Leal completes leadership training

SACRAMENTO – California Indian Manpower Consortium, Inc. (CIMC) proudly announces that Cynthia Leal, a resident of Pala from the Pala Band of Mission Indians, has successfully completed the CIMC 2017 "Leadership training for Entrepreneurial/Small Business/Economic Development."

Leal recently completed the four-month training course conducted by CIMC from January to April 2017. During the training period, Leal developed a business plan for her emerging natural health business, Native Organic Roots & Herbs.

This comprehensive course was presented in four multi-day training sessions in four California areas – Pala, Alpine, Oroville, and Jackson. Recipients of this unique training opportunity were selected through a competitive application process. Trainees received extensive training from a select group of individuals chosen for their outstanding skills, accomplishments and expertise in their respective fields and for their contributions to Native entrepreneurship.

The culturally-relevant curriculum included development of analytical skills, and persuasive writing and presentation skills. Students learned to develop a business plan and received information on resources to start and grow businesses. Also, the group benefited from the experiences of several successful Native entrepreneurs.

To celebrate the accomplishments of these emerging Native entrepreneurs, a graduation ceremony was held as the finale to the training in April at the Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort in Jackson, Calif. Remarks were made by Lorenda T. Sanchez, CIMC executive director, and Gary Rickard, vice-chairman of the CIMC Board of Directors.

This training program was made possible by funding provided by the U.S. Department of Labor as part of CIMC's Workforce Development Program. Information on upcoming training sessions is available online at http://www.cimcinc.org.

More than 400 Native American individuals have completed this Native entrepreneur training program during the past 17 years. Through this training program, CIMC, a Native non-profit organization operating in California since 1978, makes every effort to provide leadership training to build healthy Native communities by developing the skills of Native entrepreneurs to be profitable and sustainable in the larger context of Native culture and sovereignty.