Laura Thompson, owner of Laura Thompson Agency, founded Sistas in Business in August 2005. Four Sistas were invited to serve as the first Board of Directors for Sistas in Business:Della Guidry, as First Vice President; LaJoyce Lawton was our first board Chaplain; Yolanda Miller was the first board Secretary; and Velma Chambers was the first board Treasurer. SIB was created for African American women business owners, for the purpose of:

• Networking
• Bringing African American women business owners together
• Sharing ideas and information
• Advocating for women business issues
• Doing business with each other
• Calculating our collective economic impact on the San Antonio market

Although the African American market in San Antonio is small in numbers, African American women hold our own politically, in key positions in companies; local and state government; and as business owners. As business owners, we all provide products, goods and services
that we all need and use from time to time and/or on an ongoing basis; so we should do business with each other, when at all possible.

Sistas in Business for Literacy is our community involvement committee and was developed for the purpose of helping elementary school children develop better reading skills. The program initially start as a twice a year Reading Cafe at Cameron Elementary School. Our first community involvement committee chair was Cheryl Davis. The literacy program has since expanded to a year long program and a two prong approach is being used. One, we have continued the Reading Cafe twice a year, but have added a Literacy in Motion component where we are taking children out into the community to read to seniors in nursing homes, small businesses, the library and youth centers throughout the city. The program name has been changed to Read & Lead, which was the brainchld of Melinda Jackson, our current community involvement chair.

We have also fostered a partnership with agencies like I Have A Dream Foundation,Top Ladies of Distinction, South Texas Women's Business Center, Bexar County SWMBE Expo Martinez Street Women's Center and more. We continue to make history everyday.

We have been in existence since August 2005. We are striving to gain National Status.With the help of Sistas in San Antonio and across the country, we can create a powerful presence. If you are interested in uniting with an organization that wants to help you strengthen your business and increase your network - contact ustoday!