13 dec by Black Business News Group

Publisher’s Message

s the world mourns the death of Nelson Mandela, let us in the black business community take away from his life on this earth an example of perseverance and strength. While it is well documented that Nelson Mandela Pubisher/Chief Executive Officer was a South African world-statesman, peacemaker, and politician, he was also an antiapartheid revolutionary, human rights icon and militant who triumphed against great persecution to improve the lives of others, not only in his country, but around the world. He artfully negotiated the dismantling of the apartheid government, while maintaining his ties with his fellow nationalists and democratic socialists. After serving over 27 years in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to overthrow the state, he left prison with the clarity of thought to continue the fight for justice, both economic and civic, to becoming the first black president of South Africa in 1994. This was a turning point in South Africa’s history, and a landmark for the world. While there still is much work to be done in South Africa, the courage and leadership of Nelson Mandela should serve as an example of a life filled with a purpose.

Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

he Black Business News applauds the efforts of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) as an example what we as blacks can achieve on our own merit. The CBCF has invested some $5 million in African American-owned banking institutions as part of a broader effort to increase the availability of loans for businesses and individuals in African-American communities. The five banks that received $1 million each were: Industrial Bank in Washington, DC; Liberty Bank & Trust Company in New Orleans, Louisiana; Mechanics & Farmers Bank in Durham, North Carolina; Seaway Bank & Trust Company in Chicago, IL; and, City National Bank of New Jersey in Newark, New Jersey. The Black Business News, along with the Black Business Association (headquartered in Los Angeles) will be embarking on an initiative to increase the depository base of African-American-owned banks which remain as an important source of credit and accessible financial services, filling a necessary gap

in communities that might not otherwise have them.

n this issue of the Black Business News, we feature Google and its emerging technology from Google eyewear to Robotics. Also, what is the impact on technology, especially the Internet on the infrastructure of some of the West African countries? Click through the whole issue an don't miss the Special Section Honoring Mr. Mandela.

inally, as this year is fast approaching an end, we wish all a happy and safe holiday season. For those fortunate enough, this is the time for charitable giving. For our corporate partners and stakeholders, we wish you to continue your commitment to support black entrepreneurship in this country not only with the inclusion of procurement and business opportunities, but real dialogue on including African-American-owned small and micro businesses as vital parts of your corporate strategies. 

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About

ABOUT THE BLACK BUSINESS NEWS… The mission of The Black Business News is to inspire and inform public and private sector industry representatives on the importance of smart small business growth. As a versatile source of socioeconomic development activity, the Black Business News imparts current local, national and international industry trends related to small businesses across the United States of America (USA), detailing greater access to financial capital, management efficiencies, business education, mentors and networks. The goals of the Black Business News include: •

• • •

•

Black Business News P.O. Box 43159, Los Angeles, CA 90043 323-291-7819 Fax: 323-298-5064 www.blackbusinessnews.net

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Sarah Harris • Dean L. Jones

ENTREPRENEUR EDITOR

increasing the use of business enterprises owned by USA-based blacks, by advocating for greater access to leading finance lenders and successful business managers.

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

working to merge resources, values, profits, technology throughout the public and private sectors.

PRODUCTION MANAGER

balancing major public and private sector contracting methods with positive outcomes of black-owned and operated enterprises.

LaSandra Stratton • Dean Jones • Linda Ware

gproviding an affirmative influence for emergn ing entrepreneurs sharing innovative design and creative cultural content that exposess d them to the history of black enterprises and excite them to participate in the USA’s future.. advocating and promoting on behalf off black-owned businesses by promoting the need for expanding an economic foundation that supports an unfettered and self-sustained urban society with USA job creation and economic opportunity, where blacks work, live and operate viable business enterprises.

WWW.BLACKBUSINESSNEWS.NET

Kim Anthony Belinda Foster Narishima Osei

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS GRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Harris • Phallu Morgan

STORY EDITORS Wanda Flagg ▪ Jennifer Marie Hamilton

PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Foxx ▪ Sabir • Narishima Osei

CONTENT ADMINISTRATOR La Sandra Stratton

LAYOUT/TYPESETTING Lion Communications Copyright © 2012 by Black Business News All Rights Reserved. The posting of stories, commentaries, reports, documents and links (embedded or otherwise) on this site does not in any way, shape or form, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support of any of such posted material or parts therein.

Contents

DECEMBER 2013

BLACK BUSINESS NEWS… 3

Publisher's Message

GOVERNMENT… 10 12 14 16 20

National Security Advisor Tours Afghanishstan

A Profile of the Life of Nelson R. Mandela

Images from BBA's 2013 Procurement Exchange Summit

34 36 41 48 58

Jay-Z/Barneys Collaboration Continues

President Obama Meets with Reform Protestors President Writes Essay on Gettysburg Address 2013 Medal of Freedom Awardees New Grants for HIV/AIDS Research Announced

IN MEMORY… BUSINESS… 10

Shonda Rhimes to Pen New Book New African American Online Shopping Site NASA's Agriculture Venture - Moon Plants Google Explores Robotics

PUBLIC INTEREST/COMMUNITY… COLUMNS 60 - Take A Look! 103 - Books to Consider... 105 - Calendar 107 - Resources ACTION ALERTS 42 - AEG Supplier Portal SPONSORS 6 - Black Business Association

SPECIAL SECTION… 85

Holiday Shopping Opportunities Cover image - Phallu Morgan

62 63 66 68

Educational Channels on YouTube Responsible Fatherhood Program is Operative 2013 Charitable Giving Suggestions White House Student Film m Festival

INTERNATIONAL… 70

G.U.R.L.S. Rock Program in Ethiopia

Internet Usage Transforming Africa

Her Majesty Florence Ajimobo, Oyo State, Nigeria

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Government

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice's Meets with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and U.S. Troops

t the end of her three-day trip to Afghanistan to visit American troops and civilians and to assess conditions in the country, Ambassador Rice met with President Karzai, at his invitation, for a working dinner at the Palace. Ambassador Rice conveyed to President Karzai that the United States welcomes the Loya Jirga's overwhelming endorsement of the U.S.-Afghanistan Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) and is prepared to sign the agreement in the coming days. Ambassador Rice underscored the opportunity provided by the BSA to sustain the partnership between the United States and Afghanistan to support Afghans in achieving lasting peace, security and development. In response, President Karzai outlined new conditions for signing the agreement and indicated he is not prepared to sign the BSA promptly. Ambassador Rice stressed that we have concluded negotiations and that deferring the signature of the agreement until after next year's elections is not viable, as it would not provide the United States and NATO allies the clarity necessary to plan for a potential post-2014 military presence. Nor would it provide Afghans with the certainty they deserve regarding their future, in the critical months preceding elections. Moreover, the lack of a signed BSA would jeopardize NATO and other nations’ pledges of assistance made at the

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice with LTC Jean-philippe Chicago and Tokyo conferences in 2012. Ambassador Rice reiterated that, without a prompt signature, the U.S. would have no choice but to initiate planning for a post-2014 future in which there would be no U.S. or NATO troop presence in Afghanistan. The United States will continue to work with Afghanistan to support a smooth security transition and to help ensure free and fair elections. Ambassador Rice conveyed the overwhelming and moving support she found among all the see Ambassador Rice on page 11

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice hugs a soldier at the Niagara DFAC at Kandahar Airfield

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Nati the A

Government

Ambassador Rice from page 10

Afghans with whom she met for an enduring U.S.-Afghan partnership and for the prompt signing of the

BSA. In closing, Rice highlighted the American peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friendship and support for the people of Afghanistan as embodied in the extraordinary sacrifices of our service-men and women and the

unprecedented investment Americans have made in Afghanistan. ď &#x192; www.whitehouse.gov/the-pressoffice/2013/11/25/readout-nationalsecurity-advisor-susan-e-rices-meetingpresident-hamid-

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice meets with soldiers at Camp Gamberi

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice receives a briefing from Generals McConville and Lewis at Camp Gamberi

ional Security Advisor Susan. E. Rice meets with students at American University of Afghanistan in Kabul

National Security Advisor Susan E. Rice with American and Afghan forces at Camp Morehead

Gathering in the Spirit of Unity: The President and First Lady Visit Those Fasting for Immigration Reform By Cecilia Muñoz

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visits with a group staging a public fast for immigration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. "Fast for Families" is seeking to pressure Congress into passing an immigration bill. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

he President and the First Lady visited the brave individuals who are fasting in the shadow of the Capitol, sacrificing their health in an effort to get Congress to act swiftly on commonsense immigration reform. The President and the First Lady gave their support for their fight for family unity this Thanksgiving weekend, as families across the country come together to spend time with loved ones. Since November 12, fasters from “Fast For Families” (http://

fast4families.org) have abstained from all food except water in an effort to bring attention to the urgent need for the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives to take a vote on comprehensive immigration reform. Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett and I have also visited Fast For families in recent weeks. The fasters shared their stories

and described empty stomachs but full hearts as they received an outpouring of support; to date, more than 3,000 people around the country have committed to fasting in solidarity. The President and the First Lady thanked Eliseo Medina, Dae Joong Yoon, and all of the fasters for their sacrifice and dedication and told them that the country is behind them on immigration reform. He said that the only thing standing in the way is politics. And it is see Immigration on page 13

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Immigration from page 12

the brave commitment to change from advocates like them that will pressure the House to finally act on immigration reform. This Thanksgiving, as friends,

family, and community gather in the spirit of unity, we lend our support to those fighting for making commonsense immigration reform a reality. We will stand with them every step of the way to make sure that we bring coherence to our immigration laws, and pass a common sense reform that is

consistent with our tradition as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.  www.whitehouse.gov/ blog/2013/11/29/gathering-spiritunity-president-and-first-lady-visitfasters-capitol-hill

Quote of Note... “But when it comes to immigration reform, we have to have the confidence to believe we can get this done. And we should get it done. And, by the way, most Americans agree. The only thing standing in our way right now is the unwillingness of certain Republicans in Congress to catch up with the rest of the country.” President Barack H. Obama 13  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government

President Obama's Handwritten Essay Marking the 150th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address By Kori Schulman

ne hundred and fifty years ago, President Abraham Lincoln (www. whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/ abrahamlincoln) delivered one of the most memorable speeches in U.S. history from Gettysburg, PA. In dedicating the military cemetery where thousands of soldiers were buried following the Battle of Gettysburg, fought just four months earlier, Lincoln described "a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." Paying tribute to the historic speech, President Obama hand wrote an essay for an exhibit at the Lincoln Presidential Library (www.alplm.org). President Obama joins former Presidents Clinton, Carter and H.W. Bush who have submitted their contributions, along with other notable essayists including Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, General Colin Powell, and Martin Luther King III, among hundreds of others. Here's the full text of President Obama's essay: "In the evening, when Michelle and the girls have gone to bed, I sometimes walk down the hall to a room Abraham Lincoln used as his office. It contains an original copy of the Gettysburg address, written in Lincoln’s own hand. I linger on these few words that have helped define our American experiment: “A new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are

created equal.” Through the lines of weariness etched in his face, we know Lincoln grasped, perhaps more than anyone, the burdens required to give these words meaning. He knew that even a self-evident truth was not self-executing; that blood drawn by the lash was an affront to our ideals; that blood drawn by

the sword was in painful service to those same ideals. He understood as well that our humble efforts, our individual ambitions, are ultimately not what matter; rather, it is through the accumulated toil and sacrifice of ordinary men and women – those see Gettysburg Essay on page 15

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Gettysburg Essay from page 14

like the soldiers who consecrated that battlefield – that this country is built, and freedom preserved. This quintessentially self-made man, fierce in his belief in honest work and the striving spirit at the heart of America, believed that it falls to each generation, collectively, to share in that toil and sacrifice. Through cold war and world war, through industrial revolutions and technological transformations, through movements for civil rights and women’s rights and workers’ rights and gay rights, we have. At times, social and economic change have strained our union. But Lincoln’s words give us confidence that whatever trials await us, this nation and the freedom we cherish can, and shall, prevail."

Gettysburg Address

The fifth and final copy of the Gettysburg Address, which President Lincoln wrote in his own hand, is on display in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House. The only version of the hand written speech that Lincoln titled, signed, and dated may be viewed through the Google Art Project (www.google.com/culturalinstitute/ asset-viewer/gettysburg-address-bliss-version-gettysburgaddress-bliss-version/QQGqRQR_VqqoEA?projectId=artproject&l.expanded-id=NgEawUZbwE1sgA#!asset-viewer:l. id=QQGqRQR_VqqoEA&projectId=art-project&l.expandedid=NgEawUZbwE1sgA&urlStub=Gettysburg%20Address%20 (Bliss%20Version)%0A%0AGettysburg%20Address%20 (Bliss%20Version). 

www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/11/19/president-obamashandwritten-essay-marking-150th-anniversary-gettysburgaddress

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmvfxZyJwo&feature=youtu.be www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIrimpumCyo

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Government

President Obama Honors 2013 Medal of Freedom Recipients

President Barack Obama delivers remarks and awards the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom to honorees during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. Honorees are: Ernie Banks, Ben Bradlee, former President Bill Clinton, Daniel Inouye (posthumous), Daniel Kahneman, Richard Lugar, Loretta Lynn, Mario Molina, Sally Ride (posthumous), Bayard Rustin (posthumous), Arturo Sandoval, Dean Smith, Gloria Steinem, Cordy Tindell "C.T." Vivian, Patricia Wald, and Oprah Winfrey. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

he Presidential Medal of Freedom, established 50 years ago by President John F. Kennedy, is our nation’s highest civilian honor. The medal has been presented to more than 500 individuals who have made especially “meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” In a ceremony at the White House, President Obama added 16 names to that distinguished list.

Recipients of the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom included sports champions and scientists, musicians and civil rights leaders, activists and journalists, media moguls and public servants. The 2013 recipients are:

Ernie Banks: Known to many as “Mr. Cub,” Ernie Banks is one of the greatest baseball players of all time. During his 19 seasons with the Chicago Cubs, he played in 11 All-Star Games, hit over 500 home runs, and became the first National League player to win Most

Valuable Player honors in back-toback years. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977, his first year of eligibility.

Ben Bradlee: Ben Bradlee is one of the most respected newsmen of his generation. During his tenure as executive editor of The Washington Post, Mr. Bradlee oversaw coverage of the Watergate scandal, successfully challenged the Federal Government over the right to publish the Pentagon Papers, and guided the newspaper through some of its see Medal of Freedom on page 17

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President Barack Obama awards the 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom to Oprah Winfrey and C. T. Vivian during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Medal of Freedom from page 16

most challenging moments. He also served in the Navy during World War II.

Bill Clinton: President Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States. Before taking office, he served as Governor and Attorney General of the State of Arkansas. Following his second term, President Clinton established the Clinton Foundation to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote health and wellness, and protect the environment. He also formed the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund with President George W. Bush in 2010.

Daniel Inouye (posthumous): Daniel Inouye was a lifelong public servant. As a young man, he fought in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, for which he received the Medal of Honor. He was later elected to the Hawaii Territorial House of

Representatives, the United States House of Representatives, and the United States Senate. Senator Inouye was the first Japanese American to serve in Congress, representing the people of Hawaii from the moment they joined the Union.

bipartisan leadership and decadeslong commitment to reducing the threat of nuclear weapons. Prior to serving in Congress, Senator Lugar was a Rhodes Scholar and Mayor of Indianapolis from 1968 to 1975. He currently serves as President of the Lugar Center.

Daniel Kahneman: Daniel Kahneman is a pioneering scholar of psychology. After escaping Nazi occupation in World War II, Dr. Kahneman immigrated to Israel, where he served in the Israel Defense Forces and trained as a psychologist. Alongside Amos Tversky, he applied cognitive psychology to economic analysis, laying the foundation for a new field of research and earning the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2002. He is currently a professor at Princeton University.

Loretta Lynn: Loretta Lynn is a country music legend. Raised in rural Kentucky, she emerged as one of the first successful female country music vocalists in the early 1960s, courageously breaking barriers in an industry long dominated by men. Ms. Lynn’s numerous accolades include the Kennedy Center Honors in 2003 and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010.

Richard Lugar: Richard Lugar represented Indiana in the United States Senate for more than 30 years. An internationally respected statesman, he is best known for his

Mario

Molina: Mario Molina is a visionary chemist and environmental scientist. Born in Mexico, Dr. Molina came to America to pursue his graduate degree. He later earned the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for discovering how chlorofluorocarbons deplete see Medal of Freedom on page 18

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Government

Medal of Freedom from page 17

the ozone layer. Dr. Molina is a professor at the University of California, San Diego; Director of

Ernie "Mr. Cubs" Banks

Bayard Rustin the Mario Molina Center for Energy and Environment; and a member of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Sally Ride (posthumous): Sally Ride was the first American female astronaut to travel to space. As a role model to generations of young women, she advocated passionately for science education, stood up for racial and gender equality in the classroom, and taught students from every background that there are no limits to what they can accomplish. Dr. Ride also served

in several administrations as an advisor on space exploration.

Bayard Rustin (posthumous): ayard Rustin was an unyielding activist for civil rights, dignity, and equality for all. An advisor to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he promoted nonviolent resistance, participated in one of the first Freedom Rides, organized the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and fought tirelessly for marginalized communities at home and abroad. As an openly gay African American, Mr. Rustin stood at the intersection of several of the fights for equal rights.

Arturo

Sandoval:

Arturo Sandoval is a celebrated jazz trumpeter, pianist, and composer. Born outside Havana, he became a protégé of jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie and gained international acclaim as a dynamic performer. He defected to the United States in 1990 and later became an American citizen. He has been awarded nine Grammy Awards and is widely considered one of the greatest living jazz artists.

Dean Smith: Dean Smith was head coach of the University of North Carolina basketball team from 1961 to 1997. In those 36 years, he earned 2 national championships, was named National Coach of the Year multiple times, and retired as the winningest men’s college basketball coach in history. Ninetysix percent of his players graduated from college. Mr. Smith has also remained a dedicated civil rights advocate throughout his career. Gloria Steinem: Gloria Steinem is a renowned writer and activist for women’s equality. She was a leader in the women’s liberation movement, co-founded Ms. magazine, and helped launch a wide variety of groups and publications dedicated to advancing civil rights. Ms. Steinem has received dozens

of awards over the course of her career, and remains an active voice for women’s rights.

Cordy Tindell “C.T.” Vivian: C.T. Vivian is a distinguished minister, author, and organizer. A leader in the Civil Rights Movement and friend to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he participated in Freedom Rides and sit-ins across our country. Dr. Vivian also helped found numerous civil rights organizations, including Vision, the National Anti-Klan Network, and the Center for Democratic Renewal. In 2012, he returned to serve as interim President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Patricia Wald: Patricia Wald is one of the most respected appellate judges of her generation. After graduating as 1 of only 11 women in her Yale University Law School class, she became the first woman appointed to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and served as Chief Judge from 1986-1991. She later served on the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague. Ms. Wald currently serves on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. Oprah Winfrey: Oprah Winfrey is one of the world’s most successful broadcast journalists. She is best known for creating The Oprah Winfrey Show, which became the highest rated talk show in America for 25 years. Ms. Winfrey has long been active in philanthropic causes and expanding opportunities for young women. She has received numerous awards throughout her career, including the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in 2002 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2010.  www.whitehouse.gov/ blog/2013/11/20/president-obamahonors-2013-medal-freedomrecipients

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Government

President Obama Pledges Grants for AIDS, HIV Care and Research by Charlie Osborne

n honor of World AIDS Day, U.S. President Obama has pledged additional funding to assist in both the fight against AIDS and a cure for HIV. Obama announced that the U.S. would assist in the global problem in two ways. A new project seeking a cure for HIV will receive $100 million in funding, and will be funnelled through the National Institutes of Health. The goal is to prompt a "new generation of therapies" for the disease, and find a new way to "put HIV into longterm remission without requiring lifelong therapies -- or, better yet, eliminate it completely." The Obama administration will also provide up to $5 billion as part of an international effort to combat the spread of AIDS and provide treatment to its sufferers. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (www. theglobalfund.org/en) will be granted extra resources and cash over the next three years, but only if international donors also cough up $10 billion between them. The World Health Organization (WHO) (www.who.int/gho/hiv/en) estimates that since the beginning of the epidemic, almost 70 million people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 35 million people have died of AIDS. Globally, the agency estimates that 34 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2011, roughly 0.8% of adults aged 15-49 years worldwide.  www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/ obama-pledges-grants-for-aidshiv-care-and-research/?tag=nl. e660&s_cid=e660&ttag=e660&ftag =TRE4eb29b5 19  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government

The United States Releases its Second Open Government National Action Plan By Nick Sinai and Gayle Smith

ince his first full day in office, President Obama has prioritized making government more open and accountable and has taken substantial steps to increase citizen participation, collaboration, and transparency in government. Recenty, the Obama Administration released the second U.S. Open Government National Action Plan, announcing 23 new or expanded open-government commitments that will advance these efforts even further. In September 2010, President Obama challenged members of the United Nations General Assembly to work together to make all governments more open and accountable to their people. To meet that challenge, in July 2011, President Obama joined the leaders of seven other nations in announcing the launch of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) – a global effort to encourage transparent, effective, and accountable governance (www. opengovpartnership.org). In two short years, the OGP has grown from eight to more than 60 membernations that have collectively made more than 1,000 commitments to improve the governance of more than two billion people around the globe. Then, in September 2011, the United States released its first Open Government National Action Plan, setting a series of ambitious goals to create a more open

government. The United States has continued to implement and improve upon the open-government commitments set forth in the first Plan, along with many more efforts underway across government, including implementing individual Federal agency Open Government Plans. The second Plan builds on these efforts, in part through a series of key commitments highlighted in a preview report issued by the White House in October 2013, in conjunction with the Open Government Partnership Annual Summit in London. Among the highlights of the second National Action Plan: • “We the People”: The White House will introduce new improvements to the We the People online petitions platform aimed at making it easier to collect and submit signatures and increase public participation in using this platform. Improvements will enable the public to perform data analysis on the signatures and petitions submitted to We the People, as well as include a more streamlined process for signing petitions and a new Application Programming Interface (API) that will allow third-parties to collect and submit signatures from their own websites. • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Modernization: The FOIA encourages accountability through transparency and

represents an unwavering national commitment to open government principles. Improving FOIA administration is one of the most effective ways to make the U.S. Government more open and accountable. Today, we announced five commitments to further modernize FOIA processes, including launching a consolidated online FOIA service to improve customers’ experience, creating and making training resources available to FOIA professionals and other Federal employees, and developing common FOIA standards for agencies across government. • The Global Initiative on Fiscal Transparency (GIFT): The United States will join GIFT, an international network of governments and nongovernment organizations aimed at enhancing financial transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement. The U.S. Government will actively participate in the GIFT Working Group and seek opportunities to collaborate with stakeholders and champion greater fiscal openness and transparency in domestic and global spending. • Open Data to the Public: Over the past few years, see Open Government on page 21

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Open Government from page 20

government data has been used by journalists to uncover variations in hospital billings, by citizens to learn more about the social services provided by charities in their communities, and by entrepreneurs building new software tools to help farmers plan and manage their crops. Building on the U.S. Government’s ongoing open data efforts, new commitments will make government data even more accessible and useful for the public, including by reforming how Federal agencies manage government data as a strategic asset, launching a new version of Data.gov to make it even easier to discover, understand, and use open government data, and expanding access to agriculture and nutrition data to help farmers and communities. • Participatory Budgeting: The United States will promote community-led participatory budgeting as a tool for enabling citizens to play a role in identifying, discussing, and prioritizing certain local public spending projects, and for giving citizens a voice in how taxpayer dollars are spent in their communities. This commitment will include steps by the U.S. Government to help raise awareness of the fact that participatory budgeting may be used for certain eligible Federal community development grant programs. Other initiatives launched or expanded today include: increasing

open innovation by encouraging expanded use of challenges, incentive prizes, citizen science, and crowdsourcing to harness American ingenuity, as well as

This second National Action Plan is another opportunity to set concrete and measurable goals for achieving a more transparent, participatory, and collaborative

modernizing the management of government records by leveraging technology to make records less burdensome to manage and easier to use and share. There are many other exciting open-government initiatives described in the second Plan — and you can view them all at: www.whitehouse.gov/sites/ default/files/docs/us_national_ action_plan_6p.pdf.

government. We look forward to working alongside civil society to carry out these commitments and continue identifying new ways to open our government in the future.  www.whitehouse.gov/ blog/2013/12/06/united-statesreleases-its-second-opengovernment-national-action-plan

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SERVING THE INDUSTRY and the TRADE PIPE - VALVES - FITTINGS - METALS - TOOLS PROCESS CONTROLS - INSTRUMENTATION - WATER WORKS

Brandon Supply Corporation is a world class distributor of industrial supplies. Brandon has been proven to be a dependable source of supply to the petrochemical, power generation and waterworks industries providing fast and reliable service. Brandon, in maintaining the policy of selling only superior products, represents only the nation's top manufacturers.

SBA CERTIFIED We offer a full range of valves for all piping applications, pressure tubing in all sizes and schedules, a complete line of fittings, flanges and couplings in all metallurgies. We also offer a full range in PVC, HDPE and other materials.

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MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 5354 Buena Park, CA 90623

Phone: 562-921-0407 | FAX: 562-921-5945 800.238.5906 (Outside California) www.brandonsupply.com | cdavis@brandonsupplycorp.com

ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

Nelson R. Mandela 1918 ~ 2013

In Memory

Statement by the President on the Death of Nelson Mandela December 05, 2013

t his trial in 1964, Nelson Mandela closed his statement from the dock saying, “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” And Nelson Mandela lived for that ideal, and he made it real. He achieved more than could be expected of any man. Today, he has gone home. And we have lost one of the most influential, courageous, and profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this Earth. He no longer belongs to us -- he belongs to the ages. Through his fierce dignity and unbending will to sacrifice his own freedom for the freedom of others, Madiba transformed South Africa -- and moved all of us. His journey from a prisoner to a President embodied the promise that human beings -- and countries -- can change for the better. His commitment to transfer power and reconcile with those who jailed him set an example that all humanity should aspire to, whether in the lives of nations or our own personal lives. And the fact that he did it all with grace and good humor, and an ability to acknowledge his own imperfections, only makes the man that much more remarkable. As he once said, “I am not a saint, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.”

I am one of the countless millions who drew inspiration from Nelson Mandela's life. My very first political action, the first thing I ever did that involved an issue or a policy or politics, was a protest against apartheid. I studied his words and his writings. The day that he was released from prison gave me a sense of what human beings can do when they’re guided by their hopes and not by their fears. And like so many around the globe, I cannot fully imagine my own life without the example that Nelson Mandela set, and so long as I live I will do what I can to learn from him. To Graça Machel and his family, Michelle President Barack Obama watches news coverage of the and I extend our passing of Nelson Mandela, in the Outer Oval Office. deepest sympathy and (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) gratitude for sharing this extraordinary man with us. His life’s Nelson Mandela again. So it falls work meant long days away from to us as best we can to forward those who loved him the most. And the example that he set: to make I only hope that the time spent with decisions guided not by hate, him these last few weeks brought but by love; to never discount the difference that one person can peace and comfort to his family. To the people of South Africa, we make; to strive for a future that is draw strength from the example of worthy of his sacrifice. For now, let us pause and give renewal, and reconciliation, and resilience that you made real. A thanks for the fact that Nelson free South Africa at peace with itself Mandela lived -- a man who took -- that’s an example to the world, history in his hands, and bent the and that’s Madiba’s legacy to the arc of the moral universe toward justice. May God Bless his memory nation he loved. We will not likely see the likes of and keep him in peace. 

25  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

In Memory

Nelson Mandela: A Life of Leadership, A Life of Service 1918 ~ 2013

elson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918. His

the ANC executive considered his proposal on the use of violent tactics and agreed that those

members who wished to involve themselves in Mandela’s

father was Hendry Mphakanyiswa of the Tembu Tribe. Mandela himself was educated at University College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand where he studied law. He joined the African National Congress in 1944 and was engaged in resistance against the ruling National Party’s apartheid policies after 1948. He went on trial for treason in 1956-1961 and was acquitted in 1961. After the banning of the ANC in 1960, Nelson Mandela argued for the setting up of a military wing within the ANC. In June 1961, see Nelson Mandela on page 26 26  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

In Memory

Nelson Mandela from page 26

campaign would not be stopped from doing so by the ANC. This led to the formation of Umkhonto

Nelson Mandela emerges from prison with wife Winnie Mandela

Nelson Mandela with prison mate Oliver Tambo

Nelson Mandela receives Nobel Peace Prize

we Sizwe. Mandela was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment with hard labour. In 1963, when many fellow leaders of the ANC and the Umkhonto we Sizwe were arrested, Mandela was brought to stand trial with them for plotting to overthrow the government by violence. His statement from the dock received considerable international publicity. On June 12, 1964, eight of the

accused, including Mandela, were sentenced to life imprisonment. From 1964 to 1982, he was incarcerated at Robben Island Prison, off Cape Town; thereafter, he was at Pollsmoor Prison, nearby on the mainland. During his years in prison, Nelson Mandela’s reputation grew steadily. He was widely accepted as the most see Nelson Mandela on page 28

27  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

In Memory

Nelson Mandela from page 27

significant black leader in South Africa and became a potent symbol of resistance as the antiapartheid movement gathered strength. He consistently refused to compromise his political position to obtain his

Nelson Mandela takes oath of office as President of South Africa

Nelson Mandela with U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama freedom. Nelson Mandela was released on February 11, 1990. After his release, he plunged himself wholeheartedly into his life’s work, striving to

attain the goals he and others had set out almost four decades earlier. In 1991, at the first national conference of the ANC held inside

South Africa after the organization had been banned in 1960, Mandela was elected President of the ANC see Nelson Mandela on page 29

28  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Nelson Mandela married Winnie Madikizela in 1958.

Nelson Mandela from page 28

while his lifelong friend and colleague, Oliver Tambo, became the organisation’s National Chairperson. Nelson Mandela and South African President F.W. de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to dismantle the country’s apartheid system. In 1994, Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa’s first black president. In 2009, Mandela’s birthday Nelson Mandela with grandson (July 18) was declared Mandela Day to promote global peace and celebrate Prizes 1993, Editor Tore Frängsmyr, the South African leader’s legacy.  [Nobel Foundation], Stockholm, 1994 From Les Prix Nobel. The Nobel

www.biography.com/people/nelson-

Nelson Mandela and Michael Jackson mandela-9397017 www.bbala.org (Black Business News International, 13-Fall)

29  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

10 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Affordable Care Act from the exchange. Keep in mind, depending on the type of employment coverage available to you, you may not qualify for certain savings offered by the exchanges.

8. Can I buy insurance through Covered California if I already have a serious health problem? Yes. The amount you pay for a health plan will not be affected by your health status. This means that you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be charged more because of your health problem. It also means you will not have to wait to get the coverage you need.

resident Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Affordable Care Act â&#x20AC;&#x153;insurance exchangeâ&#x20AC;? opened throughout the nation, with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Covered Californiaâ&#x20AC;? serving as the State of Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s insurance. For information pertaining to your speFLÂżF KHDOWK FDUH LQVXUDQFH FRQFHUQV visit www.coveredca.com or call 800300-1506.

1506. Multilingual call centers will be staffed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. You can also ask that information be sent to you by mail.

4. Does every California resident need to buy health insurance through this marketplace? No. Peo1. Exactly what happened on ple who already have insurance Tuesday, October 1, 2013? For the through their employer or through ÂżUVW WLPH $PHULFDQV EHFDPH DEOH government programs such as Vetto buy health insurance online, by erans Affairs, Medicare or Medi-Cal phone or in person through a new can keep their insurance. marketplace exchange created by President Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Affordable Care 5. Is there a deadline to enroll? Act. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;open enrollmentâ&#x20AC;? period doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t end until March 31. But if you want 2. Who is eligible to buy on the the insurance to take effect Jan. 1, marketplace? Can I buy on the ex- youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need to buy it by Dec. 15. change even if I am not eligible for subsidies? The exchange can be 6. What does Covered Calused by individuals, families, as well LIRUQLD RIIHU" <RXÂśOO ÂżQG D YDULHW\ RI as small business owners who have private insurance plans with familiar 50 or fewer employees. Many small names such as Anthem Blue Cross, businesses will also be eligible for Kaiser and Health Net. You can enroll substantial tax credits if they use the in the newly expanded Medi-Cal proexchange. gram if your income is low enough. 3. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the California market- 7. If I have insurance from my SODFH FDOOHG DQG KRZ GR , ÂżQG LW" employer, do I have to do anything? Covered California, and its website No, you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to, but if you is http://coveredca.com. If you prefer choose to do so, you can drop your to sign up by phone, call 800-300- employerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coverage and buy a plan

9. If I have Medicare, can I purchase a plan on Covered California? Yes, but you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get help paying for it. Also, getting extra coverage on the exchange may not make sense. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s because Medicare will be your main coverage, but you would still have to pay for a full health plan. Talk about this with an exchange helper WR ÂżJXUH RXW WKH ULJKW VWUDWHJ\ IRU you. 10. Some groups are exempt from being required to have coverage. Who are they? The categories include people who would have to pay more than 8% of their income for health insurance, people with incomes below the threshold required IRU ÂżOLQJ WD[HV WKRVH ZKR TXDOLI\ IRU religious exemptions, members of Indian tribes, undocumented immigrants, and people who are incarcerated. Also the plan is for residents who are citizens or legal permanent residents. Illegal immigrants are not eligible. www.mercurynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com

30 ď&#x201A;ą December 2013 ď&#x201A;ą Black Business News ď&#x201A;ą www.blackbbusinessnews.net ď&#x201A;ą 1-323-291-7819

Jay-Z to Continue with Barneys Collaboration, Despite Customer Claims of Discrimination

apper and hip hop mogul Jay-Z says he will move forward with a planned collaboration with luxury retailer Barneys New York, despite recent claims and allegations of racial profiling against Black customers.

At least two African American former customers of Barneys reportedly were arrested and harassed by police after making high-end purchases at one of the retailer's locations. One bought a belt for more than $300, and the other bought a handbag for $2,500 - only to be questioned by police as to how they could afford such large purchases. In a statement on his website, Jay-Z said that under the condition that he will help to lead the store’s review of its policies, he has agreed to move forward with the launch of his BNY SCC collection. The new

deal involves an increase in the portion of the proceeds from the collaboration that will go to charity: 100% of BNY SCC sales benefit the Shawn Carter Foundation (www.shawncartersf.com), which helps underprivileged youth with educational opportunities. The retailer will also now be donating 10% of all retail sales both in store and online when the collection launches at Barneys. The pledge comes with a guarantee to raise at least $1 million. He commented, "I am in a unique position to use my voice to affect change to this disturbing issue... I will take this into my own hands with full power to recommend, review and revise policies and guidelines moving forward. I am choosing to take this head on." 

34  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Teen Finance Prodigy Promotes Business Literacy to Peers With New Book

van White is a teen finance wizard. At the tender age seven, Evan White began looking into all things business after earning his first dollar doing household chores. At age 10, he began watching Bloomberg TV and got interested in the stock market. A year later, he asked his father for a proxy online stock trading account and started investing. Now, at age 16, White teaches teens the basic and fundamental concepts about business construction and business finance in his newly published book, titled Common Anomaly. Today, with society's thrust toward financial literacy, parents and educators are deeply interested in teaching children about personal finance and business early in the educational learning process and in the home. However, most books about basic finance and business are too complicated for most teens - many are written by adults, for adults. Hence, White felt the need to publish Common Anomaly with the goal to create a quick read to help teens better understand the basic and fundamental concepts about business and finance. White asserts that "the business world is very dynamic today and welcoming to all business ideas; teens can be a part of that business growth." He has proven that getting involved in business today is no longer an opportunity just for adults. Much younger entrepreneurs are interested in starting businesses and getting out there early, with

crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter. Hence, his book addresses new crowdsourcing options for funding new businesses, as well as a general overview on starting businesses, managing general finances, interfacing with the stock market, and understanding new virtual currencies surfacing in the financial space. As a financial book "written by a teen, for teens," Common Anomaly makes the complex topics of finance, business and entrepreneurship just a little more comprehensible for young readers.

This work introduces both teens and adults to a book that tries to tone down the financial jargons and explain general business and finance in simpler terms, thus, making it "feel" more acceptable as a teaching tool for young people in the digital age. For more information or to order this book, interested parties may log on to www.commonanomalybook. com.  CONTACT: Marketing Services (888) 795-4274 x7879 MarketingServices@Xlibris.com

35  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Shonda Rhimes, Scandal Writer/ Producer, to Publish a Book by Carolyn Kellogg

Shonda Rhimes Credit: Ethan Pines

ward-winning television show creator Shonda Rhimes will publish her first book in 2015 with Simon & Schuster, the publisher announced. Rhimes, one of the leading women in television, will write about both her professional and family life. The as-yetuntitled book will be part memoir, part inspiration and part advice. “Simon and Schuster is crazy for giving me a book deal as I am clearly in no position to be handing out wisdom,” Rhimes said in the release about the book. “But I have made a lot of mistakes as a single mother and as a working mother and as a sleepless mother and as a dating mother. And I did all of it while running a bunch of TV shows. So I'm going to write about that and hope my kids don't use it against me in therapy later." Rhimes is the creator of the television shows “Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice.” "Scandal" is a hit in its

third season; "Grey's Anatomy" has filmed 200 episodes. For her work, Rhimes has won a Golden Globe, been nominated for a number of Emmys, and has a raft of other awards. Earlier this year she was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people -- for the second time -- and

among her many honors is being a trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, to which she was named by President Obama. What will be her writing approach? After thanking Simon & Schuster for the book deal on Twitter, Rhimes see Shonda Rhimes on page 37

36  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Shonda Rhimes from page 36

retweeted a quote from James Baldwin: "I will not tell another writer what to write. If you don’t like their alternative, write yours" -- with the additional note, "PREACH!"  www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/ la-et-jc-shonda-rhimes-to-publish-abook-in-2015-with-simon-schuster20131120%2c0%2c2018421. story#axzz2lnezcOuX

Film Festival Set to Celebrate 22 Years of Cinematic Journeys Around the World he Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) (www.paff.org) is ready to take movie goers on a cinematic journey with international film screenings from around the globe with the announcement

The film festival is the nation’s largest and most prestigious Black film festival. Over the years, it has showcased films from all parts of the world, representing such countries as Angola, Austria, England, Bermuda, Canada, E g y p t , Ethiopia, Brazil, Kenya, Mexico, S o u t h Africa, Nigeria, and of course, the United States. With the p u l s e on the

of its call for submissions. The 22nd annual PAFF will be held on February 6-17, 2014 in Los Angeles.

international film market, PAFF has opened the minds of its audiences, and transported them to lands far

away and back home again. “Over the years, the filmmakers from around the world have become more sophisticated in telling their stories,” says Asantewa Olatunji, the director of programming for PAFF. The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) will honor two industry innovators for their impact and influence in the film industry. Studio film publicist Roz Stevenson of Roz Stevenson Public Relations and Jeff Clanagan of CodeBlack Enterprises will be honored at the festival’s annual Night of Tribute ceremony during the festival’s run. For the second year, the Night of Tribute will be part of the pre-show festivities for the awards ceremony of the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) on Friday, January 31, 2014, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Taglyan Complex, located at 1201 Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif. The 22nd annual PAFF will be held at the new Rave Cinemas Baldwin Hills 15 at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles. The Pan African Film Festival office is located at 6820 La Tijera Blvd Suite 200 Los Angeles, CA 90045. Contact PAFF via e-mail at info@paff.org or by phone at 310.337.4737. 

37  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

RIO 2016 OLYMPIC COMMITTEE Partnership & Contract Opportunities For a list of current Rio 2016 Olympic Sponsors visit: http://rio2016.com/en/organising-committee/partners

Your American Contact: joel.Reynoso@trade.gov

For information on the Games visit http://export.gov/brazil/games/index.asp

For information on participating in or supporting the Voting Rights Act restoration movement visit these and other organization websites: • 50th Anniversary March on Washington - http://50thanniversarymarchonwashington.com.

• National Action Network - http://nationalactionnetwork.net/mow/

• NAACP - www.naacp.org

• National Urban League - http://nul.iamempowered.com

• Rainbow/PUSH Coalition

Verizon is joining forces with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and a number of other businesses and community organizations to help promote safe driving through

- www.rainbowpush.org

• Project Vote - www.projectvote.org

http://trayvonmartinfoundation.org

It Can Wait. http://itcanwait.com

38  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Black Friday Online Spending Rivals Traditional Shopping Crush by Charlie Osborne

lack Friday marked a recordbreaking day for U.S. online shoppers -- reaching nearly $1.2 billion in purchases made from PCs alone. According to research firm comScore (www.comscore.com), over $1.2 billion was spent by U.S. consumers online on the popular shopping day, becoming the first day this year to shoot past the billion dollar mark. ComScore says that $1.198 billion was spent online during Black Friday, a rise of 15% year-on-year. In addition, Thanksgiving day sales hit the $766 million mark, a 21% increase. The research firm ranked Amazon as the top online retailer this year, and says that a record 66.1 million U.S. customers took to their gadgets to make a purchase within this holiday period. In total, the firm says that $20.6 billion has been spent online so far in the November–December 2013 holiday season. However, it is important to note that comScore has failed to include

online sales made from m o b i l e d e v i c e s including smartphones and tablets. Considering the rising trend of mobile use, the true expenditure figures are likely to be higher. ComScore chairman Gian Fulgoni said: "While Black Friday -- and now Thanksgiving Day -- is the traditional kick-off to the brick-and-mortar holiday shopping season, both days continue to grow in importance on the online channel. Clearly many consumers prefer to avoid the crowds and lines typically associated with Black Friday by shopping from the comfort of their own homes, and we

saw a record 66 million Americans do that this year. Also interesting is that the recent trend of kick-starting holiday shopping by opening stores on Thanksgiving Day seems to be having a spillover effect on the online channel." www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/ black-friday-billions-online-spendingrivals-traditional-shop-crush/?tag=nl. e660&s_cid=e660&ttag=e660&ftag=T RE4eb29b5

40  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

PurchaseBlack.com, African American Online Shopping Site

urchaseBlack.com, the home for African American online shopping, launched its online marketplace on Black Friday, Nov. 29, 2013 featuring products from Black owned & Black servicing businesses. PurchaseBlack. com will host multiple webstores offering products focused on African American customers in categories such as hair care, skin care, art, decorations, gifts, and accessories. "Our vision is to be the home for all African American online shopping," says PurchaseBlack.com founder, Brian Williams. "We connect online customers with businesses that cater to African Americans by offering webstores where those businesses can sell their products." Purchase Black, similar to Amazon or EBay Marketplace, is always accepting applications from Black owned and Black Servicing businesses to sell on the website. A seller need not be African American, but their products must appeal to African American customers. Williams adds, "We launched with a handful of great webstores

on what is called Black Business Friday, November 29, 2013, and we will grow as more businesses apply to sell with us." PurchaseBlack.com is capable of hosting thousands of businesses, and the company hopes to use that capability over time to create the largest selection of African American products and businesses anywhere on the internet. It launched with the hashtag #BlackBusinessFriday to gain support from customers who wanted to buy Black during this holiday shopping season. Williams is an engineer and graduate of the MBA program at The University of Texas - Austin, where he developed the company. "McCombs allowed me to incubate this idea, and gave me the tools

to explore what makes a business successful. I hope to embody what I have learned there to make Purchase Black reach its full potential," he says.

Seller Accounts Businesses, regardless of the background of the owner, who are interested in starting a Purchase Black webstore can learn more by clicking "Become A Seller" at www.PurchaseBlack.com.

Customer Accounts

Purchase Black opened its customer accounts before the website went live on November 29th excited customers to get involved early. Visit the website to open your Customer Account today. Williams comments, "We have discovered, to our surprise, that customers share our enthusiasm WHY SELL WITH PUCHASEBLACK.COM? about PurchaseBlack. com." For more information Get exposure to new customers who demand your products about PurchaseBlack, visit Expand Your Sales Channel & Focus on African American Customers www.PurchaseBlack. Its NO COST to get started with your own Flagship Webstore! com, the Facebook page, @PurchaseBlack on We Work to Bring Customers to Your PurchaseBlack Webstore Twitter, YouTube, or on Starting A Webstore is Simple, Fast, and Rewarding Google Plus. 

41  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

7 Tech Trends Supporting Small Business Globalization in 2014 New Business Bytes by Drew

to streamline access to expertise and businesses services for ventures that do not have current international plans but are interested in future globalization efforts.

2. Easier and More Intelligent Co-creation

oday’s small businesses face a mounting series of strategic question they need to answer. How should they go mobile? How is their social media work performing? What aspects of the company can be safely outsourced to online vendors? From more location-based services to the end of traditional POS systems (in favor of tablets and phones), the world is changing fast for small companies and new businesses. But amidst all the trends, new possibilities emerge. It is easier than ever before for companies to choose a “born global” strategy and reach out to international customers after just a year or two of operation – or, with sufficient ambition, right from the start. The benefits of reaching a global audience at low costs are obvious to any entrepreneur. A large consumer

But businesses need to create global connections before leveraging them. Creating an ecommerce space is a given these days. Here are a few additional tech trends that may help smaller ventures become international businesses in the coming year:

1. Government Aid Some small businesses may have missed it, but 2013 was a big year for new U.S. ventures hoping to go global ASAP. The Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) launched a new program titled “US Global Business Solutions,” ( w w w. s b a . g o v / c o m m u n i t y / b l o g s / launch-us-global-business-solutionspilot-us-government-solutions-smallbusiness-exp) designed to give

smaller companies a helping hand in launching international projects. While the program is still in its early stages, it aims to drastically increase the number of exporting businesses in the United States by 2017. For now, the approach is threepronged. • The SBA wants to create simpler trade financing and encourage easier international marketing options for businesses actively trading goods.

base to draw from, new markets with higher levels of demand, and potential global contacts to help with future growth are only a few examples.

• The agency also wants to increase lender training and financial institution options for international expansions. • Finally, they are also attempting

Co-creation and collaboration allow companies around the world to work together in developing materials, content and documents. How does this help small businesses? As co-creating grows more popular and envelopes larger, more vocal communities, smaller companies gain access to large pools of international expertise. This will make cultural translations (language and otherwise) far easier for companies. Viral marketing and honest international conversation also grow more attainable.

3. Even More Cloud Storage Cloud storage is a common solution these days, but it is growing increasingly affordable and advisable for even the smallest companies. The trend has also had time to move across the globe, where it has found a home in businesses across Europe and many emerging markets. When data is moved to the cloud, it becomes much easier to access from an international perspective. This in turn encourages international partnerships and collaboration. When both sides can access data at will no matter the time zone, forging client relationships or joint ventures becomes eminently possible. This is particularly notable for service providers, who can increase their client options through greater cloud storage adoption.

4. Advanced Communication Options Thanks to the ubiquitous web conference services available these days, companies can link with

42  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

7 Tech Trends from page 42

clients halfway around the world to answer questions, introduce products, and brainstorm with a little face-to-face (or at least realtime) interaction. As cameras, bandwidth, and streaming technologies continue to improve on a global level, web conferencing will become even more common. Companies like PGi and GlobalMeet are working to develop communication o p t i o n s specifically for the global market. If businesses want to include more traditional options, then options abound for international phone numbers as well.

5. Broader Social Media Impact Something interesting is happening with social networks – ramped-up convergence. Global social networks have grown to replace smaller, localized versions. One of the leaders of this trend is Facebook, thanks to its new focus on India and Brazil. However, Russia still likes Vkontakte (http:// vk.com), Twitter is showing high

rates of growth, and Chinese options like Sina Weibo (www.weibo.com/ signup/mobile.php?lang=en-us) continue to dominate if more strictly controlled markets. Yet the end result is a still a positive one. By tapping into the right networks, companies can access more consumers than ever before. However, content should be multicultural, with clear impact on all viewers. In other words, businesses need to know how to interact with all people across whatever network they choose. Knowledge about network limitations also remains important.

6. Better Data Collection – Anywhere Traditionally, companies have relied on business reports, government data, and industry news releases to get an idea as to how consumers are behaving. Actually, “relying” is a strong word: One of the long-term debacles in the international business world has been the uneven reliability of data, which is often pushed, inflated and falsified by even the highest authorities in order to influence response. Technology is acting as both solution and disruptor in this area. But these days, small businesses are increasingly able to go directly to the data source and skip the middleman altogether. Online, data collected from blogs, websites, and social media analytics can show where web traffic comes from how it behaves,

and what actions lead to sales – key information for companies wanting to grow their presence in specific markets. Mobile data has also risen, becoming a great indication of not only how consumers act, but where they are when they act and how they act on the go. As the Internet of Things continues to develop, businesses will be able to access a growing number of sensors in cars, cards, phones and other devices to increase their Big Data collection. The result is will be a community of data-hoarders who will be able to develop their own foreign analytics based on real data collected by the group, not untrustworthy, top-down reports.

7. Growing Acceptance of Online Shops This is a “sit back and wait” benefit for companies that do not have the resources to push into international markets right now. Online shops have begun to demonstrate not only increased innovation, but also greater appeal in foreign markets. Foreign clients are growing more willing and able to use SaaS services, and as major online communities extend their reach, eBay and Etsy stores have a better chance of attracting international buyers, too.  http://communities. washingtontimes.com/ neighborhood/new-businessbytes/2013/nov/13/7-tech-trendssupporting-small-businessglobalizat

43  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819



AEG Invites Current and Interested Supplier Partners to our

Supplier Portal, an online communication tool designed to enhance the relationship between AEG and our partners. The portal is an online and paperless tool that will provide you with: Increased visibility for AEG business opportunities Extended Company Profile in online directory Direct email updates from AEG clients and buyers Easy accounts payable information sharing Increased exposure for MBEs, WBEs, and DBEs It is important that you register your business so that we have the ability to contact you for participation in future opportunities. Suppliers seeking to initiate business with AEG are encouraged to register as well. Registration is simple and we invite you to visit our Supplier Portal at your earliest convenience:

https://supplier.aegworldwide.com

Business

"New" Black Owned Health Care Company Be Healthy and Earn Income

t's a new day in the health care industry. Obesity, chronic ailment and disease are at an all-time high. Medical costs are skyrocketing. Unemployment rates bobble at the surface of unacceptably high numbers. The price gap between unhealthy and healthy foods continues to grow. The American public await - some eagerly and others apprehensively an unknown fate with the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. In these uncertain times a new complementary health care company enters the scene, offering its subscribers financial incentives to be healthy. Damon J. Smith founded Souletics, LLC (www.souletics. com), after witnessing many of his formerly athletic peers succumb to heart disease and other preventable illnesses. Himself a former professional football player turned professional motocross racer, over the years he has maintained elite athleticism and optimal health through nutrition, exercise and integrative medicine. "The health statistics for African Americans are staggering," says

Smith, "but these numbers can be turned around. I've been blessed with access to top notch trainers and training facilities, nutritionists, and professionals in alternative healing, and I've found that staying healthy is 80% information, 10% will power, and 10% financial resources. So I started Souletics to fill the void and provide exceptional resources in all of these areas." The company offers informational and inspirational content, coupled with business training and an opportunity to gain residual commissions by sharing the service with others. Smith says he wanted to provide a means for people to not only become healthy, inspired and educated, but also to become financially healthy. With an online resource center, monthly digital magazine, home fitness program and business opportunity, the

company aims to make it simple and profitable for subscribers to achieve optimal health and wellness in every area of life. "If you're stressed and financially strapped, chances are you won't go the extra mile to exercise and seek out healthy foods, and down the line your body will pay the price," adds Smith. "But if you have financial incentive to eat right and take care of yourself, that changes the game." According to Smith, he's spent the past year putting everything in place to ensure the integrity of the company's data and payment systems. He'll "pre-launch" the company using crowdfunding web site RocketHub ( w w w. r o c k e t h u b . c o m / projects/35086-preventivehealth-care-that-pays-getpaid-to-be-healthy-withsouletics) in order to gain momentum and prepare for maximum growth potential. "A lot of work has gone into this vision," the campaign reads, "but we're asking for your help to spread the message and share the opportunity with those who need it most. We've created a variety of crowd funding options with low price points to get off the ground quickly and reach as many people as possible. Together we can make 2014 the year we reduce our dependence on the health care system!" For more information, visit www.Souletics.com or contact customerservice@souletics.com Visit the crowdfunding page on RocketHub at: www.rockethub. com/projects/35086-preventivehealth-care-that-pays-get-paid-tobe-healthy-with-souletics.  PRESS CONTACT: Taryn Smith taryn@souletics.com 916-402-7912

45  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

www.thesmallbusinessexpo.com/Small_Business_Expo.pdf ď ? 1-646-681-5867

Business

NASA's Next Frontier: Growing Plants on the Moon By Tarun Wadhwa

small team at NASA’s Ames Research Center has set out to “boldly grow where no man has grown before” – and they’re doing it with the help of thousands of children, a robot, and a few specially customized GoPro cameras. In 2015, NASA will attempt to make history by growing plants on the Moon. If they are successful, it will be the first time humans have ever brought life to another planetary body. Along the way, they will make groundbreaking contributions to our understanding of biology, agriculture, and life on other worlds. And though they may

fail, the way they are going about their mission presents a fascinating case study of an innovative model for public-private collaboration that may very well change space entrepreneurship. The Lunar Plant Growth Habitat team, a group of NASA scientists, contractors, students and volunteers, is finally bringing to life an idea that has been discussed and debated for decades. They will try to grow arabidopsis, basil,

sunflowers, and turnips in coffeecan-sized aluminum cylinders that will serve as plant habitats. But these are no ordinary containers – they’re packed to the brim with cameras, sensors, and electronics that will allow the team to receive image broadcasts of the plants as they grow. These habitats will have to be able to successfully regulate their own temperature, water intake, and power supply in order to brave the harsh lunar climate. However, it won’t just be NASA scientists who are watching the results closely – the success of this experiment will require the assistance of schools and citizen scientists. In a brilliant mix of creativity and frugality, NASA will send schools their own set of habitats so they can grow the same plants that are being sent to the Moon. The reasons for this are two fold. First, every experiment needs a control, and instead of spending the money to duplicate the experiment multiple times, they can crowdsource it. By collecting the data from thousands of experiments, they can gain valuable insights in an entirely new way. Second, it allows children to be part of the moment – to not just watch from afar, but to gain experience and knowledge by actively participating. It is quite unusual to hear of a significant NASA project that is so simple, small-scale, and low-cost. Thanks to the rapid advances in consumer electronics over the last few years, parts that would

have once cost millions of dollars now cost just hundreds. But what really made this project feasible was an unexpected opportunity: the Google Lunar X Prize, the search giant’s twenty-million-dollar incentive prize for a private company to launch a robotic spacecraft that lands on the moon, travels across the surface, and transmits back two “Mooncasts” by December 31, 2015. Multiple teams are competing – and whoever ends up winning will likely fly with this special payload on board. With this model NASA doesn’t have to spend tens of millions of dollars or wait years for the next mission to the Moon. According to Dr. Chris McKay, a well-renowned planetary scientist, this project would have cost $300 million two decades ago – now, NASA can build and launch it for under $2 million. It serves as a win for both NASA and private space industry. Dr. McKay compared it to the early days of airplanes and airmail, “Just like we buy tickets on commercial airlines, why shouldn’t we buy space on commercial flights?” Without this opportunity, it’s uncertain this project would have see Moon Farming on page 48

48  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Moon Farming from page 48

ever gotten off the ground – and that would have meant a major missed opportunity not only for future astronauts, but also for people here on Earth as well. To Dr. McKay, this is “step one in the quest to develop biological based life s u p p o r t systems on other worlds;” or, to put it another way, “this is the Neil Armstrong of the plant world.” The conditions of the moon are more characteristic of deep space than anywhere else we can access and quite different than growing plants on a space shuttle or space station. This experiment will test whether plants can survive radiation, flourish in partial gravity, and thrive in a small, controlled environment – the same obstacles that we will need to overcome in order to build a greenhouse on the Moon, or create life on Mars. We may also learn a great deal about how to grow food in inhospitable climates here on our own planet. Dr. Robert Bowman, the team’s chief biologist, described how plants constantly have to cope with harsh environments and threats: “Simply knowing how plants deal with stress on the moon can really tell us a lot about how they deal with stress right here on

Earth.” We know how plants are affected by conditions like drought – by exposing them to entirely new factors, we can advance our understanding of how they function.

decade, you can’t take any risks. You’ve got to be very conservative in what you do. But if your experiment is a million dollars and being done by grad students, you can do crazy A 3d-printed model of the plant habitat – it will include cameras, sensors, micro fluidics system, and a seed module needed to sustain life on another world. (Credit: Hemil Modi)

Even if the seeds fail to germinate on the Moon, the fact that NASA is taking targeted risks without incurring significant costs could change business-as-usual for the once-legendary institution. Like most bureaucracies NASA has become quite risk averse and sensitive to perceptions of failure. But with commercial partnerships, they can experience a flop without necessarily having it make national headlines – they don’t have to put their entire reputation on the line every single time. It may not be too long before space exploration missions are conducted more like technology startups and less like government programs. Dr. McKay sees a world of possibilities emerging from this democratization: “I see much better, more innovative experiments. When your experiment costs 300 million dollars, and you do one a

and brilliant things.” Whenever we do spread life beyond our own planet, it will fundamentally change our cultural perception of what is possible. As Dr. Pete Worden, Director of NASA’s Ames Research Center, explained excitedly, “The first picture of a plant growing on another world – that picture will live forever. It will be as iconic as the first footprint on the moon.” Just like the Apollo missions drove an entire generation to embrace technology and science, making the final frontier more accessible will inspire us to strive for even greater accomplishments.  www.forbes.com/sites/ tarunwadhwa/2013/11/20/nasasnext-frontier-growing-plants-onthe-moon www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/cct/ office/cif/2013/lunar_plant.html

49  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

The Parisian Book Fair 2014 When: March 21-24, 2014 (Friday to Monday) Where: Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles, Paris France A U.S. Presence organized by the American Embassy/Commercial Service in Paris

Who attends: Publishers, Distributors, Agents, Bookstores, Teachers, Students? Best Prospects for U.S. Publishers: Contemporary American Literature; Thrillers and Suspense books; Arts, Life Style & Design; Travel & Tourism; Nature & Wildlife; Spiritual and Self-Help Books; Comics, and Children’s Books. U.S Embassy/Commercial Service Paris is proposing 4 Booth Categories: 1. Exhibitor: Small Publishing House - Price: $ 2,405 (the furniture is not included) 2. Booster Package: Small Booth - Price: $ 908 3. A Table in the Right Center Pavilion: - Price: $ 549 4. Catalogue Display (display of 8 titles): - Price: $ 440 For information, registration contact: Valérie Ferrière, Trade Specialist, Books & Publishing Tel: 33-1-43-12-70-77 Valerie.Ferriere@trade.gov AMERICAN EMBASSY PARIS Bobby Hines, International Trade Specialist 444 S. Flower ST, 37th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071 213-894-4231, Cell: 213-276-3675, Fax: 213-894-8789 Bobby.hines@trade.gov  Free Webinar: Export Opportunities in Mexico for Textiles and Apparel Thursday, November 7, 2PM EST: Covering: Market, Business culture, NAFTA Overview, Rules of Origins, Q&A https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/event/editWebReg.do?SmartCode=4Q0K laurie.mease@trade.gov Featured U.S. Exporter – FUSE features your company on U.S. Commercial Service Websites around the world. U.S. exporters seeking trade leads or representation in over 50 markets around the world should register for FUSE at: http:// www.buyusa.gov/home/fuse.html RIO 2016 OLYMPIC COMMITTEE is looking to work with international companies as partners. For a list of current Rio 2016 Olympic Sponsors visit: http://rio2016.com/en/organising-committee/partners Your American Contact: joel. Reynoso@trade.gov For information on Games visit http://export.gov/brazil/games/index.asp Cosmetic Catalog Show Czech Republic. Coming Soon

52  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Senate Exploring Measures to Modernize Tax Code by Jonathan Ortmans

ome policymakers in the U.S. are not ready to end the year with entrepreneurshipenabling legislation on the back burner. Taking an “across-allindustries” approach, the Start-up Jobs and Innovation Act (www. govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/ s1658/text) introduced last month in the Senate aims to stimulate investment in research-intensive

new jobs as a result. The bill’s provisions include: • Double the amount of startup costs entrepreneurs can deduct in the first year to $10,000. • Permanently allow companies to deduct the first $500,000 in equipment purchases. Currently, businesses are only allowed to deduct a small portion of their costs in the first year, with the

my brothers… so I understand the unique struggles, uncertainties and risks involved in starting one’s own business,” said Sen. Toomey in the press conference announcing the bill last month. Over the last few weeks since the Act was introduced, many have spoken out in support of it. The biotechnology industry, for example, has largely praised the new bill.

startups. Its authors, Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) explained that the bill is the result of an effort to modernize the U.S. tax code with tax incentives that reward investment in innovation among small and growing companies. The bill captures some of the measures in the independent Ernst and Young (http:// smallbusinessinnovators.org/ userfiles/ey%20csbi%20report%20 economic%20impact%20of%20 tax%20proposals%20for%20startups.pdf) study, which estimates that specific tax reforms could increase investment in startups by $10.3 billion per year—creating 156,000

remaining amo amount nt ded deducted cted o over er the course of 15 years. • Permanently cut taxes for people who make long-term investments in American small businesses. • Give high-tech small businesses the ability to use the same tax provisions large firms have available for innovation. • Allow investors to recognize the tax losses and credits generated by the R&D startups they supported. • Ease tax compliance by allowing more companies to use the simpler "cash accounting" method. “I started a chain of restaurants in Allentown in 1990 with two of

er a decade an “It can take o over and cost more than $1 billion to bring a single groundbreaking biotechnology treatment from laboratory bench to hospital bedside, and virtually the entire process is funded by private investment,” stated the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) (www.bio. org/media/press-release/bioapplauds-senators-menendez-andtoomey-introducing-start-jobs-andinnovation-) in a press release.  http://entrepreneurship.org/ Blogs/Policy-Forum-Blog/2013/ December/Senate-ExploresMeasures-to-Modernize-the-TaxCode.aspx

53  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Most Startup Funding Comes from Savings, Friends and Family (infographic) by Joe McKendrick

or most startups, funding is an extremely personal matter. The largest chunks of seed capital don't come from venture capitalists, banks, or anything else on the grid. It comes from the founders' own pockets, followed by support from family and friends. Thus, it can be surmised that many new businesses have very serious money tied up in their launches, reflecting the personal commitment of their founders. Of the total $531 billion raised to launch new ventures in the United States alone over the past year, personal savings and credit was the leading source, accounting for $185.5 billion, or about 35% of all seed capital. Family and friends accounted for $60 billion, or 11% of the total. Venture capital comes in distant third at $22 billion, or a paltry four percent of the pot. Self-funding is not a bad thing at all. Viewers of the show Shark Tank, for example, see first-hand that even the most hard-hearted investors have a deep respect for founders who put up a lot of their own equity into an idea. Fundable, a crowdfunding site (www.fundable.com), analyzed the numbers from the past year and provides breakdowns in the infographic below of where startup seed money really comes from.  www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/moststartup-funding-comes-from-savingsfriends-and-family-infographic/?tag=nl. e660&s_cid=e660&ttag=e660&ftag=TRE4 eb29b5

54  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Civil Rights Activist Fred Davis, who marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., paid $6,000 for this billboard. Davis believes men who sag their pants portray an image of crime and poor education.

#GETCOVERED H E A LT H C A R E . G O V If you're uninsured, go to http://HealthCare.gov & find an affordable plan that works for you. #GetCovered www.whitehouse.gov/share/what-obamacare-means-you

55  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Christmas, Kwanzaa OR ANY SPECIAL OCCASION

FOR

Business

Google's New Innovation? Robots By Charlie Osborne

fter quietly acquiring a number of robotics companies, Google is looking to diversify away from consumer technology and the Internet -- in order to tap in

Schaft Robot (http://technabob. com/blog/2013/04/11/ schaft-stronghumanoid-robot)

to the financial boon manufacture robots has to offer. The search engine giant's former mobile software head Andy Rubin has been leading the charge, creating a new division specializing in robotics suitable for the manufacturing industry, according to The New York Times. The new group is not focused on consumerbased robotics -- unlike technological innovations produced by the firm including the mobile operating system Android and the Google Glass headset -- but perhaps the move is unsurprising, considering Google's development of predictive and intuitive technologies found in other products. The end result could be automating existing parts of supply chains, which could be used in shipping and delivery services. G o o g l e C h i e f Executive and chairman Larry Page said on We d n e s d a y it was "early days" for the project, but he was interested to monitor its progression. Rubin, who

has a background in robotics, said: "I have a history of making my hobbies into a career. This is the world’s greatest job. Being an engineer and a tinkerer, you start thinking about what you would want to build for yourself." Google confirmed to Computerworld that it's been buying up robotics companies for the past six months. Among the seven companies acquired are Schaft, a small team from Tokyo, and Bot & Dolly (www.botndolly. com/robots), which develops robotic camera systems. Patrick Moorhead, an analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy, says it's not surprising that a company like Google would seek to venture far afield from its core technology, in this case Internet search tools. The company has already moved into several new businesses, including browsers, Chromebook computers, mapping software, autonomous cars and computerized eyeglasses. "I expected Google to ultimately get into robots, as it's not too far from an autonomous vehicle, only more flexible in its use cases," said Moorhead. The technology used to make "a very good robot would be similar to that in a supersophisticated autonomous vehicle." The new group will be based in Palo Alto, California.  www.smartplanet.com/blog/ bulletin/googles-new-innovationrobots/?tag=nl.e660&s_cid=e660&ttag =e660&ftag=TRE4eb29b5 www.computerworld.com/s/ article/9244529/Google_may_go_ from_Google_Glass_to_Google_ Robot

58  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Grow With MOBILE BLACK BUSINESS DIRECTORY Download the App Add your Business Information Be found by new & old clients

DO IT TODAY!

A crowdfunding platform for projects and ideas benefiting the African-American community.

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www.blackstartup.com

59  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Technology:

Take a Look! by LaSandra Stratton Check out what these firms and organizations have to offer for your personal interests, personal wealth building, and business expansion opportunities. www.neverwalkalone.com bSafe is the world´s leading personal mobile safety application. Download it for free to your smartphone, and you´ll have help

at your fingertip 24/7. The emergency alarm is the best of its kind combining both video, siren and live GPS tracing. In addition, features like Follow Me, I´m Here and Fake Call will help you stay safe every day. Recommended by http://dontsellbodies.org. Test it yourself and let us know if you agree with the top ratings and recommendations from our hundred thousands of users. www.catacademy.com Memrise (www.memrise.com), an online learning company, conducted analysis to see which mnemonic devices worked best among its users. As you might expect, "The pattern

began to emerge that pictures of cats always featured disproportionately among the most effective," says Ben Whately, chief operating officer at Memrise. That led Memrise to develop a spinoff project, CatAcademy, an app that uses cute, funny cat photos to help users learn Spanish -think of a cross between Rosetta Stone and LoLCats. CatAcademy connects a cat photo with key words and phrases to aid language memorization. The app bases its setup on five principles: • For one, visualization helps you store vivid memories. • Cute cats help with attention and mood. • Funny photos make phrases more memorable. • Repetition helps solidify the memory. • So does the adaptive testing used in the app. For now the app is just for learning Spanish, but the company has a plans to add other languages, including English, Chinese, and German. www.memrise.com From day one we've built Memrise to embody the very best knowledge about how your b r a i n works to help you learn as quickly and effortlessly as possible. There are thousands of courses on Memrise - all free and all created by other members of the community. Courses are available in many languages, for many languages and other subjects. If we don't have what you want, join in and make your own! Learn the course using our sci-

ence-based learning techniques. We've turned learning facts and language into a game where you grow a colourful garden of memory. It's like a guiltless video-game. We believe learning should be as rich and varied as the world you're learning about. So with our community we're building a kind of multimedia wonderland of learning, where videos, audio, usage, mnemonics, etymologies and much more bring your learning to life. Bring learning to life with mems - little snippets of imagination and humour that make things easy to remember. http://blackdoctor.org BlackDoctor.org (BDO) is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource

specifically targeted to African Americans. As much as we’d love for healthcare to be one-size-fitsall, the reality is that this is not the case – today’s Black community has higher incidences of just about every major disease and condition out there, as well as shorter life spans. BlackDoctor. org understands that the uniqueness of Black culture – our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language – so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest. Visit BlackDoctor.org on FaceBook (www.facebook.com/BlackDoctor.org) every day to see how good it feels to live a healthier, happier life.  Submitted by LaSandra Stratton, Chief Content Administrator of the Black Business News.

60  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest

197 Educational YouTube Channels to Know About By Teachers With Apps

f you don’t have a YouTube channel as an education provider, there’s a good chance you’re behind the times. Nearly every major educational institution in the world now hosts its own collection of videos featuring news, lectures, tutorials, and open courseware. Just as many individuals have their own channel, curating their expertise in a series of broadcasted lessons. These channels allow instructors to share information and blend media in unprecedented and exciting new ways. From teaching Mandarin Chinese to busting myths about Astronomy, the educational possibilities are virtually endless pun intended! Because we can now sift through thousands of resources while navigating a single repository, the potential for inspiration and growth in the field of education has reached a new height. Here are some of the top channels worth following based on views, subscriptions, and quality of content. You may view the complete listing at: http://teacherswithapps.

com/197-educational-youtubechannels-know. 

General 1. YouTube EDU: Launched in 2009, Youtube EDU centralizes content from over 100 universities and colleges, providing access to lectures, research, and campus tours. Think of it as an enormous global video classroom within the YouTube framework, divided into three sub-categories: Primary & Secondary Education, University and Lifelong Learning. You can even build your own global classroom by uploading videos to your YouTube channel.

Physical Sciences 1. MinutePhysics: The most popular educational channel on YouTube, second only to Khan Academy.

Engineering & Technology 1. Gizmodo: This channel will introduce young engineers, computer specialists, and technicians to the programming behind today’s hottest gadgets.

Mathematics 1. Mr. Robb’s Math Videos: This

channel originally started out as a means for students to remember their lessons after class has been dismissed, but grew into an exceptionally comprehensive resource on almost all things mathematical.

Politics, History, and Current Events 1. Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting: The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting provides in-depth coverage of international affairs, focusing on topics that have been under-reported, misreported, or not reported at all. BONUS: Lesson Plans for Educators.

The Arts 1. Smithsonian American Art Museum: Lectures and collections are available for browsing.

Learning a Foreign Language 1. JenniferESL: With over 153,000 subscribers, JenniferESL is one of the most popular ESL channel on YouTube. Jennifer’s best videos are her lessons on idioms (kitchen idioms, driving idioms, color idioms) and slang/phrases based on everyday environments and tasks. Most of the content in her curriculum is based on expressions and conversations from authentic experiences. Great for beginners.

62  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest

President Obama's Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative "Take Time to be a Healthy Dad Today"

he National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse is an Office of Family Assistance (OFA) funded national resource for fathers, practitioners, President Barack Obama talks with four fathers participating in the new HHS "Fatherhood Buzz" campaign, as they wait for their lunch at Kenny’s BBQ Smokehouse in Washington, DC. Joining programs/Federal the President, from left, are: Nurney Mason; 1st Lieutenant William Edwards of the U.S. Army; Otis grantees, states, and the Gamble; and CPT Joubert Paulino of the U.S Army. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) public at-large who are serving or interested in supporting strong fathers and families. • Virtual Trainings challenges in their lives. That's what The goals of the National Fatherlessness is a growing crisis the President's Fatherhood and Responsible Fatherhood Mentoring Initiative is all about. Clearinghouse (NRFC) are to in America, one that undergirds Take the President's Fatherhood provide, facilitate, and disseminate many of the challenges that families Pledge by visiting the Pledge Page current research, proven and are facing. When dads aren’t at www.fatherhood.gov/pledge. innovative strategies that will around, young people are more encourage and strengthen fathers likely to drop out of school, use Fatherhood Buzz Neighborhood barbershops are a and families, and providers of drugs, be involved in the criminal justice system, and become young trusted space to discuss personal services via the following priorities: parents themselves. and public issues, ranging from • Robust NRFC Website – www. President Obama has said that family to politics, health, money, Fatherhood.gov being a father to Malia and Sasha and other life issues. Fatherhood • Media Campaign that promotes the Responsible Fatherhood field is the most important job he has. Buzz is an effort to increase At the same time, growing up awareness around responsible and efforts of local programs without a dad himself, the President fatherhood and parenting issues, • Social media engagement understands firsthand the holes that and increase families access to • Development and dissemination fathers leave in their families when support through local barbershops of written products that advance responsible fatherhood research they are absent. The President throughout the country. Join the is joining with fathers across the President's national conversation and practice nation to send a strong message on responsible fatherhood and • Outreach and presentations at about personal responsibility and healthy families. Take the Pledge conferences and events 'stepping up to the plate,' while and participate in programs in your • National Call Center for dads supporting fathers who want to be area.  and practitioners (1-877there for their kids, even dads facing www.fatherhood.gov 4DAD411) 63  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest

IHS Zuni Health Center Achieves Baby-Friendly Status

he Indian Health Service’s Zuni Comprehensive Community Health Center has become the first hospital in New Mexico to become BabyFriendly certified. This means that nearly half of all IHS hospitals that currently perform deliveries have become “Baby-Friendly.” Nationally, fewer than 6% of all U.S. hospitals are Baby-Friendly designated, and the only Baby-Friendly hospitals in Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, North Dakota, and South Dakota are all IHS hospitals.

The IHS Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move! in Indian Country” campaign dedicated to solving childhood obesity within a generation. The IHS campaign aims to certify all IHS obstetric facilities as BabyFriendly. This initiative promotes infant feeding to reduce the risk that children will develop obesity and diabetes in the future. Baby-Friendly hospitals offer new mothers the information, confidence, and skills they need to initiate and continue

breastfeeding their babies. Other IHS hospitals that have been Baby-Friendly designated are Claremore Indian Hospital (Oklahoma); Phoenix Indian Medical Center (Arizona); Quentin N. Burdick Memorial Health Care Facility (North Dakota); Pine Ridge Hospital (South Dakota) and Rosebud Indian Hospitals (South Dakota).  www.letsmove.gov/blog/2013/12/04/ ihs-zuni-health-center-achieves-babyfriendly-status

64  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest

The Affordable Care Act & African Americans

he Affordable Care Act –will help make health insurance coverage more affordable and accessible for millions of Americans. Expanding opportunities for coverage, and providing no-cost screenings and quality disease management to patients, can improve health outcomes for African Americans. Already, the Affordable Care Act has benefitted the nearly 85% of Americans who already have insurance: • 3.1 million young adults have gained coverage through the parents’ plans • 6.6 million seniors are paying less for prescription drugs • 105 million are paying less for preventative care & no longer face lifetime coverage limits • 13.1 million Americans have received rebates from insurance companies • 17 million children with preexisting conditions no longer denied coverage or charged extra Beginning in 2014, the Affordable Care Act will provide 6.8 million uninsured African Americans an opportunity to get affordable health insurance coverage. The following provides an overview of the coverage and benefits available today and those made possible by the Health Insurance Marketplace ( w w w. h e a l t h c a r e . g o v / h e a l t h insurance-marketplace). Happening Now: • 7.3 million African Americans with private insurance now have access to expanded preventive services with no cost sharing. This includes services such as colonoscopy screening for

•

colon cancer, Pap smears and mammograms for women, wellchild visits, and flu shots for all children and adults. An estimated 5.1 million African American women with private health insurance now have guaranteed access to women’s preventive services without cost sharing. These services include well-woman visits, HPV testing, counseling services, breastfeeding support, mammograms and screenings for cervical cancer, prenatal care, and other services. The 4.5 million elderly and disabled African Americans who receive health coverage from Medicare also have access to many preventive services with no cost-sharing, including annual wellness visits with personalized prevention plans, diabetes and colorectal cancer screening, bone mass measurement and mammograms. About 10.4 million African Americans no longer have lifetime limits on their health insurance plans. The health care workforce will be more diverse due to a near tripling of the National Health Service Corps. African American physicians make up about 17% of Corps physicians. Investments in data collection and research will help us better understand the causes of health care disparities and develop effective programs to eliminate them. Targeted interventions, such as Community Transformation Grants, will promote healthy lifestyles, lower health care costs, and reduce health disparities.

• Increased funding available to more than 1,100 community health centers will increase the number of patients served. One of every five patients at a health center is African American. Coming Soon: • 6.8 million uninsured African Americans, including 3 million African American women, will have new opportunities for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace. • The Marketplace is a destination where consumers can compare insurance options in simple, easy to understand language. At the Marketplace, consumers will be able to compare insurance options based on price, benefits, quality and other factors with a clear picture of premiums and cost-sharing amounts to help them choose the insurance that best fits their needs. • Consumers may be eligible for free or low cost coverage, or advance premium tax credits that lower monthly premiums right away. Individuals with higher incomes (up to 400% of the federal poverty level, or $94,200 for a family of four) will be eligible for premium tax credits to purchase coverage from the Health Insurance Marketplace. • States have new opportunities to expand Medicaid coverage to include Americans with family incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level (generally $31,322 for a family of four in 2013). This expansion includes adults without dependent children living at home. • Starting in 2014, over 390,000 African American women who currently buy coverage in the individual market will gain maternity coverage. www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts/ index.html

65  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest

Charitable Giving Suggestions It’s That Time of Year

Is There Hunger in Your Neighborhood?

his spiritual season inclines us all to seek out ways to be of service. If you are looking for ways to make a difference in the quality of life in your community consider donating time, product and/or money to a local food depository program. These central food distribution systems provide produce and meats to neighborhood sites in the heart of our communities. These neighborhood sites reach right into the heart of the hidden needs of our friends and neighbors. Make a donation to the Food Depository Program in your city or to a local group providing service personto-person. In Chicago, you may help by sending a contribution via PayPal to the Share-AMeal program of Metropolitan Community Church, IL (www. metropolitancc1920.org/ onlinegiving.asp). In Los Angeles visit the regional food bank website at www.lafoodbank.org for giving information. In Atlanta visit the Atlanta Community Food Bank at www.acfb.org. Support your friends and neighbors this season and all year

Metropolitan Community Church Food Pantry Ministry

long by donating funds or volunteering your time. Search the Internet using your community's or city's name and "food depository" to find a program near you. 

The Zambian Dream

he Sheila Siwela Global Foundation (SSGF) has set a goal to distribute the book The Zambian Dream to all of the children in the Republic of Zambia attending community schools and to those that are not in school. The Zambian Dream, written by Ambassador Sheila Siwela, is aimed at equipping the children of Zambia with knowledge that will prepare them to lead a bright and prosperous future, to love and identify with their nation and with all of the peoples in Zambia. This book is a companion to the primary education provided by the Education System of Zambia. The Zambian Dream has been endorsed by Zambia's first president, the Honorable Kenneth Kaunda, as a "simple but powerful book for the children of Zambia." Visit the SSGF website (www. ssgfoundation.org/projects.html) to

President Kaunda with Ambassador Siwela and the Zambian Dream book see and hear from the teachers and children who will receive the books that will be provided through your generous donation. Please help the Sheila Siwela Global Foundation place The Zambian Dream in the hands of the school children of Zambia. This is a tall order because there are over 100,000 children that should have access to this inspiring publication. For each $37 donation made via the website, five (5) books will be made available for distribution. Whether you will help SSGF provide five books or one hundred, your contribution will be appreciated and honored. 

66  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Charitable Giving Suggestions It’s That Time of Year

The WellSpring Project - Access to Clean Water

he WellSpring Project is a special initiative of the Where Eagles Soar Ministries. The goal of the WellSpring Project is to

build/install water wells in villages of Ghana to provide clean drinking water for the people. The average cost of providing a well constructed water well is $7,000. These wells will make retrieving water more accessible for the village population and provide clean water that will help prevent diseases associated with polluted water. The WellSpring Project is a simple initiative. So simple, that it is often overlooked as a “problem.” In the United States and western countries, we take clean, accessible water for granted. We need only go

to our faucet to get a drink of clean water. We don’t go more than one block from our homes to do our laundry, we can buy clean water in bottles in any store. This is not the case in many regions of Ghana and other African nations. Where Eagles Soar Ministries understands this and is ready to help. Where Eagles Soar Ministries believes that those of us who are blessed w i t h “more” are obligated to help those who have “less.” We have created an opportunity for our friends and interested citizens to make a lasting impact on the lives of a greater number of people in Ghana than by sending money, or clothes and toiletries. The WellSpring Project will help whole villages of people over time. The clothes we send may wear out, the toiletries may run out and the money may be limited but the water well built with your donations will serve the Ghanaian villagers for generations. Please send a generous donation to: Where Eagles Soar Ministries, 1507 E. 53rd Street, Suite 219, Chicago, IL 60653. 

National Museum of African American History & Culture

he deeply rooted aspects of African American history will all come together in the new museum. Visitors from across the nation and around the world will be exposed to the art, the music, the achievements, and the great contributions African Americans have made from the very beginnings of this nation.

A very important part of the museum's mission is showing how black Americans' experiences are not separate from America's history, it is America's history! This museum will be a testament to the resilience and determination of African Americans in the face of terrible oppression. But it will also be a place of healing, where all Americans can learn from the past and come together, now and for generations to come. To complete the task to open the doors in late 2015 the full $250 million budget for the museum must be raised. Visit the NMAAHC website (AfricanAmerica.si.edu) to see what the institution is doing, then to make a donation visit: go.si. edu/aahcdonate. 

67  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, pose for photographs alongside children dressed as elves at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC.

"Christmas in Washington"

resident Obama, Mrs. Obama and their daughters Sasha and Malia attended TNT's 32nd annual "Christmas in Washington" concert. Featured artists included Hugh Jackman, The Backstreet Boys, Sheryl Crow, Janelle Monae, Anna Kendrick, Pat Monahan, American Family Choir, Washington Youth Choir and AFTRA Choir. Charles Barkley, NBA Hall of Famer and analyst for TNT's Inside the NBA, made a special guest appearance. President Obama pointed out that while he loves getting Christmas presents, it's "a time to remember the story of a child born to two faithful travelers on earth." He said this time of year brings "a message of hope." "We wish this holiday season, and all holiday seasons, peace on earth to all." 

CALL FOR ENTRIES

eah, having your schoolwork posted on the fridge at home is cool. But having a video you made posted on the White House website and screened at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? We think that’s pretty cool, too. That’s why we’re super-excited to announce the first-ever White House Student Film Festival: a video contest created just for K-12 students, and whose finalists will have their short films shown at the White House. Finalist videos may also be featured on the White House website, YouTube channel, and social media pages. Submissions for the White House film festival will be accepted from November 25 through January 29, 2014. Videos must be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo to be submitted. You and a parent/guardian must complete the entry form and submit a link to your video. Review the Entry Requirements carefully then download the Entry Guide at: www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/files/ studentfilmfestivalofficialrules_1.pdf.

Good Luck! Have Fun!

68  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International and lend to their vision to succeed. We want to nourish their entrepreneurial spirits and preparedness," r. Raye Mitchell and her and moving beyond charity based said Dr. 14-year-old protégé Helen projects to skill based engagement. Mitchell. Kassa are on a mission to Honorable Zerihun Retta stated, In a personal thank you note to promote gender equality around "I applaud Dr. Mitchell's initiative to Dr. Mitchell, Ambassador Retta the world and to improve access empower girls through leadership. wrote, "Saturday's occasion signals to education on a global basis. I am calling upon the New Reality the fruition of both the dedicated Their goal is to change how the Foundation (www.gurlsrock. efforts of Helen had exerted in world thinks, views and invests in org) and GURLS Lead, a Global trying to realize her long cherished preparing women and girls to be Leadership organization to work in vision of Giving Hope to Kids Like global leaders. On November 9th, partnership with us in the ongoing Me and a manifestation of Dr. the two achieved an epic milestone effort of improving the participation Mitchell's commitment to bring the in their journey importance of girls and forward when girls of color as the next the Honorable generation of leaders, E t h i o p i a n globally." The Ambassador Ambassador further stated, "We were Zerihun Retta all inspired by the topics and the Honorable raised and energized by Deputy Consul the opportunity it provided General Essayas to meet the interest of our Gota met with community and particularly them. young girls. I was fascinated During the by young Helen's maturity (l-r) Mr. Essayas Gota (Deputy Consul General), Dr. private dinner, and aspiration to be a Raye Mitchell, Helen Kassa and Ethiopian Ambassador the two social change agent in bringing Zerihun Retta entrepreneurs opportunities to those in unveiled their need." strategic project for improving of women on the leadership ladder." Dr. Mitchell and Ms. Kassa access to education, leadership Economists confirm that reducing extended their thanks to training and STEM training for gender inequality in education is Congressmembers Barbara women and girls throughout the a vital part of promoting economic Lee, Michael Honda and John world, including Ethiopia. As part development on a global basis. Garamendi for facilitating of their project, entitled Leadership The failure to educate girls limits introductions to the Ethiopian Journey for Change (www. economic growth in the developing diplomats. The two ladies look gurlslead.org), and in support of world by wasting human capital. As to expand their diplomatic Ms. Kassa's foundation, Giving a result, the United Nations has relationships to other countries and Hope to Kids Like Me, the two set the target of eliminating gender welcome introductions to potential will travel to Ethiopia in June 2014 disparity in education at all levels partners, corporate sponsors and to provide training and support to by 2015, as one of its Millennium individuals that believe in the dream students in rural Ethiopia. A Development Goals. "We will go of gender equality and access to This highly successful diplomatic to Ethiopia in June 2014 to connect educational opportunity for women meeting is a significant step forward with the emerging community of and girls on a global basis.  for Dr. Mitchell and Ms. Kassa as women and girl leaders in business, Contact: Janice Edwards they work toward creating change social change, STEM and other tvjanicee@yahoo.com 415-261-2199 for women and girls on a global level sectors. We want to learn from

New Program to Empower Women and Girls in Ethiopia and Around the World

70  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Innternational

Lions Go Digital: The Internet’s Transformative Potential in Africa By McKinsey Global Institute

ollowing a decade of rapid urbanization and strong economic growth, Africa is going digital. While just 16% of the continent’s one billion people are online, that picture is changing rapidly. Evidence of what is to come can already be seen in Africa’s major cities, where consumers have greater disposable income, more than half have Internetcapable devices, and 3G networks are up and running. Significant infrastructure investment—for example, increased access to mobile broadband, fibre-optic cable connections to households, and power-supply expansion— combined with the rapid spread of low-cost smartphones and tablets, has enabled millions of Africans to connect for the first time. There is a growing wave of innovation as entrepreneurs and large corporations alike launch new webbased ventures.

Africa’s Internet opportunity Today, Africa’s iGDP1 (which measures the Internet’s contribution to overall GDP) remains low, at 1.1%—just over half the levels seen in other emerging economies. But there is significant variation among individual countries. Senegal and Kenya, though not the continent’s largest economies, have Africa’s highest iGDPs, and governments in both countries have made concerted efforts to stimulate Internet demand. The exhibit's purple bars tell the story.  www.mckinsey.com/insights/high_tech_ telecoms_internet/lions_go_digital_the_ internets_transformative_potential_in_ africa

International

China to Invest $1 trillion in Africa Through 2025 By Tyler Falk

e already know that Africa has been a hot spot for Chinese investment over the last few years. Since 2005, Chinese businesses have invested an estimated $120 billion in subSaharan Africa. And don't expect China's focus on Africa to decrease over the next decade. According to South China Morning Post, China's central government and state-owned banks will help finance $1 trillion in projects in Africa through 2025 -- 70-80% of which will come from the Export-Import Bank of

China -- with a specific focus on infrastructure projects. "Africa for the next 20 years will be the single-most important business destination for many Chinese mega corporations," said Zhao Changhui, a risk analyst at Export-Import Bank of China, at a recent Africa Investment Summit in Hong Kong. The trouble, as Lily Kuo points out at Quartz, is that it will be difficult to track whether China follows through. "Chinese aid, investment and lending to Africa are notoriously difficult to decipher,

China's Plan to Build 'Africa's New York City' By Tyler Falk

hina's continuing with major investments in Africa (www. smartplanet.com/blog/ bulletin/chinas-massive-foreigninvestment-in-one-map). The latest: an ambitious, nearly $8 billion redevelopment project to turn a suburb in the South African capital of Johannesburg into Africa's New York City. Chinese development company Shanghai Zendai Property (based in Hong Kong) said earlier this week that it's planning to turn Modderfontein, a manufacturing hub in eastern Johannesburg, into

a major African hub over the next 15 years. “It will become the future capital of the whole of Africa,” said Shanghai Zendai Chairman Dai Zhikang at a press conference, according to Bloomberg. “This will be on par with cities like New York in America or Hong Kong in the Far East.” The nearly 4,000 acre project will consist of 35,000 houses, a sport stadium, and an educational center. The company claims the completed city could provide as many as 100,000 jobs and house 100,000 more people.

since the country doesn’t release details about the financing of its overseas projects," Kuo said. Still, China seems to be ahead of the curve when it comes to investing in Africa. Earlier this week, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim was calling on North American CEOs to also get involved in Africa and explore more investment opportunities on the continent. That's because in a report released in October, the World Bank said the economic outlook for sub-Saharan Africa is positive and projected its GDP growth to be 4.9% in 2013, 5.3% in 2014, and 5.5% in 2015. China, on the other hand, doesn't need to be reminded of those numbers.  www.smartplanet.com/blog/ bulletin/china-to-invest-1-trillionin-africa-through-2025/?tag=nl. e660&s_cid=e660&ttag=e660&ftag =TRE4eb29b5

As Quartz points out, the project will be a shift from other Chinese investments in Africa which have generally revolved around gaining access to natural resources. Though the project will be a jumping off point for other ventures by the company throughout the African continent and those projects have not yet been announced. To say that this project will be the equivalent of New York City is a stretch to say the least. $8 billion wouldn't buy much in New York. Still, it's just another example of Chinese companies investing big in Africa. Chinese companies are pouring more money into sub-Saharan African than any other region in the world, with South Africa gaining the third most investment of any other country in the region.  www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/ chinas-plan-to-build-africas-newyork-city

72  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

www.zambiausachamber.org

African Stock Exchanges • Bolsa de Valores of Cape Verde - www.bvc.cv (in Portuguese) • Bond Exchange of South Africa - www.bondexchange. co.za • Botswana Stock Exchange www.bse.co.bw • Bourse Regionale des Valeurs Mobilieres - UEMOA (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) - www.brvm.org • Casablanca Stock Exchange (Morocco) - www.casablancabourse.com/bourseweb/index. aspx • Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (Tanzania) - www. dse.co.tz

• Douala Stock Exchange (Cameroon) - www.douala-stockexchange.com/index_us.php • The Egyptian Exchange - www. egx.com.eg/English/homepage. aspx • Ethiopia Commodity Exchange - www.ecx.com.et • Ghana Stock Exchange - www. gse.com.gh • Johannesburg Stock Exchange (South Africa) - www. jse.co.za/Home.aspx • Khartoum Stock Exchange (Sudan, in Arabic) - www.kse. com.sd • Libyan Stock Market - www. lsm.ly/_layouts/membership/

• • • •

• •

•

• • •

login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fEnglis h%2fPages%2fdefault.aspx Lusaka Stock Exchange (Zambia) - www.luse.co.zm Nairobi Stock Exchange (Kenya) - www.luse.co.zm Malawi Stock Exchange - www. mse.co.mw Mozambique Stock Exchange (in Portuguese) - www. bolsadevalores.co.mz Namibian Stock Exchange www.nsx.com.na Nigerian Stock Exchange www.nse.com.ng/Pages/default. aspx Stock Exchange of Mauritius www.stockexchangeofmauritius. com Swaziland Stock Exchange www.ssx.org.sz Tunisia Stock Exchange - www. bvmt.com.tn Uganda Securities Exchange www.use.or.ug

Read the last issue of The Exchange Magazine www.nse.co.ke/media-center/ecommunique/exchange-magazine/ category/50-free-version.html)

73  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Innternational

Her Majesty Florence Ajimobo, First Lady, Oyo State, Republic of Nigeria

er Excellency, Mrs Florence Ajimobi views her role as the First Lady of Oyo Sate as a call to service and an opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives

of people across the State. Mrs Ajimobi believes in the necessity of diligence, discipline and determination for the success of any individual or society. She also believes that there is no substitute for hard work, and that- with God on your side- there is no limit to what a person can achieve if they remain

committed and consistent towards their goals. Born in Benin on the 5th of April 1959 to the renowned Hajaig family of Lebanon, Mrs Ajimobi grew up in a loving but strict home where discipline and strong moral values were inculcated into her by her parents. She started her educational sojourn at the Bodija International School, Ibadan before proceeding to Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Ibadan. Her Excellency’s tertiary education was

brave decision to leave the safety of paid employment to embark on her own retail business. Unfazed by the difficulties and insecurities of the business world, The First Lady’s entrepreneurial drive, passion and dedication, have seen the business grow steadily over the years. Today, by the grace of God, the business is a very successful venture boasting a robust and impressive balance sheet. Having successfully combined the responsibility of being a wife and mother with the rigours of owning her own business and excelling as an entrepreneur, Mrs Ajimobi sees no limit to what the women of our great nation can achieve. She is a

at the Polytechnic Ibadan where she studied Secretarial Studies and Management. Armed with a determination to succeed, Mrs Florence Ajimobi started her career at Femi Johnson and Co, a leading Insurance Brokerage Firm. She went on to work at Insight Communications and RT Briscoe, before taking the

champion of women’s causes and believes the time has come for the Nigerian woman to stand up and take her rightful place in society. Her Excellency is currently the patron of The National Council of Women’s Society [Oyo State chapter] and intends to capitalise on her position see First Lady Oyo State on page 75

74  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

First Lady, Oyo State from page 74

as First Lady to promote the role and rights of women in the State. As a mother and grandmother, Mrs Ajimobi has a particular passion for helping pregnant women and children. She is appalled by the number of failed pregnancies in the State and is committed to ensuring that the pregnant women of Oyo State are given the best possible chance of a safe delivery. She also has a heart for all children and plans to work hard to give those less privileged a fair chance of making it in life. This is consistent with her character for helping people, as seen in her work prior to becoming First Lady of the State. Among other things, Mrs Florence Ajimobi built a Day Care Centre for the Mother Less Babies Home in Ibadan while President of the Bodija Lion’s Club. As First Lady of Oyo State, Her Excellency fully intends to continue working on issues close to her heart. Those who know the First Lady will tell you that one of her most striking features is her love and respect for family. Mrs Florence Ajimobi has very strong family values which help drive her passions and to a large extent define what she is about. She is very happily married and has raised responsible, hard-working and God fearing children. Together they share a vibrant and happy home, filled with warmth, laughter and love. Mrs Florence Ajimobi is a devout Christian and deeply committed to the things of God. She has the fear of God in her, which

characterises her dealings with all and sundry. Though quiet and reserved by nature, The First Lady has a fun and sociable side to her character. She is a member of The Bodija Lion’s Club, where she rose to become President in 1996. A submissive and dutiful wife, Mrs Ajimobi models herself on the Proverbs 31 woman as described in the Holy Bible: a virtuous and capable wife; a help mate to her husband; a loving mother; an efficient home keeper; and a successful business woman. A woman of substance, she is determined to make an impact in the lives of people. She is working alongside her husband, His Excellency, Senator Abiola Isiaka Ajimobi, The Executive Governor of Oyo State, in a joint effort to make Oyo State great again.  www.mrsfajimobi.com

75  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Innternational

www.poweringafrica-tanzania.com

Internationl

One Africa:

Tell the US Government that North Africa is Africa Too!

oin with and support the United Africa Organization’s campaign to petition the U.S. Department of State to include the whole African continent under its Bureau of African Affairs.

Why? The State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, led by Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson, currently excludes Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Western Sahara from its agenda. Instead, the aforementioned countries are grouped with the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, together with Iran, Iraq, Israel and others. This artificial distinction between North Africa and the rest of Africa

negatively impacts US foreign policy relations throughout the entire continent of Africa. We unequivocally reject the argument that North African countries are outside the scope of African affairs. North Africa is geographically and historically part of the African continent, and all fifty-three (53) independent African states, including North African countries, are represented in the African Union (AU). It would be far more productive for the State Department to engage with the entire continent of Africa, including North Africa, under its Bureau of African Affairs. We are one Africa, from the Cape to Cairo, indivisible and bound together! Therefore, no square inch of African

land should be excluded from African affairs.

Sign The Petition!!! Go to www.change.org/petitions/ one-africa-tell-us-state-departmentthat-north-africa-is-part-of-africa and sign the online petition to support this important proposition. Next tell everyone you know to sign. 

www.uniteafricans.org

see On The Rise on page 78 78  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Thursday Blues at Uncle Darrow‛s High Noon-2pm Every Thursday

Come by for lunch and relax to blues & jazz from our house band! 2560 S. Lincoln Blvd. Marina del Rey North East corner of Washington & Lincoln

“LA Times Magazine favorite cajun food”

310-306-4862

www.uncledarrows.com 79  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

RESOURCES FOR GOING GLOBAL Dear International Executive,

f you have any questions about these initiatives, please contact your local U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist. To find the trade specialist nearest you please visit http://export.gov/usoffices/ index.asp. And, remember to use these outreach tools to grow your international business: Sell Worldwide in the USA Product Showcase; Commercial News USA: Buy 2, Get 1 Free; and Read the Digital Edition of America’s Export Promotion Magazine. Happy Exporting! *************************

Event: 2013 Export Workshop Series Location: Crowell and Moring, 3 Park Plaza, 20th Floor, Irvine, California 92614 Date/Time: August 15-Nov 21, 2013 Times: 8:30 A.M. to 12:00 Noon Cost: $35.00 a class Register: Jean Coronel at jcoronel@ portla.org or register at: http://tinyurl. com/ExportUSFValley Workshop Series

• Is Exporting for Me? - August 15 • Finding and Entering New Export Markets/Int'l Matchmaking August 29

• International Business CultureInternet - September 12 • Internet Export Marketing September 26 • Export Sales Techniques and Documentation - October 10 • Export Trade Finance and Insurance - Getting Paid October 24 • Legal Do's and Don’ts for Exporters - November 7 • Freight and Logistics /Export Planning and Counseling November 21 Sell Worldwide in the USA Product Showcase for Just $499 Commercial News USA, the official

export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers exporters an affordable way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. Now, you can advertise in the USA Product Showcase section of the magazine for just $499. Commercial News USA reaches more than a quarter-million buyers worldwide in print and 23,000 per month online. Reserve your space in the next issue today. For more information, call 1-800-581-8533 x 822, go online to http://www.thinkglobal.us, or send e-mail to export@thinkglobal.us. Follow Commercial News USA on

LinkedIn and Twitter @comnewsusa Commercial News USA: Buy 2, Get 1 Free Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers exporters an affordable way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers exporters an inexpensive way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. In addition to free Portuguese translation, you can take advantage of a special offer: Buy two ads and get the third ad for free (Based on one-time rates. Does not include Showcase section). Commercial News USA reaches more than a quarter million buyers worldwide. Reserve your space in the next issue today. For more information, call 1-800-581-8533 x 822, go online to http://www.thinkglobal. us, or send e-mail to advertise@ thinkglobal.us. Follow Commercial News USA on LinkedIn and Twitter @ comnewsusa. Read the Digital Edition of Commercial News USA Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has launched a new interactive PDF edition. The new edition is available for free at http://cnusa.thinkglobal. us Commercial News USA offers exporters an affordable way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. Now, you can take advantage of a special offer: Buy two ads and get the third ad for free (Based on one-time rates. Does not include Showcase section). Moreover, you will receive a free online listing in see Going Global on page 81

80  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Going Global from page 80

Portuguese. Commercial News USA reaches more than a quarter-million buyers worldwide. Reserve your space in the next issue today. For more information, contact your U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist, call 1-800-581-8533 x 822, go online to http://www.thinkglobal.us, or send e-mail to advertise@thinkglobal.us The U.S. Commercial Service - Your Global Business Partner. With offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration uses its global Network and international resources to connect U.S companies with international buyers worldwide. If you have any questions about these initiatives, please contact your local U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist. To find the trade specialist nearest you please visit http:// export.gov/usoffices/index.asp. Your privacy is important to us. Please note that we do not share our lists with parties outside of the U.S. Department of Commerce. You may review our privacy policy at http://www. commerce.gov/Privacy/index.htm **************************** Interested in a Career in International Affairs, Foreign Relations, Trade Promotion and Commercial Diplomacy? The U.S. Commercial Service is looking for dedicated professionals to add to its complement of nearly 250 Foreign Service Officers serving in Embassies and Consulates around the globe. The U.S. Commercial Service will take applications for Foreign Service Officers starting August 2012 and will hold the Foreign Service Officer Assessment in Winter 2012/2013. To read a detailed description of the position and application process, express your interest and sign up to receive alerts, please visit http:// simplesend.com/simple/t.asp?S=221& ID=55171&NL=5996&N=69348&SI=2 676111&URL=http://www.trade.gov/cs/ employment.asp or e-mail CSCareers@ trade.gov.

Africa- Middle East- Asia Women's Summit On behalf of the Centre for Economic and Leadership Development, an NGO in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC), we are pleased to inform you that all is now set for the Africa- Middle EastAsia Women's Summit holding from December 16 - 18 2013 at the 8th Wonder of the World, Atlantis the Palm, Dubai- UAE, with the theme "Emerging Economies: Women as the Next Frontier". Emerging countries are playing a growing role in the world economy. It is a role that is expected to be even greater in the future. At a time when restoring sustainable growth after the great recession is a key priority, the role of emerging markets and nations in the global economy cannot be overstated. However, perhaps, the biggest and most exciting new market of all is an overlooked one - Women in Emerging Economies. Women are the largest emerging market in the world. It is estimated that in the next five years, the global incomes of women will grow from US$13 trillion to US$18 trillion and over the next decade, they will wield enormous influence over politics, sport, business and society. Women own about a third of all businesses in the world, and nearly half of those businesses are in developing markets. It is now time to take another look at the role of women in the emerging economies 'story of growth. The Summit shall bring together a group of leading women from across Africa, Asia and the Middle East in the spirit of cooperation, and also leverage on this platform to celebrate and recognize the outstanding success stories and achievements of the women of influence in politics, business and society during the Awards Gala/Dinner ceremony. Summit Highlights: • An Ambassadors round-table highlighting the ways that women can benefit from the initiatives and multilateral co-operations of government in these regions. • A Business & Investment Forum. • An Africa-Middle East- Asia Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition & Cultural Exchange. • An Ambassador's Spouses Cultural Exhibition and International Food & Wine Tasting Festival. • Africa-Middle East-Asia Amazons (AMEAA) Awards. • CELD Global Women Leaders Hall of Fame Induction. To register for this all-important summit, make nominations for AMEAA awards or for speaking opportunity during the summit, please email info@celdng.org or call Mrs. Furo on +234 803 909 5696. To make your accommodation reservation, kindly contact Kirsty Thompson, Manager Events, Atlantis the Palm at kirsty.thompson@ atlantisthepalm.com. We look forward to welcoming you to the 8th wonder of the world, Atlantis The Palm Dubai, for an unforgettable meeting of the best of the women's world from all over the world. Sincerely, Mrs Alhamdu Nyam, Programs Director, CELD info@celdng.org www.celdng.org

81  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Returning to Africa? African Repatriation is an invaluable online resource for any African national who is thinking about returning to Africa. Our industry articles and specialist editorials provide the latest sector information. Why not find out for yourself and become a part of our growing community today? www.africanrepatriation. com

Career Opportunities in Africa Search and apply online for the latest vacancies in Africa with African Talent. We provide candidates and employers with the tools and resources needed in today’s competitive job market. For employers, we offer numerous options to feature your jobs in Africa and for candidates, reviewing the most recent job vacancies in Africa is a fast, easy process. Uploading your CV is simple and takes just a few moments. www.africantalent.com 82  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

FraserNet, Inc. | 2940 Noble Rd., Suite 203 | Cleveland Heights | OH | 44121 frasernetinfo@frasernet.com

It's Holiday Shopping Time. Uplift the Community. Spread Good Cheer. It's Time to Buy from our Neighbors, Friends and Supporters.

Holiday Shopping Guide CATERING, SPECIALTY FOODS & RESTAURANTS Aliza’s Cookies Holiday Gift Packs www.alizascookies.com Big Man Bakes 413 Main Street 90013 213-500-4351 www.bigmanbakes.com Chef Marilyn 2638 Crenshaw Blvd. 90016 323-737-8101 www.chefmarilyn.com The Cork at La Tijera 6835 LaTijera Blvd. 90045 www.townhousela.com Gwen’s Specialty Cakes 820 N. LaBrea Ave., #D Inglewood, CA 90302 310-677-9979 Harold & Belle’s 2920 W. Jefferson Blvd. 90018 323-735-9918 Heritage Link Brands Wines of Black South African Vintners www.heritagelinkbrands.com

Honey’s Kettle Culver City & Compton, CA www.honeyskettle.com Messob Ethiopian Restaurant 1041 S. Fairfax Ave. 90019 www.messob.com PIP’s Restaurant & Lounge 1365 S. La Brea Ave. 90019 323-954-PIPS www.pizzapastasalads.com Rideau Vineyard 1562 Alamo Pintado Road Solvang, CA 93463 805-688-0717 www.rideauvineyard.com Romeo’s Full Service Catering 310-733-9997 Rooibos Tea House

533 N Fairfax Ave. 90008 www.africaredtea.com Southern Girl Desserts www.southerngirldesserts.com Sweet Beginnings 323-573-3892 www.Sweet-Beginnings.com Mysweetbeginnings@gmail.com Wing Stop 3825 Crenshaw Blvd., 90008 323-296-WING

TRANSPORTATION Norman Lewis Limousine 800-400-9771 Wings Limousine 323-299-4647 www.wingslimoservice.com wingslimousine@yahoo.com

BOOKS, BOOK STORES Eso Won Books 4331 Degnan Ave. 90008 www.esowonbooks.com Malik’s Books Online www.Malikbooks.com Quackenworth Publishing P.O. Box 4747 Culver City, CA 90230 www.quackenworth.com

ZINES Jewel Magazine www.jewelagonline.com Bride Noir www.bridesnoir.com Essence www.essence.com Ebony/Jet www.ebonyjet.com Cuisine Noir www.cuisinenoir.com

GIFTS-CARDS California African American Museum Exposition Park 600 State Drive, 90037

www.caamuseum.org Luxe Boutique 11724 West Pico Blvd. 90064 310-481-9914 www.shopluxeonline.com Mayme A. Clayton Museum 4130 Overland Ave. Culver City, CA 90230 www.claytonmuseum.org Museum of African American Art Macy’s 3rd Flr in Crenshaw Mall 4005 Crenshaw Blvd., 90008 www.maaala.org nobody jones boutique 4703 Crenshaw Blvd. 90043 323-291-7177 www.nobodyjones.com Runway Boutique 807 S La Brea Ave. 90036 323-965-1877 www.runwayboutiquela.com

CLOTHING, GIFTS C.J.'s Elegance Clothing 4446 West Slauson Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 299-1141

SHOPPING CENTERS Crenshaw Mall Crenshaw & King Blvds. Los Angeles, CA 90008 Leimert Park Crenshaw & Leimert Blvds. 43rd Street-43rd Place Los Angeles, CA 90008 Little Ethiopia Fairfax Boulevard between Pico & Olympic

Los Angeles, CA

PERSONAL SERVICES Carol Lewis Certified Trainer Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Aid & Certified Personal Trainer. Nutrition and mobility educator/motivator. Your Health is Your First Wealth 323-445-8633 Los Angeles, CA

COMMUNICATION 1-800-UNITE-US

86  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Cultural Interiors West &

Cordially Invited Cultural Interiors West 5573 West Pico Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90019 Experience our exciting array of products from Cards to Cupcakes, African Masks, Asian Teacups, Healthy Herbal Teas, Gourd Purses, Candles, to Furniture

Artwear Handpainted Handbags, Skirts, Tees, Accessories, Calendars, Wall Hangings & More! http://gbabysworld.blogspot.com Gbabyartwear@hotmail.com or Gbabyart345@gmail.com Find Gbaby Products at the “Collective” http://www.atthecollective.com 280 Elizabeth Street, Atlanta, GA

Hope to see you soon!!! In the meantime visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/CulturalInteriors-West/140688362658236

JJ’s Belizean Cuisine 2618 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90008 1-323-293-2926

89  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Collection Bed, Bath & Beyond

http://bsmith.com/shop

Bernahu Asfaw & Getahun Asfaw

1041 S. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90019 323-938-8827 or 323-938-8806 • Fax: 323-932-6047 messob@gmail.com • www.messob.com

Open 7 days a week • 11am - 11pm

The Economic Turn Around in the USA is in Our Hands •Buy Products Made or Assembled in the USA •Hire One New Employee •Eat an Extra Meal Out Each Week •Start/Grow a Business to Generate Wealth & Jobs

Buy Black  Save Black  Invest Black 93  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Eso Won Books African American Books 4327 Degnan Boulevard Leimert Park, Los Angeles

Give the Holiday Gifts that Keep on Giving! Come see our unsurpassed collection off books, b k music, videos, cildren’s books, and games!

323-294-0324

www.esowonbookstore.com  //esowon.booksense.com for Calendar of Events

AMERICAN GROWN by First Lady Michelle Obama

Available in your local bookstores now

What Would

Michelle Do?

by Allison Samuels

The Soul of a New Cuisine

A Discovery of the Foods and Flavors of Africa by Chef Marcus Samuelsson

97  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Custom Culturally Inspired Wedding Rings & Fine Jewelry For The Entire Family. Unique One of a Kind Pieces Create your own designs. Transform old into new.

JendayiCollection.com 323.898.7468 877.898.7468 Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, First Floor

JWFA

Jamaal Wilkes Financial Advisors, LLC M a n a g i n g We a l t h I n t e l l i g e n t l y

WHY OWN GOLD IN YOUR IRA/401k Changing jobs creates a great opportunity for you to switch, or rollover, your former employer’s retirement plan into an IRA. Plus, it usually provides you with more investment options than if you left the money in your former employer’s plan or rolled the money into your new employer's retirement plan. The early 1980s presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy stocks. Today, economic and political conditions appear to offer a similar opportunity in tangible assets such as physical gold. With the global economic environment growing more uncertain, physical gold has become the #1 alternative for IRA, 401k, 403b, and Pension Plans, as well as for non-retirement funds. Gold is produced primarily for accumulation while other commodities are produced primarily for consumption. Gold’s value does not arise from its usefulness in industrial or consumable applications. It arises from its use and historical worldwide acceptance as a store of value. Gold is money. A healthy measure of gold clearly belongs in every portfolio for the “Four Ps” – Personal Purchasing Power Protection. There are six primary reasons why investors own gold: As a hedge against inflation. As a hedge against a declining dollar. As a safe haven in times of geopolitical and financial market instability. As a commodity based on gold’s supply and demand fundamentals. As a store of value. As a portfolio diversifier. According to Bloomberg.com, on October 15, 2009, Paul Tudor Jones of Tudor Investment Corp, who manages about $11.6 billion out of Greenwich, Connecticut, told its investors, “I have never been a gold bug… but Gold is just an asset that, like everything else in life, has its time and place. And now is that time…Gold appears to be cheap. In our view, gold’s value should increase as its scarcity relative to printed currencies increases.” JAMAAL WILKES FINANCIAL ADVISORS makes 401(k) rollovers easy with just a few simple steps. Please call us at (310)209-8298 or email gold@jamaalwilkes.com for a web seminar presentation. Jamaal Wilkes Financial Advisors is an independent Registered Investment Advisor www.jamaalwilkes.com Phone: (310)209-8330 6601 Center Drive West, Suite 500 Los Angeles, CA 90045

101  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

How to Do Business with Metro - Monthly Workshop DECEMBER 2012 9:30am – 12:00 pm January 14, 11, 2014 ǣ x x x x

ǣ ǣ

ǡ ǡ

ǡ Ǧ

ǣ ǡ

͵ ǡ ͻͲͲͳʹ ̈́͸ǤͲͲ

Ǧ Ȁ Ǥ ǯ ǡ ǡ Ǧ Ǥ ǯ Ǧ Ǧ Ǥ ͻǣ͵Ͳ ǤǤ For further questions, please contact Sherman Gay, Ph.D. (HC) at gays@metro.net or at (213)922-3502. Ǥ ሺ ̷ Ǥ ሻ ǡ ǡ ǡ Ȁ Ǥ

102  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Books to Consider... Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela

Conversations With Myself by Nelson Mandela

elson Mandela, political leader and international icon of liberation, was also a wordsmith, an orator and writer whose eloquence was one of his most valuable tools in the fight for freedom in South Africa. In his elegant autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, he wrote, “I had no epiphany, no singular revelation, no moment of truth, but a steady accumulation

of a thousand slights, a thousand indignities and a thousand unremembered moments produced in me an anger, a rebelliousness, a desire to fight the system that imprisoned my people. There was no particular day on which I said, Henceforth I will devote myself to the liberation of my people; instead, I simply found myself doing so, and could not do otherwise.” A second book, Conversations with Myself, is a quieter, more intimate look at the leader through his journals, letters and speeches. It delves into his personal life, tastes and daily routines. In a conversation with the journalist R Richard Stengel, Mandela said, “I was being groomed fo for the position of chieftaincy ... but then ran away, you kknow, from a forced marriage. ... That changed my w whole career. But if I had stayed at home I would have b been a respected chief today, you know? And I would h have had a big stomach, you know, and a lot of cattle a and sheep.”.  www.npr.org/blogs/thetwow way/2013/12/06/249215028/book-news-rememberingnelson-mandela-the-author www.ondvdreleases.com/1860-mandela-dvd-releasedate.html

103  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Calendar December… 6th Los Angeles OIC Breakfast of Champions Call or email www.LAOIC.Org for sponsor packages, invitations or to register to attend. The LAOIC agency has a 17 year history in Los angeles assisting those who desire to help themselves and better their communities. The Breakfast will be held at the JW Marriott Hotel at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles.

February 2014… TBD Black Business Association Annual Awards Dinner Plan to attend the Annual Awards Dinner to be held at the LA Hotel Downtown. The dinner is in recognition of Black History Month using the theme "Civil Rights in America." Participation and sponsorship information is available at www.bbala. org or send an inquiry to the BBA using mail@bbala.org

March 29th BBA Salute to Black Women Plan to attend the Annual Salute Conference and Awards Luncheon. Participation and sponsorship information is available at www.bbala. org or send an inquiry to the BBA using mail@bbala.org. 

105  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Resources Media Africa Interactive Multimedia Press/Content Agency in Africa www.africa-interactive.com Africa World Press Books www.africaworldpressbooks.com African Vibes Magazine www.africanvibes.com The African World www.theafricanworld.tv Africast TV www.africast.tv AllAfrica http://allafrica.com Black Wall Street Times http://bwstimes.com Black Business News Group www.blackbusinessnews.net Black Press USA www.blackpressusa.com BridesNoir www.bridesnoir.com CuisineNoir www.cuisinenoirmag.com DiasporaVoice www.blogtalkradio.com/diasporavoice Rock Me Africa //rockmeafrica.com

www.causecastfornonprofits.com Continental African Chamber of Commerce www.continentalacc.org Pan African Film Festival www.paff.org United African Organization http://uniteafricans.org Zambia-USA Chamber of Commerce www.zambiausachamber.org

Investment/Development Africa Reports www.africareports.com African Development Bank www.afdb.org African Export - Import Bank //afreximbank.com/afrexim/en AfrigadgetTV www.afrigadget.com The Exchange Magazine www.nse.co.ke YouTube Educational Channels http://teacherswithapps.com/197-educational-youtube-channels-know Ventures www.ventures-africa.com

U.S. Government Commerce Department www.doc.gov International Trade Administration http://trade.gov

Organizations Africa Leadership Forum http://africaleadership.org The African Union www.au.int/en Black Business Association www.bbala.org CauseCast www.causecast.com

Minority Business Development Agency www.mbda.gov Small Business Administration www.sba.gov State Department www.dos.gov White House www.whitehouse.gov

107  December 2013  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819