four-year college or university or two-year technical
institution. The institution selected by the student must [...] More

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Rosa L. Parks Scholarship
Application Deadlines: March 01, Annually
The Rosa L. Parks Scholarship Foundation is dedicated to awarding scholarships to Michigan high school seniors who
hold close to Mrs. Parks' ideals while demonstrating academic skills, community involvement and economic need. To
qualify for the Rosa L. Parks Scholarship, applicants must be Michigan high school seniors with GPAs of 2.5 or better.
Each scholarship is $2,000, non-renewable and can [...] More

Saginaw Community Foundation Scholarships
Application Deadlines: February 01, Annually
The Saginaw Community Foundation offers a wide variety of scholarships for students continuing their education at an
accredited college or vocational school. The purposes of these scholarships are diverse, fulfilling the wishes of donors
who want to provide financial support to promising students. In an effort to make applying for scholarships easier, the
Foundation offers a common application [...]More

Sault Tribe Higher Education Scholarships
Application Deadlines: Varies
The Sault Sault Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians offers scholarships to Tribe members pursuing higher education. Victor
Matson Sr. Tributary Scholarship - $1,000 scholarship to a Tribe member is pursuing a fisheries-related degree Martha
Miller Tributary Scholarship - $1,000 scholarship to a Tribe member is pursuing a human services - social work degree
Fred L. Hatch Memorial Teacher Education [...] More

Michigan Retailers Association Scholarships
Application Deadlines: April 02, Annually
Those eligible to apply are high school seniors and college freshmen, sophomores and juniors who are: - Dependent sons
and daughters of owners of MRA-member businesses or of regular employees of Michigan Retailers Association member
firms. The parent-employee must have been employed by a Michigan Retailers Association member firm for at least one
year as of January 1 of the year in which the [...] More

GRCF Chad Vollmer Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
To be eligible for the Chad Vollmer Scholarship, students must be seniors at Central High School in Grand Rapids,
Michigan and plan to attend Grand Rapids Community College. Must have financial need, a 2.3 minimum GPA to renew
and have an acceptable work history. For more information, please visit our [...] More

GRCF Dorothy J. Thurston Graduate Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
To be eligible for the Dorothy J. Thurston Graduate Scholarship, students must be Kent Count residents (two-year
minimum) pursuing full- or part-time graduate study at any accredited school in Michigan with financial need and a
minimum 3.0 GPA. For more information about this award, please visit our [...] More

GRCF Guy D. and Mary Edith Halladay Music Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
To be eligible for the Guy D. and Mary Edith Halladay Music Scholarship, students must be Kent County residents (two-
year minimum) and a graduate or undergraduate student majoring in music at any college in the U.S. Must have financial
need and a minimum 3.0 [...] More

GRCF John T. and Frances J. Maghielse Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
To be eligible for the John T. and Frances J. Maghielse Scholarship, students must be graduates of a Grand Rapids
Public High School, residents of Kent County and currently pursuing a full-time undergraduate degree in the field of
education at any Michigan public or private college or university. Students must also have financial need and minimum 3.0
GPA. For more information about this award, [...] More

NTA New Horizons - Kathy LeTarte Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 09, Annually
To be eligible for the NTA New Horizons - Kathy LeTarte Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria: - Citizen
or permanent resident of the United States - Permanent resident of Michigan - Full-time or part-time undergraduate
student enrolled in a travel-and-tourism- or hospitality-related program of study - Enrolled at a college or university in the
United States or Canada - [...] More

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GRCF Roger and Jacquelyn Vander Laan Family Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
To be eligible for the Roger and Jacquelyn Vander Laan Family Scholarship, students must be seniors at South Christian
High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan entering a full-time program in the fall at any accredited college, university,
vocational or technical school and majoring in healthcare, education or business. Applicants must also have financial
need and a minimum 3.0 GPA. For more [...]More

GRCF Virginia Valk Fehsenfeld Scholarship
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
To be eligible for the Virginia Valk Fehsenfeld Scholarship, students must be full-time undergraduate students pursuing a
degree in dietetics, nutrition, education or general human services. Applicants must also be residents of Kent County,
have financial need, and possess a 3.4 minimum GPA. For more information about this award, please visit our [...] More

Women in Defense-Michigan Horizon's Scholarship
Application Deadlines: October 01, Annually
Women In Defense Michigan established the HORIZONS-Michigan Scholarship in 2009 to encourage women to pursue
careers related to the national security and defense interests of the United States, and to provide development
opportunities to women already working in these fields. Applicants must meet the following criteria. Preference will be
given to the following: 1. Be a resident of Michigan. [...] More

GRCF Warner Norcross & Judd LLP Legal Studies Scholarship for Minorities
Application Deadlines: April 01, Annually
You may apply for a Warner, Norcross, & Judd LLP Legal Studies Scholarship for Minorities if you are a student of racial
and ethnic minority heritage pursuing studies in law (one law school, one paralegal and one legal secretarial scholarship
awarded each year.) You must either have a permanent residence in Michigan or be attending a Michigan law school and
demonstrate financial [...] More

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State of Michigan Scholarships
LCC is authorized by the State of Michigan to administer the following state-funded awards and
scholarships to our students. We encourage you to read the descriptions and instructions for the
awards and scholarships below and to contact our office with any questions.

 Michigan Competitive Scholarship
 Michigan Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)
 Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver

Michigan Competitive Scholarship

The Michigan Competitive Scholarship is based onboth financial need and merit and is available for
use at Michigan public and private postsecondary colleges. Students must take the ACT Assessment
(ACT) before entering college and receive a qualifying test score. (Students may take the ACT after
leaving high school if they have not had any college experience). Awards are restricted to tuition and
fees. File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Priority will be given to students who
apply by February 21 (freshman) or March 21 (upperclassmen).

Michigan Tuition Incentive Program (TIP)

TIP pays community college tuition and registration fees for students from low-income families who
meet the basic criteria and low-income financial guidelines. To meet the financial eligibility
requirement, a student must have (or have had) Medicaid coverage for 24 months within a 36-
consecutive-month period as identified by the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS), and
applied before graduation or GED completion.

LCC requires students to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) -www.fafsa.ed.gov -
and submit the following to activate their award: (a)Letter of Eligibility from the State of Michigan,
(b)High School Diploma/GED. Students must be enrolled in programs of study that require at least 30
credit hours for completion. Information on your chosen program of study can be found on the LCC
webpage -http://www.lcc.edu/catalog/degree_certificateprograms/.

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Eligibility for both Phase I and Phase II:

 Provide evidence of eligibility, i.e., submit a copy of the "eligibility letter" to the financial aid
office of the college
 Obtain a high school diploma or GED certificate prior to age 20
 Be enrolled at least half time in a program earning less than 80 semester or 120 term credits
 Be a Michigan resident as determined by institutional criteria
 Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
 Meet the institution's satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policy

Additional information on TIP eligibility can be found on the State's website -
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/FactSheetTIP_161201_7.pdf

Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver

The Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver - MITW - is available to students who meet the following criteria:

 You must be enrolled at one of Michigan's public colleges or universities AND
 You must be 1/4 or more Native American blood quantum as certified by your Tribal
Enrollment Department AND
 You must be an enrolled member of a US Federally recognized Tribe as certified by your Tribal
Enrollment Department AND
 You must be a legal resident of the state of Michigan for not less than 12 consecutive months.

Answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver.

Additional information on the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver can be found on the State's website -
http://www.michigan.gov/mdcr/0,1607,7-138--240889--,00.html

Should you meet the criteria, you may fill out the Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver Application, and
submit it to your Tribal Enrollment Department.

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SERVICES & BUSINESS NETWORK

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COACHING SERVICES

BOOK COACH
Sylvia Hubbard, Motown Writers Network
www.sylviahubbard.com/

CREDIT REPAIR COACH
Ali C. Sanders, The Credit "Champion"
ACS Credit Education & Consulting
acscrediteducation@gmail.com
acscanhelpyou@yahoo.com

HAIRSTYLIST COACHING
www.facebook.com/hairstylistc

LIFE COACH
Deaquelynn Williams
www.thequelynnclassroom.com

LIFE COACH
Dr. Stacia Pierce
www.staciapiercesuccesscircle.com

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MARKETING COACH
Nakida Friday
www.systemsista.com

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT COACH
Versandra Kennebrew
http://www.versandrakennebrewintl.com/

PR COACHING
Pam Perry, Ministry Marketing Solutions
www.pamperrypr.com
www.ministrymarketingsolutions.com

RELATIONSHIP COACH
Christine Pembleton
www.readytobeawife.com

RETAIL & BUSINESS COACH
Tonja Ayers
www.EmperialPublishing.com

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www.newsafestart.org

Pre-Employment Training is FREE OF CHARGE and open to all survivors of domestic violence. Topics will
include:

 RESUME CREATION
 JOB SEEKING TECHNIQUES
 INTERVIEWING SKILLS
 AND MUCH MORE!

Ongoing sessions with many dates and locations within the Metropolitan Detroit area
Call 800-757-4919 ext. 2 for training dates and locations.

Mission Statement

To equip survivors of domestic violence with the appropriate financial tools and resources
needed to enable women to leave or recover from the economic portion of domestic violence.
SAFE’s community awareness initiatives increase the awareness of how domestic violence
affects women on an economic level that is often overlooked. Abusers utilize power and
control to restrict access to financial resources, which ultimately limits options for the abused
to leave their abusive situation. A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice explains
that in cases of economic abuse, victims are often hesitant to leave their abuser or end up
returning to the abuser for financial reasons. To combat this epidemic, SAFE assists survivors
of domestic violence through specialized training focused on gaining or building the skills
needed to reenter the workforce, obtain higher paying positions and manage their finances to
break the cycle

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www.TryGodTees.com

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www.facebook.com/pages/Steffie-Kakes/167444666656560

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www.ProjectSingleMoms.com
SHANICK MOORE-BARTELL, NATIONAL PROGRAM DIRECTOR

ABOUT PROJECT SINGLE MOMS WORLDWIDE, INC.™

Project Single Moms Worldwide, Inc. (PSM) is a national advocacy & empowerment movement designed to
empower, educate, engage, energize, equip and enhance the quality of life for single mothers and their children.
The movement strives to organize and create a unified voice for single moms as well as to dispel negative myths
and stereotypes by redefining the face and character of single moms in America. Membership is free and open to
single moms from all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. PSM is a volunteer-led, nonprofit organization.

PROJECT SINGLE MOMS WORLDWIDE, INC. is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Our national programs are
designed to engage single moms in the two primary focal areas of education and empowerment which includes:
Advanced Education; Parenting Skills & Support; Financial Literacy & Wealth Building; Health & Wellness (Mental,
Emotional & Physical); Homeownership Attainment; Starting & Growing a Successful Business; and Personal
Empowerment & Self-Development.

This grassroots movement is currently serving more than 2,600 single moms in 45 states in America and has also
attracted the interest and participation of single moms from Australia, Malaysia, Ghana, Switzerland, Albania,
Greece, Germany and Jamaica.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:

 Empowering single moms to pursue their dreams and passions of obtaining homeownership and starting
businesses;
 Educating single moms by identifying and creating opportunities to further advance in their education;
 Engaging single moms in movement building and advocacy work to influence, change and create policy on a local,
state and federal level that will help enhance the lives of single moms;
 Energizing single moms by encouraging pursuit of healthier lifestyles for themselves and their children;
 Equipping single moms with information, tools and access to people and opportunities to help them accomplish
their personal and professional goals; and
 Enhancing the perspectives of single moms that through focused-efforts and hard work they can live the life they
have always imagined.
PSM NATIONAL PROGRAMS:

 Unity Night & Membership Drive
 Advocacy & Legislative Week
 Project Single Teen Moms Mentorship Program
 My Hero Mom: A Celebration of Single Moms
 Small Business Academy for Single Mothers

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The Called and Ready Writers
Christian Writers Group in Support of Christian Books and Authors Founded 1999
www.TheCalledandReadyWriters.org

Resources and Markets for Writers:
Steps to Self Publishing

1. The U.S. Copyright Office - http://www.copyright.gov/

2. The Library of Congress Center for The Book - www.loc.gov

3. The Legal Writer Publications - www.legalwriterpublications.com

4. The International Bible Society - www.ibs.org

5. WINNERS - www.writersjournal.com

6. Drama Share Christian Drama Resources - www.dramashare.org

7. Christian Writers Fellowship int'l - www.cwfi-online.org

8. American Christian Fiction - www.americanchristianfictionwriters.com

9. Vistaprints (business supplies) - www.vistaprints.com

10. The Writer's Edge Service - www.writersedgeservice.com

11. Spirit Led Writer - www.spiritledwriter.com

12. Black Issues Book Review - http://bibookreview.com

12. ECPA - Evangelical Christian Publishers Association - http://www.ecpa.org

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SPEAKERS & FACILITATORS BUREAU

Evangelist Samantha Ajagu
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1752720553

Minister Enna Bachelor
Lighthouse Community Church
www.facebook.com/enna.bachelor

Shanick Moore-Bartell
National Program Director, Project Single Moms
www.facebook.com/shanick.moore

Co-Pastor Valorie Bennett
House of Prayer & Praise Ministries
www.hoppministries.org
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000884976614&ref=ts

Elder Sharnae Coakley
The SISTAHS Ministry International, SISTAH Teen Director
www.facebook.com/sharnaec

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SPEAKERS & FACILITATORS BUREAU

Karen L. Donald
100% Woman
www.KarenLDonald.com
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=593042690

Dea. Carlotta Eckford
Serenity Christian Church
http://www.facebook.com/carlotta.eckford

Eldress Kim James
www.facebook.com/kim.r.james

Rev. Celeste Kelley
Sister Girl Ministries
www.sistergirls_itsnotthatserious.com
www.facebook.com/ministerceleste

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SPEAKERS & FACILITATORS BUREAU

Pastor R. Janae Pitts-Murdock
Mississippi Boulevard Church – Memphis, TN
www.rjanaepitts.org/
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1015225322

Kalyn Risker
Sisters Acquiring Financial Empowerment
www.newsafestart.org
www.facebook.com/mskalyn

Pastor Martina Wade-Hill
God’s House of Deliverance Church
www.GodsHouseofDeliverance.org

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www.crystalgunn.com

It is my mission in life to positively impact the lives of as many people as I can. I hope this page will impact
the lives of every reader and in turn, encourage the reader to positively impact the life of another because
“A life is not important except the impact it has on other lives.” ~Jackie Robinson

Women Empowering Women is a place for women to come together to be empowered and to empower.

Crystal started a non-profit foundation, with her daughter Nile, The Nile
Adia Family Foundation, which focuses on empowering children and
families through programs, workshops, training and assistance. She and
her daughter also founded Nile Adia Inc to empower young girls through
positive images and products, to be courageous, confident, build high
levels of self esteem, dream big and motivate social responsibility.

Crystal’s personal mission statement is to positively impact the lives of
as many people as she can. She is dedicated to assist others in
reaching their true levels of greatness and making life amazing.

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CHERANISSA ROACH

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