The 5^th Annual Oakland Indie Awards were a smashing success! On May 13^th, Oaklanders honored local artists and small businesses at the Indie Awards. Check out photos of the event at http://www.flickr.com/photos/onepacificcoast. The Oakland Indie Awards encourages people to recognize the community, economic, environmental, and political impact of supporting Oakland’s locally-owned businesses and artists instead of chain stores. It also provides rare opportunities for recognition for the small businesses and artists that make Oakland such a wonderful, creative place. Finally, it’s a chance for Oaklanders to just celebrate Oakland by enjoying Oakland food, wine, chocolate and music.

Congratulations to the Indie Awards winners:

• Business Greenie Award – The Rising Loafer Café & Bakery

• Artist Greenie Award - Jamie Vaida

• Pillars – Montclair Vet Hospital & Give Something Back

• Innovative Newbie – Back to the Roots Ventures

• Ripple Effect – Mandela Foods Co-operative

• Socially Responsible Rockstar – Karen’s Flowers

This event would not have been possible without the support of our committed sponsors including: Mattmar Group, Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass, Uptown Apartments, Dan Carroll and Stasia Obremskey, Pete Higgins and Leslie Magid, Blue Heron Catering Company, SuperPrint, Exploratorium, Jack London Square, California Waste Solutions, First Solar, YMCA of the East Bay, City of Oakland, Urban Legends Winery, East Bay Community Foundation, Ron Beller and Jennifer Moses Family Foundation, Bay Area Derby Girls, Oakland Outlaws, AnewAmerica, Kipp and Sara Howard, Nancy Neel, and Bruce and Susan Kelley.

How to Stand Out From The Rest

Being prepared for a job search campaign increases your chances of success. Join us for a discussion on how to deal with the various aspects of the job search including resume writing, job interviewing, thank you letters, and ultimately, entertaining job offers.

Bethany Eggman brings 7 years of experience educating children and adults about various financial topics. For the past 9 years she has worked at a credit union where she teaches employees and credit union members about financial topics. Bethany has obtained two Master’s Degrees in Education, both focused on teaching adults.

Please sign up by emailing ywmoney@ywca-berkeley.org with RSVP 9/20 in the Subject line and your full name in the body of the email. 

Free!!!
Monday September 20, 2010 6:00pm - 7:30pm
YWCA Berkeley / Oakland
2600 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA. 94704
Tel: 510.848.6370;
E-Mail: ywmoney@ywca-berkeley.org
Website: www.ywca-berkeley.org

“Controlling your money, rather than having your money control you” is key to every woman’s quality of life.

The YWCA Berkeley/Oakland’s Young Women and Money Conference will help you gain financial independence and success.

Tired of living paycheck to paycheck? Worried that your credit card will be rejected? Wishing you could see your money grow rather than go? Join the YWCA for the Young Women and Money Conference that will give you the tools and confidence to gain financial independence and success! Learn the smarts about your money - good credit, balancing your accounts, managing your debt, starting your own business, investing, and more!

Workshops

Financial Terms 101
How Budgeting Can Make You Rich
Online Reputation Management
Look Great Without Going Broke
Salary Negotiation/Interview Skills
Developing a Spending Plan
Creating Wealth Through Investments
Power Over Plastic
Your Financial Foundation
Having a Fabulous Relationship with Money

Presenters

Loretta Abrams
Senior Vice President, Community Investment - HSBC North America
Suzanne Agasi
Founder & Director, ClothingSwap.com
Stephanie Barbour
Leadership & Personal Coach, Barbour Coaching & Consulting
MB Deans
President & CEO, PalazzoTech, Inc.
Nivea Gonzales
Unit Manager, Collections - HSBC North America
Peggy Green
Education Specialist, Money Management International
Aurora Medina
Money Coach, Meriposa Money Circles
Ly Franshaua Pipkins
Personal Finance Coach, Pipkins Financial
Rachel Robasciotti & Maya Philipson
Financial Planners & Investment Advisors, Robasciotti & Associates
Jenny Smith
Business Consultant, Tanger Group
Ann Tardy
Founder & CEO, The LifeMoxie Company

Saturday, November 6, 2010
9:ooam to 4:30pm
Marriott Oakland City Center,
1001 Broadway, Oakland 94607
Price: $75

More information and to register:
510-848-6370 |info@ywca-berkeley.org
www.ywca-berkeley.org

Amy Thomas, owner of Pendragon, for the East Bay Express Indie Revolution

We have recently profiled new, up-and-coming small businesses in Oakland, many of which sell exclusively online.  But Oakland is also home to small, independent businesses with storefronts that have been around for years, some even decades.  These are the stores that you grow up with, that add character to your community and childhood memories.  They are also the stores that set examples for other small businesses in how they treat their employees and serve their clients and community.

Pendragon Books in the Rockridge neighborhood is one of these independent businesses.  Pendragon has been in its same location for nearly forty years.  They have been there so long that the children who used to come with their parents to check out the books continue to come back as adults with their own children.  Many staff members have also grown up with the independent bookstore-several have worked for Pendragon for a decade, some even two decades.

Having been in the independent book business for so long, Pendragon knows a thing or two about operating a successful small business that is competitive with the services offered at any chain bookstore.  All staff members are trained to do everything in the store, from helping customers find a book to buying high-quality used books.  Staff members also earn a living wage and get full benefits.  This partly explains why so many have stayed with Pendragon for so long, but it also demonstrates Pendragon’s commitment to sustaining small businesses.  As Amy Thomas, Pendragon’s owner, says, the store is putting its money where its mouth is in terms of advocating for supporting small businesses.

Many new customers come to Pendragon unaware of the top-notch service they can get at an independent book store.  Pendragon’s shelves are well stocked with a wide variety of titles, both new and used, and anything that isn’t in its stockroom can be ordered and shipped to the store within a few days.  Their prices are comparable to the ones you would see at a big book store.  Pendragon’s staff is also knowledgeable about the books they offer, and can suggest book titles and recommendations the way staff at a big book store cannot.

But Pendragon is more than just a bookstore in Oakland; it acts as an engaged member of the community.  Pendragon features local authors and sells beautiful gift cards, many designed by local artists.  It gives discounts to book groups in the area.  It donates books and gift certificates to local libraries and schools.  It is an active member of the American Booksellers Association and supports national literary events, such as Banned Book Week and National Novel Writing Month.

Pendragon, while a stalwart, is also changing with the times.  They have greened the water filtration system in their store and recycle all their packaging materials.  They also buy and sell used books, which is, as they say, perhaps the greenest thing they do.  They also sell all their books and products online, so you can browse their book collection from the comfort of your own home!  To shop online at Pendragon Books and to learn more about their role as an independent bookstore in Oakland, check out their website.

Come shop with the fabulous artisans of Oakland Unwrapped! on a moonlit October night at Jack London’s Waterfront!  Get cool, re-purposed stuff like hats made out of records and belts made from seatbelts.  Also find clothes, toys, jewelry, bikes, tableware, hats, accessories, fun t-shirts, fine art, photography and lots more – all from Oakland shops and artisans! 

Sample and scoop up produce and artisan foods from the twilight Farmers’ Market, sling down some drinks, grab some grub at Jack London Square’s restaurants.

Let loose and have fun with the strolling musicians, fire dancing, ice skating, and other surprise entertainers from the Full Moon Buy Night line up.

Brought to you by OneCalifornia Foundation, Jack London Square, OAKBOOK, and East Bay Express. 

Thursday, October 1, 5:03-9:30pm
Jack London Square.
Free!

Join us for the fun, support the local economy, and maybe event grab a few early holiday gifts!

Greenie Award Winners from 2008 and 2009 with OneCalifornia Foundation's Andrea Walker

On May 15th, Oaklanders and Oakland supporters from all over turned out for OneCalifornia Foundation’s 3rd Annual Oakland Indie Awards, celebrating Oakland’s innovative, socially- and environmentally-responsible businesses and artists. The evening was full of Oakland food, drinks, goods, artists, authors, and music, exhibiting all that Oakland has to offer. And, of course, there were the awards themselves!

Inside the Crucible, an industrial arts training center with a warehouse that can be transformed from classrooms to party central over the course of a few hours, local Oakland businesses and restaurateurs set out samples of their wares and tastes of their food and drink for attendees. (more…)