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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 2, 2013)
October 2, 2013 Minority & Small Business Week Page II Women “C urrently I carry only 10 different styles o f shoes and a was not aware there were ca handful o f dresses. And once I reer possibilities in fashion, “I have sold out or sold m ajority didn’t even think of pursuing a o f those item s I will be order fashion degree because I didn’t ing a w hole new collection of know that this kind of thing ex shoes and dresses. M y goal is isted at all.” to provide wom an w ith a vari She also admits that she had ety w hich keeps fashion young no previous experience in own and refresh in g ,” she said. ing a business but that didn ’ t stop When asked why her bou her from achieving her goal, “I tique stands out from the rest didn’t take any courses in under she said, “Thirty27 is here to graduate school, 1 just Googled disrupt patterns in order to rec [information]. I figured it out reate and refresh, which in my m yself.” opinion is something that is miss Although she spent a while ing in Portland.” procrastinating about opening the What does the future hold for boutique in Portland, an accident W hite? She said she would con at her job in New Jersey forced sider expanding the boutique, her to leave w ork for three opening another location and weeks and was the motivation possibly incorporating her joy of she needed to pursue the busi coffee into her business plan, ness, photo BY D onovan M. S mith /T he P ortland O bserver “B ut for right now I'm very much Jewelry and other fashion accessories line the shelves at the new women's boutique Thirty 27. “It propelled me to dq what so content with my small bou makes me happy and I am truly tique. It allows me to remain Portland native and owner Christina White opened the northeast Portland shop in August. happy,” she said. personable and fair to my cus O rdering the m erchandise, tomer base.” shoes and accessories needed, When asked if the process of along with the planning and find owning her business was a diffi ing a location, White success cult one, she said, “It wasn’t as fully opened the boutique, “in difficult as I thought it was going to literally the am ount o f three be. I think I was just dragging my months, from zero to now I’m feet about it but you have to be here,” she said. fearless and just push yourself.” N o rth e a s t P o rtla n d w as Some words of advice that picked for the boutique’s loca she gives young aspiring busi ✓ Suspended or No Driver's License? tion for a variety of reasons. ness owners would be, “D on’t ✓ Delinquent Child Support? “It is the mecca of Portland be obligated to anybody. Do ✓ Owe Thousands in Court Fines to Multnomah County? [and] I wouldn't consider having what you’re passionate about. ✓ Minor convictions stopping you a business in any other location,” Do what your good at and I think from being hired for a job? ✓ We m ight be able to help you! she said. “Growing up in the the rest will come. And be fear a re a and liv in g in h er less, have faith, and everything Project Clean Slate is an award grandparent’s home is how she should be okay.” winning program which allows qualifying individuals to help remove cam e up w ith th e n am e Christina W hite’s exclusive some o f the barriers to employment, housing, driving and other opportunities. “Thirty27.” shoe boutique “Thirty27” is open We have assisted Over 8,000 people Since July 2005! In n u m e ro u s d e p a rtm e n t 11a.m. to 7 p.m. It is located at • Currently limited to Multnomah County Only stores and malls there are large 3519 N.E. Martin Luther King • Must attend mandatory personal and amounts of inventory, White said Jr. Blvd. community responsibility classes ($350) that is not the goal for her bou Kayla Tatum is a student at • Must be sincerely dedicated to changing your life course. tique. Portland State University. c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 4 CHANGE YOUR LIFE. CHANGE YOUR DIRECTION. Making a Difference c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 3 C o u n ty is p art o f a reg io n a l w orkforce developm ent plan that c re a te s p a rtn e rs h ip s b etw een public and private entities that in clu d e the C ity o f P ortland, W a sh in g to n C o u n ty , T riM e t, com m unity non-profits, and local b u sin esses. “This has been a top priority for me,” Smith said. “More than half of the county’s employees identify as baby boomers, poised to retire in the next 10 years. SummerWorks opened the door for us to develop young people who we can recruit and hire in the future. Training them to be a part of the workforce is smart planning." Y outh Jo b s+ is P re sid e n t Obam a’s challenge to businesses, non-profits, and governm ent to “work together to provide pathways to employment for low-income and disconnected young people.” Smith plans to grow the program to include low-income young people in rural areas of Multnomah County and to become partners with busi nesses to expand the private sector investment in youth jobs. Approved clients w ill be required to perform community service in ex change for all or part of delinquent traffic fines, must lie able to make minimum monthly payments on traffic fines until case is resolved and enter into a child support re payment program ( if applicable). 1 X * R a ijJ a u FOUNnCR Project Clean Slate operates in tandem with Multnomah County District Attorney's Office and in cooperation with Multnomah County Circuit Court. It is a program of Independent Development Enterprise Alliance, a nonprofit organization. Pre-apply online today! / PROJECTCLEANSLATE.COM 503-244-5794 • 4300 NE Fremont Street • Suite 220 Portland OR 97213 Business Hours: Monday-Friday 9am -12 Noon and 1PM to 5PM. ' All payments of classes can be paid by money order, cashiers check or debit or credit card only.
