WB News Release: [March 28, 2007]
Contact Name: Brad Mitchell
Phone Number: (312) 353-6976

U.S. Labor Department and two Chicago organizations offer free business workshop for area Asian American women ‘Building Networking Skills’ to help aspiring entrepreneurs gain skills and certification

CHICAGO – A workshop for Asian American women who want to enhance their networking skills will be held Saturday, April 7, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CDT at Harris Bank, 503 N. Washington, in Naperville, Ill., as part of a larger U.S. Labor Department Women’s Bureau local initiative designed to help Asian American women succeed as entrepreneurs.

The Asian American Alliance and the Women’s Business Development Center will co-sponsor the “Building Networking Skills” workshop. The Women’s Bureau, with these two partners, launched the Asian American Women Business Initiative to provide Chicago-area Asian American women a background for starting and growing successful businesses. The program aims to empower participants to obtain certification for woman-owned, minority and/or disadvantaged businesses, along with the skills necessary to market services and products to government and corporate buyers.

“Networking skills are critical for women, particularly women in business, to achieve career advancement,” said Nancy Chen, the Women’s Bureau’s regional administrator in Chicago. “This session represents opportunity for women entrepreneurs to hone their networking skills.”

Admission to the workshop is free, but advance registration is requested. Contact Lisa Jur in the Women’s Bureau’s Chicago office at jur.lisa@dol.gov or (312) 353-6985.

In 2004, the number of Asian American women who owned businesses in the U.S. topped 419,000, and that number continues to grow.  Yet, due to language and cultural barriers, many Asian American women lack information on resources and services that are available through government agencies, as well as private sector and non-profit organizations, to develop, succeed and reach their highest potential in business.

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