Earning Lessons

by Colleen McGee

According to a fact sheet prepared by Rice University’s Center for Education, the graduation rates for some school districts in San Antonio barely reach above the 50 percent mark. The economy in the United States has hit a major iceberg, and according to another Rice University report, having a highly educated workforce will be vital to a full recovery.

The San Antonio Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) has been addressing both issues here in San Antonio with a program called An Income of Her Own (AIOHO).

The program is aimed at teen women in the areas of San Antonio that have shown the lowest graduation rates, mainly Central and South Side area schools.

“It started as a one-day conference and it has evolved into a school-year-long program with 20 different schools,” says Allison De Paoli, president of NAWBO.

The teens involved in AIOHO go to networking events, have mentors and compete for college scholarships awarded on the strength of a business plan they write.

“You can be an entrepreneur, if your thing is hairdressing you can have your own business,” says Evelyn Barnes, a graduate of AIOHO and now a conference facilitator and planner for the event. “Whatever your passion is, you can make a business out of it.”

But owning a business right out of high school isn’t the right choice for every girl, or really, the point of the exercise. De Paoli says it’s just one of the ways that girls in the program reach their goals, but it does help all of the young women more concretely envision their future.

“One of the things we try to show these girls is that there are many ways to start your business,” she says. “Stay in school, leave all of your options open and make your dreams come true. We try to make sure they finish high school and go on with their education.”

That encouragement comes in the form of about $20,000 in various scholarships that are awarded each year. Barnes was a scholarship winner herself.

“I went to San Antonio College first and transferred to St. Edwards University,” she says. “I earned a Bachelor of Arts in business administration and marketing.”

Though Barnes works for a local credit union, she’s found her association with the network of mentors didn’t end with high school and she isn’t finished reaching her own goals.

“It was some of those contacts who wrote the recommendation letters that helped me get into grad school,” says Barnes, who is now pursuing a master’s degree in public administration.

She says the women she met through AIOHO continue to motivate her to keep striving to reach her full potential. “The one thing that inspired me, and keeps me going, is that these women tell you, from the get go, that your dreams are as big as you want them to be. As I went through college, I kept my network with the NAWBO women. I still can call them ... you don’t have to have all the answers.”

“We all face obstacles,” says De Paoli, emphasizing that realizing a dream is hard work. “I’m the first one in my family to go to college; to own a business. It wasn’t always easy and there was work involved. You have to believe—it’s very important—it’s not a straight line but it will come when it’s time.”

As for Barnes, some of her dreams are coming true right now. She’s been able to see her sister, a teen mom, start college, and she has helped plan for ways to send her 3-year-old nephew to school someday. She says that mentors with AIOHO helped her to understand the various methods of paying for a college education.

“I believe that I’m a product of that,” says Barnes. “I came from a working class family and I really relied on scholarships and grants.”

And her work as a financial education officer allows her to pass on much of what she’s learned by teaching people how to plan for the future, including options for education and retirement.

“All those things those women have empowered me with; I’m able to help people be empowered and help them to financial independence and financial freedom.”

With the economic downturn and a real need for solid skills in the business world, De Paoli says the message of AIOHO, to stay in school and continue on to college, is as solid today as it was ten years ago when the program was launched.

“It’s a more important message now than ever,” she says. “Society is better when everybody participates. If we can help with that then we will.”

The San Antonio NAWBO chapter has seen over 1,000 freshmen through senior high school girls successfully complete the program since its inception. In addition to the scholarship funds, the group raises about $26,000 each year to provide course materials to each student.

Barnes says there are plenty of opportunities to participate, from volunteering to financial support. To find out more about An Income of Her Own, call (210) 408-1699, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit the San Antonio NAWBO chapter web site at www.nawbosa.org.