CAO Executive Members Present: 
Dr. Bakary Sonko, President
Alioune Sogue, Projects Coordinator
Kenday S. Kamara, Public Relations Coordinator
Jean-Pierre Yoboue, Treasurer
Anna Manega, Ex-Officio Member

RMSC Members Present:
Paul Stein, Executive Director
Frederick Jayweh, Case Worker
Amin Sharif, Case Worker

  Kidane Guebretensai

  Micro Business Development CORPORATION Members Present  

  Michele Vitela, Program Director 
Michele Vitela, Program Director
Michele Vitela came to Microbusiness Development Corporation after sixteen years of working in the corporate arena.  She brings expertise in marketing, sales and public speaking which she developed while working with such corporate giants as, Pepsi-Cola, Excel Energy, Continental Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Westwood College of Technology. After a year-long stint as a flight attendant, Michele had no intention of returning to an office environment until she met Kersten, Catherine and Prem of Colorado Capital Initiatives (now MicroBusiness Development Corporation). They were so committed to and excited about their work, and the working environment was so different from any Michele had previously experienced, that she wanted to become a part of it. Michele joined the organization in 2001 and now, as the MicrocreditWorks! Director, she is invaluable to the efficient operation of the organization. When asked what she likes best about working at MBD, she replies, “I love that the business is about helping people achieve their goals…helping people is just part of my personality, so my position here is a good fit.” Beyond her corporate background, Michele is no stranger to microenterprise as she and her husband Efrain, who is the Director of the Denver Enterprise Center, are part owners of Vitela’s Grill, a Mexican Restaurant on Denver’s North side. 

Elli Behr, Americorps VISTA Volunteer
Elli is a current Americorps VISTA.  She began her service with MBD in November 2003.  Elli graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington in May 2003 where she majored in International Relations with minors in Economics and French.  While at Gonzaga she had the opportunity to study in France and travel. While in college she worked as the assistant to the Dean and as a guest service representative at Oxford Suites and volunteered for the Refugee Resettlement Program and Big Brother/Big Sisters. Her interest in entrepreneurship was shaped by her parents who both run their own businesses.  While at MBD Elli will work with the group training including Mapping Your Business Success and the peer-lending loan program. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, reading and exploring Colorado.

A consultative meeting of the Colorado African Organization (CAO), the RMSC and the Micro Business Development Organization was held on December 19, 2003 , at the RMSC office building at Gaylord Street , Denver , Colorado .  The CAO public relations coordinator, Mr. Kenday S. Kamara, took notes. 
            Representatives introduced themselves.  Paul Stein told members that Konti would not be present in the consultative meeting.  President Sonko told representatives of the various groups that he had a teleconference with Konti and she expressed interest in meeting with the CAO members.  The RMSC director told the CAO executive that Konti would be visiting Kenya and suggested a member of the executive to call her to find out about her mission to Kenya .  This he said is a public relations move for CAO.

CAO President Sonko:  There are many African associations in Colorado but unless Africans could come together would they be able to achieve something tangible.  By coming together Africans would then have a stronger voice.  We are all immigrants in the United States , though most of us are citizens of the US also.  So the need to have a common front is important so that issues of interest are discussed and resolved by ourselves; and to also relate well with other organizations.  One of the objectives of the CAO is education for better integration in the American society.  The other objective is development and resources, development in the sense about small business promotion.  The resources component, since all CAO members have their origins from disadvantaged countries in Africa with challenges in education, medicine, etc. the CAO would exist to help find resources to help our various countries of origin in Africa , resources like used computers, medical equipment, etc.  In a nutshell, the CAO is formed to develop ourselves and better integrate in Colorado and to no forget our people in Africa .

Amin Shariff:  Unity among Africans is very important. Also, education, community development and health issues are all very important facets the CAO president talked about.  But unity is a big challenge for Africa at home and here in Colorado . If we see ourselves as Africans first before dividing ourselves into regions and countries then we could forge ahead.  But this is a problem. Self identity comes first in all cases I have seen.  In Ohio for instance there are many Somali organizations, the same in Santiago . Somalia is a small country about 8 million people but we have always tried to divide ourselves into four regions which I have also in Ohio and Santiago .  If therefore the CAO mission is to unite all Africans that makes sense and will make Africans in Colorado look good. I thus urge the CAO leadership to invite the Somalis, the Djiboutians, among others to join the group.  And by the CAO having such consultative meetings frequently this would help condition Africans to get rid of the mentality of self-identification.

CAO President Sonko:  Before the CAO there was the Center for African Affairs. The objectives of the CAO are the same as the CFAA.  The CFAA director, Godwin Omane, brought the theme of African unity in Colorado to us, but unfortunately Godwin’s overriding objective was to use people to enrich himself.  What he did unknowing to us was to register the CFAA in his and his wife’s names, then added us as members.  We were not satisfied with this action and when we protested he dismissed the CFAA executive.  We unflinchingly rejected his actions and withdrew our allegiance to the CFAA to form the CAO which we now believe is a genuine unified front representing all of Africa . As migrants from Africa we have problems with integration and CAO is aware that it is when Africans are united that help for Africans can be properly facilitated.  So the two basic objectives of the organization is to help educate the immigrant community to better integrate including to write better resumes, finding jobs, language development, etc.  And the development and resources objective is thought of because many Africans who are here in Colorado do not know how to access resources like business opportunities to start their own small businesses. We are also thinking of helping our third world countries with used computers, medical equipment, school supplies, etc.

Micro Business Program Director Michele Vitela:  Our goals are much the same as the CAO—to collaborate with other people to foster development opportunities. We offer our opportunities to everybody regardless of where you come from.  We are very inclusive.  We want to help all different groups that need help. So it is important for us to include all.  We have great ideas. We have what we call our peer lending program that is working very well.  This program is directed to helping women groups, refugees and all other minorities.  We try to help in a way that meet the specific needs of these organizations.  We have contacted the Lutheran Council for Refugees and have provided loans to the refugees recommended by this council.  We address the cultural and sensitivity issues of all groups we deal with.  Regarding computers there is a company in Denver I know that refurbishes computers.  CAO can use this company to get old computers.

The Micro Development Program is borne out of the insensitivity of the American society.  The American society is individualistic which is not good, a way of life the Micro Business Organizations is trying to change.  The Micro Business Organization goes over the basics of marketing with participants of the program. Participants of the program are encouraged to form groups of 5.  Each member guarantees each group member’s loan.  If one does not pay, the other members have to pay the loan.  The program has been very successful with less than 5% default.  Loans start at $500, with 4 months to pay back.  Once every member has paid back, all members are then eligible to have $1000 loan. 

But the problem is language barrier.  Interpreters are needed, also the need to know the culture of participants is important.  Generally, the Micro Business organization believes in change.  When things do not work we change.

CAO President Sonko:  I am very impressed and encouraged to know about these opportunities offered by the Micro Business.  But at any given time how many people could the program accommodate?  I am concerned because if this program is presented to the African community I am convinced many Africans would be interested to participate. Since the CAO constitutes members from different countries in Africa , the issue of interpreters can be resolved by contacting the CAO when ever there is the need for an interpreter. The CAO interaction with the Micro Business Organization can be supportive in many ways.

RMSC Executive Director Paul Stein:   Many people coming from Africa have business skills but the problem of integration is making life difficult for them to meet the needs of the American society. 

Micro Business Program Director Michele Vitela:  ascertained the Micro Business absolutely needs community partners like the CAO to reach out to the African immigrant community in Colorado .  There are no limits.  I also want to explain what a participant could do with $500 because corporate minded people are saying that $500 is not enough to do anything significant.  For example if a recipient of the $500 loan is sewing clothes as business, he or she could use the $500 to buy adverts or equipment.

CAO Projects Coordinator Alioune Sogue:   What is the interest that would be paid together with the principal within the 4 month turn around?  

Mitchell:  The interest is 12% and if members want longer terms of payment or smaller payments the organization could do that.

CAO Ex-Officio Anna Manega:  I want to know whether the Micro Business training include certain established techniques that would work for certain groups of people. There are people who are not entrepreneurs who need to know how they could start. I want to suggest, may be people should be encouraged to come up with at least four (4) ideas for brainstorming and be able to choose the one most feasible. 

Micro Business Program Director Michele Vitela:  Most people bring their own ideas into the program.  The Micro Business Organization encourages people to do what they know best to avoid imposing ideas on people.  We have a program called the Opportunity Works program.  There are more funds to do new loans. There are different steps for everybody.  A business assessment is done by Micro Business consultants.  A consultant can come out to talk to a prospect to develop a business plan. Then the consultant comes back and meet with 10 other consultants to discuss the prospect’s plan.  Again, our facility at 5-Points is a business incubator with equipment to do different types of businesses at discount rates.

Kidani:  I think anybody with a business idea has a plan. What is the different between micro business program and that of the government which also has a component that gives out business loans to people. And as a nonprofit there must be some kind of tax break specific to nonprofits.  But it seems to me the 12% interest is high and even higher than the mainstream banks.

Micro Business Program Director Michele Vitela: By no means am I a tax expert but we are an alternative to the government. And the 12% interest is the only means Micro Business has to be self-sustaining, plus the minimal charges for use of our equipment at our facility for start up businesses.  And we have very relaxed lending rules which the banks do not have, or even the SBA loans do not have.  Again, we are constantly changing because we are growing our needs. When needs grow you have to change, to change for the better and more to offer.  The FAST Magazine has recently named Micro Business Organization as the one of the top 20 social enterprise organizations of the year.

Frederick Jayweh :  I commend you for the approach. I am a refugee and I work with many refugees.  We may have had our successful lives back home and we have brought with us a lot of commitment and responsibility.  We are therefore people who do have our goals to get back our lives. So the Micro Business seems to me a laudable endeavor working with people with commitment and devotion to help people succeed.

Micro Business Program Director Michele Vitela: Thanks for your comments. We do guide everybody along the way when we give you a loan to start your own business.

Shariff: What is your interest in helping people without legal status in the US ?

Micro Business Program Director Michele Vitela:  We work with all people. We are not immigration officers. Once our prospects can identify themselves we do not ask other questions regarding immigration status.

CAO Public Relations Coordinator Kenday Kamara:  I commend the Micro Business Development Organization for the credible work it is engaged in.  I have two questions: Are there any consultation fees paid by participants before they could benefit from the various programs of the Micro Business Development Organization?  Also, is there a plan to help people who wish to grow their business beyond the $1000 loan schedule? 

Micro Business Program Director Michele Vitela:  No consultation fees at initial contact.  However, consulting fees are paid down the road. Only very small fees charged which the client can accommodate.  There is plan for people who grow their businesses. There is the Business Works program of the Micro Business organization.

CAO Projects Coordinator Alioune Sogue:  Does the Micro Business Development Organization provide any collateral support to diligent participants who have proved to be trustworthy?  Let’s say we have a group of women from Gambia who started very well with the Micro Business and have graduated to the point that the organization could agree to loan them up to highest amount the organization could afford to give out to participants. But the flip side is that these group of women have never worked with the banks.  They have reached a level they want a bank loan of say $60,000.  Can Micro Business provide a recommendation letter to these people to help them get the loan from the bank?

Micro Business Program Director Michele Vitela:  We are working on that, to be able to report to credit agencies. This is critical for the people we are working with but to be able to report to credit agencies involves costs which we are working on getting.  That’s our purpose. We are finding ways to get our program participants into the books as public record of their hard work.

CAO President Sonko:  The Micro Business should also make it part of their training to teach clients about the importance of credit worthiness.

Micro Business Program Director Michele Vitela:  Yes, we do need to stress that more in our classes and to even have our clients to be talking to credit counselors for better direction.

CAO President Sonko:  Michele, Elli, you have done a marvelous job to come to meet us to discuss with us and we will be in a position to take that to our people. We hope you will again make yourselves available to come to our community meetings to talk to our people.

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