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.