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Let Us Help You Grow Your Business to New Heights.

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At East West Bank, we offer all the products and services you expect from a big bank with the high level of personal attention you expect from a local bank. Our bankers have over 40 years of experience helping minority businesses reach their financial goals. We look forward to working closely with you to customize a financial solution tailored to your unique situation.

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Publisher's Message

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s African American business owners and leaders, we must not lose sight of the economic picture in which we reside. With the ongoing assault on our African American youth, as well as the deterioration between African American communities and the police forces that are sworn to protect them throughout the nation. The prison system like so many other industries in America have a high percentage of African Americans incarcerated yet a very minimal level of participation of African American entrepreneurship. The prison/police industry that impacts the lives of so many African Americans, directly and indirectly, provides hope for not only legal justice, but also economic opportunities.

President Barack Obama brought to the American Pubisher/Chief Executive Officer public's attention the plight of our prison population when he became the only President to visit a federal prison. He recently commuted the unduly harsh sentences of 46 nonviolent drug offenders, as well as outlined a vision for a fairer, more efficient justice system.

While the United States is home to 5% of the world’s population, yet it has over 25% of the world’s prisoners and spends over $80 billion a year on prisoners’ incarceration ... larger than 133 nations’ gross national product (GNP). That's enough to fund universal preschool for every 3-year-old and 4-yearold in America, enough to double the salary of every high school teacher in America, or enough to underwrite tuition at every public colleges and university.

African American men that are incarcerated are not given a fair chance to become successful active participates in business opportunities because of this prison/ police industry. One in every 35 African American men is currently incarcerated compared with one in every 214 white men. We probably all have a friend, colleague or relative incarcerated. Around one in nine African American kids has a parent in prison, approximately one million are fathers.

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

www.blackbusinessnews.net PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

Another sector of the economy that comes under scrutiny is solar energy and the green economy.

President Obama and his administration recently announced a new initiative to make solar energy accessible to all Americans, particularly those of low income. It’s another step in the administration’s mission to address climate change and promote clean energy while creating new jobs. The green economy, in particular solar energy, is expected to grow exponentially in the years to come.

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Sarah Harris Dean L. Jones

ENTREPRENEUR EDITOR Kim Anthony

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Linda Ware

PRODUCTION MANAGER Narishima Osei

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dean Jones Linda Ware Ralph D. Sutton Veronica Hendrix Giavanna Foster LaSandra Stratton

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 © 2015

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. 

see Publisher's Message on page 79 3  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

About

ABOUT THE BLACK BUSINESS NEWS GROUP… 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 news, the publications of the Black Business News Group impart current local, national and international industry and social trends and news affecting small businesses across the United States of America (USA), providing guides to greater access to financial capital, management efficiencies, business education, mentorship opportunities and social media networks. The goals of the Black Business News Group include: •

promoting USA-based black-owned business enterprises to a world wide audience.

•

offering business growth enhancing information on education, exhibitioning, international trading, technology, industry trends, and more.

•

exploring major public and private sec-e tor contracting methods to educate black-owned and operated enterprises..

•

•

providing an affirmative influence forr emerging entrepreneurs by sharing innovative design and creative cultural content that exposes them to the history of black enterprises and urges them participate in the USA’s future. advocating and promoting on behalf of 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 opportunibl business b i t i where blacks work, live and operate viable enterprises.

WWW.BLACKBUSINESSNEWS.NET

2015 Black Business Association Events

September

Financial Pavilion

October

Procurement Exchange Summit to

Black Business News Group Publications Black Business News Black Business News International

t y,

Black Business News Travel Africa

Contents

Black Business News…July 2015 Government

Community/Public Interest

3 Publisher's Message 11 President Obama Reopens Our Embassy in Cuba 12 Increasing Solar Access for all Americans

80 White House Hosts First Ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering 82 Verizon Invests in STEM Education for Black Males 84 Claudia Alexander Dies at 56 85 Mildred Joanne Smith Dies at 94 86 Henry T. Sampson

International

50 14 New Fair Housing Rules are a Big Deal 31 The Foundation of Partnerships 32 What the New Top-Level Domains Mean for Business and Marketers 35 Glassware 2.0 Revolutionizes Working Remotely 38 The Sharing Economy: Access Trumps Ownership 43 NBA Players Union Proposes Funding Healthcare for Retired Players 50 Carnival Cruises Get the OK to Visit Cuba 65 Nubian Skin Challenges Assumptions 74 Take a Look!

Entertainment 24 BBN Show Biz Buzz

Editorials/Perspectives 7

Notes on Racism

89 African Stock Exchanges 93 Kenya: Financing and Construction of the Lamu-Nairobi Transmission Line and Substation 94 CAMEROON PILGRIMAGE 20152016 96 USTDA Staff Commentary: Increasing Internet Access, Unlocking Imaginations in South Africa

65

Columns 104 120 122 124

Shopping Gallery Calendar Books to Consider Resources

5  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

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Editorial African Americans who have worked in the public and in private sectors have either experience or witnessed racism. If you haven't, we still have to deal with it.

Affirmative action programs were created so that we might have a level plaing field in education, employment and business opportunities.

My chairperson, former Assemblyperson Gwen Moore, while in the California State Assembly, was able to garner legislation for "General Order 156," which the California Utilities and Telecommunications Commission has to utilize minority firms on contract procurement expenditures.

So. go back to these corporations and say that we need to deal with racism so we can undo the nail in the coffin of Affirmtive Action. It won't be easy.

Had some of our private conversations been recorded and publicized, it may have been construed as racism. Now Donald Sterling, at the apex of this "racism issue" is a friend of mine and though I don't condone his verbiage, I realize that at this time, he has 150 properties that he has to manage and with that comes politically incorrect private conversations. So through the review of his dialogue I hope it wakes America up to the point to deal with and make positive

Notes on Racism Black Business Association 40th Annual Awards Dinner June 25, 2015 Los Angeles California

Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

Pubisher/Chief Executive Officer

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s President/CEO of the Black Business Association (BBA) and the Publisher of the Black Business News (BBN), I have always been acutely aware of the need to discern true racism so that subtle strategies can be developed to not only combat its effect but actually institute policies that improve the quality of life for African Americans and other minorities.

I addressed the importance of defining and identifying racism and racist actions during my closing remarks at the BBA's 40th Annual Awards Dinner last year.

As the issue of racism continues to dominate national and international discussion, BBN invites you to revisit my attempt at shedding some light on the subject and issuing a call for unification in our ongoing battles against it. Racism as it affects African Americans and America is a war we cannot afford to lose, Following is a transcript of my remarks.

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omething has been floating around for the last few weeks where someone was taped and heard in a private conversation where he used the word "Black."

Now, I say the word "Black" every day, several times a day, being that I am the President and CEO of the Black Business Association."

Now, let me say that no one said anything about the Black member of the Supreme Court said earlier that week in the confirmation of Affirmative Action in the State of Michigan in fact he did not say anything which led to a death to the Affirmative action in our nation.

Explain racism: racism created the Civil Rights Movement.

Somebody might remember Emmett Till, August 28, 1955, Mississippi; Rosa Parks, Montgomery, December 1, 1955.

Somebody might remember 16th Street Baptist Church, September 15, 1963. Talking about racism, Congress signed the "Civil Rights Bill" in February 1964, the U.S. Senate did the same in June of 1964. If it were not for the "Civil Rights Movements" in the 1950's and early '60's, we would not have had the Civil Rights Bill to pass in 1964, and many of us would not be here today. President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rifhts Bill into law July 2, 1964 (approximately 50 years ago).

Talk about racism: I might not have been able to earn a MBA degree at the University of Southern California (USC).

The Black Supreme Court Justice possibly would not have been able to earn a law degree; he must've forgotten that he was a product of affirmative action.

Affirmative Action is "Back on the Table." All of you need to go back to your "corporate workplace" and implement a taskforce. Many

strides toward the annihilation of racism. 

7  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government

President Obama Provides an Update on Our Strategy to Degrade and Destroy ISIL

By Tanya Somanader

Pres lead Pete

President Barack Obama reports to the nation regarding the campaign against ISIL, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. Getty Image

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resident Obama recntly provided an update on the U.S. mission to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group, ISIL. ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) was formerly al Qaeda’s affiliate in Iraq, and has since gained territory on both sides of the Iraq-Syrian border by taking

advantage of sectarian strife and the Syrian civil war. Although ISIL calls itself the “Islamic State,” the President has emphasized that the terrorist group is neither Islamic nor a state.

"ISIL is a terrorist organization, pure and simple," he has said.

Here's what the President had to say today on why we will ultimately

prevail against ISIL: Our main objective is to degrade and destroy this group through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy that looks like this:

The Four Pillars of the U.S Strategy Against ISIL 1. A systematic campaign of

8  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

sident Barack Obama meets with senior Defense Department, national security advisors and military dership regarding the campaign against ISIL, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. (Official White House Photo by e Souza)

airstrikes against ISIL Working with the Iraqi government, the U.S. is expanding our efforts beyond protecting Americans and humanitarian missions, so that we're hitting ISIL targets as Iraqi forces go on the offense. We are pursuing terrorists wherever they are, which means the President will not hesitate to take action against ISIL in Syria as well as Iraq. As he has said, "If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven." As of today, we've launched more than 5,000 airstrikes against ISIL. 2. Increased support to forces fighting ISIL on the ground The U.S. has sent a small contingent of service members

to support Iraqi forces, including Kurdish fighters, with training, intelligence, and equipment. These American forces do not have a combat mission, but are providing the support needed for Iraqi forces to go on the offense. In Syria, we have ramped up our military assistance to the Syrian opposition, while pursuing the political solution necessary to solve Syria's crisis once and for all.

3. Drawing on our substantial counterterrorism capabilities to prevent ISIL attacks Working with our partners, we are redoubling our efforts to cut off ISIL's funding, improve our intelligence, strengthen our defenses, counter

ISIL's warped ideology, and stem the flow of foreign fighters into and out of the Middle East.

4.

Providing humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians displaced by ISIL We cannot allow innocent communities to be driven from their homelands. The U.S. continues to provide much-needed assistance to Sunni and Shia Muslims who are at grave risk, as well as tens of thousands of Christians and other religious minorities.  www.whitehouse.gov/ blog/2015/07/06/president-obamaprovides-update-our-strategydegrade-and-destroy-isil

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Government

President Obama Announces that the U.S. Will Reopen Our Embassy in Cuba

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nder President Obama, America is charting a new course in our relationship with Cuba. He has announced the next step on this path: Re-opening a U.S. Embassy in Havana.

The last time we had an embassy in Cuba was in January of 1961, when we severed diplomatic relations at the height of the Cold War. Reopening the doors is more than a symbolic step. "With

this change, we will be able to substantially increase our contacts with the Cuban people," the President said.

The President also sent letter to President Raul Castro of Cuba about re-establishing diplomatic relations and permanent diplomatic missions in the United States and Cuba. Read it here: Re-establishing diplomatic relations is just one of the key pillars

in the President's new approach to Cuba. Here's what else we plan to do: • More effectively empower the Cuban people by adjusting regulations • Facilitate an expansion of travel to Cuba • Authorize expanded sales and exports of certain goods and services from the U.S. to Cuba • Authorize American citizens to import additional goods from Cuba • Initiate new efforts to increase Cubans' access to communications and their ability to communicate freely Want to dive deeper into our new approach? You can learn more about the steps we're taking to improve U.S. and Cuban relations here: www.whitehouse.gov/cuba. 

U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Cuba 11  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government

Increasing Solar Access for all Americans

By Dan Utech

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ast year, the United States brought online as much solar energy every three weeks as it did in all of 2008, and the solar industry added jobs 10 times faster than the rest of the economy. And since the beginning of 2010, the average cost of a solar electric system has dropped by 50%.

But we know that our economy is strongest when every American has the tools to get ahead. That means just as we are working to make high-quality health care and community college more available and affordable to middle-class and low-income families, we must also work to expand opportunities for families to use cleaner sources of energy that can help households save on their utility bills.

That is why, senior Administration officials were joined by Congressman Elijah Cummings and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in Baltimore to announce a new initiative to increase access to solar for all Americans, including low- and moderate- income communities, and expand opportunities join the solar workforce (www.whitehouse. gov/the-press-office/2015/07/07/ fact-sheet-administration-announces-

new-initiative-increase-solar-access).

Some of the key components of the initiative include: • Launching a National Community Solar Partnership to unlock access to solar for the nearly 50% of households and businesses that are renters or do not have adequate roof space to install solar panels, including issuing a guide to Support States In Developing Community Solar Programs (http://apps3.eere.energy. gov/greenpower/community_ development/community_solar_faq. html)

• Setting a goal to install 300 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy in federally subsidized housing, triple our original goal, and providing technical assistance to make it easier to install solar, including clarifying how to use Federal funding; • Housing authorities, rural electric co-ops, power companies, and organizations in more than 20 states across the country are committing to put in place more than 260 solar energy projects, including projects to help low- and moderateincome communities save on

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their energy bills and further community solar; More than $520 million in independent commitments from philanthropic and impact investors, states, and cities to advance community solar or scale up solar and energy efficiency for low- and moderateincome households; AmeriCorps funding to deploy solar and create jobs in underserved communities; Expanding solar energy education and opportunities for job training; and The solar industry is also setting its own, independent goal of becoming the most diverse sector of the U.S. energy industry, and a number of companies are announcing that they are taking steps to build a more inclusive solar workforce.

These new actions build on President Obama’s goal to train 75,000 workers to enter the solar industry by 2020 and the Solar Ready Vets program that will train transitioning military personnel for careers in the solar industry at 10 military bases.  www.whitehouse.gov/ blog/2015/07/07/increasing-solaraccess-all-americans

12  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Congressman Elijah Cummings and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in Baltimore to announce a new initiative to increase access to solar for all Americans

13  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Government

Why the Obama Administration's new Fair Housing Rules are a big deal for Racial Equality

By Jenée Desmond-Harris, for Vox

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he Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has announced aggressive new rules designed to fight racial housing discrimination.

Civil rights advocates consider this development an enormous victory.

That's because the regulations are designed to further the goals of the Fair Housing Act of

the shape of government policies that unintentionally harm minority communities.

As a result, two main things change for cities and towns that receive federal funds: • They'll have to analyze their housing patterns for racial bias and report the patterns they find to HUD. • They'll have to set goals to reduce housing segregation and propose remedies for how to achieve these goals.

HUD will provide jurisdictions and housing authorities with data on patterns – of racial segregation and poverty, for example – so that they can get a clearer picture of how these things overlap.

Implementing the new rules will cost communities $25 HUD Secretary Julian Castro with million yearly, and President Barack Obama HUD will spend $9 million overseeing 1968, which prohibits intentional them, according to The Hill. discrimination (like refusing to show Obama administration officials say homes to African-American families they want to work with communities or using race as a basis to withhold rather than punish them, but a loan). As The Hill explained, they the rules do let HUD withhold give HUD the tools to address the its funding from areas that don't effects of more subtle forms of comply. That's part of the reason discrimination that can come in some Republicans don't like the

new rules and have threatened to block funding for them. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) told The Hill they represented "President Obama's most aggressive attempt yet to force his utopian ideology on American communities disguised under the banner of ‘fairness'" and accused HUD of "punishing neighborhoods that don't fall in line with [Obama's] liberal agenda."

Why the rules are such a big deal for racial equality The new rules are a big deal for a couple of reasons. First, as the intense pushback against them indicates, they represent a significant change to housing policy that requires cities to actively work to eliminate segregation.

As Rob Breymaier, the executive director of the Oak Park Regional Housing Center, told the New York Times, "This rule makes it clear that the fair housing obligation isn't just being able to say, ‘I didn't discriminate,' It's also saying, ‘I'm doing something proactively to promote an integrated or inclusive community.'"

And of course, the whole point is that these actions by municipalities will eventually decrease housing segregation, which will ameliorate the kind of inequality that goes hand in hand with it. "It’s also fundamentally about people having opportunity in their lives," HUD Secretary Julian Castro said. " And where you live, in many ways, dictates the level of opportunity that you have."  www.vox.com/2015/7/12/8928861/ new-fair-housing-ruleobama-administration?utm_ medium=social&utm_ source=facebook&utm_ campaign=voxdotcom&utm_ content=monday http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/ HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_ housing_equal_opp/FHLaw

14  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

New Horizons: NASA Spacecraft Makes History

By Jonathan Amos

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ew Horizons' flyby of 2,370km-wide dwarf planet Pluto is a key moment in the history of space exploration.

It marks the fact that all nine objects considered by many to be the Solar System's planets - from Mercury through to Pluto - have now been visited at least once by a probe.

"We have completed the initial reconnaissance of the Solar System, an endeavour started under President Kennedy more than 50 years ago and continuing to today under President Obama," said the mission's chief scientist, Alan Stern.

"It's really historic what the US has done, and the New Horizons

team is really proud to have been able to run that anchor leg and make this accomplishment."

There's a powerful sense of

achievement at sending a robotic craft three billion miles to Pluto.  www.bbc.com/news/scienceenvironment-33524589

15  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

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onsider the fact that more than 90% of households with a college-educated parent use the internet – and fewer than 50% of households with less than a high-school education have internet access. And here’s what we know about students who don’t have broadband internet access at home: They perform worse on standardized tests, and have difficulty applying for and securing jobs. There are currently significant disparities in internet access. As more schools use the internet for interacting with students and customizing assignments, it’s not fair to let those disparities handicap the students and schools that are already behind in many other ways.

The Obama Administration just announced ConnectHome — a

plan to bring high-speed broadband internet to low-income housing in 27 cities and one Native American tribal community.

That would mean that more than 275,000 low-income households — and nearly 200,000 of America’s most vulnerable children — will soon have internet access at home.

In the 21st century, a slow connection means slow response times – for a student it could mean you aren’t able to download resources you need to do your homework or take an exam. The real-world consequences, being less economically competitive.

Back in 2011, the President challenged the public and private sectors to work together to expand wireless access – with an ambitious goal of providing fourth generation (4G) mobile broadband to at least 98% of Americans. In early 2015, we announced that we reached

that goal nearly two years ahead of schedule.

One of the main reasons we’ve seen such incredible growth and innovation online is that most providers have treated internet traffic equally. So, in other words, an entrepreneur’s young company should have the same chance to use the internet to succeed as any huge, established corporation.

Access to a high school student’s blog shouldn’t be slowed down unfairly to make way for advertisers with more money. That’s a principle known as “net neutrality” – something the President believes we need to protect.

So what does this all add up to?

A faster internet; more free and more fair; wired and wireless; urban and rural; in classrooms, libraries, and schools; across every kind of community.  www.whitehouse.gov/connectamerica?sid=78836576

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Justice Reform is Long Overdue

By Juliet Eilperin

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resident Barack Obama called for an overhaul of the criminal justice system, saying that the United States needed to reevaluate an “aspect of American life that remains particularly skewed by race and by wealth.”

The speech at the NAACP’s national convention was the formal launch of one of the president’s last major legislative campaigns.

Sentencing reform represents one of the final domestic policies Obama hopes to broker on Capitol Hill before leaving office.

Telling the audience that “we can’t close our eyes anymore,” Obama noted that the nation’s prison population had more than quadrupled from 500,000 in 1980 to 2.2 million today.

“In far too many cases, the punishment simply doesn’t fit the crime,” he said. “And by the way, the taxpayers are picking up the tab for that price.” He argued that the $80 billion the federal government spends each year on prisons — nearly a third of the Justice Department’s budget — could instead fund preschool for every 3and 4-year-old in the country.

White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said in an interview that the issue was personal to the president, who has met regularly with young people of color and has spoken of how they face a less forgiving environment than he experienced growing up.

“He just wants to make sure they don’t get unfairly stuck in the criminal justice system because they’ve made mistakes early in

their lives, without the ability to ever have a second chance,” she said.

Obama will become the first sitting president to visit a federal prison when he travels to El Reno, Okla.

He said that he wanted to “shine a spotlight” on prison conditions and that those who are incarcerated “are also Americans,” even though they have made mistakes.

“And in the American tradition and in the immigrant tradition of remaking ourselves, in the Christian tradition that says none of us is without sin and all of us need redemption, justice and redemption go hand in hand,” he said.

The president outlined reforms he hoped would foster change “in the community, in the courtroom and in the cellblock.”

“For nonviolent drug crimes, we need to lower long mandatory minimum sentences — or get rid of them entirely,” he said.

He said he had ordered Attorney

General Loretta E. Lynch to start a review of the use of solitary confinement, adding that the country had to do more to combat poor conditions in prisons and prepare those inside to reenter society.

The civil rights conference represented a gathering of more than 3,000 of the president’s most committed supporters. But the President’s message was aimed as much at conservatives outside the hall as at the audience inside the room. A growing number of groups and politicians on the right have taken up the cause of criminal justice reform as a way to save taxpayer dollars and curb recidivism In recent months, President Obama and his top aides have held a handful of private meetings aimed at laying the groundwork for a compromise bill on sentencing reform. In late February, Obama brought 16 senators and House

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President Visits Federal Prison resident Obama toured a federal prison in Oklahoma recentlyy and said the nation needs to reconsider policies that contribute to a huge spike in the number of people behind bars.

In an unprecedented visit by a sitting president, Obama met with half a dozen inmates at the El Reno prison, outside Oklahoma City.

The trip was part of a weeklong push by the White House to focus attention on the president's call for criminal justice reform.

"There are people who need to be in prison," he added. "And I don't have tolerance for violent criminals." But he argued it is time to change laws that impose lengthy mandatory sentences on nonviolent drug offenders, who are disproportionately Black and Latino.

Earlier in the week, the president commuted the sentences of 46 federal inmates, most of whom

were serving lengthy terms for drug offenses. He's also calling for improved conditions inside prisons, and for steps to help young people before they run afoul of the law.

After meeting with inmates, Obama told reporters, "These are young people who made mistakes that aren't that different than the mistakes I made and the mistakes that a lot of you guys made." What distinguishes many convicts, he says, is a lack of support and second chances.

Obama peered into a 9-by10-foot cell that can house up to three inmates at a time.

"Overcrowding like that is something that has to be addressed," he said.

The president praised the Oklahoma facility for its jobtraining and educational offerings. But he added that help comes too late for many inmates.

"The question is not only how do we make sure that we sustain those programs here in the prison," Obama said. "But how do we make sure that those same kinds of institutional supports are there for

members to the White House to discuss general principles. And on April 16, Koch Industries’ general counsel Mark Holden, who is working with officials from other foundations through a group called the Coalition for Public Safety, met with Jarrett, White House domestic policy director Cecilia Muñoz and White House counsel W. Neil Eggleston on the issue.

But, the president had not spelled out specifically what he expected to see in a bill, leaving the task to lawmakers.

After holding nearly a year and a half of field hearings, Reps.

F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) and Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.) introduced the Safe,

Accountable, Fair and Effective (SAFE) Justice Act late last month, a comprehensive measure that would impose mandatory minimum sentences on higher-level drug traffickers rather than low-level offenders; apply life sentences for drug trafficking only in extreme cases; and allow eligible offenders to petition for resentencing under new trafficking laws.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) said Tuesday that lawmakers on his panel are likely to offer a bipartisan bill soon.

Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, issued a statement Tuesday after the president’s

By Scott Horsley

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kids and teenagers before they get into the criminal justice system."  www.npr.org/sections/ itsallpolitics/2015/07/16/423612441/ obama-visits-federal-prison-a-first-for-asitting-president Video: //go.wh.gov/ElReno

speech suggesting that when it comes to criminal justice reform, “there has been enough talk.”

“The question now is whether we have the leadership in Congress to act and pass the meaningful reforms that our country urgently needs,” Leahy said. “Our wrongheaded approach to criminal justice is breaking the bank and making us less safe.”  www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ obama-tells-naacp-that-justice-reformis-long-overdue/2015/07/14/98c14e8a2a52-11e5-a250-42bd812efc09_story. htm www.whitehouse.gov/photos-andvideo/video/2015/07/14/presidentobama-addresses-naacps-106thnational-convention

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Nigeria's President Buhari meets U.S. President Barack Obama

By Jenée Desmond-Harris, for Vox

President Mohammadu Buhari (L) with US President Barack Obama during a meeting in Washington DC on Monday. credits: STATE HOUSE

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resident Muhammadu Buhari met US President Barack Obama at the White House on Monday, July 20th.

The meeting marked an effort to shore up relations between the US and the nation with Africa’s largest economy and to seek additional assistance in the fight against terror group, Boko Haram.

The Oval Office meeting was also due to cover the economy and corruption in Nigeria.

In remarks to reporters beforehand, Obama said Buhari had a clear agenda to defeat Boko Haram and to root out corruption in his country.

Obama restated the US readiness

to work with Nigeria and ensuring that the African nation could fulfill its potential in providing leadership not just to West Africa but making its mark among the comity of nations.

The US President noted that Nigerians had continued to make significant marks in different fields outside the shores of Nigeria, saying the nation had the resources to be great.

He pledged the US support for Buhari to root out Boko Haram and develop the country.

Obama said he was sure that the Nigerian President had a clear idea of what to do and unwavering in his focus to entrench democratic values in the country.

The Nigerian President hailed the US for “putting pressure” upon the immediate past government in Nigeria to ensure that the March and April elections held, adding that his visit to the US was a product of that pressure.

Obama invited Buhari to Washington after his victory was declared.

White House officials said the fact that Buhari was arriving in Washington so soon after taking office was a sign of the importance the US places on relations with Nigeria.  www.punchng.com/news/buhari-inwashington-dc-meets-obama-onmonday

20  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Use Your Senses to Spot a Gas Leak To help keep your community safe and secure, use your senses of sight, hearing or smell to alert you to any of the following signs of a natural gas leak.

LOOK

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT A GAS LEAK • Remain calm • Don’t light a match, candle or cigarette • Don’t turn electrical appliances or lights on or off or use any device that could cause a spark • Natural gas leaking from a plastic pipe can create static electricity which can ignite the gas • Immediately evacuate the area, and from a safe location, call 800-427-2200, 24 hours a day, seven days a week; or call 911

© 2014 Southern California Gas Company. All rights reserved.

• A damaged connection to a gas appliance • Dirt or water being blown in the air • Dead or dying vegetation (in an otherwise moist area) over or near gas pipeline areas • A fire or explosion near a pipeline • Exposed pipeline after an earthquake, fire, flood or other disaster

LISTEN • An unusual sound, such as a hissing, whistling or roaring sound near a gas line or appliance

SMELL • The distinctive odor* of natural gas *Some people may not be able to smell the odor because they have a diminished sense of smell, olfactory fatigue (normal, temporary inability to distinguish an odor after prolonged exposure to it) or because the odor is being masked or hidden by other odors that are present, such as cooking, damp, musty or chemical odors.

In addition, certain conditions in pipe and soil can cause odor fade – the loss of odorant so that it is not detectable by smell.

BBN Show Biz Buzz

By Linda Ware

New Fantastic Four Film Out in August

M

ichael B. Jordan has the role of the Human Torch in the upcoming Fantastic Four film. The movie will be in theatres August 7, 2015. The Human Torch is a fictional character, a superhero and founding member of the Fantastic Four. Like the rest of the Fantastic Four, the Human Torch gained his powers on a spacecraft bombarded by cosmic rays. He can engulf his entire body in flames, is able to fly, can absorb fire harmlessly into his own body, and can control any nearby fire by sheer force of will. "Flame on!", which the Torch customarily s h o u t s w h e n Michael activating B. his full-body Jordan

flame effect, has become his catchphrase. The Fantastic Four concept is part of the Marvel family of comic stories and feature film. 

Buchanan receives Hyundai Young Player Award

K

a d e i s h a Buchanan has been given the Hyundai Young Player Award of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™.

She becomes the Kadeisha Buchanan receives second recipient of the prestigious award.

The Canadian central defender greatly impressed the FIFA Technical Study Group (TSG), which was charged with identifying the tournament’s most outstanding young player and which placed her in a three-woman shortlist that also featured Norwegian attacker Ada Hegerberg and China PR midfielder Jiali Tang.

The TSG decided that Buchanan met all of the criteria and more.

From the quality of her clearances, long passes and surges forward from the back to her positional sense, strong t a c k l i n g ability and acceleration, the 19-yearold has demonstrated technical excellence and experience

forward in expanding the definition of what it means to be Japanese." We couldn't agree more. 

Misty Coleman, Principal Ballerina

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i s t y Copeland has been named the first African-American principal dancer with the American Ballet Theater (www.abt. org) and her success

s award at 2015 FIFA World Cup games in Canada that belie her age.

“I think some people wondered if, as a young player, she could perform consistently at the highest level, and she definitely showed that she could,” said Canadian national coach, John Herdman. “She’s been a rock at the back for our team.” 

Miss Universe Japan - Not Japanese Enough www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/25/miss-universejapan_n_6938584.html

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i-racial beauty queen Miss Nagasaki Ariana Miyamoto celebrated her new title as Miss Universe Japan. The 20-year-old contestant, who was born and raised in Japan, is the daughter of a Japanese woman and an African-American man, or as they would say in Japan, a "hafu" -- meaning half-Japanese. Many critics complained that Miyamoto doesn't look Japanese enough to represent their country. The Miss Universe contest was held in Florida in January 2015.

Thankfully Miyamoto also had some supporters.

Fans of the young contestant included filmmaker and co-director of the film "Hafu," Megumi Nishikura, who told NBC News: "The selection of Ariana Miyamoto as this year's Miss Universe Japan is a huge step

25  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

see page 26

BBN Show Biz Buzz is inspiring young ballet dancers across the country. Copeland's success is showing that no matter where you come from, you can achieve one of the highest honors.

Misty landed into a situation with Boys and Girls Club of America (www.bgca. org) where she was chosen out of many because of her potential.

That is going to do a lot to inspire local kids.

Next, Ms. Copeland will make her Broadway debut in “On the Town.” The ballerina will join the cast of the musical revival for two weeks, performing from August 25 to September 6 at the Tuesday, Thursday and Friday evening shows, and the Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees. 

Lupita Nyong'o

Williams Wins 6th Wimbledon

S

erena Williams withstood early and late surges from Garbine Muguruza to capture the women's title in straight sets at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships. The 6-4, 6-4 triumph gives her 21 career Grand Slam singles titles.

She is now within reach of a rare Grand Slam, a sweep of tennis’s four major championships in the same calendar year. She has already won the 2015 Australian Open and French Open, and with her Wimbledon victory, only the U.S. Open remains for her to be allconquering.

This was Williams’s sixth victory at Wimbledon alone, where she became the eldest woman in the Open era to win. Her final with Muguruza will enter the long catalogue of matches in which Williams simply mentally and physically overpowered a worthy opponent. 

Lupita Nyong'o Misty Copeland and Brooklyn Mack, Swan Lake Credit Theo Kossenas

Serena Williams

26  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Lupita Nyong'o is the new Global Elephant Ambassador

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cademy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has returned to her native Kenya and announced today that she will advocate globally for elephants with international conservation organization WildAid, as well as promote women’s issues, acting and the arts in Kenya.

“I am proud of my Kenyan heritage, and part of that heritage is the incredible wildlife haven that is in our care,” Ms. Nyong’o said. “I have come to realize that when you know more, you do more. I want to encourage people all over the world to learn more about these incredible

animals.

From reading a conservation website like WildAid.org to visiting one of the many unforgettable, world-class national parks. I ask the world to end the current elephant poaching crisis by being 'Ivory Free.' It is time to ban sales of ivory worldwide and to consign the tragedy of the ivory trade to history.” www.wildaid.org/news/lupita-nyong’ooscar-winner-back-kenya-and-becomingglobal-elephant-ambassador

Emmy Noms Set Record for AfricanAmerican Actors

T

he Primetime Emmys showed substantial progress this year in recognizing African-American thesps, who received 18 nominations across all acting categories — easily eclipsing last year’s record high of 11 noms.

The 18 black actors and actresses who were honored today include Viola Davis, How To Get Away With Murder (lead actress drama); Taraji P. Henson, Empire (lead

actress drama); David Oyelowo, Nightingale (lead actor limited series/movie); Queen Latifah, Bessie (lead actress limited series/ movie); Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (supporting actor comedy); Anthony Anderson, black-ish (lead actor, comedy series); Don Cheadle, House of Lies (lead actor, comedy series); Uzo Aduba, Orange Is The New Black (supporting actress, drama series); Reg. E. Cathey, House of Cards (guest actor in a drama series); Cicely Tyson, How To Get Away With Murder (guest actress, drama); Khandi Alexander, Scandal (guest actress, drama);Keegan-Michael Kay, Key & Peele (supporting actor, comedy series); Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (supporting actor, comedy series); Niecy Nash, Getting On (supporting actress, comedy series); Michael Kenneth Williams, Bessie (supporting actor, limited series/ movie); Regina King, American Crime (supporting actress, limited series/movie); Angela Bassett, American Horror Story: Freak Show (supporting actress, limited series/ movie); and Mo’Nique, Bessie (supporting actress, limited series/ movie).  http://deadline.com/2015/07/emmyrecord-black-nominations-queen-latifahviola-davis-monique-andre-taraji-phenson-1201476670/#

27  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

see page 28

BBN Show Biz Buzz

Janet Jackson Releases New Single on Her Own Label, Rhythm Nation

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ET Honoree and member of the legendary Jackson family, Janet Jackson's entertainment career represents her commitment to excellence as a musical artist committed to the spirit of excellence. In her exceptional career, she has acquired 6 Grammy Awards and multiple VMA music awards along with other accolades.

“No Sleeep” is Jackson’s new single that is featured on her n e w album, “Conversations in a Café." The song debuted on June 22, 2015 under her new record label, Rhythm Nation by BMG. The single is moving up the charts on the Billboard Trending 140 chart. With 6 Grammy Awards and multiple Grammy award winning producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis teamed back up with Jackson on her new release.

As Jackson’s long-time recording partners, they joined forces with Jackson to produce her new release, “No Sleep." The lead track is a refreshing song that blends the sounds of pop and R&B with a nostalgic ‘90s feel. Janet’s new sound is reminiscent of two specific albums: The Velvet Rope and Janet. The “Rhythm Nation” singer and pop icon has always stayed true to her unique style as an artist.

Janet collaborated with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for her “Control” album, which won 4 American Music Awards and 12 nominations. “Control” is one of Janet’s most influential albums, as it helped develop the structure

and technique of music video performance.

“Conversations in a Café” is a solo project that showcases Jackson’s talent as a singer, dancer, pop icon, and businesswoman of excellence.

Janet Jackson will be touring at the end of August 2015.

She will be performing in America and Canada in major cities including Vancouver, San Diego, Phoenix, Orlando, and Honolulu.

Jackson has sold more than 160 million records to date and is one of the top ten best-selling artists of all time. She is an inspirational role model and leader who proves that anything can happen with hard work and determination. Jackson continues to maintain "control" to create music the way she wants to in today's music scene. 

by Giavanna Foster

Samuel L. Jackson Will Play Frozone in

‘Incredibles 2’

P

opular film actor Samuel L. Jackson is preparing for his next film acting role in the highly-anticipated movie “The Incredibles 2”, directed by Brad Bird.

“The Incredibles 2” is the second part of the sequel to the popular 2004 film “The Incredibles”. Jackson will be playing the character of Frozone, Lucius Best’s superhero name whose identity is protected with a bodysuit and refraction goggles. Frozone is an ally of the Incredibles. The "Incredibles 2” is scheduled to debut in 2016.

Looking at Jackson’s successful film career, his multiple list of memorable film roles are attached to box office hit films illustrating his savvy in choosing the right movies and his ability to bring to life characters that fans connect with and enjoy. Jackson is well known for playing the character of Mace Windu in Star Wars. Jackson was offered the character role in Star

28  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Frozone Wars’ “The Phantom Menace” a f t e r stating that he would like to work with George L u c a s d u r i n g Samuel Jackson a media interview on TFI Friday. As a popular film talent, Samuel L. Jackson holds the Guinness World Record for being the highest-grossing movie

actor of all time with his total box office earnings soaring to over $7.4 billion. J was also awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star on June 16, 2000.

Samuel L. Jackson exemplifies the true importance of being yourself, applying business principles to his acting career and constantly pursuing higher education. When it comes to his references in college, Jackson is strongly passionate towards the studies of marine biology as well as acting. More importantly, Jackson is a successful actor who has developed his own acting

niche. Jackson said, “Hollywood people tend to think that because one is successful in one aspect of entertainment they can bring them into this particular world and make a success out of them. A month or so ago, someone called me about the 50 Cent movie and I’m like, ‘What are you calling me for?’ I don’t even need to read that because that’s not something I want to do.” Jackson’s proves that the most important ingredient to success in the world of acting is grounded consistency in choosing the right roles to try out for and above all else perseverance. 

by Giavanna Foster

Google recognized the 153 birthday of Ida B. Wells with a Google Doodle (www.google.com/doodles) on July 16, 2015.  29  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

A

re you a Small Business interested in selling your product or services to Metro or to Prime Contractors that do business with Metro? Would you like to learn how to win contracts as a Prime Contractor through SB Prime, Metro's exciting set-aside initiative? If so, we invite you to come grow with us and learn about Metro Connect.

Start now and register for a How to Do Business with Metro Workshop. Metro staff will show you how to take advantage of the vast array of products, services and transportation related opportunities projected over the coming weeks, months and year. As an added bonus, Metro's procurement staff will host informal interviews with firms before the workshop, starting at 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015 8:30 a.m.: Registration 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.: One-on-One with Contract Administrators and Continental Breakfast 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Program

Metro Headquarters 3rd Floor, Board Room, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Topics: Highway Project Update, Procurement Update, Certification Update, Small Business Prime Update, LA SAFE/511 Next Generation Update To learn more about how Metro Connect's Small and Disadvantaged Business Certifications can help open the door to contracting opportunities with Metro visit Metro Vendor Portal.

For further questions, please contact Marisela Villar at VillarM@metro.net or via phone at 213.922.2235.

Business-Advertorial

The Foundation of Partnerships “I am where I am because of the bridges that I crossed. Sojourner Truth was a bridge. Harriet Tubman was a bridge. Ida B. Wells was a bridge.

Madame C. J. Walker was a bridge. Fannie Lou Hamer was a bridge.” - Oprah Winfrey

M

any things can motivate us to build a successful business – it could be the prospect of a better future for our family, becoming a pillar in our community, or simply an unwavering drive to pursue our personal passion. The one common element is having vision. Vision illuminates possibilities and emboldens us to cross bridges and seize opportunities. Those that we remember as visionaries, go further to serve as bridges for others. A bridge is more than a one-way path; it is the beginning of a new partnership.

East West Bank is in the business of building bridges that help our customers confidently navigate new financial terrain – whether overseas or in our local communities. People and culture have always been foundational to our success. As the largest minoritydesignated bank in the United States, we recognize that diversity is a major driver of opportunity. We really take the time to understand our clients’ needs in order to better connect businesses to new opportunities and grow their potential. We’re proud to serve as a financial partner for many business and organizations in the African American community of Greater Los Angeles, like Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Christ Our Redeemer AME Church. Last year, the Black Business Association recognized East West Bank as “Financial Institution of the Year,” for our bestof-class banking services provided to the business community.

In addition to partnering with local businesses, we are happy to work with nonprofit organizations that are providing invaluable social infrastructure that strengthens communities. David Fields, Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, explained that for an organization like theirs, which is built around helping people, it makes a difference having a like-minded financial partner that also believes in their “people-first” approach. We also teamed up with Reverend Mark E. Whitlock, Jr. of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church and launched a financial literacy program, which offered a series of courses to hundreds of church members on topics from buying a home and starting a business to credit remediation

Accepting BBA Award, 2014 East West Bank Headquearters, Pasadena, CA

and investments.

In 2014 we proudly welcomed Molly Campbell, Financial Specialist for Los Angeles World Airports, to our board of directors, bringing with her deep expertise in global logistics and financial management.

Prior to her current position, she served as Deputy Executive Director for the Port of Los Angeles for more than 14 years. Ms. Campbell is the first African American to serve on our board and her commitment to helping Los Angeles thrive in the global marketplace is an excellent match for our bank.

At East West Bank we feel that building bridges and maintaining connections is a powerful way for businesses to thrive, and we hope that your business will become part of our growing network of partners.

When you decide to build or expand your bridge, we welcome you to draw on our strength and support.  www.eastwestbank.com

Business

Business Opportunity:

What the New TopLevel Domains Mean for Business and Marketers

By Roland LaPlante

O

ver the next few years, the Internet will look like a very different place. More than 1,000 new top-level domains (TLDs) are now joining "heritage" domains, such as .com, .info, and .org (www.marketingprofs.com/

articles/2014/24521/new-internetdomain-extensions-dont-get-blindedby-the-sunrise-or-run-over-by-thelandrush).

Retailers will now be able to take advantage of branded TLDs (like .nokia), geographic TLDs (like .vegas) and generic TLDs (like .shop). For example, consumers might buy new phone chargers from "charger.amazon" rather than "amazon.com/chargers" and jewelry from "necklace.tiffany" instead of "tiffany.com/necklaces."

That transformation will have a profound impact on how people find and use websites. The change also likely will impact brands beneficially by luring customers away from fragmented social media applications and back to branded environments.

The Problem with Social Media In a survey of brand managers who have applied for new TLDs, 83% said they felt the engagement opportunities available with a branded TLD would be more effective with consumers than with a third-party environment.

In addition, 41% said they would reduce their reliance on traditional social media to reach end users once the new branded domains go live.

Though it may seem like an odd move for brands to rely less on the large current audiences served by social media networks, the problem is that networks like Facebook and Twitter are not keen to give up the valuable data and insights on their users—data that can help brands make better decisions on production, marketing, and promotion.

For example, all the brand interactions that occur via Twitter happen in a contained environment controlled by Twitter, so brands are limited in their ability to get insights that could be gained from those interactions. Brands are no better off than the public and must rely on the minimal analytics provided by Twitter or those than can be pulled using third-party resources.

By developing a way to entice customers to a branded experience within a new TLD, retailers will be able to cultivate conversations in a space where there is a unique opportunity to engage users, share messages, and convert prospects to customers.

The Challenge for Retailers The challenge that marketers and brand managers will face is

convincing customers to abandon popular social media networks and engage with the new branded social media platforms.

Recent trends suggest that this might not be as difficult as it would have been a few years ago. One recent estimate suggests that more than 11 million young people have left Facebook since 2011; the company itself has even publicly stated it has seen a decrease in daily users, specifically among the highly coveted teen demographic. Teens retain a huge amount of purchasing power; approximately $208.7 billion is spent each year on and by US teens.

B r a n d s m u s t capture t h e i r attention.

T h e Solution M a n y b r a n d s struggle to create an online presence that is both relevant a n d memorable, w h i c h is why there are so many quirky Internet brand names—Tumblr, Twitter, etc. The current expansion of TLDs allows for greater creativity and a stronger brand presence online, making directing customers to relevant content easier.

Today, a malicious third party can easily create a seemingly credible "brand" page in a social network but then link that to a website selling

32  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

counterfeit goods, hosting malware, or misleading potential customers.

Though some sites like Facebook and Twitter have sought to change how easily that can happen, the problem will always be outside of the control of the targeted brands.

Customers directed to a "dot b r a n d " address can be assured that the site adheres to a strictly enforced code of conduct— protection unavailable on a .com site—because the brand controls who is allowed to use the domains and what they can do there. For example, only .tiffany management can decide who has a .tiffany address, and what products and/or services they can offer there.

The TLD expansion presents the first major opportunity for brands to establish a more controlled online presence that is easier for

customers to remember and safer for them to interact with.

Brands can take this opportunity one step further by building their own social networks, whether based on location or interest or other shared criteria. Nike, for instance, could easily use a branded domain like "plus.nike" to create a networking site for runners where they could compare stats, trade stories, share routes, and discuss their favorite products.

Even if the amount of users was less than the number of Likes on Facebook, Nike would have direct access to the insights to be gained from the online behavior of some of its most passionate customers.

What Are Retailers Doing With the New TLDs? Many retailers are planning how they can best take advantage of the marketing opportunities provided by the TLD expansion.

For instance, retailers such as Wal-Mart and Nokia have been investigating how best to employ the availability of Internationalized Domain Name script TLDs like Chinese and Cyrillic—another new innovation for the Web under the domain expansion—to attract nonEnglish speaking customers. WalMart has applied for the domain .oneshop in various languages, and Nokia has applied for its name

in Chinese.

The benefits of the TLD expansion for retailers are just beginning to be explored. Brands with customers who are experiencing social media fatigue should take advantage of this significant change to unify their online presence and create relevant online communities through the new TLDs soon to be available to them.

Brands that did not apply for their dot brand TLD in this round should begin now to prepare to apply when the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) (the authority that runs the Internet's naming system) opens the next round of applications, which could be as soon as next year. After all, if your competitor has a branded TLD, you don't want your customers to think that they are more innovative than you.

Regardless of whether you applied in this round, you should closely monitor the evolving relationship between brands and social networks. The pace of change is accelerating, and you will need to understand this changing landscape to continue being successful.  www.marketingprofs.com/ opinions/2014/24901/what-thenew-top-level-domains-mean-formarketers

33  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Glassware 2.0 Revolutionizes Working Remotely Maximize Productivity On-the-go and in the Cloud

By Marcia Wade Talbert

I

magine how much more you could accomplish if you didn’t have to be chained to a workstation just because it had the software you needed.

Using container technology, Sphere 3D’s (LINK 1) Glassware 2.0 (http://sphere3d.com/glassware-20-product) has made that scenario a reality. Now, through their exclusive partnership with Microsoft, Sphere 3D (http://sphere3d.com) is the first to deliver application virtualization in its native form on any device, and the first to deliver this inside the Microsoft cloud platform.

“To be able to deliver commercial enterprise solutions in the cloud means you no longer need a data center, since Microsoft has one of the largest cloud infrastructures in the world,” says Eric Kelly, CEO of Sphere 3D Corp. “They’ve put more than $15 billion into it, and they have a vast network of data centers around the world.”

Virtualization (www.marketwired. com/press-release/sphere-3dand-microsoft-to-showcasevirtualization-and-cloud-solutionsnasdaq-any-2012958.htm) can be explained simply. “Whatever your favorite application is, think about putting it inside of a container. Once inside, we are able to move that application to any device virtually without rewriting the code or changing any of the application or functions, just as if you were using it on your workstation,” explains Kelly.

The Glassware 2.0® platform will be useful in helping schools save money as more districts embark on

digital learning.

“Whether they use a Chromebook or an iPad, we have the ability now for students to have custom educational software [such as those used by prep kids for standardized

tests],” explains Kelly, whose company recently rang the NASDAQ bell to celebrate their one-year anniversary of going public.

“Also, schools have a lot of lag. They may be one, two or three generations behind because they don’t have the money to upgrade software. Now they can use the latest versions of software on old platforms, which is a tremendous savings for them. Schools don’t have to use the most expensive tools as long as they have a device—no matter what device it is—and they are

able to get on to a cellular network.

There are also teachers in Africa, or in rural locations, who want to get access to the latest educational software. Now, they can do it too.”

Glassware 2.0 can also be a lifesaver in the healthcare industry.

For example, if a radiologist is on vacation or out of the office and a patient needs him to look at an MRI, the physician won’t have to go to a workstation or PC to give a diagnosis. With Glassware 2.0 he can view medical imaging applications from the cloud on an

iPad, iPhone, or any device, as long as he has a cellular connection.  www.blackenterprise.com/technology/ glassware-2-0-gives-new-meaningidea-working-remotely/

35  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

SAVE THE DATE! Join the U.S. Commercial Service and the District Export Council of Southern California for Discover Global Markets: Pacific Rim Consumers, a dynamic 2-day conference focused on consumer markets throughout Asia and the Pacific region. Find out what consumers are buying, and how to sell to them!

Event Dates:

What to expect:

Location:

• • • • •

In-depth market intelligence targeting major consumer markets in the Pacific Rim Country and industry sessions led by industry specialists and executives Practical “how to” sessions on global branding, international marketing, fulfillment, distribution, and protecting your Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Financing for generating maximum revenue and profits “Meet the buyer” sessions and networking with senior business leaders

Private consultations with U.S. commercial diplomats: Opportunity to meet with in-country commercial diplomats and specialists to gain customized market entry advice for your company. Featuring 18+ markets, including: x • • • x x

Australia/New Zealand Burma Canada Central America Chile China

• • • • • •

Colombia Costa Rica Hong Kong Japan Malaysia Mexico

• • • • • •

October 29-30, 2015

Hilton Orange County/ Costa Mesa 3050 Bristol St. Costa Mesa, CA

For more information: Daniel Lew 213-200-7172 Daniel.Lew@trade.gov Jim Mayfield 949-660-8681 Jim.Mayfield@trade.gov

Panama Peru Singapore South Korea Taiwan Thailand

A few of our featured industries, plus a lot more!

9 9 9 9 9

Cosmetics, Beauty & Personal Care Consumer Brands Fashion, Apparel & Accessories Franchising Action Sports/Outdoor Lifestyle

9 9 9 9 9

Entertainment & Digital Media Nutritional Supplements Food, Beverages, Wine Recreational Vehicles, Automotive Travel & Tourism

www.export.gov/DiscoverGlobalMarkets/PacRimConsumers U.S. Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

U.S. Commercial Service

37  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

The Sharing Economy: Access Trumps Ownership

By Lisa Gansky

T

he recent ruling by the California Labor Commission the declared an Uber driver was an employee rather than an independent contractor sent shockwaves through the sharing economy – with policy implications that will reverberate for quite some time.

Lisa Gansky was at the forefront of the sharing trend when she founded Ofoto, a photo-sharing service launched in 1999, that was bought out by Eastman Kodak and eventually folded into Shutterfly.

She currently runs Mesh, a global directory of firms in the sharing economy and is an advisor and investor in more than a dozen firms, including: Breather, Honest Buildings, Instructables (sold to Autodesk), Makani Power (sold to Google), OpenRov, OtherMill (https:// othermachine.co/othermill/features), RelayRides, Ridepal (www.ridepal.com), Sidecar (www.side.cr/ delivery), Science Exchange (www.scienceexchange. com), Scoot Networks (www.scootnetworks.com), Solar Mosaic, Squidoo/HubPages (http://hubpages. com), TaskRabbit (www.taskrabbit.com), Vayable (www.vayable.com) and Yerdle (https://yerdle.com).

Gansky agreed to answer some questions about the future of the sharing economy for the Policy Dialogue on Entrepreneurship (PDE).

PDE: There has been a lot of attention paid to the idea of entrepreneurial cities of late. Talent, customers, investors, markets, and more are all reasons given for why cities are the best locations for startups. Can you tell us why?

Lisa Gansky: Cities are platforms for sharing.

Throughout history they have been places where we live and work in tighter quarters – increasing the frequency of bumping into others who are interesting personally or professionally. By 2050, 75% of the global population will be urban dwellers and all of this is happening at a time when most cities in the world are operating with a diminishing budget. These realities set up well for the age of the urban entrepreneur. We are seeing impressive entrepreneurial talent address many of our biggest urban challenges – transportation,

housing, energy, food, water and workforce.

Entrepreneurs are directing teams and funds to build platforms and services like Uber (www.uber.com), Lyft (www.lyft.com), BlaBlaCar (www.blablacar. com), SocialCar (www.socialcar.com), RelayRides (https://relayrides.com), Food Assembly (https:// thefoodassembly.com/en), Solar Mosaic (https:// joinmosaic.com), Provenance (www.provenance.org), Honest Buildings (www.honestbuildings.com/#!/), Just Park (www.justpark.com), Neighborly (https:// neighborly.com/go), OpenRov (www.openrov.com, La Zooz (http://lazooz.org/ )and City Mapper (https:// citymapper.com/chicago/#superrouter).

There are many names associated with what you have famously named the ‘Mesh’, namely the collaborative economy, the sharing, peer or access economy. Can you tell us about the idea behind the Mesh?

The Mesh is simply the idea that technology enables us to easily tap into the power of our being truly connected. This means that we can often get what we want or need from another person rather than a traditional business. Technology like the web, social networks, mobile devices and peer-to-peer platforms like those for crowdfunding, allow us to locate each other as well as things we need in our lives. Most of the collaborative businesses we have seen thus far arise because people and things such as cars, homes, factories, offices, food and intellectual property, are easily networked and now, via technology, are able to be made visible and therefore available. This technology allows us to access rather than own goods, services and talent. We are easily able to tap into each other’s assets (goods, services and talents), to create a more efficient way of living and working. We have a global index of nearly 10,000 examples, which speaks to the fact that this is truly a global movement and is happening across all industry sectors.

To put it simply, access trumps ownership and unused value is a waste.

The collaborative economy is driven by several key realities of our time that have created the conditions for it to be so rapidly embraced.

1. As a global community, we are more connected to more people and things than ever before in history.

2. Since 2010, most of the world’s population resides in cities. This means that there are many more of us living more closely together.

3. In the past decade, big brands, especially energy and financial companies, have become far less trusted by people (particularly since 2008).

4. Climate change is causing us to rethink how we live and work.

38  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

5. Inexpensive mobile technology has made it much easier for us to find each other and things and then to ‘share’ or access them from each other as we need.

In general terms, how would you describe the difference in worldview between companies with traditional business models – those who produce a product or create a service and sell it outright for money – and mesh enterprises?

Mesh or collaborative businesses have a product or service that is offered many times rather than sold once to one c u s t o m e r.

Bike sharing is a great example of a collaborative model. Bikes operate as a system; they are networked and benefit from special features as well as the network itself. The bikes often have GPS, repair and relocation services but most importantly, they are made available for free or a small fee to use short-term as urban transportation. We don’t buy the bike; we register as a member of the service and as such, gain access to the network of bikes and related services. The power of the transportation service of bike sharing is in its penetration throughout a city so that we can locate a bike close to where we are and can return it near our destination. Data is also an underlying component of collaborative platforms as the data about the location, distance traveled, idle time and condition of the bike can be monitored through the system. There are also many other gems that arise from the data captured like what time of day or how many people are going to this particular neighborhood or train station. This information is invaluable for city planners as well as entrepreneurs selecting office space or retail locations.

Additionally, these businesses are often peer-topeer. That is they operate as a two-sided marketplace where both the supply and demand are sourced from individuals rather than a company.

Many of the most successful mesh enterprises were started in and focus on the developed world

– predominantly North America and Europe. How do you think the idea and norms have translated in emerging and developing countries?

While much of what has made the press has been venture-backed companies based in the Americas and Europe, I expect three things to happen in the next few years.

1. Many more community-based cooperatives and startup ventures will emerge from Africa, India and

Brazil. This is happening where there is an emphasis on energy, water, maker movement (DIY) and blockchain.

2. Emerging countries are both adapting models that work elsewhere (Ola Cabs in India - www.olacabs. com) and appear to be leapfrogging over the west when it comes to building peer-to-peer infrastructure for finance, energy and water. We are already seeing this regarding the blockchain (www.investopedia.com/ terms/b/blockchain.asp) and cryptocurrency as Africa is ingeniously applying core principles to accelerate trust and transparency. Companies like iHub (http:// ihub.co.ke), BitPesa (www.bitpesa.co), Traity (https:// traity.com) and Provenance are focusing on emerging communities.

3. These models are efficient and are fueled by visible waste in the system. Emerging countries will accelerate their adoption of these models and will invent exchanges based on collaborative models.

Read the full interview at the link below.  www.kauffman.org/blogs/policy-dialogue/2015/june/ the-sharing-economy-access-trumps-ownership?utm_ source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_ campaign=pde2015-06-29

39  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Faison Wealth & Retirement Regina Faison Wealth Manager/Registered Principal 3070 Bristol Street Suite 500 949-200-8212 714-329-7184 regina@faisonwealth.com www.faisonwealth.com

Changing Jobs? Take Your 401(k) and Roll It If you've lost your job, or are changing jobs, you may be wondering what to do with your 401(k) plan account. It's important to understand your options.

What will I be entitled to?

If you leave your job (voluntarily or involuntarily), you'll be entitled to a distribution of your vested balance.

Your vested balance always includes your own contributions (pretax, after-tax, and Roth) and typically any investment earnings on those amounts.

It also includes employer contributions (and earnings) that have satisfied your plan's vesting schedule.

In general, you must be 100% vested in your employer's contributions after 3 years of service ("cliff vesting"), or you must vest gradually, 20% per year until you're fully vested after 6 years ("graded vesting"). Plans can have faster vesting schedules, and some even have 100% immediate vesting. You'll also be 100% vested once you've reached your plan's normal retirement age.

It's important for you to understand how your particular plan's vesting schedule works, because you'll forfeit any employer contributions that haven't vested by the time you leave your job. Your summary plan description (SPD) will spell out how the vesting schedule for your particular plan works. If you don't have one, ask your plan administrator for it. If you're on the cusp of vesting, it may make sense to wait a bit before leaving, if you have that luxury.

Don't spend it, roll it!

While this pool of dollars may look attractive, don't spend it unless you absolutely need to. If you take a distribution you'll be taxed, at ordinary income tax rates, on the entire value of your account except for any after-tax or Roth 401(k) contributions you've made. And, if you're not yet age 55, an additional 10% penalty may apply to the taxable portion of your payout. (Special rules may apply if you receive a lump-sum distribution and you were born before 1936, or if the lump-sum includes employer stock.)

If your vested balance is more than $5,000, you can

leave your money in your employer's plan until you reach normal retirement age. But your employer must also allow you to make a direct rollover to an IRA or to another employer's 401(k) plan. As the name suggests, in a direct rollover the money passes directly from your 401(k) plan account to the IRA or other plan. This is preferable to a "60-day rollover," where you get the check and then roll the money over yourself, because your employer has to withhold 20% of the taxable portion of a 60-day rollover. You can still roll over the entire amount of your distribution, but you'll need to come up with the 20% that's been withheld until you recapture that amount when you file your income tax return.

Should I roll over to my new employer's 401(k) plan or to an IRA? Assuming both options are available to you, there's no right or wrong answer to this question. There are strong arguments to be made on both sides. You need to weigh all of the factors, and make a decision based on your own needs and priorities. It's best to have a professional assist you with this, since the decision you make may have significant consequences--both now and in the future.

Reasons to roll over to an IRA: • You generally have more investment choices with an IRA than with an employer's 401(k) plan. You typically may freely move your money around to the various investments offered by your IRA trustee, and you may divide up your balance among as many of those investments as you want.

By contrast, employer-sponsored plans typically give you a limited menu of investments (usually mutual funds) from which to choose.

• You can freely allocate your IRA dollars among different IRA trustees/custodians. There's no limit on how many direct, trustee-to-trustee IRA transfers you can do in a year. This gives you flexibility to change trustees often if you are dissatisfied with investment performance or customer service. It can also allow you to have June 25, 2015 Page 1 of 2, see disclaimer on final page

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In some cases, you have no choice--you need to use the funds. If so, try to minimize the tax impact. For example, if you have nontaxable after-tax contributions in your account, keep in mind that you can roll over just the taxable portion of your distribution and keep the nontaxable portion for yourself.

IRA accounts with more than one institution for added diversification. With an employer's plan, you can't move the funds to a different trustee unless you leave your job and roll over the funds.

• An IRA may give you more flexibility with distributions. Your distribution options in a 401(k) plan depend on the terms of that particular plan, and your options may be limited.

However, with an IRA, the timing and amount of distributions is generally at your discretion (until you reach age 70½ and must start taking required minimum distributions in the case of a traditional IRA).

• You can roll over (essentially "convert") your 401(k) plan distribution to a Roth IRA. You'll generally have to pay taxes on the amount you roll over (minus any after-tax contributions you've made), but any qualified distributions from the Roth IRA in the future will be tax free.

Reasons to roll over to your new employer's 401(k) plan: • Many employer-sponsored plans have loan provisions. If you roll over your retirement funds to a new employer's plan that permits loans, you may be able to borrow up to 50% of the amount you roll over if you need the money.

You can't borrow from an IRA--you can only access the money in an IRA by taking a distribution, which may be subject to income tax and penalties. (You can, however, give yourself a short-term loan from an IRA by taking a distribution, and then rolling the dollars back to an IRA within 60 days.)

• A rollover to your new employer's 401(k) plan may provide greater creditor protection than a rollover to an IRA. Most 401(k) plans receive unlimited protection from your creditors under federal law. Your creditors (with certain exceptions) cannot attach your plan funds to satisfy any of your debts and obligations, regardless of whether you've declared bankruptcy. In contrast, any amounts you roll over to a traditional or Roth IRA are generally protected under federal law only if you declare bankruptcy. Any creditor protection your IRA may receive in cases outside of bankruptcy will generally depend on the laws of your particular

state. If you are concerned about asset protection, be sure to seek the assistance of a qualified professional.

• You may be able to postpone required minimum distributions. For traditional IRAs, these distributions must begin by April 1 following the year you reach age 70½. However, if you work past that age and are still participating in your employer's 401(k) plan, you can delay your first distribution from that plan until April 1 following the year of your retirement. (You also must own no more than 5% of the company.)

• If your distribution includes Roth 401(k) contributions and earnings, you can roll those amounts over to either a Roth IRA or your new employer's Roth 401(k) plan (if it accepts rollovers). If you roll the funds over to a Roth IRA, the Roth IRA holding period will determine when you can begin receiving tax-free qualified distributions from the IRA. So if you're establishing a Roth IRA for the first time, your Roth 401(k) dollars will be subject to a brand new 5-year holding period. On the other hand, if you roll the dollars over to your new employer's Roth 401 (k) plan, your existing 5-year holding period will carry over to the new plan. This may enable you to receive tax-free qualified distributions sooner.

When evaluating whether to initiate a rollover always be sure to (1) ask about possible surrender charges that may be imposed by your employer plan, or new surrender charges that your IRA may impose, (2) compare investment fees and expenses charged by your IRA (and investment funds) with those charged by your employer plan (if any), and (3) understand any accumulated rights or guarantees that you may be giving up by transferring funds out of your employer plan.

What about outstanding plan loans?

In general, if you have an outstanding plan loan, you'll need to pay it back, or the outstanding balance will be taxed as if it had been distributed to you in cash. If you can't pay the loan back before you leave, you'll still have 60 days to roll over the amount that's been treated as a distribution to your IRA. Of course, you'll need to come up with the dollars from other sources.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES Regina L. Faison Senior Financial Advisor Faison Wealth & Retirement Services C/O Woodbury Financial Services 3070 Bristol Suite 500 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Office Direct -949-200-8212 * Efax - 949-556-9806 * Regina cell - 714-329-7184 Customer Service Email- service@faisonwealth.com Ph# - 949-939-1194 Website - http://faisonwealth.com "Helping businesses and individuals achieve their life goals" Securities, and Investment Advisory Services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor. Woodbury Financial Services P.O. Box 64284*St. Paul, MN 55164*-800-800-2638 Faison Wealth and Retirement Services and Woodbury Financial are not affiliated entities.

Page 2 of 2 Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2015

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Business

July 2015 Webinar Calendar Slots still available

D •

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•

•

uring the month of July, CARAT is offering the following webinars. Be sure to sign up now, as space is limited: Social Media Strategies: Pt. II - July 9, Register Here - www.eventbrite.com/e/social-mediastrategies-pt-2-july-9-2015-tickets-5649413548 Managing Your Customers Online: Pt. I July 16, Register Here - www.eventbrite.com/e/ managing-your-customers-online-july-16-2015registration-17098700674 Refining Your Web Presence: - July 22, Register Here - www.eventbrite.com/e/refining-your-webpresence-july-22-2015-registration-17681581085 Managing Virtual Partnerships: - July 29, Register Here - www.eventbrite.com/e/ mastering-virtual-partnerships-july-30-2015registration-176829

The classes will answer the following questions, and many more: • What can Twitter do for your business?

• How does Salesforce.com work?

• How can I use Google analytics to generate sales?

• What tools will help me work with partners to secure new business?

Course Descriptions: Social Media Strategies: Pt. II This 2-part Social Media course will discuss the importance of social networking as an integrated marketing tool for your business. Are you curious about all the buzz surrounding social media but not sure where to start, and not sure if it's worth the time and effort? Find out how to market your business using social networking tools, such as Facebook, Twitter,

Yelp, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Learn how to establish a true dialogue with your customer base. This course will help you decide the best social networking tools to use in a business context, and how to leverage existing social networks to market your business. Part II of the course Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube/Vimeo and Instagram.

Managing Your Customers Online This Customer Relationship Management course that covers the benefits of using customer relationship management (CRM) tools to advance the operations of a small business. This course covers how businesses use CRM tools to increase revenue, to lower operating costs, and to attract and retain customers; Part I of the course discusses how CRM can be used to support marketing, sales, product development, and customer service efforts. The class will as cover how CRM is used to organize, automate, and synchronize business processes across multiple departments and teams.

Refining Your Web Presence This 2-part Website Development course lays the foundation for the successful integration of a website into business operations and introduces the best practices of web presence. The building blocks you will receive will help you further understand and integrate these emerging technologies. Web development can range from a simple single page website to a series of pages with the services and products you provide.

Learn to take the appropriate leap to the web for your business.

Part II (Refining Your Web Presence) of the course reviews Website Hosting and Development; and discusses common website and internet myths. The class also covers more advanced topics such as Website Content & Navigation, Website Monitoring & Performance Assessment and Search Engine

42  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

NBA Players Union Proposes Funding Healthcare for Retired Players

by Michael Tolbert

T

he much talked about media rights deal that the NBA will enter into at the start of the 2016-17 season means a lot more than just increased salaries; the NBA’s player union, known as the NBPA, is reportedly set to propose a plan that would cover health-care insurance costs for its former players.

Initially reported by Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski, – “The plan is estimated to cost between $10 million-$15 million a year and a vote on passage of the union’s initiative is set for the NBPA’s July 20 membership meeting in Las Vegas. The union’s 30 team player representatives are expected to pass the plan with ease and start the process of covering the retired players quickly, league sources said.”

The $10-$15 million proposal will come from the previously mentioned $24 billion media deal, which breaks down into roughly $2.7 billion annually. The NBPA has been researching and reaching out to an estimated 1500 former players, and plans to offer them three separate health-care options. Many of the NBA’s former players experienced the league before it became the household name that it is today, where player salaries and media revenue deals make headlines as often as the final score. The league didn’t

Optimization (SEO)

Managing Virtual Partnerships The need for collaboration management is forcing today's businesses to transform their business models by seeking creative and innovative methods for working and competing in a borderless, wireless, global economy. This course will inform the small business owner on how collaborative management and technology applications can help their business effectively connect with customers to deliver better products and services, obtain contracts with corporations and government agencies, provide streamlined services using fewer resources, and increase profits while improving efficiency.

The course examines several common tools that

extend full pension rights to retired players until 2007.

Under current league rules, players are only covered for health insurance through the summer after the season in which they retired. Per Yahoo Sports, – “Stories of destitute ex-players needing basic medical care – including the inability to afford the likes of knee and hip replacements – moved executive director Michele Roberts, director of player relations Roger Mason, and the NBPA’s executive committee to probe the idea with the league’s players, with several players telling Yahoo Sports that they’re enthusiastic about the idea.”

According to a separate report detailing the current NBPA landscape, it’s noted that the the union’s normal stream of revenue — membership dues from players and agents, and licensing money from video games and other outside-the-league uses of players’ likenesses — would likely be insufficient to furnish the insurance plan’s costs, meaning players will have to forgo some of their share of that massive TV deal to fund the idea. Under the current CBA (collective bargaining agreement), the players are guaranteed roughly half of the league’s annual income tied to basketball, a category that includes stadium concessions and parking as well as ticket sales and broadcast revenues.  www. blackenterprise. com/lifestyle/ nba-players-unionproposes-fundinghealthcare-retiredplayers

facilitate online communication and collaboration, including email, chat, online documents, file sharing, and conferencing. It explores the underlying technology that allows communication over the internet to employees, partners, vendors and customers. This information will give the small business owner the background and terminology needed to make informed decisions when working with virtual partners.

Limited Slots Left. Sign up now!

If you have questions, please let us know using the contact information below.  Stephon Taylor, CARAT Program Manager Voice: 510.451.2545 Email: stephon@caratnet.org

43  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

RIO 2016 OLYMPIC OPPORTUNITIES Stay Current through the Olympic Newsletter: http://www.export.gov/brazil/games/eg_ br_080260.asp Current tenders can be found at: http://portaldesuprimentos.rio2016.com/en/ status/of/the/bids For information on the Games visit http://export.gov/ brazil/games/index. asp www.export.gov/ brazil/games/eg_ br_080260.asp

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

Sell Your Products & Services on

It Can Wait. http://itcanwait.com 44  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

T

he U.S. Department of Commerce is offering our Gold Key Service for Publishing Industry Clients at the Frankfurt Book Fair October 14 18, 2015.

The Gold Key Services is a customized program for exportready U.S. Companies.

Through this service our trade offices aboard (American Embassy and Consulates) will arrange appointments for you with pre-screened contacts whose interests and objectives meet your own.

The Service includes customized market and industry briefings prior to your business meetings with contacts for your company's particular objectives.

Whether you are looking for representatives, distributors, government contacts or licensing the Service will help find the right people to fit your requirements.

You will need to complete our questionnaire and provide product/service cost, including an introductory sales letter and how it is distributed in the U.S., what type of representation you are seeking, preferred payment methods, photos and product brochures (originals).

Literature will need to be sent via courier to our overseas office. If you are interested please request our questionnaire to get started.

The deadline for application for the Gold Key service for the Frankfort Book Fair is Monday, July 14, 2015.

On the next page you will find a flier describing the Gold Key offer which includes specialized services to ensure your success at the show, including meetings with six qualified

Gold Key Service for Publishing Industry Clients DoC Preps for Frankfort Book Fair

buyers, based on our in-house methodology and experience in identifying and vetting international buyers.

Our International Promotion Program is also available, and we will highlight your company to all international buyers at the fair, upon request. Please let us know if this is of interest as well.

We will also need to know if your business is strictly digital or if you are selling physical books and other content and merch.

NOTE: you will be required to sign up for the Frankfort Book Fair separately.

Other Shows and Services • 2015 Taipei Pets Show: Catalog Exhibition $200.00, July 10-15, http://export.gov/taiwan/

forms/2015taipeipetsshow/index. asp • Financing Your Exports: SBA - pellson.lau@sba.gov, Export Import Bank - Gregory.Moore@ exim.gov • Discover Global Markets: Pacific Rim - Opportunities from Seoul to Santiago; Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa, CA, October 29-30, 2015, http://www.export.gov/ discoverglobalmarkets

Contact Information Bobby Hines International Trade Specialist www.export.gov bobby.hines@trade.gov Phone: 213-894-4231 FAX: 213-894-8789 

48  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Generate Success at Frankfurt Book Fair!

October 14 – 18, 2015 xxx

The Frankfurt Book Fair (FBF) is the largest annual trade show for the publishing industry outside of the U.S. and takes place October 14 - 18, 2015 at the “Messegelände” (the Trade Fair Grounds) in Frankfurt, Germany -- with a focus on promoting books, digital content, magazines and publishing & licensing rights. www.buchmesse.de/en/

FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR 2015 is an excellent opportunity for U.S. publishers, agents, content providers and publishing service providers to promote their products & digital content, and to meet buyers from Europe and all over the world.

FRANKFURT BOOK FAIR 2015 FOCUS x x

x

x

x x

Children’s and Young Adult Literature, Non-Fiction and Art Books, Photography and Film STM & Academic Publishing, Specialist Information, Education Self-Publishing and "Rights and Licenses" (get to know the world of literary and licensing agents) Frankfurt Book Fair Academy Indonesia is the Guest of Honor in 2015!

For Gold Key Registration Due July 14th, and questions about services offered by the U.S. Commercial Service, and more information, please contact Andrea DaSilva at: Andrea.DaSilva@trade.gov REGISTRATION & LINKS ITA in Germany: http://export.gov/germany/Tra deShowsEvents/FeaturedGerm anTradeShows/eg_de_080076. asp

Special Offering from ITA GOLD KEY PROGRAM FOR U.S. PUBLISHERS – Application Deadline JULY 14TH xxx

The GOLD KEY is a program tailored to your need at the Frankfurt Book Fair. This is a fee based service offered exclusively to U.S. publishers, and includes scheduling with up to six pre-vetted & qualified buyers from target countries of your choice. xxx ADDITIONAL VALUE-ADDED SERVICES OFFERED BY THE U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE TO U.S. EXHIBITORS x Qualified Contact Lists x Counseling on Global Markets (by ITA Export Specialists at U.S. Embassies & Consulates) x Business - to - Business Matchmaking (Connecting foreign buyers with U.S. suppliers) x International Promotion Program (Highlight YOUR company to international buyers attending FBF)

The International Trade Administration (ITA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce strengthens the competitiveness of U.S. industry, promotes trade and investment, and ensures fair trade through the rigorous enforcement of our trade laws and agreements. ITA supports President Obama's recovery agenda and the National Export Initiative to sustain economic growth and support American jobs.

49  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Carnival Cruises Get the OK to Visit Cuba

by Alexander C. Kaufman

Arnold Donald, President/ CEO

C

ruise giant Carnival Corporation (www.carnival. com) is preparing to set sail for Cuba.

The company recently announced that U.S. officials had granted approval for the Miami-based firm to send ships to the island, which the U.S. placed under economic embargo more than half a century

begin in 2016, once the venture gets the green light from Cuban authorities. Prices start at $2,990 per person with a $600 deposit.

Claire West, a spokeswoman for Carnival, told The Huffington Post that the company has already begun meeting with Cuban officials.

“There’s definitely a niche market of people that would like to be able to essentially have volunteer tourism on steroids,” Stewart Chiron, CEO of the Miami-based cruise industry site CruiseGuy.com, told HuffPost by phone. “A lot of people want to be able to do more but they don’t want to live in tents and they don’t want to eat horrible food.”

Carnival launched Fathom, its

good time. If you want to go to the beach and just relax, this is not for those types of people.”

58% Florida residents surveyed by the Saint Leo University Polling Institute said they supported a direct ferry or cruise ship service between U.S. ports and Cuba, according to the newly-released poll.

“We know there’s a strong demand from travelers who want to immerse themselves in Cuban culture, so this is a historic opportunity for us to enable more people to experience Cuban society,” Arnold Donald, Carnival’s president and chief executive, said in the recently released statement.

Though relations between the U.S. and Cuba have thawed over the last year -- the U.S. State Department announced plans last week to open an embassy in the country -- U.S. travel restrictions remain in place. That means only travelers with permission from the U.S. Department of Treasury -- be they humanitarian workers or Jay-Z and Beyoncé -- can go. www.carnival.com

ago.

But the cruises won't bring sunhungry vacationers to lounge on Cuba's beaches. Carnival will organize the trips under its Fathom brand, which aims to foster social good by transporting travelers to other countries for volunteering, educational purposes or cultural exchanges.

Carnival expects Cuba trips to

10th brand, last month with slightlycheaper trips to the Dominican Republic. The company has commissioned the Adonia -- a 5.5-star, 30,000-ton ship that can carry roughly 710 passengers -- to sail travelers southward into the Caribbean.

“This isn’t just another ship,” Chiron said. “It’s not for people who are just looking to go and have a

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51  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

www4.csudh.edu/watts/contact/index

REGISTER NOW Contact: Ruth Artates California Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation 1-916-463-0177 cbcc@calbcc.org OR VISIT http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/ register/event?oeidk=a07eaxw2slo608dfd12 &llr=yi9tkndab

Quote of Note "…I believe a new Africa is emerging.

With some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, a growing middle class, and the youngest and fastest-growing population on Earth, Africa will help shape the world as never before.

Moreover, Africa’s progress is being led by Africans…"

Barack Obama

53  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business - POWER AFRICA

Leveraging Partnerships to Increase Access to Power in Sub-Saharan Africa

On June 30, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa, President Barack Obama announced Power Africa — an initiative to increase the number of people with access to power in sub-Saharan Africa. Utilizing the combined expertise of 12 U.S. Government agencies, Power Africa is unlocking the substantial wind, solar, hydropower, natural gas, biomass, and geothermal resources in the region to enhance energy security, decrease poverty, and advance economic growth.

Two out of three sub-Saharan Africans — approximately 600 million people — lack access to electricity affecting their access to quality health care and education, as well as obtaining fewer economic opportunities.

Power Africa is working with African governments, the private sector, and other partners in sub-Saharan Africa to add more than 30,000 megawatts (MW) of cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity as well as increase electricity access by adding 60 million new home and business connections.

Since Power Africa’s launch in late June 2013, the initiative has helped financially close more than 3,000 MW worth of transactions, representing more than 30% of the initial 10,000 MW goal for new power generation.

These transactions have the potential to provide power for more than five million African homes, service providers, and businesses. Power Africa is currently considering projects expected to generate an additional 15,000 MW. The long-term objective is to double access to cleaner, reliable and efficient electricity in sub-Saharan Africa.

Although Power Africa’s implementation varies country-by-country, as a whole, the initiative also works to advance energy sector reforms, identify barriers to investment, and work with partner countries and institutions to improve efficiency and capabilities of relevant government institutions.

Power Africa strives to increase regional, cross-border energy trading through power pools, while also focusing on enhancing energy resource management capabilities, allowing partner countries and regions of Africa to meet critical energy needs and achieve sustainable, long-term energy security.

Beyond the Grid Power Africa is also expanding mini-grid and off-grid solutions to increase access to underserved areas through “Beyond the Grid.” This sub-initiative utilizes Power Africa’s innovative transaction-focused model to galvanize collaboration, engage in critical actions to accelerate transactions, and drive systemic reforms in order to facilitate future investment for off-grid and small-scale renewable energy solutions.

The Power Africa initiative already supports over 25 small-scale energy projects, but Beyond the Grid will expand this significantly – facilitating over $1 billion in new private sector investments. With over 40 partners, Beyond the Grid also seeks to unlock investment and growth for off-grid and smallscale energy solutions for millions of households, businesses and public facilities in underserved areas in Africa.

Transaction Focused Notable transactions undertaken in the first year of the initiative include: Kenya Aeolus Wind — 60 MW: The Government of Kenya, project financiers, and Aeolus Kenya Ltd. have completed all agreements for the funding and construction of the Kinangop Wind Park. Power Africa is providing assistance for the implementation of a grid management support program to assist Kenya in managing the integration of intermittent renewable energy into the national grid.

Nigeria Power Privatization — 2,000+ MW: Fifteen companies have purchased the assets of ten electricity distribution and five power generation entities during the initial phase of privatizing the Power Holding Company of Nigeria. Power Africa is supporting these companies’ efforts to improve operations and maintenance, and to obtain additional investment capital, which is projected to result in a 2,000+ MW increase in power generation capacity by 2018.

Ethiopia Corbetti Geothermal — Up to 1,000 MW: The Government of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation entered into a project agreement with Reykjavik Geothermal to establish the Corbetti Geothermal Power Plant — the first independent power producer project in Ethiopia’s history. Power Africa is providing transactional and technical advice to move the Corbetti project toward financial close.

Tanzania Kiwira River Hydro Project — 10 MW: Through USAID’s Development Credit Authority, Power Africa has provided a partial loan guarantee to Stanbic Bank in Tanzania for the Kiwira River Hydro Project in the country’s agricultural corridor. This guarantee assisted the project sponsor, EA Power Limited in securing debt financing from Stanbic Bank, the first loan of its kind by the bank to an energy sector project in Tanzania.

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A New Operating Model: Mobilizing Investments in Energy

Highlighted Private Sector Partners General Electric Heirs Holdings Symbion Power Aldwych International Harith General Partners Husk Power Systems

The level of funding needed to electrify the continent far outstrips the capacity of African governments and foreign donors. To address this challenge, the 12 U.S. Government agencies behind Power Africa have developed an innovative model that focuses on the transactions of private investors and policy dialogue with key stakeholders to focus and drive energy reforms. By leveraging U.S. strengths in energy technology, private sector engagement, and policy and regulatory reform, Power Africa is galvanizing collaboration, making quick-impact interventions, and driving systemic reforms to facilitate future private investment.

The Power Africa model is part of President Obama’s new approach to development, which builds local capacity and supports innovative ways to make traditional assistance programs more effective and sustainable.

United States Energy Association Aelous Kenya Ltd Africa Infrastructure Investment Managers American Capital Energy & Infrastructure Corporate Council on Africa Nedbank Capital Standard Bank Group The Abraaj Group

For the first five-year phase of Power Africa, the U.S. Government has committed more than $7 billion in financial support and loan guarantees. To date, Power Africa has leveraged more than $20 billion from the private sector for new on and off-grid projects in sub-Saharan Africa, meaning that every dollar the U.S. Government has committed to Power Africa has already leveraged more than three dollars in private sector investment commitments.

Power Africa is also working closely with development finance partners and other donors to enhance the availability of energy sector resources in Africa. To date, the African Development Bank, World Bank and the Swedish Government have collectively committed an additional $9 billion in support of Power Africa.

For more information on Power Africa visit: www.usaid.gov/powerafrica or email powerafrica@usaid.gov

NextGen Solar Denham Capital

The Power Africa Toolbox Technical assistance

Loan guarantees

Direct grants to African governments for energy projects

Advise on government budgeting and financial accountability

Grants to off-grid communities for access

Medium and long-term direct loans for U.S. investments in Africa

Feasibility, project preparation and technical assistance grants

Reverse trade missions and training

Risk mitigation insurance

Working capital loans for U.S. exporters

Advocacy of legal, regulatory and institutional reforms

African trade promotion programs

Loans to African purchasers of U.S. goods and services

Transaction advisory services

Power Africa, a U.S. Government interagency initiative:

59  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business - POWER AFRICA

PARTNERING WITH POWER AFRICA Initiative Built on Partnership Partnership is at the core of Power Africa. Large and small-scale solutions for bringing cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity to subSaharan Africa are all grounded in the new model of development that drives Power Africa, which links public and private sector goals and resources, and connects investors and entrepreneurs to business opportunities in Africa.

Power Africa has partnered with many of the leading U.S., African and international private sector companies engaged in the power sector in subSaharan Africa, including developers, equipment providers, advisors, energy service providers, financial institutions and investors. Power Africa partners share the U.S. Government’s vision for working together to reach the common goal of increasing access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa and are willing to commit their resources and expertise to make this vision a reality.

Benefits of Power Africa Partnership

What Our Partners are Saying: “The benefit of association is important and significant. Our business partners are taking us more seriously the fact that we are part of this initiative.”

- Gilman Kasiga, CEO, EA Power “It has been critical to our success that Power Africa provides access to several arms of the American government, streamlining the process for developers on the ground so that we do not have to approach multiple agencies independently, but have Power Africa at the center directing our advocacy across agencies.”

- Richard Herbert, CEO, Aeolus Kenya

Power Africa private sector partners receive a variety of benefits from aligning themselves with the initiative, including: 9 Streamlined and coordinated access to the 12 Power Africa agencies of the U.S. Government (USG), including through joint meetings with multiple USG agencies 9 Open lines of communication to Power Africa staff and transaction advisors on the ground in Power Africa focus countries 9 Opportunity to inform Power Africa’s policy reform, transaction advisory and technical assistance efforts aimed at addressing critical constraints to power sector development and investment 9 Review of the partner’s project pipeline to identify opportunities for potential support of Power Africa agencies (for a summary of the types of support available from USG agencies visit http://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica/partners/us-government-agencies) 9 Consideration for technical assistance under the Power Africa Transactions and Reforms Program managed

by USAID 9 Connections to other members of the Power Africa network, including other private sector partners, Power Africa partner governments and partner donors such as the World Bank and African Development Bank 9 Invitations to Power Africa-related events 9 Profile in a quarterly Power Africa newsletter 9 Recognition as partner on Power Africa website and in Power Africa publications 9 Positive public relations and enhanced profile that come with connection to the respected Power Africa brand

Expectations of Partners Partnering with Power Africa begins by providing a written commitment of support that outlines how the partner will advance Power Africa’s goals. Thereafter, it is expected that a partner will actively engage with the initiative, including through collaborating on specific projects, sharing information on project opportunities, identifying constraints to project development and investment, participating in constructive dialogue with governments to support necessary reforms, and providing periodic updates on its progress toward the goals set forth in its commitment.

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Limitations on Partnership While there are many benefits to becoming a Power Africa partner, partners will not receive any favorable treatment with respect to acquisition and assistance instruments that may be awarded by USG agencies and are not guaranteed support from USG agencies for the partner’s projects or business, whether in the form of financing, technical assistance, advocacy or otherwise.

Frequently Asked Questions 1. What do I have to do to become a Power Africa partner?

Power Africa is interested in continuing to add partners that are aligned with the mission of the initiative and will add significant value to the initiative’s efforts. As a first step, please express your interest in partnering through the Power Africa website here: http://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica/partner-power-africa. A member of the Power Africa team will reach out to you to further understand your interest in the initiative and explore how best Power Africa and your organization might collaborate. If there appears to be a strong fit, your organization may be invited to provide a letter of commitment expressing your support for Power Africa and setting forth the specific activities you intend to pursue in furtherance of Power Africa’s objectives (e.g., investing $___, developing ___ MWs, providing energy access to ___ people).

2. By becoming a Power Africa partner, do all of the partner’s transactions or projects become official “Power Africa transactions”?

No. All transactions or projects are reviewed independently and are selected based on their merit, alignment with Power Africa goals and priorities, and the requirements of relevant Power Africa agencies. Each agency has its own internal processes and criteria to review projects and decides independently whether and how to engage on partner projects.

3. How does my project become a Power Africa project?

See the answer to #2 above. While subject to the limitations set forth in #2 above, the Power Africa team, including our transaction advisors and embassy staff on the ground, can streamline your engagement with the Power Africa USG agencies and utilize the biweekly interagency Power Africa Working Group meeting to share new project opportunities with a broad audience.

4. I'm interested in finding companies to partner with. Is there a network of Power Africa partners I can access (in the U.S. and in-country)?

A key strength of the Power Africa initiative is the diverse and high quality group of Power Africa partners. We are frequently introducing partners and facilitating dialogue among our partners, which has resulted in significant collaboration opportunities and the development of strong working relationships within the network.

We are currently exploring additional approaches that could further expand collaboration and information sharing within the Power Africa network.

5. What kind(s) of support does Power Africa provide that my company might access and how?

In addition to the support listed in the “Benefits of Power Africa Partnership” section above, the USG has a variety of tools and resources available to assist Power Africa partners and their projects (see a summary at http://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica/partners/us-government-agencies).

6. Are there different criteria for companies that focus on smaller, rural, off- and/or mini-grid solutions since both the financial requirements and total MWs are generally significantly less than for large, on-grid projects?

Companies that focus on smaller scale, rural, off- and/or mini-grid solutions are important partners to Power Africa as they directly address energy access issues. We have a large number of such partners supporting our Beyond the Grid sub-initiative (see http://www.usaid.gov/powerafrica/beyond-the-grid) for more information).

Despite the differences in focus and scale, the process and considerations for becoming a Power Africa partner are the same for all potential partners (see the answer to #1 above).

For more information on Power Africa visit: www.usaid.gov/powerafrica

61  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

FOR

Chocolate Day

SPECIAL OCCASION

OR ANY

Business / One-On-One

Nubian Skin Redefines Nude for all Women and Challenges Fashion's Assumptions

by Joneka Percentie, For Harriet

I

f you're what a white novelist would describe as mocha, caramel, chestnut, or any other strange food combination, you probably have a difficult time finding hosiery and lingerie that match your skin tone. When traditional ideas of "nude" mean very fair skin, many Black women are left out.

That's where Nubian Skin (www. nubianskin.com) comes in. Nubian

Skin caters to the fashion needs of brown-skinned w)omen in search for truly nude lingerie. I have personally experienced the frustration of trying to find the perfect match for my skin, so I was super happy to have the chance to talk with Nubian Skin's Ade Hassan about representation in the fashion world and challenging "traditional" markets.

-Joneka Percentie

For Harriet: The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines nude as “having the color of a white person's skin.” How does Nubian Skin combat this?

Ade Hassan: Nubian Skin aims to re-define ‘nude’ by recognising that everybody’s nude is different. Nude isn’t just the colour of one person’s skin – it is the colour of YOUR skin!

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FH: Do you plan to introduce more shades as you expand?

AH: We don’t currently have any plans to introduce more shades, but it is something we would definitely consider if the demand was there!

FH: What does traditional “nude” lingerie say about standards of beauty?

AH: I can’t speak to what it says about standards of beauty, but it definitely speaks volumes as to who the majority of players believe are their market. Unless you have decision makers with the perspective of, “oh this doesn’t work with my nude”, then a company is unlikely to realise that their customers might feel that way.

FH: In what other ways do you think clothes are used as a tool to enforce society’s beauty standards?

AH: I think significant progress has been made in recent years with more brands emerging that focus on under-served markets, which is such a positive trend.

FH: Any interest in expanding to other types of nude clothing/ accessories (slips, camisoles, corsets, etc)?

AH: We certainly have some ideas in the pipeline, so watch this space!

FH: Was there a specific event that gave you the idea to start Nubian Skin?

AH: Nubian Skin was born out of frustration of not being able to find what I wanted in shops, so I decided to create it. I knew I couldn’t be the only one who felt the same way!

FH: How would you like to see standards of beauty challenged in fashion?

AH: It would be great if one day everybody was fairly represented in the fashion world.

Being able to look at a magazine and see an image that you can relate to is an incredibly empowering thing.

FH: What is your favorite item from the Nubian Skin line?

AH: I wear the essential t-shirt bra almost every day!

FH: What do you love about working for Nubian Skin?

AH: I love that my vision has come to life and that I’m able to solve an everyday issue for so many women! The lovely e-mails we get just saying ‘thank you’ makes all of the hard work worthwhile!

FH: Where do you see Nubian Skin in the future?

AH: I would absolutely love it if Nubian Skin was a household name and the go-to brand for Women of Colour. I can’t wait for the day that any woman can walk into her local Nordstrom (http://shop.nordstrom. com/sr?origin=keywordsearch&contex tualcategoryid=0&keyword=nubian+sk in) or John Lewis and pick up a pair

of Nubian Skin tights or that perfect nude bra!"  (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.) www.mycoloures.com/2015/06/nubianskin-redefines-nude-for-all.html

65  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Ade Hassan

www.abff.com/

Business

Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC)

favorable rates through the federal government.

•And the national economy benefits as the small businesses financed by SBICs continue to create jobs and generate tax revenues.

Where can I learn more?

Visit the SBIC Program pages ( w w w. s b a . g o v / c o n t e n t / s b i c program-overview-0), including the FAQ, for more information about the SBIC Program. Still have questions? Email askSBIC@sba. gov. 

D

id you know that the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) program has been helping high-growth small businesses get financing since 1958?

That's right – for more than 50 years, SBICs have facilitated the flow of long-term capital to America’s businesses. There are thousands of small business success stories, but here are a few you probably recognize: Costco, Apple and Staples – just to name a few.

funds (the SBICs) that finance small businesses.

How does it work?

What are the perks?

SBA doesn't finance businesses directly. For the SBIC program, the Small Business Administration (SBA) partners with private investors to capitalize professionally-managed investment

•Small businesses can receive equity capital, long-term loans and expert management assistance.

•Investment managers can add to their own private investment capital with funds borrowed at

F

O

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MOBILE BLACK BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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Download the App Add your Business Information Be found by new & old clients

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DO IT TODAY! http://aroundthewayapp.com

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http://trayvonmartinfoundation.org 68  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

The California Black Chamber of Commerce & Foundation

20

TH Anniversary

The Legacy Continues‌

Hilton Arden West Hotel, Sacramento, California

August 27th – 29th, 2015 Sponsored in part by:

Business

The Word Cisgender is now Official

By Kellye Whitney

T

he U.S. Supreme Court made same-sex marriage legal across the nation, and near the end of June, the word cisgender was one of some 500 new additions to the Oxford English Dictionary.

The word is defined as “designating a person whose sense of personal identity corresponds to the sex and gender assigned to him or her at birth.”

People may be more familiar with the word transgender, but according to James Morton, transgender alliance manager at the Equality Network charity, the

word cisgender is a useful, neutral term that has been increasing in popularity for some time. According to OED’s compilers, the word emerged in the late 1990s. The prefix “cis-” from Latin means “on this side of,” and typically forms words in contrast to “trans.”

“Its addition to the Oxford English Dictionary reflects the significant increase in discussion of gender diversity over recent years,” Morton said in a recent article in U.K. newspaper The Independent. “We welcome the increased awareness of its meaning which this inclusion

will bring.”

The word is certainly a welcome addition to the lexicon given the LGBT community’s increasingly high profile, not to mention the historic changes that have taken place around gender identity issues.

Wouldn’t it be stunning if we could go the other route and eliminate some words from the dictionary because they’d gone out of fashion or no longer exist? One can hope.  www.talentmgt.com/blogs/4-from-theeditors/post/7387-the-word-cisgenderis-now-official

REGISTER TODAY! http://nulevents.eventready.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=reg.page&event_id=14

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Business

Investment Planning: The Basics Why do so many people never obtain the financial independence that they desire? Often it's because they just don't take that first step--getting started. Besides procrastination, other excuses people make are that investing is too risky, too complicated, too time consuming, and only for the rich. The fact is, there's nothing complicated about common investing techniques, and it usually doesn't take much time to understand the basics. One of the biggest risks you face is not educating yourself about which investments may be able to help you pursue your financial goals and how to approach the investing process. Before entertaining an investment venture, a financial plan must be created to implement your financial endeavors.

Need help in reaching your financial goals? Need a financial plan to organize your financial goals? Not too sure about the investing process? Help is only a call and/or email away, always with your best interest at heart! Regina can help get you started on your road to financial independence!

Faison Wealth & Retirement Regina Faison Wealth Manager 714-329-7184 949-200-8212 3070 Bristol Street Suite 500 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 regina@faisonwealth.com www.faisonwealth.com “Helping businesses and individuals achieve their life goals" Securities, and Investment Advisory Services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor. Woodbury Financial Services P.O. Box 64284*St. Paul, MN 55164*-800-800-2638 Faison Wealth and Retirement Services and Woodbury Financial are not affiliated entities

LA OFFICE FURNITURE Ergonomic Chairs $25.00 each 200 available

Buy 2 or more and get 10% off E: laofficefurniture@yahoo.com w: www.laofficefurniture.com 7625 Crenshaw Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90043 Open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

72  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business Technology:

Take a Look!

by LaSandra Stratton

C

heck out what these firms and organizations have to offer for your personal interests, personal wealth building, and business expansion opportunities.

http://tophatter.com

T

ophatter is a virtual auction house. It also happens to be the world's most entertaining live marketplace.

Tophatter conducts live online auctions every day where buyers and sellers can interact, chat and transact in a wide

variety of categories. Tophatter is based in Palo Alto, CA and backed by leading venture capital firms.

All of our fashion brands are guaranteed to be authentic, so bid with confidence! If you believe an item is not authentic, Tophatter will ask the seller to provide proof of authenticity. If authenticity cannot be proven, then Tophatter will issue you a full refund upon return of the item.

If you have a problem with any purchase and are unable to resolve it with the seller directly, you can report it in Tophatter's Resolution Center and our staff will help mediate towards a solution.

Be A Seller It's easy to get started! Just log into your Tophatter account and visit Sell Now. Follow several simple steps to create your first listing:

• choose the best Category and complete all the details, • upload at least 2 different photos of your item, • make sure that your starting bid is an amount you are willing to sell your item for, • and select where the package ships from and the best package size.

• Make sure you can get paid. Apply for Marketplace Payments so you can accept credit card payments - you will need to link a checking account.

Read more about Payment on Delivery.

After you've created a listing and verified that you can accept payment, you can request to schedule your first item. We anticipate that your first item will go into a live auction for bids within hours of creating the listing!

You can attend the auction to answer any questions buyers might have about your item by clicking the View This Auction button.

After the item sells to the highest bidder, the buyer will pay you directly through Tophatter, and you can prepare to ship the item to the buyer. Be sure to review how Tophatter Shipping works.

Tophatter fees will be either deducted or invoiced and can be paid on your Fees page.

After your first item has sold, you will be able to create more listings and request to schedule them.

Review more about scheduling here. After selling 5 lots, you will also be able to offer Buy Now.

http://zoom.us

Z

oom unifies cloud video conferencing, simple online meetings, group messaging, and a software-based conference

room solution into one easy-to-use platform. Our solution offers the best video, audio, and screen-sharing experience across Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Blackberry, Zoom Rooms, and H.323/SIP room systems.

Zoom unifies video conferencing and group messaging in a single tool so that companies can deploy a full capacity conference room with a single iPad, no other conference room solution can support that.

80% of the world’s workforce is not sitting in front of a computer, but now they have mobile devices.

Zoom was founded in 2011 by experienced leaders and engineers from Cisco and WebEx with the mission is to develop a peoplecentric cloud service that transforms the real-time collaboration experience and improves the quality and effectiveness of communications forever.

http://nutshell.prezi.com

N

utshell turns any moment into a short, shareable visual story.

C o m b i n i n g the simplicity of photographs, the entertainment of video, and the fun of animated graphics, the new Nutshell app turns any moment into a custom-made visual

74  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

vignette you can share with family and friends.

Just snap three photos of anything that catches your eye— who you’re with, what you’re doing, the scenery around you. Add some clever captions, sprinkle in playful graphics, and that’s it—your nutshell’s ready to share.

Besides being a fun way to share on social media, Nutshell opens the door for all sorts of unique messaging opportunities when videos are too complicated to work with and plain photos just aren’t adequate. Spontaneous shout-outs and announcements, personalized birthday greetings, real-time vacation “postcards,” new product or band promotions, and even wedding proposals—Nutshell is made for moments like these.

Download at http://prez.is/7emutx.

www.gigsalad.com

W

hat started as a simple online directory is now a revolutionary booking marketplace and a leading source of gigs for performers and event service providers across the U.S. and Canada. GigSalad is the marketplace for booking bands, musicians, entertainers, speakers and services for parties, productions, and events of all types and sizes. With tens of thousands of performers and professionals for hire across the U.S. and Canada, we provide an easy and secure way to create an extraordinary gathering, whether you’re a first-time event host or a seasoned pro. Book something awesome!

There are three (3) levels of membership for performers, entertainers and service providers.

FREE: Good for beginners or those just looking to get their feet wet. PRO: Great

for those wanting additional features and more gigs. FEATURED: Perfect for those wanting the most gigs and greatest exposure.

How to respond to quote requests?

Our easy-to-use system allows you to create a quote and contract in one step. Just fill in your details and fees, indicate the deposit you require from the buyer, and hit Send. They’ll get an email (and text) letting them know it’s arrived.

We’ll notify you the moment their payment comes through.

Our revolutionary 1-step quote/ agreement platform was designed to contain a tidy record of your correspondence and negotiations and is a legally binding agreement between you and the buyer.

How do I get paid for gigs?

We collect the deposit from the buyer, then send you a check or a PayPal payment. The balance will be paid by the buyer to you personally, usually on the day of the event. GigSalad’s booking platform is efficient, reliable and trusted by thousands of performers and event professionals.

www.supertracker.usda. gov/bwp/index.html

T

he National Institutes of Health, with a big assist from weight-change

mathematician Kevin Hall, Ph.D., unveiled a weight-loss Body Weight Planner (BWP).

It allows you to plot a realistic weight-loss strategy so you can measure your progress according to verified benchmarks rather than the theoretical (and wrong) 3,500-calories rule.

In fact, the 3,500-calories rule is largely accurate if you’re burning a pound of flesh in a chemistry lab. However, the human body isn’t a lab, where you can isolate and analyze one factor at a time. Rather, the body is an organic whole, and has many reactions to changes in calories, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, metabolism, exercise, and hormones.

When you’re dieting, almost all these interrelated events conspire to lower your daily metabolic rate through a process known as “metabolic adaptation.” As a result, a daily deficit of 500 calories produces slightly less effect on each subsequent day. The difference isn’t big at first, but grows substantially with longer periods of time, producing just 50 percent of the expected weight loss over 12 months.

The BWP allows you to pick your current weight, a target weight, and your timeframe for losing weight.

It then calculates the changes you will need to make—lower calorie intake and increased physical activity—to reach your target. The free BWP connects to the NIH's free “Supertracker,” (www.supertracker. usda.gov) which provides access to a food database, an exercise log, and other health tools.  Submitted by LaSandra Stratton, Chief Content Administrator of the Black Business News.

75  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Facebook: Changing the Retail Landscape - Get Ready

By Alex Kantrowitz

F

acebook wants to be more than a place to socialize, share, and discover content.

It wants you to shop inside it as well.

The company is building out shops within Facebook Pages, essentially mini e-commerce sites that give businesses a chance to set up second homes within its walls. The shops are still in the testing phase, but some already feature “buy” buttons that allow the entire shopping experience to occur within Facebook — from product discovery to checkout.

“With the shop section on the page, we’re now providing businesses with the ability to showcase their products directly on the page,” Facebook product marketing manager Emma Rodgers told BuzzFeed News.

If it works, bringing storefronts

directly to Facebook Pages could have a transformative effect on online commerce, as retailers embrace the platform not just to inform their customers, but to sell directly to them.

Though the performance of social commerce is still unproven, Facebook is intent on this program’s success. The digital advertising market, which Facebook relies on for most of its revenue, is predicted to reach almost $60 billion in 2015, according to eMarketer. Online commerce, on the other hand, is estimated to reach around $350 billion this year.

The shops are part of Facebook’s big push into commerce, one that extends to its popular Messenger app. The company recently introduced money transfer functionality in Messenger and is reportedly working on a virtual

Messenger assistant that will help people research and buy products.

Last year, Facebook introduced the buy button that lets people complete purchases on Facebook itself.

These are currently independent initiatives, but could easily be groundwork for a more robust, integrated shopping experience across Facebook’s properties.

Facebook does not currently take a percentage from product sales on its platform, but the company’s history does contain instances where it’s rolled out products with favorable terms for businesses only to roll back those terms when it decides it needs to make more money. Companies, for instance, once paid Facebook to build up likes on their page so they could communicate with their “likers” in their newsfeeds. But then their posts stopped showing up as

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often, so they were compelled to pay to reach the same people with advertising. Given the size of the commerce pie, the temptation to circle back and monetize will be there.

Commerce Changes Facebook’s shops are debuting at a time when it’s fashionable for nontraditional commerce players to build out the functionality.

Commerce has come to social — Pinterest and Twitter have introduced their versions of shops — and search, where Google recently unveiled a buy button of its own.

These initiatives are happening at a time of transition for online commerce. Though we may visit a seemingly unlimited number of websites on desktop (including lots of online shops), we spend 80% of our time on mobile apps within the top five apps, according to Forrester. On phones then, which are increasingly sucking up our time, there’s little room for the array of online shops to enter our consciousness. So these businesses are playing ball with the

most popular apps to find alternate routes to reach us, and our wallets.

And Facebook’s app is one we use an awful lot. According to Forrester, 13% of all time spent in mobile apps is spent within Facebook’s apps.

The plight of commerce companies, outside of goliaths like Amazon and Walmart, is not dissimilar to that of content companies, some of which recently made a similar move, hosting their content within Facebook through the company’s Instant Articles product.

Facebook’s shops currently number in the double digits with plans to expand, according to Rodgers, who said the project is in such an early stage that she could not share the names of any business currently piloting the program.

On mobile, Facebook is displaying these shops very prominently, right underneath the standard toolbar and about section. The setup may cause brands to use Facebook in a way more aligned with what they do, selling stuff, than the contentdriven approach they embraced by chaining graphic designers to desks

during the Super Bowl and having them create real-time marketing memes.

There won’t be a search component to start, but you can imagine uses of Facebook’s graph search where typing “shops with sales” or “stores that sell T-shirts” might return a list of such stores.

The data collected on completed purchases may also be a valuable asset for advertisers, as definitive purchase data can be a better signal than the demographic and behavioral data Facebook currently gathers.

The shops may eventually expand beyond commerce businesses and to public figures, sports teams and groups, through Rodgers would say only that it’s early on in the product’s development, without ruling those possibilities out.

“We’ll continue to add incremental features and capabilities to Pages because they are such an important part of the consumer experience on Facebook,” she said.  www.buzzfeed.com/alexkantrowitz/ facebook-takes-big-step-forward-oncommerce-builds-shops-int#.pv0DyOxKQ

I

n support of OIC's Technology Bridge Program, Bank of the West has donated 500 Steelcase Ergonomic office chairs for lowincome families, students, churches and small businesses. The key is productivity at work or study along with physical comfort. Valued at $791.00 to $2,180.00 are now only $125.00 each as a part of OIC's fund raising efforts.

Effective July 13th, the Steelcase Ergonomic Chairs will be made available to the general public. OIC's hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm. For more information contact Ms. Clark at 323-754-3116.  77  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Publisher's Message from page 3

In this month’s issue, we highlight the importance of how Cuba welcomes the United States to open the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba for the first time in 54 years. We share with you the history in Cuba that ties African Americans to the black population of this island.

Last month in June, AEG Worldwide and Los Angeles Live were the host of the 2015 BET Experience. As pioneers in Black Entertainment programming, Black Entertainment Television continues to represent outstanding programming in its current roster of television shows as well as their annual production of the 2015 BET Awards and Experience.

Looking at the way the show and experience has grown since expanding the show's platform; BET network did an outstanding job in the overall production of the awards show. It was a full-three day event filled with exciting live performances from some of the world's most talented black musical artists. In addition, it had an array of other activities and events including fashion show, celebrity basketball game and street dance off.

On behalf of Black Business News publication, we celebrate the success and excellence of BET's commitment to outstanding event planning and awards ceremonies.

We look forward to working on being a strong community base to BET in 2016. ď ƒ ww.bbala.org.

Community/Public Interest

First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at inaugral Tribal Youth Gathering. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)

White House Hosts First Ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering

By Native Max

O

n Thursday, July 9, 2015, the White House hosted the first-ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering in Washington, DC, to provide American Indian and Alaska Native youth from across the country the opportunity to interact directly with senior Administration officials and the White House Council on Native American Affairs.

The Tribal Youth Gathering, a collaboration between the White

House and Unity Inc., will continue to build upon the President’s Generation Indigenous (Gen-I) initiative and his commitment to improve the lives of Native youth across the country. President Obama launched the Gen-I initiative at the 2014 White House Tribal Nations Conference to focus on improving the lives of Native youth through new investments and increased engagement. This initiative takes a comprehensive, culturally appropriate approach to

ensure all young Native people can reach their full potential.

The Gen-I Native Youth Challenge invites Native youth and organizations across the country to become a part of the Administration’s Gen-I initiative by joining the National Native Youth Network (http://genindigenous.com/tag/ national-native-youth-network) — a White House effort in partnership with the Aspen Institute’s Center for Native American Youth and the U.S. Department of the Interior. 

80  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

U.S, Attorney General Loretta Lynch participates on a panel at the inaugral Tribal Youth Gathering. (Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon)  President Barack Obama interacts with Native American youngsters.

http://nativemaxmagazine. com/white-house-to-host-firstever-white-house-tribal-youthgathering www.whitehouse.gov/the-pressoffice/2015/07/09/remarks-firstlady-white-house-tribal-youthgathering 81  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest

Verizon Invests in STEM Education for Black Males

By Morgan State News

E

xecutives from Morgan State University and the Verizon Wireless Foundation announced a new partnership in Baltimore aimed at exposing minority males to STEM via HBCU campuses.

The Minority Male Makers Program—which will be housed on the campuses of Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T State University, Jackson State University and Kentucky State University—pulls rising Black and brown seventh- and eighth-grade students from the communities surrounding the campuses into an immersive STEM training program on campus.

To Rose Kirk, president of the Verizon Foundation, an HBCU

partnership made sense.

“We knew that we wanted a relationship with historically Black colleges and universities because it’s important that these kids are in an environment where they can see themselves and they can see success and they can see potential, and historically Black colleges and universities bring that and some,” said Kirk. “Not that you couldn’t see the same thing at Rose Kirk, president of Verizon Foundation; Tony a college that didn’t particularly of Morgan State University; and Baltimore Mayor serve this segment, but I think there’s something to be said when you are working alongside helps you to understand what your of other kids and coaches and full potential could be, so that’s why mentors who look a lot like you. It we chose [these schools].” gives you that sense of confidence, “These institutions, these HBCUs, it gives you that sense of purpose, it we are [roughly] 100 in number,

y Lewis, vice president of State Government Affairs; Dr. David A. Wilson, president r Stephanie Rawlings-Blake with students from the Minority Male Makers Program. but there are only 14 engineering schools,” said Dr. David A. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “And those 14 engineering schools are a small fraction of the 400 engineering schools in the country [and] are producing one-third of AfricanAmerican engineering graduates.”

Said Dr. Eugene DeLoatch, dean of Morgan University’s School of Engineering, when Kirk’s staff made the call with the idea, Morgan was very happy to engage in what he emphasized is a real, hands-on partnership with the corporation.

“This is what we do: we develop talent,” he said.

He went on to acknowledge the historically successful role Morgan has played in developing engineers of color in the state of Maryland— “a state where you couldn’t be an engineer out of College Park,” where the state’s flagship institution is located, because of legalized segregation. “You just couldn’t.”

But DeLoatch said partnerships

like the Minority Male Makers program are critical to the furtherance of the mission, because “we can’t do that without resources. … We can’t charge these kids what we need to develop the talent.”

“Verizon is understanding all too well that the nation must produce more Black males in the engineering space,” said Wilson.

“We’ve always got ideas in the bank,” DeLoatch continued. “We have the people resources [to train up the next generation of minority engineers].”

“Our problem is that we don’t have a bank,” added DeLoatch.

“Of course it makes sense that a company like Verizon, a technology company, is investing its resources in determining how we can give a brighter future to the youth of America, particularly those that are often marginalized and whose potential is often overlooked.”

Citing the often-recited statistics of low graduation rates and high incarceration rates as a persistent

achievement gap for minority males, Kirk said, “When you look at minority males and the obstacles they are facing in terms of the educational system, it’s very concerning. …. There are some environmental issues, there are some societal issues, there are some community issues that are driving all of that data.”

Those issues are not new, said DeLoatch.

“What we’re faced with today is that we don’t understand our history,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with those kids. … But we have gone all the way from [when he was a student in] 1952 to 2015 … and it’s still only 3 percent of engineers are African-American.

That’s our problem. They’re not the problem.”

The problem, said Kirk, is that society is completely overlooking young men of color.

“What we found is that nobody is paying attention to little Black boys and to little Hispanic boys and that they deserve the same opportunities that so many other kids have. And therefore, so we decided to create a program that would allow them to learn coding and entrepreneurship and collaboration and public speaking and all of these tremendous skills that are going to further them in their life mission.”

“It’s good community sense, it’s good public sense, it’s good every kind of sense to bring [young, minority] males to the table,” said DeLoatch. “If we don’t bring the young people that we have in this program—males—then it’s absolutely over for the United States” and the national effort to compete globally on the innovation stage.  http://news.morgan.edu/verizoninvests-in-stem-education-for-blackmales/ http://diverseeducation.com/ article/76329/

83  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest-Obituary

Claudia Alexander Dies at 56 JPL researcher oversaw Galileo, Rosetta missions

By Elaine Woo

C

laudia Alexander, a NASA scientist who oversaw the dramatic conclusion of the space agency's long-lived Galileo mission to Jupiter and managed the United States' role in the international comet-chasing Rosetta project, died July 11 at Methodist Hospital of Southern California in Arcadia. She was 56.

The cause was breast cancer, said her sister, Suzanne Alexander.

During nearly three decades at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Cañada Flintridge, Alexander was known for her research on subjects including solar wind, Jupiter and its moons, and the evolution and inner workings of comets.

She was the last project manager of Galileo, one of the most successful missions for exploring the distant reaches of the solar system. Alexander was leading the mission when scientists orchestrated its death dive into Jupiter's dense atmosphere in 2003, when the spacecraft finally ran out of fuel after eight years orbiting the giant planet.

Most recently, she was Rosetta's U.S. project manager, coordinating with the European Space Agency on the orbiter's journey to rendezvous with the 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet as it circles the sun.

Colleagues said Alexander was particularly keen on engaging the public in space science.

She spearheaded Rosetta's efforts to involve amateur astronomers through social media and recognize the value of their ground-level observations of the

spacecraft's path toward deep space. In particular, she spurred the creation of a Facebook group where members of the amateur community post comments on their sightings and interact with her and other scientists.

“Claudia's vision was to engage and empower the amateur community via various social media… a new wrinkle on the concept” of public engagement in NASA’s missions, said Padma A. Yanamandra-Fisher, a senior research scientist with the Space Science Institute who coordinated the outreach.

She "had a special understanding of how scientific discovery affects us all, and how our greatest achievements are the result of teamwork, which came easily to her," JPL director Charles Elachi said in a statement. "Her insight into the scientific process will be sorely missed."

Alexander was born in Vancouver, Canada, on May 30, 1959. She moved to the Silicon Valley with her family when she was 1 and grew up in Santa Clara. Her father, Harold Alexander, was a social worker and her mother, Gaynelle, was a corporate librarian for chip-maker

Intel.

As an African American in a predominantly white community, Alexander felt isolated. Writing became a refuge for her.

"I was a pretty lonely girl," she recalled in a feature for the University of Michigan's Engineering Magazine. "I was the only black girl in pretty much an allwhite school and spent a lot of time by myself — with my imagination."

She wanted to study journalism at UC Berkeley, but her parents "would only agree to pay for it if I majored in something 'useful,' like engineering," she said in an interview for the Rosetta website.

During college she became an engineering intern at NASA's Ames Research Center near San Jose.

But she found herself drawn to the space facility and visited it as often as she could. Her supervisor eventually arranged for her to intern in the space science division.

She went on to earn a bachelor's degree in geophysics at UC Berkeley and a master's in geophysics and space physics at UCLA. At the University of Michigan, she wrote her doctoral thesis on comet thermophysical nuclear modeling and earned a Ph.D. in atmospheric,

84  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Mildred Joanne Smith, Sidney Poitier’s First Film Co-Star, Dies at 94

Sidney Poitier and Mildred Smith

M

ildred Joanne Smith, who portrayed Sidney Poitier‘s wife in his film debut, the 1950 drama No Way Out, and then saw her career upended when she was severely injured in a plane crash, has died. She was 94.

Smith, who after her lone movie appearance became a magazine editor and a popular English teacher for a junior high school, died July 19, her family announced.

In the 1940s, Smith starred in such Broadway productions as Men to the Sea, Mamba’s Daughters, Beggar’s Holiday (as the love interest of Alfred Drake), Forward the Heart and A Long Way From Home. All were short-lived, but she

received great reviews.

In writer-director Joseph L. Mankiewicz‘s No Way Out, Smith appeared as stoic young wife Cora Brooks. She comforts her husband Luther (Poitier), a doctor just starting out who is confronted by a racist patient, robbery suspect Ray Biddle (Richard Widmark), who causes all kinds of trouble.

A native of Struthers, Ohio, Smith suffered injuries that included a broken back and ribs when the DC6 that was carrying her en route to Newark Airport crashed in Elizabeth, N.J., in February 1952, narrowly missing an orphanage.

Twenty-five of the 59 passengers on board were killed.

oceanic and space sciences.

In 1986, she joined JPL as a team member for Galileo, which was still years from launching.

In 2000, she became Rosetta's U.S. project scientist at the relatively young age of 40.

"She was always looking to improve the project and make things flow better," said Paul Weissman, an interdisciplinary scientist on Rosetta. "Europeans can be difficult about collaborations. Claudia would get people to open up and work

together."

In 2003, she became Galileo project manager, guiding efforts to destroy the venerable spacecraft to prevent it from accidentally crashing into and contaminating any of Jupiter's moons.

She had also served as a science coordinator on the Cassini Mission to Saturn.

In her spare time, Alexander wrote two books on science for children and mentored young people, especially African American

Her story was told that month in Jet magazine, with cover lines that described her as “The Magnificent Failure: She Won Fame but Never Quite Could Attain Stardom.”

After recovering, Smith concentrated on a singing career and starred with Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn in a musical revue, "Cockles and Champagne," created for the London stage.

Later, she worked as woman's editor for the black lifestyle publication Our World magazine and as a teacher at Eastview Junior High School in White Plains, N.Y. Smith married David A. Hepburn, a journalist and vice president for WNEW-TV in New York. He died in 1985.

Survivors include her daughter Vanessa, son David, stepdaughter Valerie and grandchildren Brandon, Chelsea, Cole, Kaleo, Sage and Koa.  www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/ mildred-joanne-smith-actress-in-no-wayout-dies-at-94/ar-AAdtuWk

girls. "She wanted children of color to see themselves as scientists," her sister Suzanne said.

A fan of the steampunk movement in science fiction, Alexander wrote and published short stories in the genre. She wore the Victorian-style clothing associated with steampunk fashion when she taped a TED talk on how to engage youths in math and science. Her lecture will be released later this year.  http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/ article/p2p-84024393

85  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest-Obituary

Henry T. Sampson April 22, 1934 - June 4, 2015

H

enry T. Sampson remembers a career day at Morehouse College that changed his life and, "Contrary to what you read on the Internet, I did not invent the cell phone," but was a pioneer in the technology now used in cell phones. Sampson's journey from Jackson, Miss., to West Lafayette occurred thanks to the intervention of an unknown Purdue grad. "I was attending Morehouse in Atlanta.

I went to Senior Career Day even though I was a sophomore. I spoke to a Pfizer rep, a Purdue grad who bragged about Purdue. I worked in Chicago that summer and took a bus to West Lafayette to check out Purdue. It was love at first sight."

Purdue prepared Sampson "excellently. Everything I know about chemical engineering I learned at Purdue." Sampson was a pioneer in academia as one of the first AfricanAmerican chemical engineering graduates. He went on to become the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering in the U.S. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

From 1956-61, Sampson worked as a research chemical engineer at the U.S. Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, Calif., in high-energy solid propellants and case-bonding materials for solid-rocket motors.

"The U.S. Naval Ordinance Test Station was a godsend. When I graduated from Purdue, I found many companies wouldn't hire an African-American engineer," he says. Sampson holds his master's degree in engineering from UCLA. Following graduate studies, Sampson joined the Aerospace Corp. in El Segundo, Calif., as

p r o j e c t engineer ( 1 9 6 7 81), then director of planning and operations, Directorate of Space Test Program (1981-87).

He led senior engineering staff in every phase from planning to launching and space operation of several satellites.

He was a vanguard engineer examining how to power satellites.

On July 6, 1971, Sampson was awarded a patent with George H. Miley for the invention of the gamma-electric cell, a directconversion energy device that converts the energy generated from the radiation of high-energy gamma rays into electricity. Other patents include a binder system for rocket propellants and explosives and a case-bonding system for cast-composite rocket propellants, both related to the manufacturing and production of solid-propellant rocket motors.

Sampson is a frequently cited authority on the contributions of African-Americans in cinema and performing arts in the U.S. His seven books include a twovolume set, "Blacks in Black Face: A Source Book on Early Black Musical Shows" (released in June of 2014), and several

reference books examining the frequently overlooked contributions of African-Americans in American stage and cinema from the end of the Civil War to the beginning of the radio and TV age. As for the Distinguished Engineering Alumnus award, Sampson says it's "very special because I consider Purdue the starting point of my engineering profession. It was there I took an elective course in nuclear engineering that inspired me to pursue my graduate degrees in nuclear engineering."

Sampson is married to Dr. Laura Howzell Young-Sampson, associate professor, California State University-San Bernardino.

Dr. Sampson passed away on June 4, 2015 from respiratory failure and pneumonia.

Published in the Los Angeles Times on July 11, 2015  www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/ obituary.aspx?pid=175250976

86  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

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

89  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

New Era in Ties Between U.S. and Cuba

By Matthew Lee and Peter Orsi

The Cuban flag flies during a flag-raising ceremony at the Cuban embassy in Washington, D.C., U.S. © Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

C

uba's blue, red and whitestarred flag was hoisted on July20, 2015 at the country's embassy in Washington, DC in a symbolic move signaling the start of a new post-Cold War era in U.S.Cuba relations.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez presided over the flagraising ceremony hours after full diplomatic relations with the United States were restored at the stroke of midnight, when an agreement to resume normal ties on July 20 took effect. Earlier, without ceremony, the Cuban flag was hung in the lobby of the State Department alongside those of other countries with which the U.S. has diplomatic ties. U.S. and Cuban diplomats in Washington and Havana had also

noted the upgrade in social media posts.

The United States and Cuba severed diplomatic relations in 1961 and since the 1970s had been represented in each other's capitals by limited service interests sections.

Their conversion to embassies tolled a knell for policy approaches spawned and hardened over the five decades since President John F. Kennedy first tangled with youthful revolutionary Fidel Castro over Soviet expansion in the Americas.

Rodriguez is to meet later with Secretary of State John Kerry and address reporters at a joint news conference. Kerry will travel to Havana Aug. 14 to preside over a flag-raising ceremony at the U.S. Embassy there. 

www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ new-era-in-ties-begins-as-cubaraises-flag-at-embassy-in-us/arAAdeTuI?ocid=mailsignout

Educators FYI: Contact information for educators that have any interest in recruitment/ partnership opportunities in this new market.

Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba: (53) 7 839 4100 or 7 839 4113 EducationUSA Adviser: Alidamig A. Marquez, ext. 4169, email: MarquezAX@state.gov Deputy Public Affairs Officer: Mrs. Lydia Barraza, ext. 4239, email: BarrazaLB@state.gov

90  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

Download the Zambia-USA Chamber of Commerce App from the

Apple App Store or

Google Play Store Search: "Zambia USA Chamber"

Find links to the chamber website and facebook page, and embassies; access business resources; receive breaking news; view relevant video presentations; communicate via Twitter, smartphone and e-mail.

www.zambiausachamber.org

91  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Welcome to the Diaspora Investment Opportunities Conference "Exploring Investment and Trade Opportunities for Emerging Economies" September 2-5, 2015 Participate in exhibits and business seminars to learn how the Pan African Diaspora can become full investment partners in economic development in Africa, Central and South America, the Caribbean and the U.S. to create businesses and jobs in urban and rural communities.

GLOBAL DIASPORA CONFERENCE Galen Center, University of Southern California

Sept 2, 2015: The first day of the conference will feature speakers, exhibits and business seminars that present current programs to assist the International Pan African Diaspora in investing in the economic development of emerging economies in Africa, the Caribbean, Asia, Latin America and urban communities in the United States.

"Pan African Entrepreneurship: Developing Village Economies in Urban and Rural Settings" California State University Dominguez Hills

Sept 3, 2014: Day two will feature Social Enterprise Programs that provide investment opportunities for local economic development in rural and urban communities.

Presentations will focus on development and investment for local community based community service programs, small businesses, cooperative enterprises, and entrepreneurship.

"Pan African Business & investment Opportunity Showcase" Carson Community Center

Sept 4-5, 2015: The last two days of the conference will feature an African Marketplace Trade Pavilion with industry sector presentations, business round-tables and seminars.

Delegates from the United States, Africa and the Pan African Diaspora are invited to present international business and investment opportunities. Targeted industry sectors include agriculture, manufacturing, telecommunications, tourism, education, water and power, health care and transportation. *Visit our conference website www.panafricanglobaltradeconference.com for additional information such as current speaker and schedule updates.

You may also contact the Conference Secretariat for additional information and/or if you're interested in participating as a speaker, a sponsor or an exhibitor at +1-424204-2703 or +1-626-381-9696.

International

Kenya: Financing and Construction of the Lamu-Nairobi Transmission Line and Substation The Kenya Electricity Transmission Co. Ltd. (KETRACO), the Government of Kenya implementing agency on behalf of the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, invites sealed bids from eligible bidders for the execution of the 400kV Lamu - Nairobi East transmission line and new 4x300MVA, 400/220kV Nairobi East substation.

The project is divided into Lots A, B, and C, and interested firms may bid for any or all lots. Bidders will be responsible for mobilizing funds to finance the implementation of the lot(s) they bid for. KETRACO has noted that no Sovereign Guarantee shall be provided by the Government of Kenya for this project.

Link for more information: Please see this PDF (www.ustda.gov/businessopps/tradeleads/ SPNAdvertLamuNairobiEast.pdf) for the official Specific Procurement Notice/ Invitation for Bids from KETRACO. Further information, including the entire bid document, is also available on the KETRACO website at www.ketraco.co.ke.

Proposal Deadline: The deadline for submissions is 10:00 AM (local Nairobi time) on Tuesday, August 11, 2015.

Point of Contact: Chief Manager Planning & Development Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited Capitol Hill Square, 2nd Floor Chyulu Road, Upper Hill P.O. Box 34942-00100, Nairobi KENYA Tel: +254 20 2956000 Fax: +254 20 4956010 Email: jmativo@ketraco.co.ke Email: jmuna@ketraco.co.ke About USTDA: The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies.

International

CAMEROON PILGRIMAGE 2015-2016 ROOTS AND RECONNECTION AND VALEURS D’AFRIQUE Organized by Dr. Lisa Aubrey, Arizona State University, USA / University of Yaounde I, Cameroon Alain Kenfack, Valeurs d'Afrique, CEO, Villages d'Afrique, Publisher DATES: Saturday, December 26, 2015 to Saturday, January 9, 2016 ESTIMATED COST: $5,000.00 (less if you buy your ticket early) WHAT DOES COST COVER? $5,000.00 covers international round trip air ticket with overnight stop in Paris, local transport in Cameroon, gift bags on arrival; lodging in Cameroon, food up to a daily maximum, water, local organizing fees, entrance fees to events including Pilgrimage to Bimbia, cultural activity fees, photographer's fees and production, group gifts to Cameroonian hosts (you may also supplement the gift if you choose).

WHAT DOES COST NOT COVER? Does not cover passport, and visa to Cameroon, immuizations, personal travel not scheduled with the group, alcohol with meals or parties, non-group transport, shopping for personal gifts, personal phone calls, texts, and other communications costs, personal non-group activities.

SOME MAJOR FEATURES OF THIS TRIP AND RELATED ACTIVITIES. • Stop in Paris for tour Pagnes and Boubou celebration and gala with the African diaspora in Paris to meet, greet, and reconnect https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pagnes-et-Boubous/300864786594474?fref=ts • New Year's celebration in Cameroon • Bana tribute to Ancestor and Panafricanist Annie Kadji who worked with me to organize stops in Bana on Diaspora pilgrimages • Pilgrimage to the Bimbia Slave Trade Site in Cameroon, which is the first to be located and recognized in the country, and which was declared a national historic and heritage site by the Cameroon government in May 2013. It is related to the almost 200 slave ships that I have located and traced to their disembarkations in the Diaspora, including the USA. We will engage in cultural, education and reconnection activitites in Yaounde, Dschang and Limbe.

GENERAL GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS • All airline tickets are to bought indivually for designaed flight dates to Cameroon. Please informa when your ticket is purchased and send your itinerary to: rootsreconnection@gmail.com and contact@valeursdafrique. org • $3,000 (as part of the overall $5,000) Cameroon group travel fee to be sent in specified installments by specified dates for covering all inclusive costs (remember the $2,000 balance is an estimate for your international air ticket) • Non-refundable deposit of $15.00 to be paid as trip commitment fee by August 1, 2015. This will be applied to your group funds to defray group costs.

• Humanitarian educational school supplies and scholarship project to be implemented as part of pilgramage.

Your second suitcase should be filled with school supplies to be donated to the project. (in turn, this will clear your second suitcase for things you purchase in Cameroon). You may also make a scholarship donation if you choose. For reference visit: www.facebook.com/MelleMel and www. valeursdafrique.org.

Volunteers in our travel group will be needed to assist with the project. For familiarization, please go to http:// exposingbimbia.blogspot.fr/p/related-diaspora-projects.html.

• Passports should be secured as soon as possible at http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english.html.

Each US citizen traveling to Cameroon must send in his/her documents to the Cameroon Embassy in Washington, DC by November 1, 2015 for a visa.

• Immunizations, anti-malarials, and corresponding Yellow Card, should be secured by the appropriate medical professionals in time for travel You cannot enter Cameroon with a Yellow Card.

• Medial form to be sent out must be filled in its entirety. This is mandatory.

94  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

DEADLINES • August 15, 2015---Deadline for payment of non-refundble commitment fee of $150.00.

• September 1, 2015---Deadline for purchase of airline ticket on designated flights/dates through the travel agent of your choice.

• October 1, 2015---Deadline for payment of 1st installment of $1,000.00 • November 1, 2015---Deadline for payment of 2nd installment of $1,000.00.

• December 1, 2015----Deadline for payment of 3rd installment of $850.00 for US travelers.

Please pay by only money orders or certified checks or bank deposits, and keep receipts for your records.

Please pay to: Lisa Aubrey, 1058 Steven Wiltz Road, St. Martinville,

LA USA 70582; If your preference is to make a direct deposit into my Chase bank account, please let me know and we will make this possible.

OTHER IMPORTANT NOTES • There will be mandetory telemeetings to prepared for the pilgrimage. There will be approximately 3 group telemeetings between September 15, 2015 and December 1, 2015. Participation is a must and there will be email and Facebook correspondence • Cameroon is a Cash economy.

You will not be able to make purchases in Cameroon with credit or debit cards. ATMS are rare and not always dependable.

Bring cash!

• The Cameeroon currency is called the CFA. For personal purchases, you will exchange currency for CFA in Cameroon (not in US or Europe). The larger the bill you exchange, the better the rate. Please do not bring one dollar bills. Please also try to bring newer bills and crisp bills.

Most times older and tattered bills are not accepted.

• Group in-country pilgrimate cost of $3,000.00 is based on double occupancy in moderate hotels and guesthouses. Single room occupancy is available, if requested, at a higher rate. this will cost more. lisa_aubrey@hotmail.com www.youtube.com/ watch?v=bdU4PlgnTTI

REGISTER NOW Contact: Ruth Artates California Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation 1-916-463-0177 cbcc@calbcc.org OR VISIT http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/ register/event?oeidk=a07eaxw2slo608dfd12 &llr=yi9tkndab

95  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

Follow up Story: USTDA Staff Commentary: Increasing Internet Access, Unlocking Imaginations in South Africa

of slavery, apartheid and other forms of exploitation whose remnants are still manifest today through crime, unemployment and poverty.

To the casual tourist or business traveler, these blights loom around the edges of the city. From the top of Table Mountain, one can see Robben Island, a relic of past struggles where Nelson Mandela and so many other anti-apartheid leaders were held prisoner for decades.

Traveling eastward, which few visitors do, one can follow the trail of forced migration and resettlement

USTDA Country Manager for Southern Africa, Michael DeRenzo, stands outside of Lentegeur Library in the township of Mitchells Plain in Cape Town, South Africa

C

ape Town, South Africa is a jewel at the bottom of the African continent - a city with tremendous natural beauty, a vibrant economy and a rich history. But that history also bears the scars

of non-white populations into "townships," the vast, crowded and often underdeveloped communities that ring the periphery of Cape Town and other urban centers in South Africa.

96  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Lentegeur Library Many of the individuals born and raised in these townships still lack access to adequate, affordable education, healthcare and other basic services. As is the case throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa, and in many other developing and middle-income markets around the world, their cycle of poverty is exacerbated by insufficient or non-existent power, transportation and telecommunications infrastructure.

For me, USTDA's work is all about tapping into U.S. knowhow to develop these basic building blocks for inclusive economic growth. One of my most rewarding experiences as USTDA's Country Manager for Southern Africa has been to see USTDA's mission come to life in the Cape Town Digital Inclusion Initiative (www. ifipwg94.org.br/fullpapers/R0040-1.pdf), which is providing free Wi-Fi in underserved areas.

Three years ago, I accompanied USTDA's Director, Leocadia Zak, to the signing of a grant agreement that would fund a feasibility study to expand municipal internet services to the townships of Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain. After Director Zak and Cape Town's Mayor, Patricia DeLille, signed the grant at the Civic Centre, we visited the city's Central Library and met community members that used the library's computers to learn, conduct business and communicate with their loved ones.

The City of Cape Town selected decision/analysis partners, a global consulting firm headquartered in Washington DC, to carry out the feasibility study.

The study, which was completed last year, provided analyses and recommendations for a comprehensive roadmap to introduce wireless internet technology in the community, including the construction of a Wi-Fi mesh network, the development of internet service provider (ISP) agreements, project milestones and

implementation schedules, and public communication and digital literacy campaigns in the townships.

A few months ago, I was back in Cape Town with USTDA's Director and had the honor of participating in an event to mark the commencement of Wi-Fi services at the Lentegeur Library (www.westerncape.gov. za/facility/lentegeur-public-library) in the township of Mitchells Plain. We also toured and ran connectivity tests at two additional public hotspots in the surrounding neighborhoods. I was struck by the number of people, especially the number of children, gathered around these hotspots with mobile devices and even more amazed at the thought of how they might use this boundless supply of information to improve their lives and the lives of their families, friends and neighbors.

Playing a part in the Cape Town Digital Inclusion Initiative really drove home for me the value of working together to create mutually beneficial partnerships.

In Africa, it is often said that it takes a village to raise a child. It took a global village to make this project possible. From the partnership between USTDA and Cape Town, to the blueprints laid out by decision/ analysis partners, as well as the U.S. equipment and services providers that built the network, the ISPs and content providers, and the communities of Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain themselves, everyone contributed to the success of the project and everyone benefits as a result. The individuals that live in these communities benefit from improved access to healthcare, education and other basic services; the City of Cape Town benefits from an empowered population; and the United States benefits from export-led job creation. And who knows what benefits we might all gain from the imagination of a child in Mitchells Plain who now has a world of knowledge in the palm of her hand. 

97  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

Facebook Taps Nunu Ntshingila to Head its First Office in Africa

By Mwirigi

C

hairperson of Ogilvy South Africa, Nunu NtshingilaNjeke has been named the head of Facebook’s Africa office.

Ntshingila-Njeke is a bonafide heavyweight in the advertising industry having received several of

the industry’s highest honours.

In 2003, she was named a finalist in the Businesswoman of the Year Award, in 2004 she again attained finalist status in the Shoprite Checkers/SABC Woman of the Year award, as well as being named Financial Mail’s Advertising Leader of the Year. In 2005, she won the coveted prize of Business Personality of the Year at the Top Women in Business and Government Awards.

In early 2011, Nunu was appointed to the Ogilvy & Mather Board, where she joined 30 of the world’s top advertising and marketing professionals as the unique representative from Africa.

S h e graduated from the University of Swaziland with a Bachelor of Arts, from Morgan State University in the US with a master of business administration

and from AAA School of Advertising in Johannesburg with a diploma in advertising.

Ntshingila-Njeke will be faced by the unique challenge in Africa of the cost of accessing the internet, along with its lack of accessibility in some regions.

These are challenges that Facebook has tried to address with initiatives such as Facebook Zero and the recent push to allow users to sign up to Facebook messenger without e-mail addresses.

However insfratructural challenges in certain countries and major swaths of relatively well developed countries remains a challenge. The vast majority of Africans have significantly low disposable income, and feature phones maintain their dominance over smartphones.

According to Bloomberg, of Africa’s more than 1 billion people, only 120 million are on Facebook, this represents huge potential for growth and it will be interesting to see what Facebook and businesses using Facebook to reach customers have in store for us.  http://mulikamwizi.com/2015/07/06/ facebook-picks-ogilvy-sa-chairnunu-ntshingila-njeke-to-run-africaoffice

98  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

Tidjane Thiam Named New CEO of Credit Suisse

F

or adherents to the cult of superstar chief executive, it has been an encouraging fortnight. Standard Chartered’s appointment of Bill Winters, onetime deputy head at JP Morgan, immediately added 5% to the value of the Asia-focused bank. More spectacularly, Credit Suisse rose 8% as it hired Tidjane Thiam from the Prudential.

On the face of it, the enthusiasm looks like a case of wishful thinking.

Remember one of Warren Buffett’s pieces of wisdom from the 1980s: “When a management with a reputation for brilliance tackles a business with a reputation for bad economics, it is the reputation of the business that remains intact.”

Most of the time, Buffett has been right. But in Thiam's case, there are at least five reasons why his chances of success are better than Buffett’s remarks would suggest.

First, he’s clearly an exceptional individual – you do not emerge from Ivory Coast to rise to the top of the UK’s 11th-largest company unless you’re good. Thiam was the first black chief executive of a FTSE 100 company and got the job in 2009 at the relatively young age of 47.

And he has not achieved success via sharp elbows: he is unfailingly polite.

Second, he’s good at choosing who he works for. He left Aviva in 2007 to join arch-rival the Pru as Finance Director, probably spotting that the fortunes of the two companies were about to diverge.

“I voted with my feet in joining

the group,” he said afterwards.

Third, it’s relatively easy – with hindsight – to explain the success of the Pru under Thiam.

The business had improved under predecessor Mark Tucker, but the acceleration since 2009, which has seen a tripling of the share price, has been built on a clear-headed and rigorous allocation of capital.

It’s not rocket science. Heavy investment in Asia has been justified by the sums of cash that have flowed to the centre.

A dose of similar financial discipline might do wonders for Credit Suisse: it is probably best at wealth management, not investment banking, and maybe a reordering of priorities will provide the necessary jolt.

Fourth, Thiam’s big adventure at the Pru – the abandoned $35bn bid for AIA – doesn’t look so silly with the passage of time. The bid was killed by Pru’s own sceptical shareholders and Thiam’s job was briefly on the line. But AIA’s value has doubled subsequently. The execution challenges would still have been stiff, but the price was right.

Fifth, Thiam is probably not the

Illustration: David Simonds for the Observer

banking novice of caricature. As he pointed out last week, he worked on restructuring jobs for investment banks when a consultant at McKinsey. He has traded interest rate swaps and built option-pricing models. And the Pru has an $800bn balance sheet, which requires its boss to know how to hedge risk. He is unlikely to be baffled by banking details.

There are, of course, no guarantees whatsoever that Thiam will succeed at Credit Suisse, and it’s usually ridiculous in any case to ascribe corporate success to one individual. But, from Zurich’s point of view, the appointment is entirely logical.  www.theguardian.com/business/2015/ mar/15/tidjane-thiam-credit-suisse-pruchief-executive

99  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

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 100  July 2015  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 101  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

konya

gi.co.t

z

International

One Africa:

Tell the US Government that North Africa is Africa Too!

J

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

Shopping Gallery

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

Baron's Painting & Decorating Service Baron Williams

30 Years of Experience Greater Los Angeles Area Specializing in Exterior and Interior Painting, Tiling, Linoleum

www.carolsdaughter.com

Flooring, & Wall Paper

"I will paint any one story building or house for $2,500 satisfaction guaranteed."

1-323-490-3774 107  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

108  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Find us at: many Nordstrom stores nationwide

Find us at: https://nubianskin.com

Empowering Women.

Embracing our Colour.

Collection Bed, Bath & Beyond

http://bsmith.com/shop

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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 113  July 2015  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 Gift of Books and Music G Come see our unsurpassed collection of books, music, videos, children’s books, and games!

1-323-294-0324

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

116  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

New Location Leimert Park Village 3347 W. 43rd Street Los Angeles, CA 90008 1-323-299-6383 www.zambezibazaar.com shop@ zambezibazaar.com

117  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Calendar August

jobs in urban and rural communities.

Visit our conference website www. panafricanglobaltradeconference. com for additional information. ď ƒ

12th-17th

13th-15th 2015 African Global Economic and Development Summit Ta k i n g place on the campus of the University of California (USC), This 3rd annual conference connects the US entreprenuer and business communities to the opportunities and growth potential of the African Continent. For particiation information visit www. agedsummit.com. ď ƒ

Trade Winds Africa Conference Set for Johannesburg, South Africa is a two-tier event. Particpants may elect the conference only option or the conference plus trade stops option.

The Trade Stops offered in conjunction with the conference are: Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, and extended time in South Africa.

For detailed particiation information go to www.trade.gov/DBIA/ tradewinds-africa/index.asp. ď ƒ

minoirty owners of small businesses to present directly to corporate and government procurement officers. For particiation information visit www.bbala.org. ď ƒ

September 2nd-5th Diaspora Investment Opportunities Conference Participate in exhibits and business seminars to learn how the Pan African Diaspora can become full investment partners in economic development in Africa, Central and South America, the Caribbean and the U.S. to create businesses and

29th 2015 Africa Showcase South Africa Airways hosts exhibits in 4 US cities - Los Angeles, 9/30, Dallas, 10/1, Boston, 10/5, Toronto, 10/7. For details go to www.onshowsolutions.co.za ď ƒ

October

Procurement Exchange Summit The annual Business Conference, Procurement Exchange and Awards Luncheon provides the perfect opportunity for

March 2016 26th BBA Salute to Black Women The annual Business Conference, Vendor Faire and Awards Luncheon will honor Women in Public Service and Government. For particiation information visit www.bbala.org. ď ƒ

120 ď‚ą July 2015 ď‚ą Black Business News ď‚ą www.blackbbusinessnews.net ď‚ą 1-323-291-7819

Books to Consider

Books to Consider...

The Click Moment: Seizing Opportunity in an Unpredicatable World &

The Medici Effect

by Frans Johansson

I

n today’s market, the rules are changing so fast that formulas for success are disintegrating, and multi million-dollar insights can strike anybody, anywhere, at any time.

come from people with little or no related experience?

Charles Darwin was a geologist when he proposed the theory of evolution.

And it was an astronomer who finally explained what happened to dinosaurs.

In THE MEDICI EFFECT, Frans Johansson takes us on a fascinating journey to THE INTERSECTION: a place where ideas and concepts from diverse industries, cultures, departments, and disciplines collide, ultimately igniting an explosion of ideas leading to extraordinary innovations. Breakthrough ideas are most often “intersectional” and occur when we bring concepts from one field into a new, unfamiliar territory. In the book, Frans further offers examples of how we can turn the ideas we discover into path-breaking innovations.

THE MEDICI EFFECT, translated into 18 languages, is the definitive book on how diversity drives innovation, and its influence around the world keeps accelerating.  www.fransjohansson.com

Better Than Good Hair: The In short short, randomness is taking over over.

THE CLICK MOMENT is the first in-depth study of how randomness, serendipity and, yes, luck are the new normal. More than that, it is a compendium of 100% actionable information for how smart entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders can set “bait” for their own click moments, notice them when they happen and harness their vast potential immediately.

If a good idea is a light bulb going off over your head, a true click moment is a supernova exploding at 100 billion degrees. Frans deciphers these miniature miracles, showing that success is random but randomness is ours to control. Why do so many world-changing insights

Curly Girl Guide to Healthy, Gorgeous Natural Hair!

by Nikki Walton

T

he fresh new handbook on how to achieve and maintain stylish natural hair, from the savviest and most revered expert on coils and curls These days there's a revolution going on. Relaxers are out. Weaves are so yesterday. Tired of damage from expensive chemical treatments and artificial enhancers, women of color are going natural thanks to

122  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Geoffrey Holder: A Life in Theater, Dance and Art

by Jennifer Dunning

G

eoffrey Holder, a Guggenheim Award-winning painter and the Tony Award-winning director and designer of the Broadway musical The Wiz, is also a well-respected choreographer and set and costume designer, for his own company as well

Nikki Walton of CurlyNikki.com, the natural hair blogger and online hair therapy expert.

In Better Than Good Hair, this gifted "curl whisperer" educates women on how to transition from relaxed to completely natural hair, with advice and styles for every length—from Fierce Braid-and-Curls to Fancy Faux Buns. She also counsels those considering the "big chop"—cutting it all off at once to sport a bold and beautiful "teeny weeny afro." Here, too, is essential guidance for parents of mixed-race children dealing with new and unfamiliar hair textures and styles.

Combining Walton's expansive knowledge with tips from other experts in the field, Better Than Good Hair includes: •Product recommendations •Home hair care recipes •Advice for parents on how to manage their children's natural hair •Tips for using henna on gray hair •Guidance on dealing with detractors •Step-by-step illustrated directions for nearly two dozen hairdos, from frohawks to twist-outs Full of indispensable information, as empowering as it is accessible, and with a foreword by actress and comedian Kim Wayans, Better Than Good Hair is a must-have natural hair care bible that will help women of all ages and styles achieve their natural beauty.  www.amazon.com/Better-Than-Good-Hair-Gorgeous/ dp/0062123769

as for the Dance Theater of Harlem and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. As readers learn in this exuberant portrait, this transplanted Trinidadian is also a man with a compelling story to tell about his experiences as an artist and outsider who found success in America.

Jennifer Dunning, a dance critic at the New York Times, provides an appreciation of this multitalented artist and his many contributions to the arts community, while the illustrations reveal his wide-ranging creativity and exciting social life in Paris, New York, and the Caribbean.  www.amazon.com/Geoffrey-Holder-Life-Theater-Dance/ dp/0810913925

123  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Resources Media/Information Africa Interactive Multimedia Press/Content Agency in Africa www.africa-interactive.com Africa World Press Books www.africaworldpressbooks.com African Trade Magazine www.africantrademagazine.com African Vibes Magazine www.africanvibes.com The Africapitalist www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/ africapitalisminstitute/africapitalist-magazine The African World www.theafricanworld.tv Africast TV www.africast.tv Afritorial www.afritorial.com www.facebook.com/Afritorial AllAfrica http://allafrica.com Black Wall Street Times http://bwstimes.com Black Business News Group www.blackbusinessnews.net BlackPast.org www.blackpost.org Black Press USA www.blackpressusa.com BridesNoir www.bridesnoir.com CuisineNoir www.cuisinenoirmag.com DiasporaVoice www.blogtalkradio.com/diasporavoice Publish Africa http://wow.gm/publishafrica Rock Me Africa //rockmeafrica.com YouTube Educational Channels http://teacherswithapps.com/197-educational-youtube-channels-know

Organizations

www.au.int/en Black Business Association www.bbala.org CauseCast www.causecast.com www.causecastfornonprofits.com 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 Disrupt Africa http://disrupt-africa.com/ The Exchange Magazine www.nse.co.ke Silicon Harlem http://event.siliconharlem.net Ventures www.ventures-africa.com

U.S. Government Commerce Department www.doc.gov International Trade Administration http://trade.gov Minority Business Development Agency www.mbda.gov Power Africa www.usaid.gov/powerafrica Small Business Administration www.sba.gov State Department www.dos.gov Trade Africa www.usaid.gov/tradeafrica White House www.whitehouse.gov

Africa Leadership Forum http://africaleadership.org The African Union 124  July 2015  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819