Senator James Sanders Jr. (D-Rochdale Village, Far Rockaway) celebrated Women’s History Month with a Women in Business Symposium on March 26, 2017 at the Rosedale American Legion featuring business owners, budding entrepreneurs and those seeking to explore economic development opportunities.
“When women move, the world changes,” Sanders said. “When women decide that enough is enough, then the world changes. As women progress, so do families.”
The event provided a day to celebrate women making a difference in their communities, an outlet to encourage women to start their own businesses, and an opportunity to meet and network with successful women and make valuable connections.
Sanders advised the attendees to get certified as Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) so they can compete for city and state contracts. Sanders currently leads the Senate’s new Task Force on MWBEs, a subcommittee which will work to find innovative ways, both legislatively and otherwise, to help empower these businesses and grow New York’s economy.
Sanders said the Senate task force would soon begin hearings to insist that city and state MWBEs get their share of contracts. “We want America to be America for everybody,” Sanders said. In addition, he said he would use his role as the ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee and Senate Labor Committee to fight for improvements.
Audience members at the event were exposed to a diverse group of business leaders who will continue to mentor them, acting as a resource and assisting with services in the areas of financial management, marketing, advertising and employee management. The goals of the event were to recognize female entrepreneurs; recruit Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and acquire and make new partnerships with the business community.
Several local business leaders were honored by Sanders at the event. They were: Roxanna Thomas, Senior Equal Rights Compliance Officer with the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity Management; Andrea Ormeno, Director at the Queens Economic Development Corporation; Gina Vasquez LCSW, Founder and President of Flowers of Hope NY; Julia Blair, President of JMB Training School; Kimberly Peeler-Allen, Co-founder of Higher Heights; and Herlema Owens, President and Founder of the Association of Women Construction Workers of America. |
