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Tapping into Native Business Resilience Moving Forward – NM Rainforest University Center Seminar
Monday, June 22, 2020 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
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About this Event
In this time of great change and unknowns, Native business owners are drawing strength from their foundational beliefs and traditions. Resilience is once again being employed to survive during this time. When considering the challenges faced by a majority of Native business owners, many of which rely on the income from selling in public, how does a business continue in spite of an almost complete shutdown of customary distribution channels? What new models are emerging? How can we not return to business as usual?
In short, it takes a collaborative effort, and we can actualize a way forward by working together, with a renewed purpose, passion, and clear way ahead, using the tools we have available to us now. We’ll discuss the development of the Native American Small Business Coalition, Native Women Lead’s Matriarch Response Fund and their presence in the lending space. We’ll also discuss the culturally-responsive Technical Assistance (TA) work New Mexico Community Capital brings in their approach and their work with Native Women Lead.
Join Vanessa Roanhorse, CEO of Roanhorse Consulting, and co-founder of Native Women Lead as she discusses this unique opportunity in time. She’s joined by New Mexico Community Capital’s Managing Director, Liz Gamboa, and Program Manager, Henry Jake Foreman.
New Mexico Rainforest University Center Summer Seminar Series
STC.UNM and the Innovation Academy are hosting their summer 2020 University Center Seminar series. The New Mexico Rainforest University Center provides entrepreneurial training and technical assistance at the University of New Mexico main and branch campuses. The seminars are free and open to the UNM community and the public via in person or web access, but registration is required. A certificate program in entrepreneurial capabilities is available to UNM students and community members thru UNM’s Innovation Academy. If interested in the certificate program as part of the seminar series, please contact Cecilia Pacheco at cpacheco@stc.unm.edu.
Speaker Bio:
Vanessa Roanhorse, CEO of Roanhorse Consulting, LLC, launched Roanhorse Consulting in order to work with unheralded populations to achieve and aspire their self-determination by forging communities of practice, creating equity through entrepreneurship, and encouraging economic empowerment from within.
Vanessa got her management chops working for 7 years at a Chicago-based nonprofit, the Delta Institute, focused throughout the Great Lakes region to build a resilient environment and economy through creative, sustainable, market-driven solutions. Vanessa oversaw many of Delta’s on-the-ground energy efficiency, green infrastructure, community engagement programs, and workforce development training. Vanessa is a 2019 Village Capital Money Matters Advisory Board Member, sits on the local Living Cities leadership table, is a Startup Champions Network member, is an Advisor for emerging Navajo incubator, Change Labs, Advisor for Native Entrepreneurship in Residence Program, is a governing council board member for Siembra Leadership Highschool in Albuquerque and is the co-founder of Native Women Lead, an organization dedicated to growing native women into positions of leadership and business. Her academic education is in film from the University of Arizona but her professional education is from hands-on experience leading local, regional and national initiatives. Vanessa is Diné strong – Tó’áhání (Near the Water Clan), born for Tódích’íi’nii (Bitter Water Clan). Her grandfather on her mother’s side is Tábąąhá (Water’s Edge Clan), and her grandfather on her father’s side is Táchii’nii (Red Running Into the Water Clan).
About the New Mexico Rainforest University Center
The University Center program is funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration to provide entrepreneurial training and technical assistance to individuals or small businesses who are looking to start or grow their idea. The platform for the training will be e-commerce, designed to assist any business with its digital presence.
Note: This seminar may be attended online by going to the following Zoom link at the designated meeting time: https://zoom.us/j/93978033410
Additional Speakers Include: Elizabeth Gamboa, Managing Director and Henry Jake Forum, Program Manager at New Mexico Community Capital
New Mexico Community Capital (NMCC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to change the status quo in Native-owned businesses by providing culturally appropriate tools for success. NMCC supports emerging Native American individuals, companies and tribal enterprises through programs like the Native
Entrepreneur in Residence (NEIR) program and the Financial and Business Basics (FBB) program. With all our work, we seek to use collaborative and personal approaches that support our mentoring and technical assistance work. Our goal is to create healthy, sustainable, self-sufficient Indigineous communities.
