January 16, 2015
Wall Street Project Summit: Rev. Jesse Jackson Celebrates MLK Legacy on Final Day
Gordan helped wrap the engaging talk by driving the panel’s point home. “It’s about courage and conviction. The other thing you got to do is stick to your values and principles,†he said. “And you got to be willing to walk away from the opportunity. You got to promote equal rights.â€
The follow-up to the corporate board diversity panel brought Africa to forefront. Gathering key representatives from countries like South Africa, Guinea and Cameroon, the “Africa Economic Expansion Forum†worked as a presentation to drive up greater interest from African American entrepreneurs. “We love doing business with African Americans, but we don’t see them on the ground. We tend to wonder if we’ve done something,†said Dr. Patrice Ngue, of Cameroon’s Geiser Consulting. “African Americans need to come to Africa. You can make money in Africa. We lack technology. If you bring the technology to Cameroon or Africa, definitely, you’re going to make large money.”
RELATED: Doing Business in Africa
Ngue’s passionate display of needing and wanting to work with America’s black entrepreneurs came coupled with social relevance. “When I see the kind of issues you have here, you want to invest in Silicon Valley. Your Silicon Valley is in Africa,†he said. “Come here.â€
Down the hallway of the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, a panel of nearly 10 faith leaders, financial specialists, and community advocates discussed ways to use the church and gain the financing needed to help grow their black neighborhood. Newark, NJ Mayor Ras Baraka spoke about the power of churches needed to place pressure on local politicians. “It’s up to the political leadership of the city to direct what the financial institutions are doing for the city,†he said, offering a hand of partnership to faith leaders in Newark.  “Churches can hold community leaders accountable for not working with institutions to invest in the community.â€
After other panels on energy, investment officers, and succeeding on the Web with Google ended, the conference commenced with the Wall Street Project Awards Luncheon. Featuring speakers like Congresswoman Maxine Waters; and Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group; the summit ended on a note of power by honoring Dr. Lonnie G. Johnson, President and CEO of Excellatron; and Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III of New York’s famed Abyssinian Baptist Church.