Engaging Arab and Muslim Small Business Owners

Roundtable attendees listen as a recent graduate of the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland speaks about the challenges of starting a new business, June 6, 2012.

Yesterday, we had a chance to hear directly from successful business leaders from the Muslim-American and Arab-American communities at a White House Roundtable on the Economy. We were hosted at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy for this first in a series of business roundtables around the country to gather advice on how to create an economy built to last by supporting small businesses.

The roundtable brought together entrepreneurs from a wide range of professions, ranging from IT specialists, physicians, and pharmacists to hoteliers and realtors—all of whom have created successful small businesses that are driving our economy. The conversation provided an ideal opportunity for Michael Strautmanis, a senior advisor to the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, and Kassie Lewis from the State of Maryland’s Department of Business and Economic Development to sit down and gather tangible feedback about what the federal government can do to address the challenges often faced by small business owners. For more than an hour we engaged in a frank and practical discussion about the things that small business leaders feel are important, including access to capital, bonding, the need for an educated, skill-based workforce, and the support needed to export their goods to international markets.

Moxie Maven

Alexia Vernon. (Photo Courtesy of HelloGiggles.com)

Here at the White House, we place a strong emphasis on the needs of women. Since its creation in 2009, the Council on Women and Girls has been advocating for the needs of women, giving them a strong voice within the administration. This council has helped to create policy and initiate programs that empower women by granting them the tools that they need to lead successful lives. However, despite the amazing work this group does, in order to achieve success outside of the White House, advocacy must continue within individual communities. Alexia Vernon is one strong woman helping women to achieve their goals.

This week’s edition of “Women Working to Do Good” sheds light on Vernon, a former beauty queen turned author and motivational speaker, who uses her talents to inspire women to aim higher.

Out of college, Alexia started working as a traditional employee. She, like many of us in our 20s, walked into our jobs and wondered why we weren’t being recognized for our hard work. Alexia had the normal, “What am I doing with my life?” question, but she turned it around and made it “Who do I want to be?” She wanted to take control of her life and be the captain of her own ship. Alexia also wanted to work with women developing their communication and leadership skills as they were entering the workplace.

Equal Pay for Equal Work?

It's 2012, but did you know that women are still paid less than men?

On average, full-time working women earn just 77 cents for every dollar a man earns, a wage gap that exists regardless of personal choices like education or occupation. Over the course of her career, a woman with a college degree will earn hundreds of thousands of dollars less than a man who does the same work.  

This substantial gap is more than a statistic -- it has real life consequences. When women, who make up nearly half the workforce, bring home less money each day, it means they have less for the everyday needs of their families, and over a lifetime of work, far less savings for retirement.

President Obama supports passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which Congress puts to a vote on June 5. This comprehensive and commonsense bill updates and strengthens the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which made it illegal for employers to pay unequal wages to men and women who perform substantially equal work.  

We’ve created some ecards that you can send via email or share on social media with reasons equal pay for equal work is essential. Pick your favorite, or send them all!