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The Moxie Mavens How the Washington CASH Microenterprise program is helping women and minorities become successful small business owners. by MIKE O'DONNELL They meet every other Tuesday in a nondescript building in Seattle’s Central District. Andre’ runs a home decor business, in addition to working full time at a local law firm and coaching track part-time. J.J. creates unique contemporary jewelry, when she is not writing grants for struggling artists. Kristen hosts birthday parties for kids and operates her own T-shirt press, in between her job at a local marketing company. Kristi works around the clock at her fledgling catering business, trying desperately to balance the demands of running a business and being a single parent. They are proud, hard working women. They are the sole proprietors of their businesses and their lives. They are the Moxie Mavens. A group of women business owners, part of Washington Community Alliance for Self-Help, or Washington CASH for short, have voted to call themselves the Moxie Mavens. Washington CASH is a non-profit organization founded in 1995. Its mission is based on the microenterprise training and lending movement started by the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh over twenty years ago. There are now hundreds of microenterprise lending groups around the world. As with the larger microenterprise movement, Washington CASH is dedicated to assisting low-income women and other economically disadvantaged populations by providing hands-on business training and low-interest loans. Andre’, J.J., Kristen and Kristi take their group responsibilities very seriously. They have to, you see, because they are personally responsible for each other’s loans. They are trained by the larger organization, empowered by each other, and ultimately accountable to themselves. The Moxie Mavens were formed after each member completed a six to twelve week intensive business course. They learned how to conduct a feasibility study and write a business plan. They learned how to prepare a profit and loss statement. When they formed the group, they became each other’s loan officers. Kristi initially wanted to start a business organizing romantic evenings for couples. She wanted to marry her love of cooking with her love for intimate gatherings and good conversation. After reviewing her business plan, the Maven’s were united in their assessment. "That isn’t a business, it’s a hobby," they advised nicely, but firmly. "Why not a catering business?" And with that, That Brown Girl Catering was officially launched. After two loans and a lot of hard work, Kristi now counts Nordstroms and The Gates Foundation among her clients. She often cooks all night in borrowed commercial kitchens, then delivers her orders all day. Somehow she finds time to call on new accounts, work on her website, and deal with scary issues like taxes and accounting. "Washington CASH gave me the technical and financial resources," she says. "The Moxie Mavens inspired what I do and who I am." Kristen found Washington CASH through a former graduate of the program. "I saw how successful her business was becoming and how determined she was, and I knew that was what I wanted for myself." Kristen was studying early childhood education when she was forced to drop out of college because of a rare illness. Ironically, her work with children exacerbated her illness. She took an unfulfilling job to make ends meet, but felt she was missing her calling. She hit upon the idea of hosting birthday parties where kids can design and make their own T-shirts. She bought a T-shirt press with a loan from Washington CASH. My Special-T brings out the artist in every kid. "They wear their T-shirts home and are so proud to show everyone," beams Kristen. "They have a great time and feel a real sense of accomplishment." Apparently, no more so than Kristen herself. "There were so many times that I wanted to throw in the towel because I thought it was too tough, I wasn’t feeling well, and I just didn’t think I could pull it off. The Mavens never let me give up. They are not only good businesswomen, they are good friends." J.J. knew she was destined to be a designer when she was eight years old and nailed the wheels of her metal skates to an old board. "Needless to say, I didn’t get credit for inventing the skateboard!" she laughs. As with many women of her day, her life became her husband and helping him to build "his" business. Her life reached a crossroads when carpal tunnel syndrome forced her to abandon her profession as a Massage Therapist. "And don’t you know, that happened just as my alimony was about to end!" Undaunted, she decided to start a business even though she had no formal training. To start Saguaro Lake Jewelry, J.J. took a loan on her credit cards to augment the one she got from Washington CASH. Her one-of-a-kind jewelry is now sold through several high-end galleries and on the web. "I was visiting one of my retailers one day when a customer walked in and bought the piece right off my neck." Anyone who knows J.J. knows she is a walking billboard for her jewelry and for Washington CASH. Andre’ admits to having champagne taste as long as she can remember. "My mother introduced me to a needle and thread and I have been making my own clothes ever since. After I started a family, that skill transferred to home decor." Andre’ also took some classes and worked at a home decorating Classifieds. She eventually found the confidence to apply for her own business license under the name, Beau Joli Decor. "I had the knowledge of designing and sewing, but Washington CASH gave me the business foundation and the plan," she says. Andre’ was further encouraged by her daughter LaShaun, who also joined the program. LaShaun was already operating a successful hair salon and wanted to expand. As with many Washington CASH graduates, LaShaun moved on when she no longer needed the support of the group, but she is still proud to call herself a Moxie Maven. As for Andre’, she faithfully attends each meeting. Although yet to risk taking her first loan, she says wistfully, "Washington CASH has given me the confidence and the push I needed to become a future entrepreneur. Being a Moxie Maven has enlightened my life and given me the drive to stride for the highest of highs." It is now 7:00 p.m. and the meeting of the Moxie Mavens is in full swing. Their voices are rising higher and higher to be heard over the clamor of the other groups meeting around them. J.J. has draped a "Fluffy Ruffle" around her neck and asks for advice on selling this new line of outerwear accessories through local Classifiedss. Andre’ is thinking about hosting a holiday house party to sell some of her home decor items. Kristen passes around pictures from a recent birthday party and talks about how much easier it was for the kid’s to make shirts with her new press. Kristi proudly displays her new menu and asks for leads on finding a permanent kitchen. A Washington CASH staff member listens attentively and takes notes. Their group mentor offers suggestions and assistance, but admits he gets far more inspiration from them than they do from him.

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