Margaret Lee

• Participated in a variety of direct, grassroots economic development work through WEDI’s Economic Development program, including business incubation with its West Side Bazaar vendors and microloan clients
• Formulated business plans and guided small business entrepreneurs in restaurant, retail, transportation fields
• Conducted door-to-door community outreach to expand microloan clientele among refugee business owners by researching potential clients and marketing beneficial loan products
• Outlined issues in human resource policies through planning and organizing staff retreat and reporting outcomes
• Created guides for MWBE certification, loan management, community resources and referrals for WEDI clients

"I learned that Buffalo is a unique city in every sense – it is a vibrant community with polar opposites that are seeking to come together as one under a common agenda of social innovation. I learned that I would really like to become involved in the social sector via public service, and that it is possible to do so even as a financial institution. I truly enjoyed being with other Cornell students at Buffalo. I don’t think that I would have been able to fully enjoy the fellowship experience if I didn’t have my peers."

"Margaret spoke to over 40 small business owners about WEDI’s services and worked independently on business plans with two WEDI clients. She created an MWBE certification guide that will be available to all future WEDI clients, as well as updated our Community Resources and Referrals Guide for our all clients, but specifically those who are over 50 years old."

Bryana DiFonzo,

Westminster Economic Development Initiative