Coming to the US as an immigrant in the aftermath of September 11 was one of the most
transformational experiences in my life. I did not speak English well at that time, and my credentials
and professional accomplishments as a women’s right activist and broadcast journalist were from a country about which
most people knew very little. I had no idea how to navigate the system, or where to look for resources, help and opportunities.
Finding a meaningful job or working in media was nearly impossible.
The prejudice against immigrants following
September 11 was everywhere, and had an impact on the economics of most immigrant families. Being one of them, I knew from
personal experience the challenges, the risks, the hard work and sacrifices immigrants, especially women, have to make to
be able to integrate into a new culture, raise their children as global citizens, and participate in the economic and civic
life.
It hurt to see so much talent, energy and creativity remained untapped and unemployed.
I was determined to be the voice for
all voiceless yet talented immigrant women, and to demonstrate that many immigrants who came to the United States have brought
incredible creative capital to the country, and that their contributions have had a lasting positive impact on our culture,
market and society as a whole.
My husband and I had two young children, one of them only a month old recovering from a severe brain stoke…
My dream was to see him able to walk and speak. I knew we will make it, all of us together, yet everything was so blurry,
so unreal, just like a beautiful watercolor, washed out by the rainy days of spring.
Where do you begin when
your new path is so unknown, unclear and unfamiliar? A voice inside of me whispered “Follow your
dream. Listen to your intuition. Failure is impossible.”
In 2002, I joined the AmeriCorps and served for a year as an AmeriCorps volunteer. During
that year I also created Empowered Women International (EWI) as a non profit organization to promote the arts and cultures
and create entrepreneurial opportunities for immigrant women. In 2003, I already had an office space, art gallery and classroom
space, and started to show art of immigrant women artists, present cultural events telling women’s stories, and assist
immigrant women artists with marketing seminars and coaching. Each year I worked with more than 300 women
artists helping them break into the arts market, engage in the community and find a way to support themselves and their families.
Approximately
80% of the artists who attended the art business classes had an increase in their income, changed jobs for better positions
and/or enrolled in educational programs. About 70% of our artists sold or exhibited work in new venues, worked on commission
projects, or volunteered in schools and community efforts. EWI also worked to increase artist visibility, producing
a series of concerts, exhibitions and performances featuring some 50 artists each year. More than 6,000 people attended EWI
events.
By
proving business skills and marketing opportunities to immigrant women artists, I also realized that American born artists
too lacked business training in the arts. Just like the immigrants, artists who had no language or cultural
barriers had very little hope that they can make a career and support themselves from their art.
In doing research and talking to art
professionals, I learned that there are very few programs and organizations across the country that provide art business skills,
marketing and support services for artists, and that there are none, or very few if any business schools
for artists.
To
address this need, my solution was to create a business school for artists, a venture that will maintain its social mission
“to create career and entrepreneurial opportunities for artists,” by providing art business education,
coaching and consulting services and a marketplace to promote and market artists and creative entrepreneurs. The Entrepreneurship
Academy for Artists gives 10% from its profits to the Empowered Women International to continue its mission to promote the
art and cultures of immigrant women artists and create sustainable livelihoods for immigrant women artists.
To support Empowered Women International
or learn more visit www.ewint.org
