Good Things

NEAF EXHIBITION, RECORD ATTENDANCE

Wedc Goes To Washington

In March, Nikki Hahn, CEO of the Women’s Enterprise Development Center, attended the Women’s Business Summit kick-off at the White House. The summit, along with the announcement to increase the number of Women’s Business Centers to 160, demonstrates a commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs and ensuring their businesses have access to the tools, resources and funding they need to thrive. “Women-owned businesses have been growing at a remarkable rate in recent years and providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed is essential for our economy’s growth and prosperity,” said Hahn.

The Women’s Enterprise Development Center, with offices in White Plains and Poughkeepsie, hosts two Women’s Business Centers, two New York state Entrepreneur Assistance Centers, and provides training, mentoring, networking, one-on-one advising, MWBE certification assistance and access to capital for both English and Spanish-speaking clients.

“It is inspiring to see the commitment of leaders like President Biden and U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Guzman to support women entrepreneurs and their businesses. I hope that events like the Women’s Business Summit will continue to promote the importance of supporting women entrepreneurs and encourage more investments in their businesses. By doing so, we can help create a more diverse, equitable and thriving business ecosystem that benefits us all,” said Hahn.

More than 120 exhibitors at the Northeast Astronomy Forum had ample opportunity to introduce the latest in technology for stargazers. The popular exhibition and forum, hosted by the Rockland Astronomy Club, has been a staple at Rockland Community College (RCC) for more than 30 years but was paused two years due to the pandemic. Astronomy buffs had the opportunity to hear guest speakers from the field of space technology, including Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise; Eileen Collins, NASA’s first female Space Shuttle Commande; and Gerry Griffin, Apollo flight director. Workshops and beginner’s classes were available to learn about the latest technology available to the public. Held at RCC’s Field House, the 90,000-square-foot exhibition space was brimming with vendors and visitors throughout the two-day event. The NEA Forum also gave vendors the opportunity to showcase the most recent developments in the field of astronomy. NEAF, with over 4,000 members, partners yearly with the Rockland Astronomy Club to host the event. The creation of Space Force in 2019 has also spurred a renewed interest in the science of the stars and galaxies. The Rockland Astronomy Club, which coordinates the NEAF event each year, was founded in 1958 after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik into space. With more than 250 members and volunteers, its mission is to bring education and outreach to the public and to the astronomical community. For more information, visit rocklandastronomy.co.

For more than 20 years, Jones-McLeod has supported and advocated for people of color (PoC) in various roles.