Seats at the Table USA is an innovative, client-led collaboration model that brings together the Foundation for Women’s (FFW) program participants and core community partners to engage in highly participatory discussions aimed at identifying and solving the most difficult challenges facing entrepreneurial women in San Diego County. FFW’s approach to ending poverty is to put tools in the hands of w
omen who will use them to generate income for themselves, their families and communities. Given the complexity of the issue of poverty and the enormous amount of resources and expertise needed to help the women effectively, FFW believes that having its clients and community partners working in concert, systematically and holistically, is the only way forward. Extensive support and partnerships from service providers are extremely important to the success of Seats at the Table USA. Key indicators are anticipated to show a higher degree of financial stability and sustainability for those who chose to participate and work hard to succeed. To date, FFW program participants have demonstrated the impacts of increasing family incomes and their first established savings accounts; better housing that is not shared with other families; children with regular school attendance; better levels of nutrition for the families; and in some cases employment of other individuals in their businesses. Increasing, FFW entrepreneurs are seen as leaders in their communities. Using its experience with global microfinance and having launched Seats at the Table Liberia (STL), FFW has proven that women-led dialogues are tremendously effective in empowering women -- helping women bring their issues to the table, meet face-to-face with the service providers/community partners and have a say in the changes and solutions needed in their lives and communities. Advisory Group
Josie Jara – Chula Vista
Alejandra Carrera – Chula Vista
Lety Gonzalez – City Heights
Valatia Misenhimer – El Cajon
Cecila Avina – El Cajon
Marilin Hernandez – Spring Valley
Tisha Howell – Linda Vista
Zakiyyah Saleem – Linda Vista
Sara Fuentes – Chula Vista
Ybis Farias – Chula Vista
