LA21 is partnering with  Marci Smith Consulting to pilot a training program focusing on showing people a pathway to changing their lifestyle in order to explore opportunities for self-employment and  starting a small business.

It’s  normal  for  interest  in  self-employment to increase during  a recession when  jobs  are  scarce. Self-employment  spiked  during  the  Great  Recession  of  roughly  a  decade  ago, rising fastest in areas with higher unemployment rates like we have here in Philadelphia. Despite  the  existing  resources  in  Philadelphia  for aspiring entrepreneurs, the number of diverse business owners within the city is strikingly low.  There is a gap in services for many people who seek help in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Philadelphia, because they are viewed as “not ready.” We have designed this program specifically to reach and serve this group; it is client-centric, trauma-informed and based on a deep understanding of change methodology. We believe it empowers participants with the skills, information, and support needed to gain the confidence and personal insight to successfully pursue economic betterment by learning, earning and working together.

Program Overview

  • Initial Workshop – Change
  • Workshop Series – Getting Ready
  • Mindset & Personal Development
  • Financial Literacy
  • Temporary System

The topics covered include:

  • Relationship with money
  • Building assetsMultiple income sources
  • Leveraging
  • Qualities for identifying opportunities
  • Attitudes, beliefs and habits
  • Purpose, skills, interests & the marketplace
  • Supportive practices & interventions
  • Networks, marketing, and sales (digital/affiliate/network marketing) business models
  • Project-based Learning

The personal, leadership and technical emphasis of this program includes:

  • Personal Clarity: Vision, Mission & Strategic Objective
  • Temporary System & Income Stream
  • Leadership Development
  • Business Strategy & Marketing Plan
  • Team& Network Building