Posiciones de medio tiempo como Navegadores de Ecosistemas

Collider es una organización sin fines de lucro 501(c)3 que cree en que las ideas e innovadores de Rochester cambiarán el mundo. Por más de 150 años Rochester ha sido la ciudad de la innovación. Desde las empresas más grandes hasta las startups más nuevas, somos parte de de un ecosistema de emprendedores que revoluciona el mundo. Collider brinda apoyo a los emprendedores locales y pequeños negocios a través de eventos innovadores, actividades educativas, y espacios que promueven un ecosistema para el emprendimiento diverso, inclusivo y saludable.   

¡Poner a nuestros emprendedores y pequeños  empresarios primero es lo que hacemos mejor!

Sitio web: https://www.collider.mn/

Collider está buscando 3 personas para trabajar como contratistas de medio tiempo para el puesto “Navegadores de Ecosistemas”. Los Navegadores trabajarán con las comunidades de emprendedores de los siguientes grupos minoritarios de Rochester, MN: Mujeres, Personas de Color, e Hispanos. Este es un programa piloto, por lo que solo nos enfocaremos en estas tres comunidades. El éxito y la información obtenidos en este programa podrían ayudar a obtener apoyo adicional para expandir el programa a más grupos minoritarios del ecosistema de Rochester.

Estas posiciones contractuales serán por un periodo de 15 meses (del 15 de Septiembre, 2020 hasta el 15 de Diciembre, 2021) con la oportunidad de ser extendidas con base en el éxito del programa y la recepción de apoyos económicos adicionales. 

Tiempo del contrato: 15 horas por mes

Pago: $750 usd por mes

Tipo de posición: Por Contrato

Estos representantes serán parte de los esfuerzos de Collider en materia de diversidad, inclusión y equidad para reducir las barreras latentes en el ecosistema de emprendimiento de Rochester. Asimismo, se busca la reducción de estresores y el aislamiento de emprendedores a través de la presentación de la red y el marco de acción para mejorar sus oportunidades de éxito.

Responsabilidades:

• Los Navegadores identificarán y conectarán con dueños de pequeños negocios o aspirantes a empresarios operando en Rochester, Minnesota.

• Los Navegadores activamente escucharán e identificarán las necesidades de profesionales dueños de negocios o interesados en emprender en Rochester.

• Los Navegadores identificarán recursos locales y herramientas que apoyen a las necesidades de estos empresarios y facilitarán su conexión con los recursos. 

• Los Navegadores reportarán a Collider cualquier necesidad que no haya podido resolverse y ayudarán a colaborar en la creación de  soluciones comunitarias para resolver las brechas entre los empresarios de Rochester.

• Los Navegadores adicionalmente comunicarán a Collider de forma continua los resultados de sus interacciones, así como las recomendaciones brindadas a los emprendedores.

Expectativas/ Experiencia Previa:  

• Los Navegadores ideales deberán tener experiencia trabajando con las comunidades de los grupos minoritarios de este programa (female, Black or Hispanic) en materia de emprendimiento y pequeños negocios en el área de Rochester. Individuos aplicando para trabajar con las comunidades Hispanas deberán hablar Español. 

• Los Navegadores ideales deben tener conocimientos sobre los recursos disponibles en Rochester, MN para el apoyo del desarrollo de negocios. 

• Los Navegadores deberán tener pasión por el emprendimiento y los pequeños negocios.

• Los Navegadores deberán tener grandes habilidades de comunicación y deberán saber escuchar atentamente.

• Es necesario que tengan un conocimiento básico de las herramientas de Google suite (Google Docs, Hojas de Cálculo, y Gmail).

• Los Navegadores deberán de tener flexibilidad de horario para reunirse con los individuos en horas normales de trabajo. 

Los interesados deberán enviar su CV y carta de presentación a hello@collider.mn. La recepción de aplicaciones cerrará el 28 de Agosto del 2020. 

Part Time Ecosystem Navigator Contract Positions

Collider is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that believes that Rochester ideas and innovators will change the world. For over 150 years, Rochester has been a city of innovation.  From our largest employers to our newest startups, we are part of a world changing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Collider supports our local entrepreneurs and small businesses with innovative events, education, space and storytelling to help foster an inclusive, diverse, and healthy entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

Putting our entrepreneurs and small businesses first is what we do best. 

Website: https://www.collider.mn/

Collider is now hiring 3 part-time, contract Ecosystem Navigators. These individuals will work within the female, Black, or Hispanic entrepreneurial communities in Rochester, MN. This is for a pilot program, with initial focus on these three communities. Success and data from this program could help to provide additional support to expand the program in the Rochester ecosystem to support additional underserved groups. 

These three contract positions are funded for 15 months (from September 15, 2020 thru December 15, 2021) and may be extended based on success of the program and additional funding support.

Time Commitment: 15 hours/month

Pay: $750/month

Type of Position: Contract

These individuals will function as part of Collider’s diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts to lower barriers to entrepreneurship in the Rochester entrepreneurial ecosystem, reduce stressors and isolation associated with entrepreneurship, and give everyone with a good idea the network and framework to improve their chances of success. 

Responsibilities:

• Navigators will identify and connect with small business owners or aspiring business owners operating within Rochester, Minnesota.

• Navigators will actively listen to and understand current business development or professional needs of small business owners or aspiring business owners within Rochester.

• Navigators will then identify local resources and tools that would meet the needs of these individuals and facilitate a connection to that resource.

• Navigators will communicate any unmet needs back to Collider and help to collaborate on community-wide solutions to gaps facing Rochester entrepreneurs.

• Navigators will additionally communicate the results of their interactions and findings back to Collider on a regular basis.

Expectations/Prior Experience:  

• The ideal candidate will have deep experience working with the female, Black or Hispanic entrepreneurial and small business community within the Rochester area. Individuals applying to work with the Hispanic community must be fluent in Spanish.

• The ideal candidate would also have an understanding of business development resources located within Rochester, Minnesota.

• Navigators must have a passion for entrepreneurship and small business.

• Navigators must also have strong communication and active listening skills.

• Navigators must have a basic knowledge of Google suite tools (Google Docs, Sheets, and Gmail).

• Navigators must also have flexibility to meet with individuals primarily during normal business hours.

Interested individuals should send their resume and a cover letter to hello@collider.mn. This application will close on August 28th.

An Open Letter to the Rochester Entrepreneurial Community

We at Collider are deeply saddened by the death of Mr. George Floyd in our neighboring Minneapolis this Monday. Our hearts go out to his family and to the suffering community in Minnesota and beyond. We as a community can and must do better.

Structural racism, discrimination, and injustice have no place in a thriving society. Yet we continue to see these conditions exist across the country, as they have for generations, including in Rochester, Minnesota.

To our friends of color, we see you. Know that we are committed to doing better for entrepreneurs in Rochester. The city’s business community needs to be a place where everyone feels they belong. It must be a place where everyone has an opportunity to contribute in order for it to have a chance at succeeding. We are committed to fight for equality within entrepreneurial programs and access to resources in our city so that everyone feels they are being seen, heard, and given a chance to prosper. 

To our friends wishing to learn more about inequity, discrimination, and privilege, there are some great informational resources available through the Diversity Council. Here are some free educational tools for you to check into:

-Diversity Toolkit: https://www.diversitycouncil.org/toolkit

-Racial justice toolkit for allies: https://thetoolkit.wixsite.com/toolkit/racial-justice-101

-White privilege: https://thetoolkit.wixsite.com/toolkit/what-is-white-privilege

-Additional reading recommendations: https://www.diversitycouncil.org/reading-recommendations

To support the change needed in our ecosystem, Collider began by taking a deep look at the state of diversity and inclusion in the Rochester entrepreneurial community over the past six months to more fully understand what is working and where there is a critical need for improvement. We listened to over one hundred different entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial service providers, of which 59% were a person of color. What we found was not shocking. The Rochester entrepreneurial community is not as open to all who want to participate as it could be. Many people are not being seen. Many people are not being heard. Many people are being left out and left behind. 

We also understand that our view of the ecosystem does not represent the whole system. There are rich entrepreneurial threads and assets that are beyond our awareness. We look forward to further expanding our understanding of the local entrepreneurial community. 

Entrepreneurship is a beautiful way to follow a passion, improve the world, and make the life of an individual and their family better for generations. When everyone cannot participate, our communities are made poorer.  

We are excited to share these findings and to co-create equitable and inclusive programming with other entrepreneurial support organizations in the community over the next few months. 

We can and must do better as a community.

Sixth Rochester Brick and Mortar Location Receives Support from Local Grant

Local business Rochester Framing & Fine Art Printing is the latest business to receive funding through the ‘United We Stand’ Small Business Microgrant Fund.

Rochester Framing & Fine Art Printing, located on South Broadway, was founded in 2002 by Valerie and John Becker. The business provides custom printing and framing and large format digital printing services.

Congratulations to this Rochester business!

Funds available for the ‘United We Stand’ Small Business Microgrant Fund are determined by sales of “United We Stand- Six Feet Apart” shirts that are designed by David van Eijl of TEXTEijL. These shirts are currently being sold at Hy-Vee, other area locations, and online. Donations to the fund can also be made directly through Collider Foundation. 

The ‘United We Stand’ Small Business Microgrant Fund aims to provide emergency cash assistance for brick and mortar businesses in Rochester, MN. Businesses critically impacted by COVID-19 are eligible for up to a $500 grant per business applicant. Grant funding will only be given for eligible expenses including rent, utilities, and other costs of operations. Proof of expenses outstanding such as invoices issued to the business or a utility bill will be given greater consideration for funding.

Applications and grant disbursements are administered by the Collider Foundation.  

Qualifying businesses will be awarded funds on a first come, first served basis as funding becomes available. So if you are able, please consider purchasing T-shirts and donating to Collider Foundation’s fundraising campaign supporting the fund to keep our entrepreneurial community #rochesterstrong. 

Find more information about the fund and support its growth here: https://www.collider.mn/uws.

To date the fund has awarded $3,000 in support to six different businesses.

Three Additional Brick and Mortar Small Businesses Receive Grant Support From Local Fund

We are excited to announce the next recipients of the ‘United We Stand’ Small Business Microgrant Fund: Gray Duck Theater & Coffeehouse, Purple Sage Wellness, and Lasker Jewelers. 

Gray Duck Theater & Coffeehouse is a cinema and coffeehouse located in northwest Rochester. The business was launched by Andy Smith in May 2019 “to create community around film.”

Purple Sage Wellness is a wellness center run by Tina Ridler in southwest Rochester. This business provides “wellness education and stress and pain relief.”

Lasker Jewelers is a family owned business that has been in Rochester since 1973. This business is a retail jewelry store located on 1st Street SW. 

Congratulations to these Rochester businesses!

Funds available for the ‘United We Stand’ Small Business Microgrant Fund are determined by sales of “United We Stand- Six Feet Apart” shirts that are designed by David van Eijl of TEXTEijL. These shirts are currently being sold at Hy-Vee, other area locations, and online. Donations to the fund can also be made directly through Collider Foundation. 

The ‘United We Stand’ Small Business Microgrant Fund aims to provide emergency cash assistance for brick and mortar businesses in Rochester, MN. Businesses critically impacted by COVID-19 are eligible for up to a $500 grant per business applicant. Grant funding will only be given for eligible expenses including rent, utilities, and other costs of operations. Proof of expenses outstanding such as invoices issued to the business or a utility bill will be given greater consideration for funding.

Applications and grant disbursements are administered by the Collider Foundation.  

Qualifying businesses will be awarded funds on a first come, first served basis as funding becomes available. So if you are able, please consider purchasing T-shirts and donating to Collider Foundation’s fundraising campaign supporting the fund to keep our entrepreneurial community #rochesterstrong. 

Find more information about the fund and support its growth here: https://www.collider.mn/uws.