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When You Power Your Voice, It Powers Us All

Jul 18, 2018 | Advocacy, Uncategorized

 

“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”
—Malala Yousafzai

If one woman speaking out on a cause or issue she cares about can create an impact, imagine the power of more than 100 women’s voices when NAWBO National recently headed to Capitol Hill for the most successful Advocacy Day in our recent history.

NAWBO was founded in 1975 to open doors for women entrepreneurs by transforming public policy and influencing opinion makers. In the beginning, there were just 12 women business owners who met informally in the Washington, DC area to share information about federal contracts, access to capital and other issues related to their businesses.

Over the years, we have grown tremendously in numbers and have continued to represent the issues and concerns of small and women-owned businesses at the national and state levels. Today, NAWBO remains at the forefront of advocacy, whether it’s through our public policy agendas, educational efforts, advocacy toolkits to assist chapters and members in their efforts or successful Congressional Endorsement Program. Still, there’s always more work to be done when it comes to the issues that impact women-owned businesses.

That’s why an organization like NAWBO, and an event like Advocacy Day, is so critical. This issue of NAWBO ONE is dedicated to advocacy with a theme of “Power Your Voice.” In it, you can read about this year’s event, about which one NAWBO member and attendee said, “When we all come together as a collective voice for women business owners, our representatives take notice and are interested in speaking with us and learning how they can assist us.”

This year’s Advocacy Day was meaningful for me personally as well. On the heels of the event, in the city of the NAWBO-Greater DC chapter I have long been a part of—I was installed as your NAWBO National Chair for 2018-2019. I am so honored to take on this new role for the organization and excited to be working with such an amazing group of women leaders to take this organization we all are so passionate about to the next level—in our advocacy efforts and much more.

Additionally, to become your Chair during the 30th anniversary year of HR 5050, The Women’s Business Ownership Act—a legacy of NAWBO and without a doubt, the most pivotal piece of legislation for women business owners in America—inspires me personally to build on the legacy of the incredible women leaders who have made this and other game-changing legislation and opportunities over the years possible.  

Thank you for the opportunity, and I look forward to seeing you in a few weeks at our National Women’s Business Conference 2018 in the “other Washington”—Spokane—where advocacy will certainly be one of many timely issues on the agenda to educate and inspire you.

—Molly Gimmel, 2018-2019 NAWBO National Chair

          

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