The Gauntlet begins Feb. 9

Latinas Network & GAUNTLET Business Development Program partner to help women and minority owned entrepreneurs.

 Vinton, VA – On Friday, January 22, 2021, Latinas Network partnered with The GAUNLET Business Program & Competition to sponsor a member of Latinas Network, Ivana Savany, with a full tuition to the 7th Annual GAUNTLET Business Program & Competition. “I couldn’t be more thankful for the partnering of Latinas Network and The GAUNTLET to have chosen me as the recipient of the tuition to participate in this program, this is what Latinas Network is for. We believe in each other as women and business owners alike and it’s that support that helps us to realize and achieve our goals.” Ivana Savany, recipient of the 2021 GAUNTLET tuition from Latinas Network & The GAUNTLET Program.

Latinas Network kicked off their first event in November 2020 and is a branch of Nuestro Comercio Latino, an online platform to highlight Latino/Hispanic-owned businesses. Latinas Network’s mission is to grow business and professional opportunities for women in the Roanoke Valley and NRV. “I was standing to the side watching the room and the joy and relief we felt to know we are one, to know the next destination, the successes and our failures we face will be together in sisterhood. We had the support to encourage those who are and always were.

Thank you to The GAUNTLET Program for being the cheerleader of our dreams and inspiring us to lead our future.” – JoJo Friday, President of Sisters of Change and Founding Partner of Latinas Network. “Latinas Network wants to recognize and thank the organizations, like The Advancement Foundation & The GAUNTLET Program who support minority and women professionals. This partnership and continued efforts will help professional Latinas continue to build exposure and relationships with the community and generate economic growth.” – Kat Pascal, owner of Farmburguesa and Executive Director of Latinas Network.

The GAUNTLET is a 10-week business program that begins on February 9th, 2021, and is inspiring business development, growth, and innovation. Through mentorship and sponsorship Kat Pascal, founder of Latinas Network, helped bring a group of six Hispanic women entrepreneurs through The GAUNTLET Business Program and Competition in 2019. This program helps small business startups and current businesses develop new strategies for growth. “Collaborating with professional Latina women is important to me because we are better, stronger, and smarter when we unite together.

Women supporting women creates for stronger communities and more opportunities to more forward as a community. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Working together as a team and putting our minds together allows for more advancement for everyone. This is exactly why a partnership between Latinas Network and The GAUNTLET Program is easy and makes sense.” Shannon Dominguez, Director of The GAUNTLET Business Program & Competition and Associate Director of Latinas Network. Latinas Network welcomes new members from the Roanoke, NRV, & Lynchburg areas. You can find them on at Latinas Network on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and their website is www.latinasnetworkva.com.

GAUNTLET Applications are NOW OPEN for the 7th Annual GAUNTLET Business Program and Competition at https://www.TheAdvancementFoundation.org/the-gauntlet. For more Information, interested entrepreneurs, mentors, sponsors, and community leaders can visit: https://www.TheAdvancementFoundation.org/the-gauntlet Sisters of Change is a community organization of diverse women, impacting our community with positive change, growth and development through Events and Fundraising for numerous agencies.

Media may contact Kat Pascal at 540-765-8267, Shannon Dominguez a (434) 609-1172 or Innovation@TheAdvancementFoundation.org, and JoJo Friday at (540) 819-7597 or jojo@sistersofchange.com.

–submitted by Shannon Dominguez