BBA News FEB '10 by Black Business News Group

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary February 1, 2010

National African American History Month, 2010 BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION In the centuries since African Americans first arrived on our shores, they have known the bitterness of slavery and oppression, the hope of progress, and the triumph of the American Dream. African American history is an essential thread of the American narrative that traces our Nation’s enduring struggle to perfect itself. Each February, we recognize African American History Month as a moment to reflect upon how far we have come as a Nation, and what challenges remain. This year’s theme, “The History of Black Economic Empowerment,” calls upon us to honor the African Americans who overcame injustice and inequality to achieve financial independence and the security of self empowerment that comes with it. Nearly 100 years after the Civil War, African Americans still faced daunting challenges and indignities. Widespread racial prejudice inhibited their opportunities, and institutional discrimination such as black codes and Jim Crow laws denied them full citizenship rights. Despite these seemingly impossible barriers, pioneering African Americans blazed trails for themselves and their children. They became skilled workers and professionals. They purchased land, and a new generation of black entrepreneurs founded banks, educational institutions, newspapers, hospitals, and businesses of all kinds. This month, we recognize the courage and tenacity of so many hard-working Americans whose legacies are woven into the fabric of our Nation. We are heirs to their extraordinary progress. Racial prejudice is no longer the steepest barrier to opportunity for most African Americans, yet substantial obstacles remain in the remnants of past discrimination. Structural inequalities -- from disparities in education and health care to the vicious cycle of poverty -- still pose enormous hurdles for black communities across America. Overcoming today’s challenges will require the same dedication and sense of urgency that enabled past generations of African Americans to rise above the injustices of their time. That is why my Administration is laying a new foundation for long-term economic growth that helps more than just a privileged few. We are working hard to give small businesses much-needed credit, to slash tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, and to give those same breaks to companies that create jobs here at home. We are also reinvesting in our schools and making college more affordable, because a world class education is our country’s best roadmap to prosperity. These initiatives will expand opportunities for African Americans, and for all Americans, but parents and community leaders must also be partners in this effort. We must push our children to reach for the full measure of their potential, just as the innovators who succeeded in previous generations pushed their children to achieve something greater. In the volumes of black history, much remains unwritten. Let us add our own chapter, full of progress and ambition, so that our children’s children will know that we, too, did our part to erase an unjust past and build a brighter future. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2010 as National African American History Month. I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

BARACK OBAMA

President’s Message Earl “Skip” Cooper, II President/Chief Executive Officer

Black American Enterprise Conceived in Liberty For All

n recognition of Black History and the grand achievements of African Americans in America, the board of directors and members of the Black Business Association (BBA) look forward to hosting the our 36th Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, California. The dinner theme is Economic Empowerment, as each honoree and sponsor for this year’s program have made outstanding contributions toward improving the economic quality of life for countless black enterprises and their respective customers, employees, investors and suppliers. Acknowledging the achievements of our forbearers during Black History Month has at times been portrayed as solely for the betterment of African Americans. In reality, blacks in America have purposefully strived to be engaged in the full range of contemporary enterprises, wherever possible. For example, black immigrants settled in towns where they could provide goods and services for the swarms of people who came during the California Gold Rush years. Unfortunately, the devastating racial prejudice crusade that prevailed all through the 1900’s often restricted commercial enterprises for blacks in America to service-related enterprises such as boot black, livery, café/catering, and drayage businesses. In spite of the restricted resources for blacks in housing, employment, education, and public accommodations, there are those who persevered and established successful concerns in various parts of the country for all of America to enjoy,

including downtown Los Angeles where our awards program will take place this year. Central Avenue emerged in Los Angeles as a major American business corridor, exemplified in 1929 when DR. J. A. SUMMERVILLE (a black man) developed and built Hotel Summerville (now known as the historic Dunbar Hotel). Also to be remembered is ANDREW J. ROBERTS, who during this time operated a successful drayage firm called the Los Angeles Van, Truck and Storage Company. Mr. Roberts sold this company and then established the first black-owned and operated mortuary in Los Angeles, the Roberts Funeral Home, which conducted an apprenticeship program to train persons for the profession, and also provided technical services to other mortuaries. At one period, his staff performed most embalming services for Los Angeles’ Japanese morticians. During the 19th Century, redlining by the finance and insurance industries prevented most blacks from obtaining insurance coverage, so by necessity the Golden State Guarantee Fund Insurance Company of Los Angeles (now Golden State Mutual) was established July 23, 1925. This enterprise was made possible by three black men, WILLIAM NICKERSON, JR., NORMAN OLIVER HOUSTON and GEORGE ALLEN BEAVERS, whose first office was on Central Avenue. Another huge African American achievement resulted from the establishment of the Dunbar Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. It began with DR. JAMES W. AMES, a Howard University grad, who led a group of 30 black

physicians in Detroit in 1918 to form the Allied Medical Society, where they purchased a well built home on Frederick Street and opened their own non-profit hospital with 27 beds and an operating room. Dunbar Hospital, named for the poet Paul Lawrence Dunbar, was the first in the city to serve the black community, as well as an associated nursing school. REGINALD F. LEWIS was categorically one of the most successful business leaders in the world during the 1980’s. A 1968 Harvard Law School graduate, Lewis became the first African American to build a billion dollar corporation, when 1987 he bought Beatrice International Foods from Beatrice Companies for $985 million. Renaming the company TLC Beatrice International, the snack food, beverage, and grocery store conglomerate was the largest African-American owned and managed business in the U.S., with reported annual revenue of $1.8 billion that year. Thirty years before there was ever a Murphy bed, SARAH E. GOODE was the first black American woman to receive a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Although she was born a slave, she became reportedly the first African-American woman to receive a patent (July 14, 1885, Patent #322,177) for a cabinet bed, which we now referred to as a folding bed, as this became the first model of a folding bed, where hers folded into a cabinet. It additionally served as a roll-top desk and stationery shelf. Ms. Goode operated a modestly successful

3 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

see President’s Message on page 51

Over 40 years of service Founded 1970

Black Business Association P.O. Box 43159, Los Angeles, CA 90043 323-291-9334 Fax: 323-291-9234 mail@bbala.org www.bbala.org

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

PRODUCTION MANAGER Narishima Osei

Kevin M. Caliup, Treasurer AIA/E-World Strategy Narishimah Osei, Parliamentarian Osei & Associates Gwen Moore, Director GEM Communications Candida Mobely-Wright, Director Voices, Inc. Angela Walton, Director Melador Technologies, Inc. Angela Reddock, Esq., Legal Counsel

STAFF

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Earl “Skip” Cooper, II, President/CEO Kesha Vontreese, Administrative Consultant Brett Byers, Special Projects Consultant Steven Turner, Economic Development Editor

W. Gladney ▪ C. Collins

PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Foxx ▪ Sabir • N. Osei

LAYOUT/TYPESETTING

CORPORATE PARTNERS

BBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ted Davis, Chairman IsComp Systems, Inc. Nathan Freeman, Vice Chairman Figueroa Media Group, Inc. Eugene Jones, Secretary NVA Financial Group, Inc.

AEG American Honda Motor Company AT&T Bank of America The Boeing Company California Lottery Citibank Coca-Cola Enterprises Comerica Bank Department of Water & Power Donald Sterling Corporation

Fannie Mae IBM Kaiser Permanente LAEDC Los Angeles World Airports Northrop Grumman Corporation Raytheon Company S.C.R.P.C. Sempra Energy Southern California Edison Swinerton Builders Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. Turner Construction Company Union Bank of California USBank Verizon Walt Disney Company WellPoint Wells Fargo Bank Lyceum Management Services, Ex Officio Hollis Smith, Ex Officio Paulette Williams, Ex Officio

AFFILIATES African American Unity Caucus Association of Black Women Entrepreneurs Black Women’s Network California Black Chamber of Commerce California Council of Black Chambers The Greenlining Institute Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense & Education Fund National Black Business Council The National Association of African American Chambers of Commerce The National Black Chamber of Commerce Pan African Film & Arts Festival Recycling Black Dollars

2010 Events

February •36th Annual Awards Dinner March •Salute to Black Women April •Trade Mission to Washington, DC June •Black Music Industry Conference & Awards Dinner August •40th Year Anniversary Awards Dinner • Call for information •

323-291-9334 4 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

Thursday, February 25, 2010

About the BBA… Since 1970, the Black Business Association (BBA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, headquartered in Los Angeles, has been instrumental in the incubation and development of more than 15,000 African-American businesses. Nationally, we have access and influence with more than 85,000 African-American-owned and women/ minority-owned firms via strategic alliances with more than 100 women/minority trade associations in more than 42 states nationwide.

In This Issue… 3 8 10

President’s Message History of Black Capitalism & Entrepreneurship High-Speed Rail Line for California

___ Our Mission ___ The Black Business Association’s mission is to advocate and promote the development of African-American owned businesses with the goal of creating a firm economic base that support the self-determination and survival of the African-American and urban community by: •

Identifying and creating financial opportunities for the growth and stability of African-American owned businesses;

•

Being a community voice that advocates for the success of small businesses;

•

Being a conduit for the merging of resources, values, profits, technology and people;

•

Promoting development and support of minority business enterprises within the domestic and international economies by encouraging and generating greater access to market opportunities and capital;

•

Providing training for entrepreneurial professional development;

•

Supporting and contributing to the economic base and progress of the African-American community; and

•

Developing coalitions that support our political endeavors to effectively achieve public recognition and political influence for African-American business owners.

___ Advocacy ___ The Black Business Association maintains very effective working relationships with elected and appointed officials for the support of African-American business development. Locally, statewide and in Washington, DC, we are constantly aware of pending legislation that might affect our member’s businesses, their growth and even their ability to conduct business. When legislation is being considered that affects our mission, the BBA quickly mobilizes to work with key policy makers to support, defeat or modify the bill and pursue the BBA position. As an organization, we are constantly at the helm, securing innovative means and policies that protect our constituency and their business interests. &

11 23 24 25 27 29

Small Business Lending Fund DOT Offers Financial Assistance Training Magic Johnson & Aon Team Up History of Black Business 2010-2020: A Decade of Learning Toward a Healthier Generation

Startup-Choosing a Business

Africa Focus 14th Annual African Union Summit African Union Hoists New Flag

SBA News Growing Businesses, Creating Jobs

Calendar

Columns 39 - Take A Look! 58 - Books to Consider...

BBA Action Alert 13 - Help for Haiti 20 - Health Care Reform-Contact Your Senator Now Cover image - Sarah Harris

The T he 2 2010 010 Black Black History Histtory Theme Theme “The “Th he H History istory o off B Black lack E Economic conomic cE Empowerment” mpowerm ment” The ne need eed for for economic eco onomicc development developm ment has has been a central centrral element of black bllack life. After centuries centur ries of of unrequited unrrequited d toil toil as as slaves, slaves, African African Americans America ans gained gained theirr freedom freedo om and found themselves themse elves in in the the struggle strug ggle to to make makke a living. livving. The Th he chains cha ain ns were gone, gone, but but racism racism was everywhere. evveryw whe ere. Black Bla ack codes code es often often prevented preven nted blacks from from owning owning land lan nd in n towns towns and cities, and and in in the the countryside countrrysiide they they were were often offten denied the opportunity opportunity to o purchase purcchase land. Organized Orga anizzed labor lab borr shut shut their their doors doors to to their their brethren, breth hren, and even even n the the white whitte philanthropist philantthropist who o funded funded black blackk schools schoo ols denied denied them th hem employment emplloyyment opportunities op pporttuniities once on nce educated. educated. In South, whites the S outh, w hitess sought sought to to insure insure that th hat blacks blaccks would only only be be sharecroppers share ecroppers and and day labors, labo ors, and and in in the the North North whites wh hites sought sought to to keep keep them them as as unskilled unskilled labor. labor. Pushing against against the odds, odds, African African Americans Americans became became landowners, landowners, skilled workers, small businessmen n and and women, women, professionals, proffessionals, and and ministers. miniisters. In the Jim Crow economy, they started insurance insu urance companies, companies, vocational vocationa al schools, scho ools, teachers collegrms, banks, newspapers, es, ccosmetic osmetic firm ms, b anks, n ewspapers, and and hospitals. hospitalss. To To fight exclusion from the economy, econo omy, they they started starte ed their their own own unions unions and and professional professional associations. associations. In In an an age which in wh hich individuals individ duals proved pro oved unable unable e to to counter counter industrialization industrrialiizatio on alone, alone, they they preached preached raciall or collective colllective uplift upllift rather ratther than than individual ind dividual self-reliance. sellf-relia ance. The The late-nineteenth latte-niinetteentth and early twentieth centuries witnessed an unprecedented unp precedented degree deg gree of racial solidarityy and organization. o rganiza ation. 1910, group In n1 910,, a g roup of of dedicated dediccated d reformers, reformers, black black and and white, white, gathered ga athered to to create create an an ororrganization gani izatio on to o address address the the e needs needs of of African Afriican Americans Americcans ass they the ey migrated migra ate ed to to the the cities citties the United The organization of th he Un nited States. States. T he o rganizatio on that th hat they th hey created crreatted a century cen nturyy ago ago became became what wha at we all know as the National Urban League. For a century, they have struggled to open the doors of opportunity for successive generations, engaging the challenges of each age. ASALH celebrates the centennial of the National Urban League by exploring racial uplift and black economic development in the twentieth century. &

www.asalh.org

Cover Story

s we celebrate Black History Month, we cannot forget to carve out special acknowledgement for the history of black businesses in theUnited States. While routinely we applaud the present-day achievements of Oprah Winfrey and those past of Madame C. J. Walker, the history of black business and entrepreneurship can actually be traced to the time when our people first arrived on this land as slaves. The usual Black History commemoratives make reference to the social, cultural, political and athletic life, while often overlooking a rich history of black entrepreneurship and economic development. From the marketing and trading activities of African slaves in Colonial America to the rise of 20th-century black corporate America, African Americans have participated in self-employed activities that have imprinted a persistent thread throughout the black experience in this nation. Despite racial segregation and legal hurdles repressing slaves and free slaves’ business activities, blacks engaged in various businesses, forming hierarchical structures where they were craftsmen, farmers, traders and merchants. Also, as a sad testimonial of those early times, there were also those blacks who profited

persist. Nevertheless, some blacks managed to succeed in a number of entrepreneurial endeavors as many migrated to northern cities such as Philadelphia and New York. The country witnessed a “Black Renaissance” and a reasonable degree of economic freedom. Many have labeled the period from 1900 to 1940 as the “Golden” era for black businesses. One individual who epitomized African American entrepreneurship in thepost-Civil War era was Madame C. J. Walker. Born in 1867, she held title as the richest self-made woman in America. Madame Walker was the first Black millionaire, having built her empire developing hair products for black women. A few years before Madame Walker, Booker T. Washington founded the National Business League to promote business development and job creation in the African-American community. Mr. Washington, one of the last great black leaders born in slavery, preached selfimprovement and development for our people. Following the 1896 “Plessy v. Ferguson” ruling, which found in favor of the doctrine of “separate but equal”, black businesses experienced an increased degree of success. This doctrine posed

However, in view of what were apparent barriers and obstacles, in 1903 Maggie Lena Walker became the first black woman bank president, having founded St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in Richmond, Virginia. Blacks also founded opportunities in the cleaning products business, such as S. B. Fuller (1905-1988), and also in diversified industries such as finance, insurance and construction as evidenced by Arthur G. Gaston (1890-1995). In the 1920s, there was even a Black Wall Street - a 36-block black business district in Tulsa, Oklahoma with an estimated 1,500 black-owned homes and businesses. Sadly, Black Wall Street was literally destroyed in a rampage by intolerant whites, and numbers of innocent individuals including women and children were murdered. Prior to the massacre, Tulsa boasted an unprecedented ten black millionaires and more than 600 black residents with assets between $5,000 and $500,000. In 1924, the National Negro Bankers Association was organized. The following year, A. Philip Randolph founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first nationwide black trade union. In 1939, nearly 30,000 African Americans owned retail outlets and restaurants that employed some 43,000 black Americans and generated $71 million in sales. The early 1940s witnessed the development of the Johnson Publishing Company. Founded by John H. Johnson with a $500 loan from his mother to publish the Negro Digest, Johnson Publishing evolved to add such keynote brands as Ebony, Jet, Fashion Fair Cosmetics, plus television, fashion

from participation in the slave trade. After emancipation of Africans in America, the color line continued to

extreme hardship to capital formation of black businesses, particularly in the railroad and construction industries.

and book publishing divisions. John H. Johnson, who died in 2005, became the first African American to appear on

A History of Black Capitalism and Entrepreneurship By Steven Turner, Economic Development Editor, Black Business News

8 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

the Forbes 400 Richest List. Motown Records was formed in 1959 with a $800 loan to Berry Gordy by his family. It later grew to be one of the largest independent record companies in the country, shaping American culture through the trademark Motown Sound with such artists as Smokey Robinson, Mary Wells, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Jackson Five, and Rick James. Ultimately, Berry Gordy ended up selling Motown to MCA and Boston Ventures for $61 million in 1988. The 1970s expansion of black business into certain sectors of the economy has been a direct result of federal government’s black capitalism policies and initiatives. In 1979, with the assistance of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), Bob Johnson created Black Entertainment Television (BET), the first cable television network aimed at the African American market. Initially, BET broadcast only 2-hours per week. When the time came, Bob Johnson sold BET to Viacom for $3 billion. In 1971, Daniels & Bell becomes the first African-American member company of the New York Stock Exchange. Daniels and Bell profited greatly from public financing and the emerging of many major American cities having Black mayors and/or leadership, such as Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Detroit and Chicago. That same year, Johnson Hair Care Products, a Chicago-based hair care manufacturer, became the first African American-owned company listed on a major stock exchange, the American Stock Exchange. The 1980s brought us one of the baddest brothers of all time – Reginald Lewis. After working at several law firms, Reginald F. Lewis opened TLC Group L.P., a venture capital firm, in 1983. In 1987 Lewis bought Beatrice International Foods from Beatrice Companies for $985 million, renaming it TLC Beatrice International, a snack food, beverage, and grocery store conglomerate that was the largest black-owned and black-managed business in the U.S. When TLC Beatrice reported rev-

enue of $1.8 billion in 1987, it became the first black-owned company to have more than $1 billion in annual sales. At its peak in 1996, TLC Beatrice International Holdings Inc. had sales of $2.2 billion and was number 512 on Fortune magazine’s list of1,000 largest companies. Reginald Lewis’ net-worth was estimated by Forbes magazine as being $400 million, equivalent to well over $700 million in 2009, making him the richest African-American ever to live at the time of his death. In the hip-hop and entertainment field, we have seen such accomplished business persons the likes of Queen Latifah, Russell Simmons and SeanCombs. Russell Simmons, co-founder of Def Jam Records and creator of Phat Farm clothing, recently had an estimated net worth of $310 million. Sean Combs, also known as P. Diddy, is a record producer, rapper, actor, fashion designer, entrepreneur and restaurant operator with an estimated net worth around $350 million. In the sports field, outstanding African American entrepreneurs include Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. Tiger has been listed as second to the entertainment mogul Oprah Winfrey as the richest black American. In 2007, Oprah Winfrey became the richest self-made woman in America, and was described by Forbes as the richest African American of the 20th century. Like Madame C.J. Walker,

Winfrey is one of the greatest philanthropists of her time. In 2005 she became the first African American on Business Week’s list of America’s top 50 most generous philanthropists, having given away an estimated $250 million. Despite being the 235th richest American in 2005, Winfrey was the 32nd most philanthropic. Another self-made millionaire is Janice Bryant Howroyd, president and CEO of ACT 1, a national staffing agency valued over $250 million. Bryant Howroyd owns one of the largest women-owned business in the entire state of California. So, what is the state of African American businesses today? The Supreme Court’s directive in Richmond v. Cronon (1989), stating that cities instituting a set-aside program must first establish that a pattern of discrimination had previously existed, could be taken as catastrophic for minority business enterprises (MBEs) as the 1896 Plessy decision was viewed. African Americans, who constitute roughly11% of the U.S. Population, still collect only a little more than 1% of all business revenue. However, if we can just hearken back to and take strength from those upon whose shoulders we stand, black business owners can realize the impressive and extensive foundation we have tobuild upon for future generations of African American enterprises. &

California Will Get $2.3 Billion for High-Speed Rail Line By Rick Orlov Staff Writer, Contra Costa Times

alifornia will get more than $2.3 billion in federal stimulus money to help build an 800-mile-long,

portation Secretary Raymond LaHood said during a Thursday morning conference call. “The people

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, left, accompanied by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., gestures during a news conference at the Transportation Department in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, to discuss the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for California. (The Associated Press) high-speed rail line tying Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay area to Los Angeles and San Diego. The grants announced by the Obama administration would fund the largest public works project in California history, with construction likely to start with a stretch from Los Angeles to Anaheim. The entire project is expected to create some 600,000 jobs and construction could begin as early as 2011. “I will say this about California (it) has been way ahead of the curve,” Trans-

there have been working and planning for high-speed rail for more than a decade, and they are willing to put up their own taxpayer dollars.” In November 2008, California voters approved Proposition 1A, a $9.95 billion bond measure to build a north-south rail line. Trains traveling up to 220 mph could make the San Francisco-to-Los Angeles trip in about 2 hours. “This is something I proposed when I ran for governor in 1990,” said U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who with col-

league Barbara Boxer was also on the conference call. “Now, in 2010, it is happening.” Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has accused the administration of not investing enough in California, led a chorus of local officials praising the award. “Today’s announcement is fantastic news for job creation in California,” where the unemployment rate is 12.4 percent, Schwarzenegger said. “By showing leadership and including highspeed rail funding in the Recovery Act, the Obama administration is strongly supporting California’s high-speed rail project.” Schwarzenegger said the project will create an estimated 600,000 jobs. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa echoed the governor’s comments about the project’s economic benefits. “High-speed rail will bring jobs to California when we need them most, building a sustainable, state-of-theart transit network,” Villaraigosa said. “With 14 percent unemployment in L.A., we’re ready to get people to work. This funding couldn’t have come at a better time.” The federal money will be used in a dollar-to-dollar match with the state to build the first part of the system from

10 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

see High-Speed Rail on page 26

Focus on Jobs

President Obama Outlines New Small Business Lending Fund

resident Barack Obama outlined the new Small Business Lending Fund, which will transfer $30 billion from theTroubled Asset Relief Program to a new program that

ness Jobs and Wages and Tax Cut to encourage hiring and create incentives for employers to increase wages for already existing employees. President Barack Obama said, “Jobs

“As I have met small business owners from across the country, they all stress the same thing – to expand and hire, they need better access to credit,” said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. “The President’s proposal would take money repaid by the biggest banks and provide it to community banks so they can increase lending to small businesses.” Small Business Administrator Karen Mills said, “Community banks are one of the strongest partners small

President Barack Obama shakes hands with people in audience at the conclusion of the town hall meeting at Nashua High School North in Nashua, N.H . (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson) will support small business lending. The Small Business Lending Fund will be targeted at community and smaller banks that lend the most to small businesses, and offer incentives for banks to increase small business lending. In the State of the Union Address, the President outlined a series of proposals to create jobs and grow our nation’s small businesses. Later, President Obama outlined a new Small Busi-

will be our number one focus in 2010, and we’re going to start where most new jobs do – with small businesses. This proposal takes the money that was repaid by Wall Street banks to provide capital for community banks on Main Street. Together with our proposal to cut taxes for small businesses to spur hiring and increase wages, we are making the critical investments we need for our economic recovery.”

businesses have in helping provide the capital needed to grow and create jobs. This fund targets one of the biggest challenges community banks have faced in this recession – capital to make more loans. This proposal, along with extending the SBA’s 90 percent guarantee, can help put small and medium-sized banks back in a position to step up their small business lending

11 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

see Mayors on page 15

n January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, causing catastrophic damage inside and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince. President Obama has promised the people of Haiti that “you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten.” The United States Government has mobilized resources and manpower to aid in the relief effort. Here are some ways that you can get involved.

the new version, in which Jones and Richie serve as executive producers and producers, was created in collaboration with executive producers Wyclef Jean, Randy Phillips and Peter Tortorici; producers Humberto Gattica and RedOne; and co-producers Rickey Minor, Mervyn Warren and Patti Austin to benefit the Haitian earthquake relief efforts and the rebuilding of Haiti. This production was made possible through financial support from Visa Inc. Following the world premiere during the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, fans will immediately be able to download the song and view exclusive footage from the recording session on the official website:

Purchase CD & Video to Donate Quincy Jones, producer, and Lionel Richie, co-writer, of the iconic 1985 philanthropic anthem “We Are The World,” announced details regarding the global distribution of the contemporary version of the song and accompanying video We Are The World 25 For Haiti. Recorded on February 1st in the same studio as the original 25 years earlier (Henson Recording Studios, formerly A&M Recording Studios) www.WORLD25. org. Downloads will also be available on iTunes, and through a partnership with YouTube, the video will be viewable on the “We Are the World 25” YouTube Channel (www.youtube. com/wearetheworld). Immediate donations will be made possible by clicking on the “Donate Now” button on YouTube or by downloading the song on iTunes.

Donate • •

•

Contribute online through ClintonBushHaitiFund.org. Text “QUAKE” to 20222 to charge a $10 donation to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (the donation will be added to your cell phone bill). Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information.

Get Information about Friends or Family The State Department has several resources for inquiring about the welfare and whereabouts of friends and family in Haiti: To Ask For or Provide Information About U.S. Citizens in Haiti: • Email the Task Force at Haiti-Earthquake@state.gov OR • From the U.S. or Canada, call 888407-4747 (Other countries, call 202-501-4444) For U.S. Citizens in Haiti Seeking Assistance or Reporting Their Status/ Whereabouts: • Email the Embassy at ACSPaP@ state.gov OR • Call the Embassy’s Consular Task Force at 509-2229-8942, 5092229-8089, 509-2229-8322, or 509-2229-8672 When contacting any of the numbers or using the emails above, please include the following information: • The full name, date of birth and passport information (if known) of the persons in Haiti you are trying to contact. • Their contact information in Haiti; telephone numbers, email address, hotel name or address (if known) • Your name and contact information, and your relationship to the person in Haiti (parent, spouse, friend etc.) • Any special or emergency circumstances. For All Nationalities and Locations Use the Person Finder tool on the Help For Haiti website, an initiative set

13 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

see Help For Haiti on page 53

Pres. Obama Has His... You Get Yours! Black Business News

SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE LIMITED EDITION

Now On Sale! A commemorative limited-edition magazine, unlike any other special tribute issued to recognize the election of Barack H. Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America, has been published by the Black Business Association.

To order your copy, call the BBA office at (323) 291-9334 or email to: mail@bbala.org

Hurry! Buy Your Copy Today - Quantities are limited!

Small Business Lending Fund from page 11

and support job creation in their communities.” Key elements of the new Small Business Lending Fund include: Limited to Community and Smaller Banks Which Devote a Higher Share of Lending to Small Businesses: The Small Business Lending Fund would support lending among smalland medium-sized banks (with assets under $10 billion). These banks devote the highest percentage of their lending to small businesses in their communities, accounting for over 50 percent of all small business loans nationwide, even though they make up only about 20 percent of all bank assets.

Program Would Be Separate and Distinct from TARP to EncourageParticipation: By transferring, through legislation, $30 billion to a new program that would be distinct from TARP, the Administration’s proposal would encourage broader participation by banks, as they would not face TARP restrictions. A Core Function of New Fund Would Be Offering Capital With Incentives to Increase Small Business Lending: The Administration’s core proposal for the new lending fund is an initiative to invest in smaller bank’s capital under terms that provide strong incentives to increase lending. As participating banks increase lending to small firms compared to 2009 levels, the dividend paid to Treasury on that capital investment would be reduced. This proposal has two key advantages: •Capital Could Be Leveraged Sev-

eral Times to Support New Lending: While the Administration’s proposal could provide $30 billion in capital to banks, these institutions would typically leverage that funding several times over when increasing lending. As such, that $30 billion could potentially support multiples of that amount in loans. •Incentive Structure Supports Immediate Increases in Lending Over 2009 Baseline: By reducing the dividend on the capital investment that community and smaller banks receive, based on increased lending over a baseline set using 2009 data, this program ensures that lenders have a strong incentive to increase total loans to small businesses. Because banks would get credit for any increase in lending during 2010, if see Small Business Lending Fund on page 17

Details of How the Core Proposal Could Work The Administration’s core proposal would be to use the Small Business Lending Fund to oﬀer capital investments to community and smaller banks with an incentive structure to support new small business lending, as described below. The Administration is open to other designs for the fund, and will discuss ideas with Congress in the coming days and weeks. One potential design for the proposal is the following: • Banks Would Be Eligible to Receive Up to 3% to 5% of Risk-Weighted Assets o Banks with less than $1 billion in assets would be eligible to receive capital investments up to 5% of their risk-weighted assets. o Banks with between $1 and $10 billion in assets would be eligible to receive up to 3% of risk-weighted assets. o To participate, banks would have to be approved by their primary federal regulator. Existing Capital Purchase Program participants with less than $10 billion in assets would be permitted to convert their capital to the new program. • The Cost of Capital Would Be Reduced As Lending Increases: The dividend rate for a capital investment provided under the program would begin at 5%, but with reductions to as low as 1% if a bank demonstrates increased small business lending relative to a baseline set in 2009. o Banks could receive a 1% point decrease in their dividend rate for every 2.5% increase in incremental business lending they achieve over a two-year period, down to a minimum dividend rate of 1%. o Banks would realize this reduction in dividend rate sooner if they make early, but consistent progress towards increased lending. o For purposes of the program, banks would be able to receive the incentive on the basis of new lending beginning Jan. 1, 2010. o After five years, the dividend rate would be increased to encourage timely repayment. Example Bank A, with $500 million in risk-weighted assets, held $250 million in business loans the end of every quarter of 2009. In 2010, it applies for and receives approval to draw capital equal to 5% of its risk-weighted assets from the Small Business Lending Fund (the maximum allowable). After drawing $25 million in capital from the fund, Bank A increased its stock of outstanding small business loans to $275 million by the end of two years (a 10% increase over the baseline). As a result, while it received capital with an initial dividend rate of 5%, that dividend rate would be decreased to 1%. The 1% dividend would then be locked-in, and the bank would benefit from this attractive rate for the following three years.

15 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

16 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

Small Business Lending Fund from page 15

they plan to join the program they should have an incentive to increase lending immediately so they could realize the benefits of a lower dividend rate on the investment as soon as they entered.

New $30 Billion Small Business Lending Fund • Targeted at Community and Smaller Banks that Lend the Most to Small Businesses • Established Separately from TARP to Encourage Maximum Participation • Core Proposal for New Fund Would Be to Oﬀer Capital Investments With Incentive for Banks to Increase Small Business Lending • Administration Will Discuss with Congress Additional Ideas to Enhance Credit for Small Businesses Through the Small Business Lending Fund Administration Will Discuss with Congress Additional Ideas to Enhance Credit for Small Businesses Through the Small Business Lending Fund: While the Administration is presenting its plan to provide capital with an incentive structure to maximize small business lending, it looks forward to discussing with Congress other ways that – in addition to what is described above – the Small Business Lending Fund could be fully deployed. & www.whitehouse.gov www.sba.gov

Marriott Hotels and American Express Announce New Products and Offerings by Michael J. Shapiro, www.meetings-conventions.com

Marriott Begins TelePresence Rollout

Kong; the Renaissance Sao Paulo, Brazil; the JW Marriott Marquis Miami; the Renaissance Washington, D.C.; the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway; the JW Marriott San Francisco, and the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport Marriott.

Marriott International rolled out its first GoThere Virtual Meetings studios at the New York Marriott East Side Hotel and Bethesda North Marriott Hotel near Washington, D.C., last Wednesday. GoThere Virtual Meetings are part of a rollout of an AT&T Telepresence Solution, which uses Cisco TelePresence studios running on the AT&T network and the AT&T Business Exchange at Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels and Renaissance Hotels around the world. The first GoThere Virtual Meetings studios now are open at the New York Marriott East Side and the Bethesda North Marriott; the company plans to expand to 25 hotels around the world in the first phase. The next hotels to offer GoThere Virtual Meetings will be London’s Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel; the JW Marriott Hong

Amex Launches Brand for Small and Midsize Companies American Express Business Travel recently launched aXcentis, a new brand designed to offer flexible travel management programs to small and midsize companies with up to $10 million in annual travel spending. The new brand essentially consolidates the services typically offered to smaller companies, with a focus on program strategy, cash-flow management/spend recycling and benchmarking. The brand will have a strong focus on measuring return on investment, according to Amex, and helping small and midsize companies get back to traveling. &

The Health Care Reform Bill is now in conference between the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Make Your Opinions Known to Your Congressional Representatives.

17 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

18 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

ACTION ALERT! Let Your U.S. Senators & Representatives Know How You Want Them To VOTE! Write, call or e-mail your federal representatives today! Give voice to your opinion. The citizens of this nation need a comprehensive health care plan. Pass legislation that includes a Public Insurance Option and No Insurance Industry Buyout. Find congressional contact information at: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

Add Your Two Cents:

offer new ideas directly to government agecies.

s part of the Open Government Directive, 25 different agencies have launched open government webpages and are using those sites to take your ideas for how they can be

Tuesday, Mar. 9th “For everyone interested in doing business with Metro”

Watch & Support the Africa Channel!

more open and transparent. These webpages are only one of the important milestones laid out in the Directive and the next deliverable, an open government plan for each agency, is being developed based on your input. Each agency’s plan will serve as a two-year roadmap for how the principles of transparency, collaboration, and participation will be incorporated in both the agency’s overarching mission and day-to-day activities. Your feedback can help influence the development of agency plans, transparency policies, and publically disclosed data. Exercise your citizenship options - after you vote then contribute to the operation of your government. Visit www. whitehouse.gov/open to participate in the Open Government initiative. Also, take a look at the Featured Innovations and other sections of the website to find and participate in the many, many opportunities in education programs, business development, science projects and more. &

Time Warner • Channel 176 Don’t have the Africa Channel in your area? Call Time Warner at: 1-888-8922253 and ask that the Africa Channel be broadcast to ALL regions of California. For information on the Africa Channel visit www.theafricachannel.com or send an e-mail inquiry to info@theafricachannel.com.

21 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

US DOT Financial Assistance Teleconference Workshops

ww.bbala.org

•Contracting Information •Employment Opportunities •Links to Sponsor Websites •Event Announcements •Resources:

he teleconference schedule for the process of interested small business owners posting an inwho are seeking financial assistance creased numfrom the US DOT is shown on this ber of contract page. Note that participation in each look aheads, teleconference is limited. Interested and bidding users should register as soon as opportunities possible. for US DOT The short-term lending program is funded projects. Our web address is for certified DBE/8a/Hub Zone/SDVOB www.uspaacc.com/sbtrc/index.html. firms who have been awarded a transPlease contact our office to schedule portation contract. Maximum amount an appointment or if you have any inof the loan is $750,000 where the ac- quiries. & count receivables of the contract are utilized as collateral. Small Business Transportation Resource Center-SW The Bonding assistance program is for certified DBEs who compete on RECOVERY funded DOT projects. Regardless if the DBE firm is not awarded a contract, any bonding fees associated with the transportation contract will be reimbursed by the US DOT. The reimburseLearn more about the US Department of Transportation’s ment program expires SeptemFinancial Assistance Programs ber 8, 2010, thus it is crucial to inform DBEs of this program. Our SBTRC-Southwest ofTeleconference Free Workshops fice is operated by the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Wednesday, February 10 3:45 – 5:15 PM Business Utilization’s (OSDBU) Regional Partnership DiviFriday, March 19 2:00 – 3:30 PM sion of the US DOTin an effort Thursday, April 22 3:45 – 5:15 PM to increase the number of small Thursday, May 13 3:00 – 4:30 PM businesses that are prepared to compete for, and enter into, Wednesday, June 23 3:45 – 5:15 PM transportation-related opportuRSVP is required. Only 20 people will be invited per teleconference call. Reservations nities. Our purpose is to offer a are taken on a first come, first served basis. Please reserve a date and time. RSVP to comprehensive delivery system Carrolyn Kubota, Project Director, at (415) 348-6262 or via email at of business training, technical carrolyn@uspaacc.com. assistance, and dissemination Once you receive confirmation, you will be informed of the teleconference number and of information targeted toward pass code. transportation-related small business enterprises within the Our SBTRC-Southwest office is operated by the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization’s (OSDBU) Regional Partnership Division of the US DOT in an effort to increase the number of small businesses that are prepared to Southwest region. compete for, and enter into, transportation-related opportunities. Our purpose is to offer a comprehensive delivery system of I recommend that you visit business training, technical assistance, and dissemination of information targeted toward transportation-related small business enterprises within the Southwest region. our web site because we are in

• President’s Message • Financial Management • Meeting Management • International News • BBA Publications • Other Information

Short-Term Lending & Bonding Assistance Date

23 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

Time

Magic Johnson Enterprises and Aon Team Up To Promote Economic Opportunity for Minority Business Enterprises

on Corporation, the leading global provider of risk services and human capital consulting, today announced it is joining forces with Magic Johnson Enterprises to promote business opportunities for minority business enterprises. Financial terms of the year-long affiliation were not disclosed. “When Aon aligns its objectives with a successful minority-owned business like Magic Johnson Enterprises, it is a win-win-win opportunity for Aon, our clients and our MBE associates,” said Leonard McLaughlin, president of Aon Cornerstone Innovative Solutions, the Aon business that focuses on fostering strategic alliances with minority business enterprises. “As we help clients

achieve their supplier diversity goals by providing them with solutions to a wide range of business challenges, we also create growth opportunities for our MBE associates to enable them to create jobs and improve their profitability and sustainability.” Aon Cornerstone Innovative Solutions, launched in April 2009, brings together the global risk and human capital resources of Aon with the knowledge and experience of top MBEs to deliver adaptive solutions to serve the cultural needs of clients. This includes an established infrastructure for firms to work with qualified MBEs as well as formal training and mentoring programs for certified MBE associates and carriers to help them deliver the highest value for clients and achieve their diversity goals. “ M y goal in working with Aon Cornerstone is to help them d r i v e results through the promotion of diverse strategic alliances in the professional services field,” said Earvin “Magic” Johnson,

chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises. “By doing so, we can develop stronger relationships between Fortune 2000 firms and minority-owned enterprises that lead to job creation and opportunity for economic growth.” Johnson was recently recognized as the number one African-American business leader in America by Ebony magazine. Through strategic investment, partnership and consultation, Magic Johnson Enterprises has developed a portfolio of companies that strategically work together to reinforce the organization’s focus on serving emerging, multicultural communities. Core divisions of the organization include consulting and licensing, business ventures and capital management. The members of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, including many Fortune 500 companies, have a goal to increase utilization of minority-owned businesses. Currently, approximately one percent of the goal is realized through the purchase of risk management products and services. Specific initiatives like Aon Cornerstone complement supply chain requirements, industry and regulatory mandates, and a desire for broadened market appeal, fueling the growth trend by major businesses to expand business relationships with minority business enterprises. & www.aon.com www.magicjohnsonenterprises.com

24 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

The History of Black Business in America: Capitalism, Race, Entrepreneurship Volume 1, To 1865 By Juliet E. K. Walker

espite almost four centuries of black independent self-help enterprises, the agency of African Americans in attempting to forge their own economic liberation through business activities and entrepreneurship has remained noticeably absent from the historical record. Juliet Walker’s award-winning History of Black Business in America is the only source that provides a detailed study of the c o n t i n u i t y, diversity, and multiplicity of independent self-help economic activities

…There was one exception. America’s first black millionaire, William Leidesdorff (181048), was San Francisco’s first city treasurer. But he passed for white. After his death, when his racial oigins were discovered, Leidesdorff was relegated to obscurity. Yet prosperous black planters and other wealthy antebellum blacks, despite holdings in excess of $100,000, which placed them in the top 1 percent of the nation’s wealtholders, never received freedom from the racial constraints that subordinated people of African descent and denied them equality with whites. Wealthy black entrepreneurs today are as limited as their antebellum counterparts in exercising power to eradicate race-based institutional and societal constraints that continue to relegate a comparatively disproportionate number of blacks to the back of the line when seeking capital and other means of achieving business success. &

among African Americans. This new, updated edition divides the original work into two volumes. The first volume covers African American business history through the end of the Civil War and features the first comprehensive account of black business during the Civil War. By emphasizing the African origins of black business practices and highlighting the contributions of black women, enslaved and free, Walker casts aside the long-held assumption that a “lack of a business tradition” is responsible for the failure of African Americans to establish successful, large-scale enterprises. The second volume, spanning from the end of the Civil War to the twentyfirst century, will be published in Spring

2009. & Juliet E. K. Walker is professor of history at the University of Texas, Austin, and the founder and director of the Center for Black Business History, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (www.utexas.edu/research/centerblackbusiness).

February is African American History Month and the federal government has a wide range of sources available for research. The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society. www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov 25 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

SCMBDC to Hold Minority Business Opportunity Day • Feb. 25 Southern California Minority Business Development Council will hold its 34th annual Minority Business Opportunity Day (MBOD) on February 25 at the Pacific Palms Conference Resort, One Industry Hills Parkway in Industry Hills. MBOD offers small and minority businesses access to corporate representatives, seminars and workshops featuring procurement professionals from major corporations and organizations, networking opportunities at the business opportunity exhibit fair, and more. Last year, more than 1,100 corporate representatives and suppliers attended MBOD and this year’s event promises to attract an even larger crowd. MBOD 2010 will also include a presentation on “How to do Business with the World’s Largest Toy Company and Retailer” featuring procurement executives from Mattel and Walmart. MBOD 2010 will be held from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The registration fee is $65 per ticket for suppliers and includes a continental breakfast, a buffet lunch and participation in all MBOD activities, including the business fair and one-on-one, by appointment only, events. Registration is available online at www.scmbdc.org. The preregistration deadline is 12 p.m. on Feb. 23. Onsite registration is $75.

High-Speed Rail from page 10

Anaheim to Los Angeles. LaHood said he expects the rail project to draw private investors to the Golden State. “I had a meeting recently with 30 manufacturers from around the world to persuade them there is money here,” LaHood said. “There will be development opportunities. We expect to see developments along the route and around the train stations that are being built.” Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, who chairs the California High Speed Rail Authority, said the money will help the entire state by moving the project clos-

er to reality. “A California high-speed rail system truly gives each of us this opportunity to change the future of California for our children and grandchildren,” Pringle said. While California’s allocation is short of the $4.7 billion for which it had applied, the grant was the largest awarded for any single project. Congress made some $8 billion available nationwide in high-speed rail grants. President Barack Obama was in Florida to announce the grants for the rail projects, including one there between Tampa and Orlando. “Through the Recovery Act, we are making the largest investment in infrastructure since the Interstate Highway System was created,” Obama said. “That investment is how we can break ground across this country. “There’s no reason why Europe or China should have the fastest trains when we can build them right here in America.” &

2010 Events

323-291-9334

Black Business News International Edition To be added to the International Edition mailing list or advertise in the publication send an e-mail request to:

mail@bbala.org View the International Edition at www.bbala.org and www.yudu.com Search: Black-Business-News-International

26 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

become so outdated that we 2010-2020: A Decade of Learning probably lose them altogether.

Technology and the American Graduation Initiative: Opportunities and Caveats

Source: Mary Grush, Editor/Conference Program Director, Campus Technology, //campustechnology.com Life Long Learning is a theme of President Obama’s thrust to raise the achievement level of American citizens and reclaim the nation’s leadership position in science and technology. In support of his American Graduation Initiative (www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Investing-in-Education-The-American-GraduationInitiative), the president presented a $50 million package to Congress that includes funds to develop new “open online courses” at community colleges around the nation.

n this brief Q&A, Northern Virginia Community College’s VP for Instructional and Information Technology Steve Sachs offers some advice for institutions as he comments on how technology can help achieve the goals of the American Graduation Initiative. Campus Technology: I’d like to get your comments on the potential of the American Graduation Initiative, particularly on how technology or strategies involving technology can help institutions move forward with the broad goals of the initiative as they’ve been announced so far. First, what are some key consid-

erations about instructional technologies, or important trends to consider that could have a direct impact on students? Steven Sachs: In the context of the graduation initiative, using techn o l o g y, making it easy to Palm Pre replicate, and making it very portable will have tremendous potential for a positive impact on graduation rates and retention, as we’ve seen at Northern Virginia Community College (www.nvcc.edu). But speaking first in terms of technology-supported courses, there is one caveat: To achieve the initiative’s goals, any courses that will be built must be designed around the core that students need to graduate, not what people simply want to produce. I look back at the national telecourse model that grew up out of funds provided by Walter Annenberg, and a lot of the courses that were picked were based on agendas other than helping students reach graduation. So you had topics that were not in the core, taking the focus off the real mission of the funding. It’s also important to consider a plan to keep courses current over time. If they are just left for everyone to adapt, modify, fix, or update at will, the courses will

Another key technology piece to consider is simulations in the sciences. One of the difficulties we face on our campuses is that we just cannot open enough seats in traditional labs. And the high cost of good labs is not only space and equipment, but also providing for materials and safety. While there’s a component of laboratory sciences that requires students to touch real equipment, there’s a substantial amount of science learning that really doesn’t necessitate hands-on equipment per se, but does require experimentation or observation. If we could get a sufficient body of simulations based on good principles of instructional design, simulations that students c o u l d do any place, any time-not in a dedic a t e d science lab--the Amazon Kindle students would probably learn more science and we could actually expand the number of students we work with while saving costs. And there are many experiments that can be done in simulation that just wouldn’t be practical or even possible in a traditional laboratory. So if we begin

Apple iPad

to use more simulations, we will have new opportunities to produce a level of

27 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

see Life Long Learning on page 35

C.C. Myers, Inc. of Rancho Cordova

Oakland Black Board of Trade and Commerce

A Special Workshop for DBE / UDBE / DVBE / MBE / SBE / WBE If your company does any of the following work, you should attend: Traffic Control, Remove Rock Debris; Irrigation and Landscaping; Plant Maintenance; Pesticides Application; Fencing; SWPPP; Signs; Temporary Barricade; Traffic Striping; Railing; Crash Cushion; Pavement Marker; Concrete Removal; Clearing and Grubbing; Roadway Excavation; Structure Excavation; Structure Backfill; Imported Borrow; Planting; Erosion Control; Fiber Rolls; Header Board; Asphalt Concrete; Cast-In-Drilled-Hole Concrete Piling; Drive Pile; Prestressing Cast-In-Place Concrete; Structural Concrete; Minor Concrete; Sound Wall; Masonry Wall; Joint Seal; Rebar; Waterproofing; Steel Truss; Clean and Paint Structural Steel; Pipe Culvert; Alternative Flared End Section; Rock Slope Protection; Misc. Iron and Steel; Metal Railing; Concrete Barrier; Bridge Luminaries; Conduit; Wiring; Relocate Existing Traffic Signal; Meter Pedestals With Pads.

Thursday, February 25, 2010 12:00 PM— 4:00 PM SCOTT’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 2 BROADWAY-PAVILLION ROOM JACK LONDON SQUARE OAKLAND, CA

Admission is free - Seating is limited ~ Pre-registration is encouraged ~ To RSVP and obtain required pre-registration questionnaire, contact either: Eddie Dillard 510.706.9005 (eddie.dillard2009@yahoo.com)

Rodger Mannka 916.635.9370 (rmannka@ccmyersinc.com)

Making Moves for a Healthier Generation Establishing a Task Force on Childhood Obesity Source: www.whitehouse.gov and www.letsmove.gov

cross our country, childhood obesity has reached epidemic rates and, as a result, our children may live shorter lives than their parents. Obesity has been recognized as a problem for decades, but efforts to address this crisis to date have been insufficient. My Administration is committed to redoubling our efforts to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation through a comprehensive approach that builds on effective strategies, engages families and communities, and mobilizes both public and private sector resources. Nearly one third of children in America are overweight or obese -- a rate

that has tripled in adolescents and more than doubled in younger children since 1980. One third of all individuals born in the year 2000 or later will eventually suffer from diabetes over the course of their lifetime, while too many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma. Without effective intervention, many more children will endure serious illnesses that will put a strain on our health-care system. We must act now to improve the health of our Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children and avoid spending billions of dollars treating preventable disease. Therefore, I have set a goal to solve

the problem of childhood obesity within a generation so that children born today will reach adulthood at a healthy weight. The First Lady will lead a national public awareness effort to tackle the epidemic of childhood obesity. She will encourage involvement by actors from every sector -- the public, nonprofit, and private sectors, as well as parents and youth -- to help support and amplify the work of the Federal Government in improving the health of our children. But to meet our goal, see Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Move! on page 31

President Barack Obama signs a memorandum on childhood obesity in the Oval Office. From left are, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar February 9, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

29 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

YOUR LINK TO AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS OWNERS

CELEBRATING OVER 40 YEARS OF SERVICE

SPONSORSHIP PROPOSAL

presented by the

BLACK BUSINESS ASSOCIATION For more information, contact the Black Business Association at: (323) 291-9334 | mail@bbala.org | www.bbala.org

Let’s Move! from page 29

we must accelerate implementation of successful strategies that will prevent and combat obesity. Such strategies include updating child nutrition policies in a way that addresses the best available scientific information, ensuring access to healthy, affordable food in schools and communities, as well as increasing physical activity and empowering parents and caregivers with the information and tools they need to make good choices for themselves and their families. To succeed, these efforts must be strategically targeted, and accountability should be clear. They will help our children develop lifelong healthy habits, ensuring they reach their greatest potential toward building a healthier and more prosperous America. To these ends, I hereby direct the following: Section 1. Establishment of the Task Force on Childhood Obesity. There is established a Task Force on Childhood Obesity (Task Force) to develop an interagency action plan to solve the problem of obesity among our Nation’s children within a generation. The Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy shall serve as Chair of the Task Force. (a) Membership of the Task Force. In addition to the Chair, the Task Force shall consist of the following members, or any senior official designated by one of the following members who is a part

of the member’s department, agency, or office, and who is a full time officer or employee of the Federal Government: (1) the Secretary of the Interior; (2) the Secretary of Agriculture; (3) the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (4) the Secretary of Education; (5) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget; (6) the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady; (7) the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy; and (8) the heads of other executive departments, agencies, or offices as the Chair may designate. At the direction of the Chair, the Task Force may establish subgroups consisting exclusively of Task Force members or their designees under this section, as appropriate. (b) Administration of the Task Force. The Department of Health and Human Services shall provide funding and administrative support for the Task Force to the extent permitted by law and within existing appropriations. Sec. 2. Mission and Functions of the Task Force. The Task Force shall work across executive departments and agencies to develop a coordinated Federal response while also identifying nongovernmental actions that can be taken to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. The functions of the Task Force are advisory only and shall include, but are not limited to, making recommendations to

Quote of Note... “The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake. This isn’t the kind of problem that can be solved overnight, but with everyone working together, it can be solved. So, let’s move!” First Lady Michelle R. Obama

meet the following objectives: (a) ensuring access to healthy, affordable food; (b) increasing physical activity in schools and communities; (c) providing healthier food in schools; and (d) empowering parents with information and tools to make good choices for themselves and their families. Sec. 3. Interagency Action Plan. Within 90 days of the date of this memorandum, the Task Force shall develop and submit to the President a comprehensive interagency plan that: (a) details a coordinated strategy by executive departments and agencies to meet the objectives of the Task Force and identifies areas for reform to ensure complementary efforts and avoid duplication, both across the Federal Government and between other public or nongovernmental actors; (b) includes comprehensive, multisectoral strategies from each member executive department, agency, or office and describes the status and scope of its efforts to achieve this goal; (c) identifies key benchmarks and provides for regular measurement, assessment, and reporting of executive branch efforts to combat childhood obesity; (d) describes a coordinated action plan for identifying relevant evidence gaps and conducting or facilitating needed research to fill those gaps; (e) assists in the assessment and development of legislative, budgetary, and policy proposals that can improve the health and well-being of children, their families, and communities; and see Let’s Move! on page 42

31 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

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33 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

Graduate Programs in Nonprofit Management Spring Colloquium 2010 Open to students, alumni, and the public. MGT 411, Room 307, 5:00 PM- 6:30 PM January 27 – “Implementing a Social Media Plan” Rachael Post, Principal, Luna Sky Media February 10 - Open House - "Transforming Disinvested Communities" Dr. Robert Ross, President and CEO, The California Endowment Note: This class is held in the 3nd floor Small Berg with prospective MBA students February 17 – “Celebrating Our Heritage – Lessons Learned” Charmaine Jefferson, Executive Director, California African American Museum Robert Kirschner, Director, Skirball Museum Note: This session will be held at the Skirball Museum and includes an introduction and free access to the “Road to Freedom” Civil Rights Exhibit at the Skirball Center March 3 – Executive Leadership Forum “Hearing Our Voices – An Author’s Roundtable” Panel Discussion of Nonprofit Authors: Dr. Thomas Backer, “Evaluating Community Collaborations” Mike Allison, “Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations” Note: This class is held in the Small Berg March 17 - “Understanding Incubators –Getting Up and Going” Paul Vandeventer, President and CEO, Community Partners March 24 - “New Trends in Pro Bono Ethics” Joel Bashevkin, Executive Director, Western Region, Taproot Foundation April 14 - “Engaging Celebrities in Social Awareness Campaigns” David Figueroa and Araceli Campos, Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) April 21 – “Youth Advocacy and the Foster Care System” Zaid Gayle, Executive Director, Peace4Kids April 28 - “Trends in Philanthropy in Southern California” Sushma Raman, President, Southern California Grantmakers

MBA School of Nonprofit Management American Jewish University Please RSVP to egrice@ajula.edu or call 310-440-1260 to attend these sessions For program information visit our website www.ajula.edu/mba

Life Long Learning from page 27

science in our students that is difficult to attain with our current state of labs. And an important trend to be especially aware of is portability. Students are going to want to use the technology they take with them to interact, check in, and to communicate with their peers on course matters using a portable technology platform. Whether it’s going to be smart phones, or maybe the next generation of smart phones, or laptops, or netbooks… we have to keep thinking about how we are going to connect the students’ portable technologies to whatever courseware we’re developing. The applications shouldn’t have to reside on a particular computer or within a campus facility. Campus Technology: We’ve talked a bit about student and instructional technologies. What about updating campus

…To achieve the initiative’s goals, any courses that will be built must be designed around the core that students need to graduate, not what people simply want to produce. facilities, which is included in the goals of the American Graduation Initiative? Sachs: One of the things we’ve done within the Virginia Community College System that gets us consistently ranked near the top in national rankings relates interestingly to this issue. In the mid-nineties, we began following a model that worked and has continued

to serve us very well. It is based on simple principles and points out that there are some things, if you just throw your money at buildings and construction, that you’re not going to get to. So our priority is to make sure that there is a build out of technology in the colleges, that there are enough computers for the students, and that there are computers and projectors in all the classrooms. Further, there are funds dedicated to refresh those technologies on a regular basis so they are not allowed to just age and become antiquated or even broken. If your funding for facilities is a one-time infusion of dollars and doesn’t require some kind of matching commitment on the part of the institution, then it’s likely to become one of those “oneshot” deals that probably isn’t going to help for very long. Similarly, I think you have to develop some standards that go with the technology you will implement. Ask, what is the minimum level of

35 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

see Life Long Learning on page 37

Life Long Learning from page 35

technology that we’re trying to achieve with those dollars, and how will we enhance that over time?

Bill Gates 2010 Annual Letter Online Learning Source: www.gatesfoundation. org/annual-letter/2010/Pages/ education-learning-online.aspx

lectures. Another element involves presenting information in an interactive form, which can be used to find out what a student knows and doesn’t know. This makes it possible to tailor the learning session to the individual student. Think about what happens to students who get into community college but are told to take remedial math because their test scores are below a cutoff level. The students have to spend time on the things they already know and don’t get to focus on the areas they are confused about. They get very little positive reinforcement from sitting in lectures. Most

kids who are put into remedial math drop out before they ever get a degree because it is such a discouraging experience for them. On the other hand, the online system can quickly diagnose what the students know, provide positive feedback, and make sure their time is spent really improving the conceptual areas where they are weak. We need to bring together the video and interactive pieces for K–12 and college courses. We should focus on having at least one great course online for each subject rather than lots of mesee Life Long Learning on page 41

he (Bill and Melinda Gates) foundation has made a few grants to drive online learning, but we are just at the start of this work. So far technology has hardly changed formal education at all. But a lot of people, including me, think this is the next place where the Internet will surprise people in how it can improve things—especially in combination with face-to-face learning. With the escalating costs of education, an advance here would be very timely. Most of us have had a teacher whose lectures made a subject seem fascinating even though we didn’t expect that it would be. If you are going to take the time to listen to a lecture, you should hear it from the very best. Now that finding and watching videos is a standard part of the Internet experience, we can put great teachers’ lectures online. A number of universities are already putting lectures online for free. You can find a lot of these courses at sites like www.academicearth.org . I particularly like the physics courses by Walter Lewin and the solid-state chemistry course by Donald Sadoway, both from MIT. When I want to learn a new concept like the Carnot limit on getting usable energy out of heat, I often will watch lectures from different courses to see how it is explained and test my understanding. But online learning can be more than

Caltrans Construction

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Appointments with a business advisor are available at the SBDC at no charge to you. For more information, call the SBDC at 310.973.3177. Be sure to attend the free Economic Stimulus event on Thursday, November 19, 2009, in the City of Compton to learn more about stimulus opportunities available from Caltrans and other state and federal agencies. Visit californiasbdc.org for details.

Small Business Development Center Hosted by El Camino College 13430 Hawthorne Blvd. Hawthorne, CA 90250 310.973.3177 southbaysbdc.org

37 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

Technology:

Take a Look!

This blog is for and about software startups. Dharmesh Shah writes this blog for those, including himself, who are fascinated with startups and what

and everything else needed for your book to ‘wow’ readers onscreen. With Blio, Publishers can: • Enable text to speech for read-aloud performances and synchronize unabridged audio with digital text to create a new product of print plus audio.

it takes to make them succeed. Join in the conversation with business people seriously engaged in starting and growing technology oriented firms.

•

Insert video or audio clips, or interactive Web pages.

•

Use voice painting to create a computer-generated, multi-character listening experience.

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Engage readers more fully by enabling social networking within a book.

•

Brand the reader software specifically for a book, series or imprint.

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Customize research tools, such as dictionaries and Web-based research destinations.

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

www.mybrotha.com Mybrotha.COM is a black-owned and operated information-based magazine focusing on black men and the Black community. Established in 2002, Mybrotha.COM is one of the premier online magazines for the Af-

rican-American audience. The structured, straightforward approach delivers quality content that empowers and enriches the lives of African-American men and black men worldwide..

www.eHow.com eHow is the world’s most popular place to find step-by-step instructions

on how to do just about everything. What would you like to do - Attract Consumers, Lose Weight or Make Money in a Bear Market? Check out ehow.com for the help you need.

www.onstartups.com

www.blio.com The Blio eReader software is the new touchstone for the presentation of electronic books, magazines, and digital content. Its feature-rich design is perfect for today’s power readers, who increasingly rely on digital content for work, leisure, and learning. The extensive Blio Bookstore (launching in February 2010) was created in partnership with Baker & Taylor, the world’s largest distributor of literary content and value-added services, and the world’s largest publishers. Enjoy a vast selection of titles (free and for a fee), with a superior, color reading experience on desktop PCs, netbooks, tablet PCs and mobile devices. Publish Your Content Through the Blio System Any book can be converted into the Blio format. Once created, getting your book into the marketplace in a digital format is as easy as sending a file and providing basic metadata to BLIO. The Blio system handles conversion, encryption, embedded data

Signup to receive Blio updates on when this software system will be available to the general public. & Submitted by LaSandra Stratton BBA member, Chair of the BBA International Trade Committee.

39 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

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Life Long Learning from page 37

“When people are given opportunities to develop their potential, our society thrives.”

diocre courses. Once we have this material in place, it can be used in many different ways. A teacher can watch and learn how to make a subject more Allan Golston interesting. A teacher can assign subPresident sets of the material to students who are United States Program behind and finding something difficult. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation A teacher can suggest online material to a student who is ahead and wants to learn more. A teacher can assign an then rating them in context. interactive session to diagnose where One step that would help is having a student is weak and make sure they course standards that break down all get practice on the areas that are difof the various things to be learned into ficult for them. Self-motivated students a clear framework and connecting the can take entire courses on their own. If online material to this framework. Over they want to prove they learned the matime I think a large community of conterial to help qualify for a job, a trusted tributors and reviewers will develop accreditation service independent from and allow the online material to be easy any school should be able to verify their to access and a crucial resource for all abilities. types of education. There will need to There is a lot of online material bebe a number of pilots to see how to ing developed, but it isn’t organized in take this resource and blend it into the a way where it is easy to find the best classroom experience. I plan to spend material that fits what you want to do. If a lot of time on this to see what would you search online for a video on phohelp get it to critical mass. tosynthesis, you get tens of thousands of results, including a lot of student projects. Which one is best for teaching kids of different ages and different pre-existing knowle d g e ? We need a simple way of t a k i n g all of the education pieces and organizing them and Students working in a computer lab (New York, New York)

There is a question of how much of the online material will be free and how much will be paid for. Some of the best interactive software for K–8 learning is being done by startups using interactivity in innovative ways. These companies are licensing the software on a per-classroom and/or per-student basis. Ideally we would get market forces and nonprofit work to complement each other, but given that schools budget very little for software, it isn’t clear whether the marketplace will be large enough for the for-profit model to make a large contribution. &

41 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

Let’s Move!

Rainbow PUSH LA Trade Bureau

from page 31

(f) describes potential areas of collaboration with other public or nongovernmental actors, taking into consideration the types of implementation or research objectives the Federal Government, other public actors, or nongovernmental actors may be particularly well-situated to accomplish. Sec. 4. Outreach. Consistent with the objectives set out in this memorandum, the Task Force, in accordance with applicable law, and in addition to regular meetings, shall conduct outreach with representatives of private and nonprofit organizations, State, tribal and local authorities, and other interested persons that can assist with the Task Force’s development of a detailed set of recommendations to solve the problem of childhood obesity. Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) The heads of executive departments and agencies shall assist and provide information to the Task Force, consistent with applicable law, as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Task Force. Each executive department, agency, and office shall bear its own expense for participating in the Task Force. (b) Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) authority granted by law to an executive department, agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (c) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (d) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its

We are excited to inform you about the reestablishment and reinvigoration of the Rainbow PUSH LA Trade Bureau. The RPC/Bureau is focused on the implementation of economic, social, and education initiatives, as well as growing the office to become a strong voice for our constituents and Trade Bureau Members. Rainbow Push LA is connecting our Trade Bureau members with our Trading Partners for the purpose of doing business. Rainbow Push LA is committed to connecting our members to new opportunities that will not only bring us through the recession, but beyond it. Our innovative ideas are expressed through powerful programmatic pieces that are designed with everyone in mind. Please use the information below to contact the Los Angeles office to request a contact information form that may be completed then faxed or e-mailed to us. The information will reconnect us with you and will aid Mr. Israel in his upcoming meetings with corporate trading partners. Regina Black, Office Manager Rainbow PUSH/CEF Los Angeles New Address: 1313 W. 8th Street, Suite 232 Los Angeles, CA 90017 Office Number: 213.483.3500 Fax Number: 213.483.3577 Email: rblack@rainbowpush.org Website: www.rainbowpushla.org

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KDEE 97.7FM departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. Sec. 6. Publication. The Secretary of Health & Human Services is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register. &

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42 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

6 Steps to Choosing a Business

here are always three crucial upfront decisions for anyone who starts a small business. The first is whether to take the plunge at all. The last is how to proceed on your new venture in terms of basics such as finances and lifestyle. But the second decision may well be the toughest: Just exactly what business, or what kind of company, am I going to start, anyway? Once you’ve decided that the entrepreneurial life is for you, how do you choose the right business? What specific industry -- or even what niche -- appeals to you or would make the best use of your abilities, aptitudes and assets. We show you how to sort it all out. Here are the six important steps for choosing the right business:

Follow Your Passion

The best option is always to make or sell a product or service that you know about and love. If you’re looking for someplace to score a short-term hit just for the sake of reaping a financial gain, that’s fine - get in; make your money; and get out. But if you’re looking to start a business for the long haul that suits your temperament, your strengths and the lifestyle you want, you must choose a business that you love. The advantages of following your passion are many. For one thing, if you truly believe in what you’re marketing or selling, you’ll stand a much better chance of making a sale. And when tough times come - and they will - you’ll be much more likely to fight through

them. Barbara Yugovich, for instance, was an enthusiastic high-school teacher in metro Detroit who had been pondering the entrepreneurial life for a decade. So she founded The Homework Solution in 2004 in Waterford Township, Michigan, and she and her staff now tutor kids in subjects from English to computer skills.

Be Real While starting a business with your individual interests and expertise in mind is crucial, so is the necessity of making sure that this enterprise represents a concrete entrepreneurial opportunity. see Choosing a Business on page 55

Announcing the Stimulus Opportunities for Small Business Program Including new opportunities for minority, women, veteran and disabled veteran owned small businesses Ever wonder: How can I access stimulus dollars? or How can my small business work with the state and federal government to participate in “shovel ready” projects? You are invited to the Stimulus Opportunities for Small Business events that will help you get answers to these questions and assist you in finding out how stimulus projects can help you be better positioned to survive and grow through the current economic downturn. When:

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. sign in begins at 8:15 a.m.

Thursday, February 4, 2010 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. sign in begins at 8:15 a.m.

Where:

Crystal Hotel 123 East Artesia Boulevard Compton, CA

Riverside Convention Center 3443 Orange Strett Riverside, CA

What: Hosted and presented by the California SBDC’s and L.A.-based nonprofit Business Matchmaking, the Stimulus Opportunities for Small Business program is a free half-day session designed to give small businesses a leg up in procuring government and corporate contracts. The program will feature panelists who can oﬀer participants an up-to-date, insider’s perspective on what the buyers are looking for, if their business fits the government and corporate contracting standards, and how businesses can position themselves to have greater accessibility to stimulus dollars. Cost: FREE event including continental breakfast, pre-registration is required Who should attend: Start-up entrepreneurs and growing small enterprises that either do not have or would like to grow relationships with government and corporate buyers How to sign up: Register online at http://californiasbdc.org/stimulus or call (707) 826-3919 for more information. Stimulus Opportunities for Small Business has been made possible by underwriting from sponsors HP, American Express OPEN and American Airlines. Business Matchmaking specializes in small business procurement with a track record of facilitating more than 70,000 face to face buyer-seller meetings throughout the country. California Small Business Development Centers provide free business consulting and low-cost training for thousands of California small businesses annually. Go to www.businessmatchmaking.com or www.californiasbdc.org for more information.

44 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

For information about these trade shows, or other opportunities to pursue business in South Africa, please contact:

Gathers Strategies

dgathers@gathersstrategies.com â&#x20AC;˘ 213-291-6199

International:

African Union Heads of State Commit Themselves to Move Africa from Poverty to Prosperity

he 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union officially ended Tuesday 2nd February 2010 under the Chairmanship of the new Chairperson of the African Union, Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi (www.africaunion.org). The closing ceremony began with a word from H.E. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines who was addressing the Assembly on behalf of the Caribbean. He said that there was a strategic necessity to have a deeper cooperation with the African Union Member States, given that his region has a large popu-

A New Flag for the African Union

he African Union (AU) unveiled its new flag at its 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government taking place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. To tunes of the AU anthem, the new flag was hoisted by the outgoing Chairperson of the African Union, Brother Leader Muammar El Gaddafi, leader of the Libyan Revolution, Great Socialist People’s Libyan Jamahiriya. During the 8th African Union Summit which took place in Addis Ababa in January 2007, the Heads of State and Government decided to launch a competition for the selection of a new

lation of people of African descent. He appreciated the solidarity of the African people to the victims of the earthquake that occurred in Haiti. According to Prime Minister Gonsalves, the Caribbean has benefited from the rich culture of Africa. “We wish to reaffirm our love to Africa and our commitment to work together to build a better life for our populations”, he said. Taking the floor, the President of the Republic of Gabon, H.E Ali Bongo Ondimba, thanked the Assembly and the AU Commission for the successful proceedings of the 14th AU Summit. He also thanked the Ethiopian Government for the warm hospitality. He expressed satisfaction over the fruitful deliberaflag for the Union. They prescribed a green background for the flag symbolising hope of Africa and stars to represent Member States. Pursuant to this decision, the African Union Commission (AUC) organized a competition for the selection of a new flag for the African Union. All African citizens were free to compete, including those in the Diaspora and the laureate would be awarded a cash prize. A total of 106 entries were submitted by citizens of 19 African countries and 2 from the Diaspora which were then examined by a panel of experts put in place by the African Union Commission.

tions of the Summit, hoping that its Decisions will be carefully implemented by the Member States. (See complete message of President Ali Bongo on the AU website: www.africa-union.org). In his closing remarks, the Chairperson of the African Union, Dr. Wa Mutharika, recalled the theme of the 14th AU Summit: “Information and Communication Technologies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects for Development”, saying that ICTs should be taken very seriously in the development agenda of the Union. He emphasised on the slogan: “no child should die of hunger and malnutrition”. The Chairperson further outlined the following priority areas to be considered as an immediate plan of action for the next three months. These include: the putting in place of a food security program to alleviate poverty in the next five years; the need to develop transport and telecommunications, and connect countries through ICTs; and the development of energy; amongst others. Meanwhile, President Wa Mutharika hailed the AU initiative for launching 2010 as the year of peace in Africa. He hoped that concrete steps would see African Union on page 66

At the 13th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, the Heads of State and Government examined the report of the Panel and selected one among all the proposals. The flag is now part of the paraphernalia of the African Union and replaces the old one. &

46 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

“A FEW NOTES ON AFRICA” 3rd Gender AU Pre-Summit Meeting Held Mrs. Litha Musyimi-Ogana, Director of Women and Gender Development of the AU, announced the launch of a training manual for the reintegration of women who have been victims of sexual violence during war. She also announced a new function within her directorate, i.e. to facilitate networking between women’s associations and the AU Commission. www.africa-union.org.

2010 Declared “Africa Year of Peace and Security”

New Chairman and Officers for AU Division of Communication and Information

he African Union has elected its new bureau, at its 14th Ordinary Assembly being held in Addis Ababa where the Union is based.

The African Union’s “African Year of Peace and Security” aims at putting together a broad range of policy and outreach initiatives that will kick off new peace efforts and could generate effective results and an enabling political and social environment beyond 2010. Through the continentwide activities the AU hopes to increase visibility of African initiatives that will promote capacity for peace-building. The overarching message for all the activities that will be carried out and the advocacy program is, “Make Peace Happen”. Chairperson of the African Union Commission Jean Ping said addressing the challenges of peace and security in the continent requires African leadership, because without such leadership, there will be no ownership and sustainability. Chairperson Ping said “Because we understand the problems far better than those who come from far away; because we know which solutions will work, and how we can get there; and because, fundamentally, these problems are ours, and we will live with their The bureau is as follows. President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi becomes the new Chairperson. Other members of the bureau are: 1st Vice President: Gabon 2nd Vice President: Uganda 3rd Vice President: Liberia 4th Vice President: Great Socialist People’s Libyan Jamahiriya Dr. wa Mutharika started his acceptance speech by expressing his and the Malawian peoples’ condolences over the tragic accident of an Ethiopian airways plane on 25 January as well as to families of victims of the Haitian earthquake. Mr. wa Mutharika said he would prioritise food security in his term of office, adding that Africa should strive to achieve food security for its people and to feed its people before exporting. “I am, therefore, proposing that our agenda for Africa should focus on Agriculture and food security. I propose that our slogan should be “Feeding Africa through new technologies; let us act now”, the Chairperson said.

consequences.” www.africa-union.org

$20 Million Loan for Farmer Support in Zambia About 30,000 small-scale farming households, in Zambia, many headed by women, will benefit from a US$20 million loan to the country from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The programme will focus on reducing rural poverty by stimulating rural economic development through the transformation of small-scale producers into profitable farmers. It will allow farmers to: access technology to increase their yields and improve quality of their produce; enhance their capacities for activities such as sorting, grading, drying and storing; make better commercial decisions based on appropriate market information and get higher and more stable prices with farming contracts. The overall goal is to increase the income levels of poor rural households involved in the production and trading of specific agricultural commodities. www.ifad.org SEE YOU ON THE CONTINENT. & To support food production, the Chairperson suggested investment in the construction of infrastructure. ICT, which is the theme of the Summit, would, Mr. Mutharika said “enable our farmers to access important information on agricultural products, advanced technologies, research findings, as well as markets”. Other priority areas outlined by the Chairperson include encouraging the African Union to remain committed to the promotion of peace and security, democracy and good governance ; encouraging member states to ratify the AU Protocol on the Rights of Women and to ensure its implementation; and fighting against the marginalization of Africa by, among other things, ensuring that Africa’s collective voice is respected during the Doha Round of Talks, the Economic Partnership Agreements negotiations, climate change commitments, and debt relief initiatives. Dr. wa Mutharika urged the Assembly “Let us rise and take our place. Let us act now’, he added. &

47 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

What is â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pass It On!â&#x20AC;? ???

n a few weeks Africare will launch an exciting new campaign to connect you to people overcoming major challenges impacting the African continent-- issues like unsafe drinking water, food insecurity, and the growing

number of children orphaned by AIDS. Our new â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pass It On!â&#x20AC;? campaign will carry these messages around the world through a series of powerful testimonies and unique stories told directly by the individuals who see, work with, or benefit from Africareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistance on the ground. The stories come from more than 20 African nations, covering a variety of key issues. They all carry positive messages of growth and empowerment on the African continent! Beginning September 1st, Africare will introduce you to a new storyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; once

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a month for 16 monthsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; from a child, grandmother or Africare staff member who will â&#x20AC;&#x153;have something to tell youâ&#x20AC;? about the important work Africare is implementing on the ground. Each will be packaged in a format that is ready to â&#x20AC;&#x153;pass onâ&#x20AC;? to a friend or someone you know through video, social network, and even your phone! And if you live in Washington, DC, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see our stories on buses and in Metro stations across the city. Sign-up to receive the messages and support the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pass It On!â&#x20AC;? campaign using this special link - www.africare.org/ news/enews_signup.php. Learn more about Africareâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current projects, long history and esteemed leaders at their website - www.africare. org. &

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49 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

Let’s Move! from page 3

furniture store in Chicago. Sarah Breedlove who changed her named upon marrying Charles Joseph Walker, to MADAM C.J. WALKER, founded the Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company to sell hair care products and cosmetics. By 1917 she had the largest business in the United States that was owned and operated by an African American. Madame Walker promoted economic opportunities for others, as well as black people. She took great pride in profitable employment alternatives to domestic labor, and her company afforded many thousands of black women to work as commissioned agents, earning much more than the standard pay of the time. JOHN L. JOHNSON conceived and published the first edition of Negro Digest in 1942. Within six months his publication was covering black history, literature, arts, and cultural issues, with a circulation of greater than 50,000 peo-

ple. Although that publication achieved some success and at its height had a circulation of more than 100,000, it could not be compared with Johnson’s subsequent publication, Ebony magazine, which was so popular that its initial run of 25,000 copies easily sold out. In 1951, Jet Magazine, weekly news digest was launched, now having more than 3 million subscribers. In preparation for this piece, colleagues have shared literally hundreds of other names and stories surrounding black business history. For example, when John L. Johnaon opened his publishing company, he was able to use just the proceeds from the sale of his mother’s furniture. Clearly the cost of living today does not provide this kind of option for financing business expansion as it once did. Notwithstanding, one might think we should be able to build even greater achievements with a more enlightened society today. Ironically, it becomes increasingly more difficult to replicate the achievements of past historic giants of manufacturing, mergers, hotels and hospital develop-

ment without greater levels of support from present-day financial institutions. It is sad that, with all that exists to rejoice about from the achievements of long gone innovators and commercial risk takers, the manner in which business is conducted today leaves significant room for improvement. When you review the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Los Angeles District Office’s 2009 report on lending, you can readily see where attention is needed. This SBA office serves Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties that has a combined population base of 11 million. If this geographic area were a state, it would rank as the eighth most populous state in the Union. The banks and lending institutions for the LA SBA Office extended a mere 29 loans to black-owned and operated businesses last year. That is obviously less than thirty loans over a twelvemonth period by more than twenty-five SBA major financial partners. The U.S. Census for 2002 recorded over 20,000 black-owned and operated businesses in this same tri-county commercial area of diversity with financial, international trade, entertainment, high technology and agriculture. A result of 29 loans is clearly disproportionate to this rich area and shows why we have to work together to improve upon access to capital for black owned business as major deliverable of parity. Black Business Association members must rely on corporate appreciation to build a stronger quality of life for African Americans and all Americans. The government bailout capital expended over the past year demonstrated the deliverable capacity of financial strength, where all we need to do now is to direct that same management skill and tenacity toward black entrepreneurs. We must not allow the past business achievements of so many great Americans to become viewed as impossible to replicate. We must have hope that, as we recognize outstanding achievements from the past during Black History Month, we should look for opportunities to collaborate on making history today in some type of venture that benefits all Americans like those great ones referenced above. &

51 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

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52 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

• Cakes & Catering for All Occasions • Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m - 6 p.m Sunday and Monday by Appointment

AVBCC Black Tie Installation Dinner You’re Cordially Invited to

The Antelope Valley Black Chamber of Commerce

Black Tie Installation Dinner. Celebrating Black History Legends

Nancy Wilson Sherrie Payne & Lynda Laurence formerly of “The Supremes”

Mr. Levi Thornhill

(original Tuskegee Airmen)

Kimberly Anyadike

(15 year old African American pilot featured in Essence Magazine)

Bishop Henry Hearns Dr. William Shaw Jamaal Brown, Keynote Speaker

(Historian and Professor of African American Studies)

What’s In It For Me? •Local, National & International News

•Government & Corporate Contracting and Supplier Opportunity Information •Links to Corporate Partner, Organization Affiliates & Annual Event Sponsor Websites •BBA Annual & Special Event Announcements •Business Operation Education and Information &

Cascades February 27, 2010 • 6-10pm Members: $55 • Non Members: $65

Where Do I Find It?

Be a part of this Historical Event Presenting, Platinum, Gold & Silver Sponsors Welcomed Live & Silent Auction Program Advertisement Available

•Black Business News/ International - quarterly publication

•BBA website

www.bbala.org •Black Business News monthly publication

•Black Business News Internet Edition

Contact: info@avbccbiz.org or call 661-946-8780 &

Help For Haiti

How Do I Participate & Benefit?

from page 13

up by Google to help concerned families and friends find about and report on their loved ones whereabouts and well-being. For more information about locating friends and family members, visit the State Department’s Haiti Earthquake website.

Federal Response Info

•Join the BBA at

www.bbala.org •Advertise in the BBA publications For information on how each federal department and agency is responding to the earthquake in Haiti visit the Help for Haiti website at whitehouse.gov. &

•Attend BBA Events Hosted to Benefit the African American Community of Businesses

53 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

Choosing a Business from page 55

Take a bloodless look at the relevant marketplace. Is it trending toward a real need or even a collective desire for the business that you want to start? Better yet, is America or the world screaming for someone to do this? Make sure your product or service not only addresses this opportunity but does so in the best way. How else could David Dean come up with his idea for Breast Implants 411. com, a web site designed to educate and inform patients and provide information on qualified plastic surgeons? He also picked a great location for this idea: Los Angeles.

Reckon with Competition Survey the landscape for established competition. Don’t do it with one eye closed, either: You really need to know if someone has beaten you to your brilliant idea or not. But if you find that some other business already has occupied your chosen space, don’t necessarily let it scare you away. Actually, existing competitors can be good indicators of a business opportunity that makes sense. If others already are doing well at it, that could be a good sign for you. Learn from them. And then, most important of all, differentiate yourself from them in the product or service itself, or perhaps your geographic market. John Lillegren, for example, knew full well that candy apples weren’t a new idea. But the co-founder of Amy’s Candy Kitchen in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, figured that he could create high-end candy apples that would have gourmet appeal, based in part on trends in the candy business. And now, Amy’s $14 high-falutin’ candy apples - with names like Gourmet Pecan Turtle Caramel Apples with Dark Belgian Chocolate have been featured on Food Network and are flying off the shelves.

Make a Lifestyle Choice If you love the kinds of activities your business would call upon you to per-

form but it would require 24x7 commitment from now as far as you can see into the future, you may want to think twice. Don’t let that Life Plan get put on hold for a business plan. Your dream business could quickly become a nightmare. At the same time, make sure you choose a business that fits the kind of life you lead, or would like to lead. If you enjoy being solitary, select something that allows you to work at home. If you enjoy community activities and interacting with stranger, a retail operation of some sort might be for you.

Be Aware of Your Risk Profile Your tolerance for adventure in a new livelihood is an important component in choosing a business. If you create a truly revolutionary concept, the upside of your business could be tremendous - but with the potential for success, the risk involved goes way up as well. There are usually fewer variables and risks involved in replicating a business idea that’s already in the marketplace and just needs a little tweaking for differentiation. This risk reward scenario is perfectly illustrated when you purchase a franchise. This is one of the lowest risk approaches to sewing your entrepreneurial oats, but also may be have a capped potential reward. As we describe in our book, StartupNation: Open for Business, being a franchisee means the franchisor will typically be skimming profits from your hard work.

Respect the Internet Figure out how you can put this game-changing resource to work for you. It can help you start a small business for less money and faster than ever before. Just remember that while there’s little infrastructure and no bricks and mortar required to launch an online business, there are other basics you must know or be able to learn - such as search optimization for your site. Also keep in mind that the Internet can cut both ways. While opportunities seem exciting and enticing and perhaps even limitless, potential competitors are seeing that same picture in greater numbers than ever before. That means you will have the fundamental market-

ing challenges that any business has, no matter which business you choose.

Think About It The average person spends 40 hours a week at work. If you start working at 21 and retire at 65, that’s approximately 91,520 hours of your life! That sounds like a lot, but contrasted with the hours you’ll log running your own business, it pales in comparison. That’s why it’s crucial to choose a business that you’re truly passionate and excited about. When you do something you love, you’ll have a much better chance of success, and you will actually enjoy the longer hours. We were once told by a business sage that “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”, and this has absolutely been true for us.

Skills Matter Choose a business in which your true skills apply. For example, if you’re good with people, then select a business that relies heavily on interpersonal activity, such as consulting, sales or public relations. The important thing is to find a business in which you will really shine and be well-suited for the critical functions of that business.

Lifestyle Does Matter Choose a business that suits your lifestyle needs. For example, if you want to work at home, consider an ecommerce business instead of something that requires traveling for customer sales calls and meetings. If you need to maintain irregular business hours and you require flexibility in your schedule, consider a business specializing in logo and brand development, writing or other “project-oriented” businesses where keeping specific hours is not critical.

That Thing Called Money Carefully consider your business financing requirements. If you don’t want to raise money or get investors involved, pick something that you can grow organically without outside funding. Start small and let the business revenues provide the operational and growth capital you’ll need. Some busi-

55 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

see African Union on page 65

The Second Shoe Is About to Drop on the Banks By Jeﬀ Clark

“I live in luxury and I haven’t made a mortgage payment in almost two years,” Don bragged. He sipped his chardonnay, leaned against the country club’s bar, and shared with me the story of his real estate prowess... “I paid $3.4 million for the house in 2006, and it was worth every penny at the time. It’s 6,700 square feet with a pool and a one- acre lot. I’m on the hill overlooking the fourth fairway, and I can see all the way to [the next city] from my bedroom window,” Don continued. “Wachovia Bank loaned me $3 million, and the developer took a second for $400,000. I don’t have any skin in the game – so to speak. I made my mortgage payments for a while, but when prices started to fall, it just didn’t make sense anymore. I mean, why should I pay anything when I’m the only one with nothing to lose?” “But,” I asked, “hasn’t the bank tried to foreclose or force a sale of the house out from under you?” “Ha!” He crowed, and his tone emphasized the naiveté of my question. “Why would they do that? The house is worth less than $2 million right now. So if the bank forecloses, it’ll have to recognize a $1 million loss. And if it writes my loan down by that much, how many other loans do you suppose it’ll have to write down? It can’t force a short sale [where the bank sells the house for less than the loan amount] on me either because it’ll have to take care of the second note holder by offering him something just to get out of the way. So Wachovia is screwed. It’s cheaper for them to let me keep living there for free. And the best thing is, I can more than afford to pay off the entire loan right now.” Don let out a sinister kind of chuckle, like a man who just squashed a bug and got some warped sense of delight from doing it. “Wow,” I responded. “There used to be a time when being a deadbeat was frowned upon. But you seem to wear it as a badge of honor.” “Listen,” Don turned aggressively and pointed his index finger at me. “You think I’m the only one doing this? You think I’m the only one taking advantage of the situation? I’ll bet half the people in this room are doing the exact same thing.” He waved his arm across the bar. “And the other half are thinking about doing it.” “Besides,” Don continued, “banks have been screwing people like us for so long it’s about time they got a taste of their own medicine.” His words hit me like a Louisville Slugger across the forehead. We no longer live in a time where men are bound by honor to repay their debts. As sad as it is, people feel justified welching on their agreements. And the banks have played a big role in this transition. They charged 29% interest on credit cards while paying 0% interest on savings. They knowingly lent money to people who could not afford to pay it back. They used taxpayer-funded bailouts to pay million-dollar bonuses to their corporate elite. And they shipped all of their service-center jobs overseas. Let’s face it: The banks most of us do business with today aren’t like the Building and Loan George Bailey operated in It’s a Wonderful Life. Our banks are faceless, nameless, brown bag institutions whose only concern for the customer is to make sure he pays the $10 monthly account service fee. It is that business practice that has fostered the resentment of people like Don and made him feel justified breaking his agreement. Like it or not, agree with it or not, Don’s opinion is gaining popularity. And as that sentiment grows, it is likely to provide the weight that pulls the second shoe down onto the industry. Best regards, Jeff Clark

Provided by: Jamaal Wilkes, Jamaal Wilkes Financial Advisors (BBA Member)

Malik’s Books Online

alik’s Books has closed operations in the Baldwin Hills Mall. Malik’s is now operating as an online bookstore. Malik’s is now available to serve our customer’s needs 24/7 via the world wide web with bigger deals and a larger selection. We will remain as active in the South Los Angeles community as we have always been. Please visit us at www.Malikbooks.com and/or www.autographbooks. com. For other information give us a call at 818-564-5694. If you want to coorespond with us, send letters to Malik’s Books, 3939 Crenshaw Boulevard, #324, Los Angeles, CA 90008. Thank You again for all your support and patronage over the years and visit us on the Web. &

Malik’s Books

www.Malikbooks.com • www.autogrpahbooks.com malikbooks@att.net • 818-564-5694

Give the Gifts of Knowledge, Inspiration, Entertainment. Shop the

Black Book Stores!

Eso Won Books

African American Books 4331 Degnan Ave., Leimert Park, Los Angeles

“Give Books as Gifts to Friends & Family” Check out our unsurpassed collection of books, music, video, children’s books, and games!

Black History Month Give Gifts of History, Knowledge, Pride, Heritage, Culture, Economics 323-294-0324 • www.esowonbooks.com //esowon.booksense.com for Calendar of Events

Books to Consider... Two books from Third World Press (www.thirdworldpress.com) that address maintaining the historical progression toward Black successes: Tough Notes: A Healing Call for Creating Exceptional Black Men by Haki R. Madhubuti. A passionate and visionary action book for all boys and young men seeking a whole and productive life in a highly racist, unfair and combative world. This is an intensely personal and uncompromisingly honest book which details Madhubuti’s own experiences within the cultural and political world. He hopes to guide boys and young men toward making good choices, and wise and informed decisions on the road to a healthy life. No subject is off limits. Madhubuti offers strategies for wholeness, health and for developing winning attitudes that will give boys and young men a head start and a greater understanding of the many options and possibilities for a bright future in an uncertain world. The People Of Clarendon County: A Play By Ossie Davis With Photographs, Historical Documents, And Essays.

Edited by Edited by Alice Bernstein. Clarendon County, a rural community in South Carolina, was the battleground of Black sharecroppers, domestic workers, laborers, and clergymen who joined the NAACP to fight for better schools for Black children. This small and mighty group were brave visionaries, and their 1951 lawsuit, Briggs v. Elliott, was the first of five cases that led to the breakthrough 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education. &

58 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

Government:

U.S. Small Business Administration FY 2011 Budget Fact Sheet: Growing Businesses, Creating Jobs

BA’s FY 2011 request of $994 million reflects the agency’s commitment to its core mission of growing businesses and creating jobs. The budget strengthens the relevance of SBA’s programs and resources to the current needs of entrepreneurs and small business owners, continuing to give small businesses the tools they need to meet the challenges of this tough economic time, while providing support for long-term growth for small businesses from Main Street to those with high growth potential. As a result, this budget further enhances SBA’s role as “the voice” for small business across the federal government.

Growing Businesses and Creating Jobs Expanding Access to Capital

• Knowing that access to capital gives small businesses the opportunity to stabilize in the current economic climate, as well as expand and create jobs, this budget supports more than $28 billion in small business financing. o For 7(a), $165.4 million in subsidy will support $17.5 billion in lending authority. This includes $1.5 billion in revolving lines of credit that will support $39 billion in total disbursement activity as borrowers draw and repay over time. Altogether, this supports more than $55 billion in credit activity when taking 7(a) loan terms into account. o For 504, $7.5 billion in lending authority will support loans in collaboration with Certified Development Companies. o For Small Business Investment Company debentures which support Karen G. Mills, Administrator Small Business Administration

see FY 2011 page 61

Make Payments to SBA Online

B Alberto G. Alvarado, Director Los Angeles SBA District Office

orrowers and Lenders can now make payments to SBA online at www.Pay.gov. Pay.gov is a free, secure, government-wide financial management transaction portal managed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Management Service, developed in conjunction with the Federal Reserve Bank. It offers various on-line electronic financial services that the public can use for remitting payments and associated data electronically to federal agencies, including

the SBA. P a y. g o v is convenient, easy, and available 7 days a week - 24 hours a day. The Pay.gov Web site allows you to use it on a one-time basis or become a self enrolled user. As an enrolled user, you will have the ability to make a single ACH payment, schedule recurring ACH payments, and view a list of your processed payments. &

59 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Please complete then submit this form with your payment. Please type or print. Name: Title: Company: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Telephone: E-mail: URL: Type of Business: W/MBE Certified by:

Fax:

Year Established:

NAICS Codes: Briefly describe your products and/or services

New membership Renewal Membership

Select Type of Membership Regular Member-$200 annual dues 51% African-American owned, Voting membership

Corporate Member-$2,500 annual dues Major corporation, Non-voting membership Associate Member-$100 annual dues Non-business owner, Non-voting membership Student Member-$25 annual dues Full-time registered student, Non-voting membership Amount enclosed $ Payment type: credit card Visa MasterCard Card #: Signature Fax Payment to: 323-291-9234

Exp. Date

Payment type: check/money order—make payable to: Black Business Association Mail to: P.O. Box 43159, Los Angeles, CA 90043 USA For information Call: 323-291-9334 Email: mail@bbala.org Website: www.bbala.org

FY 2011 from page 59

high-growth, high-impact small firms, $3 billion in authority is requested. o For Microloans, $3.8 million in subsidy will support a program level of $25 million. • The budget requests legislation to increase the maximum sizes of 7(a) and 504 loans from $2 million to $5 million ($5.5 million for 504 manufacturing projects) and $50,000 for microloans. • This budget reflects the SBA’s highpriority performance goal over the next two years to increase the number of SBA 7(a) lenders with an active portfolio. Expanding Opportunities in Government Contracting and Business Development • This budget reflects the agency’s core belief that federal government contracting opportunities are a critical tool in helping small businesses increase their volume, expand and create jobs. • This budget requests $2 million in additional funds for programmatic efforts to reduce fraud, waste and abuse, and meet statutory requirements. This supports SBA’s high-priority performance goal of meeting or exceeding federal government contracting goals and reducing participation by ineligible firms. • The SBA will also focus on meeting contracting goals overall, and for women and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, as well as firms in the HUBZone and 8(a) programs. Entrepreneurial Education, Counseling and Training • This budget reflects funding for SBA and its resource partners who provide free counseling to more than 1 million entrepreneurs and small business owners each year. Annual impact studies show that these education and counseling relationships contribute to the long-term success of these businesses and their ability to create jobs. This support is even more critical as we continue to provide small businesses with the tools to drive our nation’s economic recovery. This budget includes a total of $134 million to support SBA’s

resource partners and their 14,000 SBA-affiliated counselors. o $113 million to support about 900 Small Business Development Centers o $14 million to support about 100 Women’s Business Centers o $7 million to support about 370 chapters of SCORE, a mentoring program involving retired executives. • The budget requests $3 million to increase the reach of a particularly effective SBA program called Emerging Leaders (formerly “Emerging 200”). Graduates of this program – often in distressed areas – have reported sig-

nificant increases in revenues, government contracts, local hires, and access to financing. Disaster Assistance • SBA provides critical support for businesses and communities following disasters to help ensure they are in the best position for economic recovery. In line with that, this budget supports a disaster loan volume of $1.1 billion in direct lending. $203 million is requested for administrative expenses, an increase of $126 million from the see FY 2011 page 65

Economic Development Credit Analysis March 3rd-5th 2010 Downtown Los Angeles This hands-on course presents an overview of business financing tools and available private financing options, as well as how the public sector can complement bank financing. Learn how to read financial reports, financial statements, balance sheets and profit and loss statements. Course participants will perform credit analysis by determining how well a company buys and sells to make a profit. Also, they will learn how to determine if the company pays its suppliers on time, collects its receivables, and controls costs to make a profit. Enroll now to understand the basics of structuring deals for small businesses that often combine public and private sector financing programs.

Course Highlights: Business credit analysis; Balancing the sheet; Profit & loss statement; Small business lending programs; Structuring loans; Overview of real estate financing

Training Locations/Accommodations: The Westin Bonaventure, 404 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071 Phone: (213) 624-1000

IEDC room rate: $99 single/double - Cut-off date: Sunday, January 31, 2010 Please reference the International Economic Development Council to obtain the discounted group rate. The group rate is available until Sunday, January 31, 2010 or until the room block is full. After the cutoff date, registration rates will be subject to availability and prevailing rates.

Registration: Early bird registration (by Jan 20th); IEDC Member Rate: $525; Non-IEDC Member Rate: $625 This course is being held in partnership with the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED), International Economic Development Council (IEDC), and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC)

61 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

VERACITY REALTY, INC. “Dedicated to Truthfulness” Let us see what we can do for you in both Commercial & Residential finance!

Jonathan Thompson, Commercial Broker Phone: 800-455-2142 Cell: 323-309-2885

Rhonda Thompson, Residential Loan Officer Phone 800-455-2142 Cell: 323-387-9439 CA Dept. of Real Estate, Real Estate Broker: 01781216 *APR: Includes appraisal, title insurance, escrow, points & other loan cost is 6.487%

Four Season’s Production Multi-Cultural H Multi-Purpose Multi-Functional H Multi-Faceted Manufacturing, Productivity, Growth & Expansion Economical H Globalization H Empowerment

“We’re Fired Up and Ready to Go”

Open Supplier Certification Process The Verizon Communications Corporation is seeking to identify a greater share of African American-owned and operated businesses to match to potential operating contracts. The data base that Verizon procurement management personnel are instructed to review is the California Public Utilities Commission Clearinghouse.

Entrepreneurial Business Development Diversified H Subdivision H Product-Mix & Creating Jobs Across America City by City H State by State National and International Trade Exchange

“Yes We Can” “Something New and Excitingly Different on the Horizon” Commercial

Residential

Genell Brown, Artist Designer

Our Community Source Contact: Keasha L. Charles

888-988-8551 Phone & Fax

BBA members wanting to expand market opportunities with a telecommunication company should consider completing a supplier certification application. To obtain an application go to the Internet web address www.cpuc.gov and visit the supplier diversity page for an online application. The BBA encourages all members to participate in this process that works to create greater opportunities for all African-American owned and operated firms. Last year the California Verizon Company reported an annual spend with African American owned suppliers in excess of $40 million.

62 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

Lucy Florence Culture Center 3351 W. 43rd St. Leimert Park Village Los Angeles, CA 90008

Shop our boutiques Enjoy our Cuisine Exquisite Venue for your Special Event ……

Tinashe @ the Boardroom inside Lucy Florence

We are open daily! 1-6pm

Tote & Satchel HANDBAGS, beautifully restored, one-of-a-kind vintage HANDBAGS, the hottest DESIGNER SHOES, Cuff links, sterling silver jewelry, and Italian handmade Murano glass JEWELRY.

OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN OERP

Relax Do Business with BBA Member Shop, Eat, in Businesses & Advertisers Little Ethiopia Experience Africa in America

Culture, Retail, Entertainment Fairfax Boulevard

between Pico & Olympic Los Angeles

Leimert Park Village An African American Cultural, Retail, Foods & Entertainment Center. Degnan Boulevard between

Crenshaw & Leimert Blvds. 43rd Street-43rd Place, Los Angeles

63 T February 2010 T Black Business News T www.bbala.org

If you’re having trouble making your house payment, you’re not alone. Call us. We may be able to help. If you’re a Countrywide mortgage customer having a difﬁcult time making your house payments, call one of our specially trained Home Retention Specialists. Countrywide wants to help you to keep your home. The sooner we can talk, the sooner we can try to help.

Call Countrywide Mortgage Help: 1-888-200-5872 Reference number: 222 5 AM – 9 PM PT, Monday – Thursday 5 AM – 7 PM PT, Friday

Equal Housing Lender. © 2008 Countrywide Bank, FSB. Member FDIC. Trade/service marks are the property of Countrywide Financial Corporation, Countrywide Bank, FSB, or their respective afﬁliates and/or subsidiaries.

FAME ASSISTANCE CORPORATION FREE CREDIT MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS

OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN OERP

Do Business with BBA Member Businesses & Advertisers

HELD EACH MONTH AT

1968 W. ADAMS BLVD., LOS ANGELES CALL FOR INFORMATION OR RSVP 323-730-7720