Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Shattuck.
Hi Michelle, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
First, I’d like to thank you all for providing me the opportunity to give an update on myself and The Community CLOTH! Four years ago, I started working with The Alliance for Multicultural Community Services. During which I’ve had the opportunity to work with various partners and organizations across the city. I’m happy to report we’ve been able to grow and maintain our services despite a global pandemic, for which we are more than grateful. As I’ve mentioned before, I came to The Alliance as an AmeriCorps VISTA after graduating from Sam Houston State University with hopes of creating capacity within the Financial Opportunity Center as the Community Engagement AmeriCorps VISTA. It was there I met with the now Director of the Asset Building Department Jim Nguyen, who introduced me to The Community CLOTH program the rest is history!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Just as in life in business, it isn’t always a smooth ride; we experienced many setbacks when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. But we kept operations running and provided essential services to our community members in any way we could. As a business, it’s been a challenge to maintain sales and the same efficiency we once had, but as the country and people start slowly returning, we’ve seen a needed uptick. Providing the educational components of The Community CLOTH to our artisans was also challenging in an era of separation, we managed to remain hopeful and assist in any way we could.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the Coordinator of Entrepreneurship Programs at The Alliance for Multicultural Community Services (The Alliance); I oversee two programs under the Center for Entrepreneurship; one focuses on The Community CLOTH. A microenterprise initiative of The Alliance that helps empower refugee women in the greater Houston area. It’s a branded Co-Op that is composed of 5 pillars. Financial Literacy, Women Empowerment, Marketing Opportunities, Business Development, Peer and Wellness Support. Secondly, I coordinate the Entrepreneurship Program, where we provide one-on-one technical assistance to small businesses via financial products and tools, digital literacy, implementation of social media, marketing, business development, and much more. I believe the range of services we provide sets us apart from traditional financial institutions and our ability to deliver culturally competent services. I am most proud of the 40+ collaborations we’ve been able to do these last four years.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I recently welcomed my first child this past year, so you could say that’s something some might not know that’s new! We also added an amazing new advisory board member to The Community CLOTH team. She recently was highlighted in a feature you did this year her name is Priya Ramkissoon, founder of Imiloa Collective.
Contact Info:
- Website: thecommunitycloth.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecommunitycloth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCommunityCloth/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-shattuck-/
- Other: https://thealliancetx.org/
Image Credits
Maria Franco
