The Refinery by ECHO Collective

The Refinery entrepreneurship program provides refugee and immigrant women the opportunity to achieve economic independence and build social capital through business education and professional mentorships. The Refinery launched due to the self-advocacy of local women asking for this type of program and continues to grow from the input, advice, and recommendations of our participating entrepreneurs. We utilize a broad network of local businesswomen who act as in-class speakers and mentors, in addition to partnerships with community organizations and educational institutions. The time has come for our in-person classes to grow to bigger heights through a Learning Management System ("LMS"), which will not only add new depth to our programming but expand our reach to fill the gap in entrepreneurship training for New American women.

The capacity of The Refinery to serve is restricted by limited classroom space and by instructor and guest presenter availability. Currently, The Refinery has one classroom, one instructor, and a waiting list. The participating women themselves often work multiple jobs and encounter work, transportation, and caregiving conflicts that can prevent them from participating in the Refinery program. Without classrooms and instructors that fit the women’s schedules, many women cannot participate in the program. The women in the Refinery program also face language, technology access, and digital literacy barriers. Many women have limited computer or digital device experience and lack robust digital literacy.

Addressing the multi-dimensional barriers of the women served by ECHO Collective requires utilizing various tools to offer diverse, adaptable, and innovative solutions. The Refinery is an innovative community and relationship-based entrepreneurial education program. Immigrant and refugee women learn about entrepreneurship, build relationships with other business owners, and launch a small business as part of the 4-month in-classroom intensive program. To address these challenges and expand our capacity, The Refinery is implementing a Learning Management System (LMS) using instructional design principles to enhance the Refinery program for immigrant and refugee women. An LMS creates an asynchronous learning environment that increases accessibility for learners, teachers, and guest presenters. Learners have increased access to learning content; teachers have additional modes of communication and feedback; and guest presenters can volunteer asynchronously and agnostic of location. 

An LMS supplements the Refinery program by encouraging self-regulated learning, allowing learners to engage with content at their own pace and scaffolding English language learning through subject-specific content. Learners can access content and use summative and formative assessments to gauge progress and knowledge retention. By enhancing the learning experience and reducing barriers to accessibility with an LMS, immigrant and refugee women can engage in deeper, more meaningful learning. 

ECHO Collective exclusively serves women who were born in another country. One hundred percent of the women we have served in the past three years have moved to the United States as adults. Their lives have been uprooted through war, famine, gang violence, and more; miraculously, they made it to the United States to start anew. Although this is the land of great opportunity, few organizations will meet them halfway to assist them as they overcome barriers such as childcare, transportation, the English language, cultural and societal expectations, lack of basic education, and time management as the primary manager of all domestic tasks.

The Refinery at ECHO Collective was formed as a response to the requests of several refugee and immigrant women in Lincoln. From this, a tremendous entrepreneurial movement has awakened. Our entrepreneurs advise all aspects of our programming. We administer feedback surveys at the beginning and end of each cohort, as well as in six-month increments for two years after they graduate. They also co-lead our monthly networking events, using the beauty and tradition of their family’s culture to host one-of-a-kind community events, such as Iftar Dinner during Ramadan and Ukrainian Kupala Night.

Our Refinery entrepreneurship program has empowered entrepreneurs to launch 29 businesses since September 2020. At the time of submission, we have ten active coaching clients. Thirty-three percent of our clients speak at least three languages; 35% have attained a Bachelor’s degree; and 80% have finished high school. Seventy-two percent of our graduates have received government benefits within the last seven years; now, fourteen percent receive government benefits. The top three countries represented in our programming are Iraq (33%), Mexico (30%), and Ukraine (10%). We have also worked with women from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iran, Myanmar, Sudan, and Thailand.

Refugees and immigrants represent an extraordinarily diverse population and face communication, education, and accessibility barriers in the United States. These barriers require more than perseverance and grit; to truly succeed, our newest neighbors deserve an educational solution created specifically for them, inclusively focused on the mental and social bridges they need to build to lessen the gap between their resilience and reality. 

The Refinery is a 4-month intensive program in which immigrant and refugee women learn the “A to Z”s of entrepreneurship, build relationships with community members and other business owners, and launch or improve their small businesses. Our proprietary curriculum comprises seven modules: personal development, technology, marketing and sales, business administration, relationship building, finances, and business registration. We maintain strong partnerships with local lenders, CDFIs, and Nebraska’s SBA representatives, and our professional network is vast and committed to investing in our entrepreneurs. 

To provide a well-rounded experience, The Refinery at ECHO Collective needs to add a Learning Management System to complement our current structure. We have a waitlist of fifteen women, which grows weekly. We have built an LMS prototype as an efficient and effective solution to bring our one-of-a-kind incubator to these entrepreneurs promptly. Although our LMS is not designed to replace self-contained learning experiences like Dream Builder, our goal is much larger. We envision a future of community-led incubators, supporting refugee and immigrant women through in-person connection and education with an innovative LMS to mitigate barriers to language access and instructor training.

Research indicates that refugee and immigrant women encounter hurdles in entrepreneurship, including a lack of formal education, language barriers, and limited business knowledge (Ramos et al., 2018; Williams & Jones, 2020). This lack of support hinders their entrepreneurial growth, resulting in missed economic and social opportunities.

Our Theory of Change Approach:

1. Digital Learning for Enhanced Education: Through our comprehensive LMS, we offer tailored courses, workshops, and training materials in multiple languages, catering to the specific needs of refugee and immigrant women (Lee & Chang, 2021). This platform equips them with essential skills, business knowledge, and language proficiency to overcome initial challenges.

2. Accessibility and Flexibility: The LMS enables women to access resources from anywhere with an internet connection, breaking geographical barriers and accommodating their entrepreneurial aspirations alongside personal responsibilities (Kapur & Wu, 2019).

3. Peer Support and Networking: Interactive features in the LMS foster peer collaboration and networking, complementing our in-person opportunities. This supportive ecosystem allows women to exchange ideas and experiences, uplifting each other (Hassan & Sen, 2020).

4. Digital Resources and Tools: Our LMS provides a repository of guides, business templates, and industry insights, assisting women in navigating complex business processes (Santos & Kim, 2021). These digital tools level the playing field and enhance decision-making capabilities.

5. Data-Driven Improvement: We utilize data analytics within the LMS to monitor progress, identify areas for improvement, and customize learning pathways (Nguyen & Nguyen, 2022). This data-driven approach ensures continuous adaptation to meet evolving needs.

By providing accessible, flexible, and peer-supported digital education, we bridge the gap between dreams and reality for refugee and immigrant women, enabling them to launch and sustain successful businesses. Empowering these women drives economic growth and fosters a more inclusive and diverse society, enriching the fabric of the United States. At ECHO Collective, we believe it is our responsibility to harness technology and knowledge, creating an environment where every woman can thrive as an entrepreneur, leaving an indelible impact on our communities and nation.

We are currently serving 39 entrepreneurs. In one year, we will be serving more than 60 entrepreneurs. In five years, we will be serving more than 185 entrepreneurs in a self-sustaining and collaborative entrepreneurship ecosystem. 

If we meet our long-term goal of scaling the LMS and licensing the curriculum to serve local entrepreneur-rich communities, this number will increase by at least 10 entrepreneurs per community per year. For example, if we add two local communities, Crete and Seward, in Year 2 (three years from now), our potential impact will be 102 entrepreneurs. By Year Five (six years from now), our potential impact will be more than 240 entrepreneurs.

This number greatly multiplies when we consider the effect of women on their communities. Women's economic impact on their families and communities is profound. Research by the World Bank shows that when women earn an income, they invest 90% of it back into their families, compared to 30-40% for men. Furthermore, the UN Women reports that increasing women's income and economic participation leads to better health, education, and overall development for families and communities. Empowering women economically not only fosters gender equality but also creates a ripple effect of positive change, driving socio-economic progress and stronger communities.

Lincoln, Nebraska, boasts a diverse and thriving economy with a mix of industries, including government, education, healthcare, and manufacturing. It has a stable job market, a growing tech sector, and a business-friendly environment, making it an attractive destination for businesses and professionals alike. Mayor Leirion Gaylor-Baird advocates for the New American population in our city and supports nonprofit organizations like ECHO Collective. 

We actively listen to and value the feedback and insights of local refugee and immigrant women, incorporating their perspectives into program development and decision-making for more impactful and tailored support. Our graduates often take on leadership and mentorship roles for new cohorts of entrepreneurs. 

In addition to our entrepreneurs, we solicit feedback from and maintain partnerships with local experts in business, such as the University of Nebraska Lincoln’s College of Business, Southeast Community College, Community Development Resources, Nebraska Enterprise Fund, and more.

At ECHO Collective, trust-building within our community is central to our approach. Our Founder & Executive Director's ten-year background in teaching English as a Second Language establishes credibility and rapport. Her reputation as the people's advocate and our commitment to investing in the community reinforce our authenticity.

We prioritize active engagement and authentic connections with the women we serve, showing that their voices and experiences matter. Transparent communication and consistent follow-through on commitments solidify our credibility.

Networking plays a crucial role in building trust among small business owners. Collaborating with local businesses, community leaders, and other nonprofits establishes mutually beneficial partnerships that strengthen our impact. Our extensive partnership list showcases our commitment to collective well-being and working together for shared goals.

Our impact goals for the current year and the next five years revolve around providing high-quality, comprehensive education and mentorship to empower all New American women in Lincoln, Nebraska, who are seeking a better life through entrepreneurship. We focus on investing in well-rounded individuals rather than solely increasing the numbers served. We will continue to enhance and expand our proprietary curriculum and mentorship program to achieve these goals. Leveraging tech-based solutions like our Learning Management System and licensing our proprietary curriculum, we aim to scale our impact beyond the local community, reaching a wider audience of refugee and immigrant women entrepreneurs. By combining personalized support with technology, we strive to create a sustainable and inclusive ecosystem that fosters the growth and success of women-owned businesses, contributing to economic empowerment and social integration.