Help Connies Cantina During This Crises

Connie's Cantina on Grand Avenue

I am Tracey Williams, founder of urban university and I am honored to launch this Gofundme campaign for my friend,  Connie of Connie's Cantina.  Connie is one of my sister entrepreneurs, her restaurant is located at 3340 Grand Avenue in Oakland.  We are in the midst of a unprecedented crises, I care about Connie and her business and decided to launch a fundraiser to help her stand strong during the COVID19 pandemic. 


Connie with her customers


About Connie
Connie is the owner of Connie's Cantina, a mexican food restaurant located on Grand Avenue in Oakland.  A neighborhood gem, Connie is a tireless entrepreneur who has fed Oakland families from this same location for more than 22 years.  Connie is the face of small business today - hard working by heading to the markets by 6am each morning, steady because she has never misses a day and wonderfully warm, just like that spice she uses in her Super Burritos. According to Connie, "I opened the Cantina 22 years ago with one goal - to be a part of the community and provide a great place for people to gather together."

Connie's Cantina is a small business
I know many may have it twisted about what a small business is but Connie is a real small business.  She has less than 3 employees, wears multiple hats and makes every dish by her own hands.   

Honestly, over the past few years due to gentrification, it's been tough for Connie.  Her head is down in her work cooking meals for Oakland while sexy new businesses pop up and close on her street every day. It's easy to do the start-up thing when you fit the right image, according to the Entrepreneur Magazine,  "Women-owned businesses receive just 7 percent of venture capital investment money, which is highly disproportionate to their role in the economy. Additionally, loan approval rates for female entrepreneurs is 15 to 20 percent less than it is for men. " Connie's steady entrepreneurship is a testament to the strength of many people who give it their all every day to run a business and do what they love.

Friends of Connie's from Columbia enjoying a meal


Impact of COVID-19 
We are in the midst of an unprecedented crises and as a small business owner, Connie is in the middle of it.  Many restaurants have had to close temporarily, but Connie is striving to stay open and is  running take-out orders due to shelter-in-place.   She has not secured any of the funds that were supposed to make it to Mainstreet and she doesn't qualify for the PPP because she has less than 5 employees. This is the problem, and guess what - we are the solution. 

Let's support our own
Let's keep Connie lifted.  If you have ever eaten and enjoyed Connie's meals - won't you support her today?  Monies raised will go directly to Connie to pay herself and her operational expenses while she stabilizes her business going forward. And while you're at it, order some take-out as well. Everything helps and Connie is grateful.  

Come on bay area - let's show the world we take care of our own.

Thank You and on the behalf of Connie, be well and safe.
Tracey Williams, urban university

Website:   www.conniescantina.com
Facebook:  ConniesCantina