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! 

SFDBA Fall 2023 Updates!

 

SFDBA FALL 2023 UPDATES! 

• Our annual Bay Area Disability Entrepreneurship Event will be November 9th 5:00-8:30pm at the Elks Lodge #3 at 450 Post Street San Francisco. This event will consist of a dynamic panel of seasoned entrepreneurs with disabilities, networking opportunities, resources, art and much more!

• The SFDBA was selected by the San Francisco State University Institute for Civic & Community Engagement for the Community Partnership Award. The awards originally scheduled for this fall, have been postponed until Spring 2024. 

• Executive Director Peter C. DeHaas was chosen to be the keynote speaker for the Department of Occupational Rehabilitations annual breakfast at the Janet Pomeroy center on October 6th 

• The SFDBA in partnership with the Arc of San Francisco and the City and County of San Francisco Office of Economic & Workforce Development has launched its entrepreneurship cohort consisting of 12 individuals with intellectual disabilities

• The Haas School of Business Center for Equity, Gender & Leadership reached out to SFDBA about featuring them for National Disability Employment Month in October. Read article here: https://berkeleyequity.medium.com/sfdba-is-paving-the-way-for-disability-entrepreneurship-in-san-francisco-975dd5a634ca

• Exciting news to come about the SFDBA's pursuit of its 501(c)(3) non-profit status! 

2022 Bay Area Disability Entrepreneurship Week

The second annual Bay Area Disability Entrepreneurship Week 2022 was a success! Here are a few photos and highlights from our week of programming. The week included diverse trainings, small disability owned business visits and an in-person networking event. 

Peter DeHaas & Entrepreneur Rome Jones

                                          California State Senator Scott Wiener and San Francisco 

                               Assessor Joaquin Torres recognize the important work of the SFDBA.

                                                  Lea Maxwell on behalf of Safeway accepts

                                                        2023 Inclusive Employer Award. 

                                                   Small business owners Bali Nelson & Chelsea

                                                   House visit disability owned business Red Bay 

                                                   Coffee. 

                                        

Peter DeHaas with Marilyn Harrison & Christopher Morioka

at the Helpers Artisan Boutique. 

SFSU student Eliska Bednarova & Sarah at the Helpers Boutique visit. 

                  

SFDBA Bay Area Disability Entrepreneurship Week

On October 12th-16th 2021 the San Francisco Disability Business Alliance hosted the Bay Area Disability Entrepreneurship Week. This week long event ran in parallel with the National Disability Employment Month, celebrating small business ownership and entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic sustainability and a more diverse business community.  

The week kicked off with California Senator Scott Wiener as a keynote speaker as well as Kristen Pedersen, Executive Director of the Arc of San Francisco. 

The diverse week of programming included panel discussions with small business owners, budding entrepreneurs and business leaders. The SFDBA also offered a training in partnership with LinkedIn and the Future Entrepreneur Training in partnership with the Helpers Community. Small business owners and entrepreneurs gained skills on the "how to" of starting a small business, different business models to consider, funding considerations, how to market and brand a business, and heard first hand stories of how others started businesses. Over 100 participants attended the week of events and feedback from our survey reflected that the majority of participants experienced positive growth and were inspired by the diverse programming. 

Thanks to our partnership with WAG, American Sign Language interpretation was provided and the amazing captions were provided by the innovative team at AVA. 

Another highlight from the week of programming was the Story of Crip Camp facilitated by San Francisco Film Council President and Bay Cat Founder Villy Wang. Oscar nominated Crip Camp participants Judy Heumann and Neil Jacobson told inspiring stories about their individual journeys and how they harnessed into the spirited entrepreneurial advocates that they both are.  

This event was made possible by the generous support of the Kaiser Permanente Foundation, LinkedIn, UCSF Anchor Institution, AVA, the Helpers Community, Safeway Foundation and the Arc of San Francisco. 

A big thanks to all that participated and supported this event! 

www.sfdba.org

Safeway's Inclusive Employment Opportunities

John Kinaston has worked as a produce clerk for Safeway for 14 years. John enjoys assisting customers and supporting his team. It has been particularly hard through the pandemic given that people are wearing masks and it is difficult to read their lips. 

John was born deaf and grew up in the rural farming area near Roxburgh New Zealand. John visited San Francisco for the first time when he was 29 years old and knew that he loved the city. He applied for his green card and first moved to San Francisco in 2002. John first lived in Marin and worked at the Yardbirds Home Center. A year and a half later John moved back to New Zealand for 2 years and then back to San Francisco where he has resided ever since. 

He recalls how accommodating Safeway was during the hiring process and he is a proud and dedicated employee. Join us in celebrating John’s 14 years of employment and Safeway as an inclusive Bay Area employer. 

Safeway has a longstanding history of supporting people with disabilities going back decades. Their stores work with various community-based organizations on hiring efforts, including job coaching and training programs for people living with disabilities. Safeway takes great pride in fostering a diverse and inclusive environment that reflects the communities we serve. They are proud to have John on our team and commend his work ethic to overcome any obstacles.    

Join the San Francisco Disability Business Alliance in congratulating John for his outstanding work at Safeway and celebrating Safeway's inclusive hiring practices.

The SFDBA Entrepreneur Spotlight: 

Welcome Nader Bahu! 

The SFDBA is excited to introduce and welcome the talented filmmaker and entrepreneur Nader Bahu to the SFDBA community. Nader recently received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Cinema from San Francisco State University. Nader a Palestinian-American who has a rare disability that affects his muscles and mobility. These disabilities might limit someone normally, but Nader’s disabilities have empowered him create powerful short films that shed light on disability related issues including feelings of isolation and at times discrimination. When asked about the content of his short films Nader stated “My films center around my trauma and are documentaries about my past hardships. They focus on harsh topics like suicide, loneliness and discrimination. I have also touched upon lighter topics like friendship and being able to accept yourself.”

Here is a link to a few of Nader’s short films: 

 

OUTCAST by Nader Bahu

 

When asked about harnessing his challenges Nader stated “I do not see the world as good vs evil, but as a world with many complications and trials. I have been told by many people that I can not achieve the goals that I have due to my disability, but I feel I am doing the things that I love.” 

 

Nader’s short films have won and been nominated for many awards and have even aired on television and different streaming platforms. 

The SFDBA is currently assisting Nader navigate the different options available to start a small business including advocating for him within the Department of Occupational Rehabilitation, creating a mentorship opportunity with a successful filmmaker, enrollment in the SFDBA Future Entrepreneur program and helping him find an internship in the film industry. 

 

In addition to building on his filmmaking career, Nader has a passion for manufacturing clothing as displayed in one of his previous projects where he created the unique sweatshirts displaying “ABLE” to help advocate for awareness in relation to the limiting perceptions people sometimes have about individuals with disabilities.

 

Join us in welcoming Nader Bahu to the SFDBA community and share his passion to succeed, live independently, to continue to educate others through pushing boundaries and creating awareness.

Get involved here: https://www.sfdba.org/