San Francisco Small Business Week Event 2024

                     

On Wednesday May 8th, the San Francisco Disability Business Alliance in partnership with the San Francisco Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) hosted our 4th annual Small Business Week event.

 

Peter DeHaas, Paris Mason

Hosted at the new Industrious co-working space, the sold-out event included a panel discussion with founders Paris Mason, Connie Chu, Brian Davis, and Devlin Shand. 

 

Eric Maldonado, Peter DeHaas, Chris Horton, Rolando Tirado 

Lakesha Chew & Marilyn Ridgeway from DOR discussed the resources available at DOR, and entrepreneurship as a viable pathway to "self-employment". Jessica Wan & Gabriela Sapp discussed the resources and supports provided by the SBDC. 

Countless entrepreneurs and small business owners were in attendance, as well as advocates, and local leaders. Also in attendance, the Small Business Administration, lead sponsor Redwood Credit Union, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, and CIBC. The food of the evening was provided by Puerto Rican American founder Chef Lulu of Casa Borinquena which operates in the new IKEA food court on the second floor. 

    Devlin Shand, Peter DeHaas, Brian Davis

                                                                                                 Marilyn Ridgeway, Lakesha Chew                                                                

                                                    

Jessica Aguilar, Leti Moran                                                           

                                                                                           Alberto Moreno, Rolando Tirado, Miguel Gomez

                           

Alan Hampton, Lakesha Chew, Marilyn Ridgeway                           Sara James, Gabriela Sapp, Paris Mason

Arsh Singh, Jessica Wan

                                                     Sugey Mojica, Chris Horton                             Devlin Shand,Paul Suess, Bali Nelson                                                

                            Danielle Phillips

Peter Hottenstein                                    

                                                             

                             Jessica Wan, Gabriela Sapp                                                                                                                       

Peter DeHaas                                                                                                    Paris Mason 

Marilyn Ridgeway

Lakesha Chew

Thank you to our sponsor at Redwood Credit Union and for our partners at the SBDC & DOR!

Also, thank you to Chef Lulu and Casa Borinquena, Industrious, Jamie Soja Photography, 

and San Francisco State University GenB and Institute for Civic and Community Engagement.

Future Entrepreneur Participant Success!

On Friday February 15th, Arc SF & SFDBA Future Entrepreneur participant and self-published author Connie Chu participated in the Wine and Book Tasting event at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco. Connie met several other authors and had the opportunity to sell some of her self published books. She also got some great ideas for her participation in future book events. 

Connie also recently applied for and was awarded a $5000 fellowship with the Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC). Over the next year Connie will run her program titled How the Printed Word Becomes a Small Business. Through this program, Connie wants to teach her peers how it is possible for others with or without disabilities to build a business through self publishing their writing. Over the next year, Connie will recruit participants for this program through the Arc and teach them how to self-publish their own writings. 

Congratulations Connie!

Purchase Connie's books here: https://tinyurl.com/ConnieChu

Connie's website: https://friscoconcyn.wixsite.com/escapism101

3rd Annual Bay Area Disability Entrepreneurship Event November 9th 2023

On Thursday November 9th 2023 the San Francisco Disability Business Alliance hosted its 3rd annual Bay Area Disability Entrepreneurship event located at the elegant Elks#3 on 450 Post Street, downtown San Francisco. 

Artists, entrepreneurs, and small business owners alike convened to engage in a diverse and dynamic FoundAble Panel discussion with Cesar Ramos of Beautiful Losers, Zachary Leyden of Oceanview Stables, and Afatasi the Artist. Founder & Executive Director Peter C. DeHaas facilitated the panel doing a deep dive into what it takes to own a small business, inherent benefits, as well as some of the challenges faced.

Nationally acclaimed disability leader Julie Reiskin, Executive Director of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition,  delivered the keynote speech at the event with resounding support of small business ownership as a pathway to self sufficiency through the innovation of self-employment. 

Rodney Fong President & CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce delivered inspiring words about the SFBDA's important role in the economic recovery of San Francisco and how needed their support is in our diverse community. Katy Fitzsimmons of Wells Fargo spoke of the importance of equity as it relates to access to capital and ensuring that individuals with disabilities have opportunities to engage in lending and receiving financial counseling. Film maker Nader Bahu shared his short award winning film "Faith" and received resounding applause.

Executive Director DeHaas recapped the amazing year for the SFDBA and its community and encouraged the audience to celebrate disability inclusion as it relates to employment and small business ownership every day. Several awards were given at the end of the evening starting with the Inclusive Business Award to the Arc of San Francisco. Rome Jones, Chelsea House & Bali Nelson received recognition for being SFDBA Ambassadors. Cesar Ramos, Afatasi the Artist & Connie Chu were awarded Entrepreneur of the Year awards. Renowned photographer Jamie Soja captured wonderful photos throughout the event and the Elk's event coordinator Kimberly Clark of Azure Blue Events provided a stunning space and caterer Derrik Soars of Pop Ups Unlimited provided a delectable selection of food. American Sign Language interpretation was provided by Grace San Miguel and Rob Merino. San Miguel was one of DeHaas' former ASL students at San Francisco State University. 

    

           

    Thank you to the gracious student volunteers from San Francisco State University!      

Thank you to all of our event sponsors and thank you Elks#3 for such an elegant space!