Contra Costa Times
Staff Writer
Posted: 09/08/2010
Business/Entrepreneur Finalist Judith Luther-Wilder receives the International Goodwill & Understanding award during a Soroptimist International of Long Beach luncheon in May. (Steven Georges/Press-Telegram)
Judith Luther-Wilder
At the moment, Judith Luther-Wilder is back where she started.
The Long Beach resident is vacationing with family in Nova Scotia, where she was born and where she lived until she left for college in Hawaii.
"I have to say, I left - like all teenagers - thinking, 'I gotta get out of this place. There's nothing to do here,"' she said. "Now, I think, `There's nothing to do here. It's so wonderful."'
If the college-bound Luther-Wilder had met her future self, she would have said the same thing, too. Since coming to Long Beach 30 years ago, she has worked tirelessly for the betterment of artists, women entrepreneurs and ethnic communities.
Whether co-founding an organization that helps artists become entrepreneurs or supporting women business owners, Luther-Wilder's dedication has made her a finalist in the Press-Telegram's Amazing Women contest.
"Always putting others first, assisting young business entrepreneurs and artists is her raison d'etre," said longtime friend Lindsay Shields, who nominated Luther-Wilder.
Luther-Wilder came here in 1980 to be the city's Superintendent of Cultural Affairs. After marrying former City Councilman Marc Wilder, she stepped down and became involved in the Cambodian community.
She teamed up with United Cambodian Community, Inc. to create an entrepreneurial training/microlending program
for amputees in the Southern Cambodian town of Kampot, graduating more than 5,000 students, many of whom set up small poultry production and small motor repair shops throughout the region.
Luther-Wilder also worked with women entrepreneurs and in 1991 became executive director of the American Woman's Economic Development Corp., which offered training.
"It was an explosive time, and women business owners played a part in turning around the recession in California because they were employing thousands of people," she said.
Training was valuable, but so was financing. It led Luther-Wilder to co-found Women Incorporated in 1994.
"Within the first couple of years, you had women who were generating millions of dollars, and that was just remarkable and so gratifying to see," she said.
And sometimes all it took was encouragement, she said.
"When that is made available, great success occurs," Luther-Wilder said. "And it occurs so often that I wonder why we don't all go around saying `attagirl' all the time."
She later co-founded The Center for Cultural Innovation, which for the last 10 years has helped artists become entrepreneurs. She also written three books on career development and business strategies for women business owners and self-employed artists.
These days, her reach has extended to China's Sias International University, where she founded and developed the school's arts program.
But Luther-Wilder's ties and home remain in Long Beach.
"It's always wonderful to get recognition," she said. "And particularly because it's coming from Long Beach. I've been involved in Long Beach for such a long time. And so it's meaningful when it's coming from your own community."
karen.robes@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1303
Judith Luther-Wilder
At the moment, Judith Luther-Wilder is back where she started.
The Long Beach resident is vacationing with family in Nova Scotia, where she was born and where she lived until she left for college in Hawaii.
"I have to say, I left - like all teenagers - thinking, 'I gotta get out of this place. There's nothing to do here,"' she said. "Now, I think, `There's nothing to do here. It's so wonderful."'
If the college-bound Luther-Wilder had met her future self, she would have said the same thing, too. Since coming to Long Beach 30 years ago, she has worked tirelessly for the betterment of artists, women entrepreneurs and ethnic communities.
Whether co-founding an organization that helps artists become entrepreneurs or supporting women business owners, Luther-Wilder's dedication has made her a finalist in the Press-Telegram's Amazing Women contest.
"Always putting others first, assisting young business entrepreneurs and artists is her raison d'etre," said longtime friend Lindsay Shields, who nominated Luther-Wilder.
Luther-Wilder came here in 1980 to be the city's Superintendent of Cultural Affairs. After marrying former City Councilman Marc Wilder, she stepped down and became involved in the Cambodian community.
She teamed up with United Cambodian Community, Inc. to create an entrepreneurial training/microlending program
for amputees in the Southern Cambodian town of Kampot, graduating more than 5,000 students, many of whom set up small poultry production and small motor repair shops throughout the region.
Luther-Wilder also worked with women entrepreneurs and in 1991 became executive director of the American Woman's Economic Development Corp., which offered training.
"It was an explosive time, and women business owners played a part in turning around the recession in California because they were employing thousands of people," she said.
Training was valuable, but so was financing. It led Luther-Wilder to co-found Women Incorporated in 1994.
"Within the first couple of years, you had women who were generating millions of dollars, and that was just remarkable and so gratifying to see," she said.
And sometimes all it took was encouragement, she said.
"When that is made available, great success occurs," Luther-Wilder said. "And it occurs so often that I wonder why we don't all go around saying `attagirl' all the time."
She later co-founded The Center for Cultural Innovation, which for the last 10 years has helped artists become entrepreneurs. She also written three books on career development and business strategies for women business owners and self-employed artists.
These days, her reach has extended to China's Sias International University, where she founded and developed the school's arts program.
But Luther-Wilder's ties and home remain in Long Beach.
"It's always wonderful to get recognition," she said. "And particularly because it's coming from Long Beach. I've been involved in Long Beach for such a long time. And so it's meaningful when it's coming from your own community."
karen.robes@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1303
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