Why C2 Your Health Women's Initiative?

I thought a good way to explain is to describe how I came to create this non-profit organization designed to support women entrepreneurs is to share my own experience. In the beginning of my entrepreneur journey finding local resources seemed easy enough, I looked online, read some books, attended a few seminars, asked a few of my friends some who were business owners some not. Before I knew it, I was on my way. However, once my business was established, up and running, experienced a level of success I began to realize women mentors were far and few in-between.

As a women entrepreneur I found I was unable to easily locate mentors and resources needed to grow my business. Over time I realized there was little support to help women to choose entrepreneurship as a career option. So, in 2010 through C2 Your Health LLC we started mentoring college women in health, wellness and micro business development with huge success.

During our journey we learned about the growing disparity between women and men entrepreneurs in all sectors of women owned business U.S. 39%, Indiana 37%, Saint Joseph County 2% where I live.

We also learned about the obstacles uniquely to women such as work-life-family balance, society expectations, views of women owning their own business, and even women not seeing entrepreneurship as a viable career option all which handicap women entrepreneur startups.  Historically women entrepreneur failure rate is about 70% much higher than men. There are many reasons for this however the ones recounted in the research that occur over and over are. lack of role models, mentors, resources and low self-confidence (fear). 

The U.S. government divides women entrepreneurs in three categories 1. Entrepreneur by Emergency 2. Entrepreneur by Necessity 3. Entrepreneur by Opportunity. All three of these groups improve their success rate exponentially when mentoring is available. In the ground breaking report Women Entrepreneurs Need Mentors indicated 75% percent of women leaders maintain that mentoring plays an integral part in their career. The study goes on to say, “the findings contribute to positive social change by encouraging women entrepreneurs to establish on-going mentoring relationships.” Which is where C2YHWI mentoring steps up to the calling.

With this in mind in 2018 we decided to expand our mentoring program through the creation of C2 Your Health Women’s Initiative a nonprofit (501c3) organization. C2 Your Health Women’s Initiative created mentoring fellowships and internships to solve the most frequently noted obstacles for business creation for women entrepreneurs with a health and wellness focus. Why health and wellness? Because American’s a sick. All major chronic diseases are on the rise and many at epidemic proportions. Our mentoring includes personal wellness with in small groups contributing to a healthier community.

Other than promoting nutrition and health wellness C2YHWI inspires and empowers women in business and those interested in starting or growing a business by organizing women business expo events, mentorship circles, symposiums and networking luncheons and dinners that serve as a source of business information, resources, and support enabling them to succeed.

We provide women micro-entrepreneurs of any kind with instant access to the necessary time, promotion platform, resources and education needed to grow their small business or turn new ideas into a business venture. We aim to eliminate the barriers to entry of entrepreneurship (education, mentorship resources, time, and marketing). Through the women expo and entrepreneurship summit we provide a platform that connects women micro-entrepreneurs to grow and get their new business ideas off the ground. 

We are eliminating the barrier of education by connecting qualified women business mentors with inexperienced women entrepreneurs in the community. Further the resource barrier is eliminated by connecting women entrepreneurs with other small businesses, financial institutions, fellow women entrepreneurs and targeted customers connection resources in the community thus making business growth and start-up more feasible and time efficient. It is in line with C2YHWI strategic objective to encourage women and girls from low income background to choose entrepreneurship as viable career option with support and mentorship.

We would like to invite you to join our mission 

By joining our mission, you will be providing the opportunity for girls and women who are aspiring to be a women entrepreneur who would not otherwise have the opportunity to explore entrepreneurship as a career option and seasoned entrepreneurs connect to resources, mentoring, and confidence building programs. To move the needle up from 2% is going to take community support from those who care about supporting women who seek life improvement and economic stability through business creation in our communities. C2YHWI is operated through private donations and scholarships.

To learn more about C2 Your Health Women’s Initiative go to http://www.C2YHWI.org 

Follow them on Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/C2YHWI

To connect with Cindy Cohen go to CindyCohenRN@yahoo.com or on Facebook http://www.Facebook.com/CindyCohenRN  Twitter http://www.twitter.com/cindycohen

LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/cindycohenrn  

C2YHWI is operated through private donations and scholarships. We need your health to make a life changing difference.  Click here to learn more, then donate. 

 

Founder, C2 Your Health Women's Initiative 
Owner, C2 Your Health LLC

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