Three years before I arrived in the Berkshires in 2011, I watched my mother's new, small business collapse.
A relative had encouraged her to launch a small trucking operation and hire other Vietnamese community members as drivers. From the outside, transportation logistics can look deceptively simple: you're simply moving goods
efficiently from point A to point B. Reality is always more complicated. From volatile weather, fluctuating fuel costs, tight delivery windows, there are countless risks between turning a profit versus falling into a financial sinkhole. For a young refugee entrepreneur, the barriers were enormous.
In the end, the business required more upfront capital than my mother could sustain. We lost our home, along with many other essentials in the process. As a teenager, I couldn't understand these drastic changes to our simple life. All I wanted was to blend in and feel "normal." To me, my mom's risky decisions, along with her accented English, seemed to jeopardize that dream.
Now, I'm old enough to understand how limited this perspective was, and to have empathy towards the pain I was feeling, however misdirected. I used to think the worst financial years were due to my mom's business failing, and her not understanding English and American business culture enough. I vowed to never take this challenging route and instead attend an American college, secure a "normal" job in corporate America, and one day achieve stability and health insurance. My new life would be a steady line of check boxes of what I thought a professional career should be.
In the fall of 2011, I had two suitcases and a one-way ticket to Albany. I was on a full-ride scholarship, 3,000 miles away from home at Williams College, to begin that journey.
Looking back, it's painfully obvious how short-sighted I was. The year we lost everything was 2008. It was not my mom's failure as a business owner (spoiler alert: she is a great small-business owner loved dearly by her clients) it was the failure of American systems and institutions that left low-income families like mine, striving for upward mobility, vulnerable and unprotected. Her support network was also incredibly limited. She did not have resources that I do today, like SCORE mentors, small-business technical assistance, and free local workshops. My mom felt like she was truly alone on her entrepreneurial journey.
Later, I also understood that it was not my mom's lack of critical thinking that made her choose the route of entrepreneurship instead of having a "normal" job. It was the fact that these places often do not let people like her in. As a Vietnamese refugee, a single mother with two kids to feed, and no college degree, she needed a job to survive. So, she created one. My mom became a successful entrepreneur because she understood something that is fundamental to being one: the key is survival.
It's been decades since and a lot has changed. My mom has been running her small business successfully for the past 20 years. I, myself, left the corporate world to create work that was more meaningful and fulfilling. Now, I understand first hand that trial and error is a part of the small-business journey.
In this new year, I'm thankful to return to what I know. I'm thankful to be an entrepreneur who comes from an underrepresented background. To have a mom who persisted with all the grit required to be a small business owner and a mother at the same time. I know we are not alone.
I am thankful to all the small business owners who work tirelessly at pursuing the line of work and innovation they believe in. I am thankful to the ecosystem and community that supports them and benefits from a stronger local economy of small business owners. Through New Leaf, I will be placing that gratitude in action by highlighting some of these local stories here in the Berkshires.
Lani Willmar is an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow at 1Berkshire and a small-business owner working at the intersection of rural economic development, workforce development, and equitable entrepreneurship. As someone who grew up in an underrepresented community, New Leaf is a monthly column that serves to spotlight the stories of underrepresented founders who are building, adapting, and thriving with the support of a powerful ecosystem in the Berkshires. Each piece highlights not just the entrepreneurs themselves, but the community of mentors, resources, and partners that help make their success possible.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Gov. Healey Urges Preparedness Ahead of Winter Storm
Staff Reports
BOSTON, Mass.—The Healey-Driscoll Administration is asking Massachusetts residents to plan ahead and review winter weather safety tips this weekend and into early next week, ahead of the anticipated winter storm.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an Extreme Cold Warning for western Massachusetts from Friday at 7 p.m. to Saturday at 1 p.m. with wind chills as low as 25 degrees below zero expected in some spots. A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect from 10 p.m. Friday evening to 10 a.m. Saturday morning for the rest of the state with low wind chills to 20 below zero.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect from Sunday morning through Monday evening.
According to the NWS, wind chill temperatures will be in the single digits and below zero across much of Massachusetts on Saturday. The snowstorm, which is expected to intensify during the evening and overnight hours on Sunday into Monday will result in total accumulations above 12 inches for much of Massachusetts with some communities potentially receiving up to 2 feet of snow. Slippery road conditions are expected throughout the state with the Monday morning commute expected to be especially difficult.
Governor Maura Healey directed non-emergency Executive Department state employees not report to their workplaces on Monday, Jan. 26, and is urging employers to consider having employees work remotely to the extent possible.
"This weekend, we will be reminded of the extremes that winter weather can pose for us here in Massachusetts with extremely cold temperatures on Saturday and high snow totals expected on Sunday into Monday," said Governor Maura Healey. "This kind of weather can be dangerous, so please take precautions to stay warm when the temperature drops, stay home to the extent possible, and look out for one another."
The State Emergency Operations Center will be activated at the headquarters of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) in Framingham. MEMA will also be activating regional emergency operation centers in Agawam, Tewksbury and Franklin.
"MEMA is prepared to respond to any requests for assistance that communities impacted by this winter storm may have," said MEMA Director Dawn Brantley. "It's important to stay informed of the latest conditions and to take precautions to stay warm when outside and safe while on the roads during and after the storm."
How Residents Can Prepare
Plan ahead and take care when traveling on the roads. Clear snow and ice from your vehicle's windows, lights, hood and roof before driving. Utilize safe winter driving practices, including leaving extra room for braking and stopping in slippery travel conditions. Don't crowd plow or maintenance vehicles. Stay back at least 200 feet and don't pass on the right.
Prepare for possible power outages. Fully charge your cellphone, laptop and any essential electronic devices before the storm. Ensure you have extra batteries for medical equipment and assistive devices. Take stock of your emergency kit and ensure it includes seasonal supplies, such as extra winter clothing and blankets.
Test your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms to make sure they work correctly and have fresh batteries. During and after the storm, check your appliance exhaust vents, making sure that they are not obstructed by snow or ice.
If you use a generator for storm-related power outages, follow the manufacturer's instructions. Never use a generator indoors, not even in an open garage. Point the exhaust away from doors and windows. Turn the generator off and wait for it to cool before you refuel it. Plug appliances in using outdoor-rated extension cords.
Follow recommended safety precautions when using space heaters, a fireplace or a woodstove to heat your home.
If you are able, clear your nearest fire hydrant of snow and ice for three feet in each direction.
Additional tips on what to do before, during, and after a winter storm can be found at Mass.gov/Snow.
MassDOT
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is advising travelers that snowfall is expected to impact travel in many regions of the state, from Sunday evening through Monday morning. Travelers should allow for extra travel time and check forecasts for their routes and destinations. With significant snowfall amounts forecast, MassDOT crews will be pretreating roadways in advance of the storm and will be deploying snow removal staff, with over 3,000 pieces of equipment, available for deployment as necessary across the Commonwealth.
"With a significant winter storm expected to bring over a foot of snow across Massachusetts, transportation crews are preparing to keep roads safe and passable," said Interim MassDOT Transportation Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng. "We urge everyone to plan ahead and limit travel, if possible. If you must travel, slow down, allow for extra time, keep a safe distance from plows and other vehicles, and be mindful of changing conditions. Public transit riders should check for service updates and official alerts. Our teams will be working throughout the storm and into recovery to support safe travel and we ask the public to do their part so everyone can get where they need to go safely."
"MassDOT crews are fully prepared and will be working around the clock, starting with efforts to pretreat roadways before the storm arrives, and continuing throughout this weekend as the system moves across Massachusetts. Our top priorities are keeping roadways safe and responding quickly to changing conditions," said Undersecretary and State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. We are asking travelers to consider public transportation options and to use caution if they must be on the roads. Thank you to our crews that will be clearing snow and ice from our roads, bridges, and interchanges."
For more information on traffic conditions, travelers are encouraged to:
Download the Mass511 mobile app or visit www.mass511.com to view live cameras, travel times, real-time traffic conditions, and project information before setting out on the road. Users can subscribe to receive text and email alerts for traffic conditions.
Dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions.
Follow @MassDOT on X, (formerly known as Twitter),to receive regular updates on road and traffic conditions.
MBTA
For service updates immediately before, during, and after a storm, MBTA officials urge riders to subscribe to text or email T-Alerts before snowfall for real time notifications about service disruptions. We also encourage riders to follow the MBTA on X (the site formerly known as Twitter) @MBTA, @MBTA_CR, and @MBTA_CR_Alerts for information. During and after winter storms, the Commuter Rail and bus routes may need to reduce service and operate on storm schedules. The MBTA will update the Commuter Rail schedules and bus schedules to match. Riders can also visit the T's Winter Travel Guide at mbta.com/winter.
Crews will work to clear snow and ice throughout the system, but riders are asked to use caution on platforms and at bus stops.
Massport
Boston Logan International Airport will remain fully operational throughout the weekend though many airlines are cancelling flights and few flights are expected during the storm. Many airlines are waiving change fees so passengers should check with their airline about rescheduling their flight. For passengers with confirmed flights, heavy snowfall and potential slick roadways are expected at times, and passengers should allow extra time to get to and from Logan.
For any additional questions, passengers can contact our Passenger Service team via our website, by calling 1-800-23-LOGAN or the free FlyLogan app.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is monitoring the forecast and preparing its snow removal equipment for the agency's parkways, sidewalks and properties in anticipation of a plowable event. DCR prioritizes plowing on primary roadways and parkways, as well as designated sidewalks, pathways and crosswalks that provide safe passage in the immediate proximity to schools while school is in-session. The agency anticipates activating its statewide storm center on Sunday.
To ensure safety and accommodate winter storm operations, DCR is closing all agency-managed recreation facilities including all visitor centers, the Melnea A. Cass Recreation Center, and Dillaway Thomas House on Sunday, January 25 and Monday, January 26. All programs at parks across the state will be canceled on Sunday and Monday. All of these facilities are expected to reopen for normal operations on Tuesday, January 27.
Additionally, DCR is closing the following agency-operated skating rinks at 12 p.m. on Sunday, January 25: Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Rink in Charlestown, Private First-Class Robert M. Devine Skating Rink in South Boston, Alexander S. Bajko Memorial Skating Rink in Hyde Park, Kelly Outdoor Rink in Jamaica Plain, Private First-Class Steven J. Steriti Memorial Skating Rink in the North End, Francis L. Murphy Ice Memorial Ice Skating Rink in South Boston, and the Lieutenant James F. Reilly Memorial Rink in Brighton. These facilities are expected to reopen on Monday, January 26 after snow removal operations are completed.
DCR may implement parking bans for agency-managed roadways and designated DOT managed roadways. The timing of the parking bans will be consistent with local municipal bans. Please refer to local parking ban announcements for current restrictions. All parking bans on DCR parkways apply to both sides of the road, and vehicles parked on these areas during an active snow emergency will be ticketed and towed. Parking bans are expected to be lifted shortly after the completion of snow clearing operations.
Learn more from DCR on how to make your own more environmentally friendly liquid salt brine. Liquid salt brine – a mix of salt dissolved in water – serves as an anti-icing agent to prevent snow and ice from binding to the road surface, allowing for easier removal, fewer applications and faster return to a clean paved surface. This snow removal technique is more cost effective and environmentally friendly for municipalities, state agencies and consumers.
Department of Public Utilities
The Department of Public Utilities and the Electric Distribution Companies (EDCs) continue to monitor the weather forecast and are updating their Emergency Response Plans accordingly. The DPU and EDCs remain in close communication as the storm develops. The EDCs conduct daily storm planning calls, provide regular updates to the DPU regarding storm preparation activities, and the companies will put in place their Emergency Response Plans if and when necessary to swiftly address any potential outages. These Plans include increasing the number of troubleshooters and dispatchers to help customers quickly and adding more engineers and line crews to work on any on-site incidents.
Should customers experience any power outages, report the issue directly to your electric company. Please stay far away from any downed wires at all times and report them immediately to 911.
Additionally, the DPU's Winter Shut-off Moratorium is still in effect and applies to residential customers of the investor-owned electric and gas companies and Municipal Light Plant customers. These utility companies cannot shut off heating service to residents who demonstrate they are experiencing financial hardship. Learn more about your rights and the moratorium.
Department of Environmental Protection
To address the handling of excessive snowfall amounts, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) provides Snow Disposal Guidance to local governments and businesses. The online guidance assists with snow disposal site selection, site preparation and maintenance, and emergency snow disposal options that are protective of wetlands, drinking water, and waterbodies. MassDEP also has an online mapping tool to help communities identify possible snow disposal options locally.
Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 8 Northbrook Lane. click for more
The new, half-cost design for Wahconah Park places the bathrooms and concessions in elevated, standalone buildings beside the grandstand. click for more
The fate of the Lanesborough Local Country Store's signature vintage pickup truck remains uncertain following the Zoning Board of Appeals' recent decision. click for more
Every year several towns and cities in the Berkshires create outdoor skating rinks or open their doors to the numerous indoor ice skating venues.
click for more
