Want to help create jobs? Help my start-up!

Entrepreneurship is the way to economic recovery. Help a start-up hire talent!

You could help me win $10,000 in seed money for my start-up, Ashley Cisneros, Inc., which will help me hire talent and launch an aggressive marketing campaign to take the company to the next level. I specifically seek to hire displaced journalists, and help them develop the entrepreneurial skills needed to profit from their gifts.

I was selected as one of 14 Fellows in the Unity NewU initiative, a program for news entrepreneurs of color, generously supported by the Ford Foundation. With your help, I can hire, and even create much-needed jobs!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR ME

You can vote for me as many times as you wish through midnight on Jan. 3, 2012. You just have keep going to this site and clicking the Vote Now! link at the bottom. Please share this info with your colleagues, friends and family, and anyone who may be interested in supporting entrepreneurship! Thanks a million!

About Ashley Cisneros, Inc.

Ashley Cisneros, Inc. is based upon the belief that each person has a story to tell, and talents to share – and profit from. You can have the best credentials, most innovative product or service, or groundbreaking news, but if no one knows about it, there’s little value. Words do more than communicate, words can really change lives.

Ashley Cisneros, Inc. helps individuals and companies leverage the selling power of words. The firm achieves this by delivering communication products such as advertorials, articles, speeches, annual reports, sales letters and more. These products save corporations, small businesses and magazines precious time and money while helping engage their target audiences. Ashley Cisneros, Inc. communication products have helped clients achieve key goals such as increasing brand awareness, getting more sales or earned media.

Vote for My Partners, Too

I'm competing in the National Association of Hispanic Journalists fellowship category. There are also competitions in the categories of Unaffiliated and Asian American Journalists Association. I urge you to vote for these fabulous projects in those categories:

AAJA

Cluefly.com. the factcheck desk for the Internet, is a creation of my pal, Jeff Yang. Cluefly.com is a collaborative site for crowdsourced, expert-validated answers to questions about hot-button topics like race, culture, gender and identity. Vote for Jeff here.

Unaffiliated

Dominion of New York: "The Best of Black New York" is a wonderful content site being developed by my friend Kelly Virella in the Unaffiliated category. Vote for Kelly here.

CENTRAL FLORIDA WRITER COMPETES FOR $10,000 IN STARTUP FUNDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, December 12, 2011

Central Florida Writer Competes for $10,000 in Startup Funds
Ashley Cisneros is THE only Entrepreneur selected from Southeast U.S. FOR NATIONAL COMPETITION

Orlando, FLA. —Lake Nona-based newspreneur Ashley Cisneros is one of 14 national finalists competing for a $10,000 startup business investment prize, the only program Fellow selected from the Southeast and Florida. Four winners will receive the seed money from the New U: News Entrepreneurs Working Through UNITY initiative, a competitive program for journalists of color who want to become entrepreneurs.

“I’m grateful to live in a country where you can make something profitable out of nothing if you work hard and take smart risks,” said Cisneros, 29. “This seed money means opportunity, and will help me hire more writers to meet demand. I want to create jobs.”

A former newspaper reporter, magazine editor, tech writer, marketing manager and PR practitioner, Cisneros helps individuals and companies engage their target audiences. Her company, Ashley Cisneros, Inc., produces communications products for clients around the world. In October, Cisneros was honored as a Fellow at the New U national startup boot camp in Las Vegas, Nev. During the camp, Cisneros was mentored by Rod Colón, master networker, executive coach and weekly co-host of the “Your Career Is Calling” radio show. In addition, she learned from world class presenters Sumaya Kazi, CEO of Sumazi; Harry Lin, executive in residence at Idealab; and Mike Green, co-founder of The America21 Project, among others.

“This was an invaluable opportunity to learn directly from seasoned news entrepreneurs about business plan formation, funding opportunities and gain an insider look at working with angel investors and venture capitalists,” said Cisneros, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in entrepreneurship from the University of Florida.

A portion of each Fellow’s score will be determined by the number of votes garnered for his or her pitch. Voting is open from Dec. 8, 2011 through midnight on Jan. 3, 2012, and voters may vote as many times as they like. To vote for Cisneros' business pitch, visit http://unityjournalists.org/newu/newu2011/newu11videos/nahj-video-pitches.

About Ashley Cisneros, Inc.
Ashley Cisneros, Inc. helps individuals and companies leverage the selling power of words. The firm achieves this by delivering communication products such as advertorials, articles, speeches, annual reports, sales letters and more. These products save corporations, small businesses and magazines precious time and money while helping engage their target audiences. Ashley Cisneros, Inc. communication products have helped clients achieve key goals such as increasing brand awareness, getting more sales or earned media. For more information, visit www.ashleycisneros.com.

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