BE Forum Explores Solutions for Economic Revival
African Americans, small business key for economic turnaround
Article written by Joyce Jones.
- Posted in News, Small Business on Thursday, January 28, 2010, 20:02
- This post has 17 Comments. Leave a comment .
- viewed 399 times
- User Ratings
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ... 
Print This Post
(l-r) BE Editorial Director Alan Hughes; Dr. Thomas Boston, CEO, EuQuant; William Mays, CEO, Mays Chemical; Margaret Garner, President, Broadway Consolidated Cos.; David Hinson, Director, MBDA (Source: Lonnie C. Major)
As President Barack Obama embarked on the first of a series of trips he will make on his listening tour of America to promote job creation and growth, Black Enterprise hosted a forum to explore strategies and solutions that will ensure that African Americans will be key players in the nation’s economic revival.
Black Enterprise has dedicated the past 40 years to being a catalyst for solutions for African American entrepreneurship, wealth building, and career development, explained Derek T. Dingle, editor in chief of Black Enterprise magazine, and the conference -- “20/20 Vision: A Look Ahead at Black America in the Next Economic Boom”-- is a natural extension of the company’s mission.
“This conference is one of those vehicles in which we can provide policy recommendations on a range of areas that involve African Americans, typically as it relates to business and finance,” Dingle said. “We wanted to hear from administration officials, but just as important, we wanted them to meet some of the leaders in the African American business community and gain input from them about what’s happening with their businesses and financial lives.”
Some of the solutions discussed at the Wal-Mart Stores Inc.-sponsored conference centered on getting access to capital through initiatives such as the $30 billion in TARP money that the president has proposed be used to increase lending to small businesses via community banks. Panelists also urged entrepreneurs to fight for increased access to resources such as bonding assistance, which enables construction companies, for example, to go after higher-margin projects that will help them expand their businesses.
In addition to providing an assessment of the state of black America in terms of employment rates and entrepreneurship during the conference, BE 100 CEOs, corporate executives, educators, and economists discussed how African Americans can become vital members of the workforce of the future and job-creating entrepreneurs in the face of high unemployment. Sessions focused on the importance of education and workforce readiness, small business innovation, partnerships between small businesses and major corporations, and wealth building.
During the session on jobs and workforce readiness, Bernard Anderson, Ph.D., a member of the Black Enterprise Board of Economists and CEO of EuQuant, took a more sobering look at the pace of job recovery. He predicted that it will take much longer for the American workforce in general, but for blacks in particular, to experience real recovery than White House officials have forecast.
But Janice Bryant Howroyd, president and CEO of ACT-1 Group, said that could be a good thing because it presents opportunities for many people to become entrepreneurial pioneers and strike out on their own.
The discussion also included the necessity to increase college matriculation and graduation rates among African American students.
Thank you Black Enterprise for being a leader on these very important issues. Firs, was Energy, then Economics, please do Information technology next in Chicago!!!
Reply
This looks like a news show. Is Black Enterprise starting their own nightly news show? if yes, I can't wait. We need our own nightly news show. Black Enterprise News Tonight!!!
Reply
WOW!!!! I attend all the BE events and I didn't get an invitation to this one.
Thanks for the coverage.
Reply
@Mr. Chicago No Education first then IT. We need a discussion on Education!!!
Reply
Please post the video or transcripts from what appears to have been an AMAZING event. When is the next one?
Reply
I want my seat at the table! We need to talk about employment for African American Men! Jobs not Jail!
Reply
Minister I.J.Baker Let The Black Church Speak Reply:
January 31st, 2010 at 3:52 pm
I was watching your January 31,2010 Program,and you asked a question about President Obama promise and support, to African Americam Population. The panel guest gave some interesting answers. However, to me there was one answer missing,and that was, the financial institutions need get up off sitting on the money, and start lending in the African American community for new and expanding business. This I believe, the President could put pressure on them to do, or else face sanction of closing or federal take over. I welcome your invitation to sit at the table.
Reply
I was watching your January 31,2010 Program,and you asked a question about President Obama promise and support, to African Americam Population. The panel guest gave some interesting answers. However, to me there was one answer missing,and that was, the financial institutions need get up off sitting on the money, and start lending in the African American community for new and expanding business. This I believe, the President could put pressure on them to do, or else face sanction of closing or federal take over.
Reply
Your forum is very enlighting an to the point, keep up the great work.
Reply
We're hosting the State of Black Business: The Minority Report, an interactive conversation between Business owners, professionals, clergy and community leaders regarding the present state of Black Businesses. Where we are now, what challenges and barriers we face, what opportunities exist, and what solutions we can identify. It will be interesting to see how our solutions compare to these outcomes. We're all working toward common goals and welcome input at info@resourcekingintl.com.
Reply
We're hosting the State of Black Business: The Minority Report, an interactive conversation between Business owners, professionals, clergy and community leaders regarding the present state of Black Businesses. Where we are now, what challenges and barriers we face, what opportunities exist, and what solutions we can identify. It will be interesting to see how our solutions compare to these outcomes. We're all working toward common goals and welcome input at info@resourcekingintl.com.
Reply
Hello People,
I am new member here
I just lately found this place and so far i have found a lot of good info right here.
I'm looking forward to connecting and adding to the forum.
Reply
I find myself finding alot usefull information in this forum.
i would like to suggest about:
Reply
uplinibricion breevyTieni
play online slots for real money
GorhienHeette Nidedraisem Trearofliesse
Reply
Wenueunfilm KesHeteneby
buy slot games
encovajoini RoriPoino afferiona
Reply