May 2009 MILLENNIUM BILTMORE HOTEL 506 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES 35th Annual Awards Dinner THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2009 IN RECOGNITION OF BLACK MUSIC MONTH YOUR LINK TO BLACK BUSINESS ENTERPRISE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ~ OVER 39 YEARS OF SERVICE ~ Black Tie Optional Reception: 6:00pm - 7:00pm Awards Dinner Program: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Dessert Reception to Follow DINNER CHAIR DONALD T. STERLING OWNER, LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS AND STERLING PROPERTIES In This Issue… 5 Cover Story: Tribute to a Legend 6 Tracking the Economy’s Recovery 12 Black Leadership for Johnson Products Again 17 Couple Sparks Buy Black Trend 29 USAID Awards Education Grants to US & African Colleges
Transcript
May 2009
MILLENNIUM BILTMORE HOTEL506 SOUTH GRAND AVENUE, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
35th Annual Awards Dinner
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2009
IN RECOGNITION OF BLACK MUSIC MONTH
YOUR LINK TO BLACK BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
IN SOUTHERN C ALIFORNIA
~ OVER 39 YEARS O F SERVICE ~
Black Tie OptionalReception: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Awards Dinner Program: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Dessert Reception to Follow
DINNER CHAIR
DONALD T. STERLINGOWNER, LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
AND STERLING PROPERTIES
In This Issue…5 Cover Story: Tribute to a Legend 6 Tracking the Economy’s Recovery12 Black Leadership for Johnson Products Again17 Couple Sparks Buy Black Trend29 USAID Awards Education Grants to US & African Colleges
Black Business NewsSPECIAL 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.
Hurry! Buy Your Copy Today - Quantities are limited!
The second quarter of the year in-cludes a tremendous number of
recognitions including, but not limited to, Easter, Earth Day, Small Business Month, Honor Days for Mothers and Fathers, Jackie Robinson Day, Admin-istrative Professional Day, and Asian Pacifi c Heritage.
Freedom rang at the 20th Annual Los Angeles Black Business Expo and Trade Show (BBX) at the start of May, showcasing a slice of black-owned enterprise at the Los Angeles Con-vention Center. The BBA extends big kudos to HAROLD HAMBRICK as a true business warrior for investing time and money to ensure our community’s consistent delivery of this important outreach event each year. Even dur-ing this economic uncertainty for many people, the BBX made its mega-event a success for all who participated. Our Los Angeles Mayor ANTONIO VIL-LARAIGOSA participated in the open-ing ceremonies along with Inglewood Mayor ROOSEVELT DORN and State Assemblyperson CURREN PRICE, each sharing the importance of recy-cling economic patronage with black-owned and operated enterprises.
Also a rich tradition during the sec-ond quarter is remembering a dynamic force on the American landscape built by black music. June is formally rec-ognized as National Black Music month and it is a real cultural phenomenon with a hundred plus reasons how it plays such a signifi cant importance to our total American cultural. Although the essence of American black music goes back more than three hundred years, people love to give recognition to the 1960’s as the ear of black awakening in
the black music industry as there was such an emergence of money earned by a lot of great entertainers.
The BBA will install a small contri-bution to recognize the signifi cance of the nationally acclaimed Black Music Month during our 35th Annual Awards Dinner to be held on June 4, 2009 in Beverly Hills. There are hundreds of black entrepreneurs and corporate ex-ecutives that we rarely hear about as they operate are behind the stage of sound making the business of music fl ourish domestically and abroad.
One such hero unfortunately passed away just last year, who epitomized the business of music, Mr. Jheryl Busby, who handled west coast promotion and marketing for Stax Records to promot-ing product for labels such as Casa-blanca, CBS, A&M, and Atlantic. He was a Long Beach State University alumnus who enjoyed a stellar career in music, who was the fi rst Vice Presi-dent of MCA Records’ black music divi-sion in 1984.
Everyone knows and loves Berry Gordy’s dynamic growth and sale of Motown Records, but what about Steve Stoute an urban advertising legend; Sylvia Rhone, current president of Mo-town Records. How about Executive Producer VJ Ralph McDaniels; Enter-tainment Attorney Londell McMillan; Businesswoman Cathy Hughes, found-er of Radio One and TV One, [radio owning and operating upwards to 69 radio stations in 22 cities].
How about Andre Harrell, formation of Uptown Records; Marvet Britto a brand strategist, Dr. Dre who helped put west coast hip-hop on the map; or Russell Simmons, Def Jam Records, onto fash-
ion, television, fi lm and fi nance arenas; Gwendolyn Quinn, founder of the Pres-ident of the African-American Public Relations Collective (AAPRC); Master P, artist management and ghetto-cen-tric fi lm projects, plus an urban fashion line.
The business of black music helps us acknowledge the work Mathew Knowles, manager of R&B group Des-tiny’s Child, a Fisk University grad who shaped the world renowned Beyonce Knowles; and power publicists like Patti Webster; Cassandra Mills; The Dean Brothers; Dyana Williams; June Ambrose; Sean Garrett; and Jermaine Dupri.
I want to close this sampling of black music business shakers with one man who stands head and shoulders as the
see President’s Message page 23
Black Business AssociationP.O. Box 43159, Los Angeles, CA 90043
5 Cover Story: Tribute to Parren J. Mitchell6 Tracking the Progress Toward Economic Recovery 7 Economic Recovery Mood Survey Results10 California’s Recovery. Gov 12 New Leadership for Johnson Products14 BBA’s 35th Annual Awards Dinner17 Experiment Kicks Off Buy Black Trend26 Africa Focus
On May 28, 2007, our nation lost a giant in the Black community and
a pioneer for the ability of small busi-
nesses to receive a fair share of gov-ernment contracts. Representative Parren J. Mitchell (D-MD) died in a Bal-timore nursing home at the age of 85 after suffering from complications from pneumonia.
From 1983 until 1986 I had the privi-lege to work as legal counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Com-mittee on Small Business. Representa-tive Mitchell was the Chairman of this Committee. During this time I was able to participate and witness fi rst hand the masterful work of “Parren”, as he was affectionately known, in spearhead-ing legislation that would establish ag-gressive programs to increase federal contract awards to small and minority businesses. As the champion for small business and the “godfather” of minor-ity business, Parren worked tirelessly to ensure that federal agencies and major prime contractors fulfi lled their legal requirement to support the small
and minority business program. Parren was a tough, fi ery and outspoken advo-cate for small and minority businesses,
and most government offi cials and ma-jor prime contractors feared testifying before his Committee. They knew that their prepared testimony would not be good enough for Parren. He pushed the government and corporate contract-ing offi cials to recognize that small and minority businesses were essential to the government industrial base and he would not accept the perennial argu-ment of “lack of capacity” as an excuse for not engaging these companies.
Parren authored Public Law 95-507 which, among other things, gave strength to the offi ces within execu-tive agencies charged with advocat-ing for small businesses also known as the Offi ce of Small and Disadvan-taged Business Utilization (OSDBU). Through this law, he put teeth in the government subcontracting program for small businesses and devised liq-uidated damages for noncompliance. Parren recognized that small business-
5 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
es are the engine of innovation and thus created the Small Business Inno-vation and Research (SBIR) Program. He realized the critical need for small business contractors to receive timely government payments and authored the Prompt Payment Act. In 1982, Par-ren was responsible for the 10 percent minority business goal for the award of government contracts in the public works area under the Surface Trans-portation Assistance Act. This legisla-tion paved the way for the numerous statutory goal programs that the feder-al government now has for contracting with various categories within the small business community. He was the cata-lyst behind the legislation assigning a 5 percent goal to the Department of Defense for contract awards to minority businesses.
Clearly the list is endless regarding the social and economic impact that Parren Mitchell had during his tenure in the United States Congress. Once he retired from the Congress he carried on his work through the Minority Business Legal Defense and Education Fund (MBELDEF). Unfortunately the organi-zation lacks strong support and funding needed to sustain viability.
In October 2006, I had the honor and the pleasure to receive an award of ex-cellence from the Parren Mitchell Foun-
see Tribute to a Legend page 34
(l-r) Tracey L. Pinson, Esquire with Representative Parren J. Mitchell
(l-r) Young “Skip” Cooper with Rep. Parren J. Mitchell
Track Government Economic Actions and Fund Opportunities
Mission of Recovery.Gov•Education:Explain the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act;
•Transparency:Show how, when, and where the money is spent;
•Accountability:Provide data that will allow citizens to evaluate the Act’s progress and provide feedback.
The American Recovery and Rein-vestment Act is an unprecedented
effort to jumpstart our economy, create or save millions of jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st century. The Recovery and Reinvestment Act is an extraordinary response to a crisis unlike any since the Great Depression. With much at stake, the Act provides for unprecedented lev-els of transparency and accountability
so that you will be able to know how, when, and where your tax dollars are being spent. Spearheaded by a new Recovery Board, this Act contains built-in measures to root out waste, inef-fi ciency, and unnecessary spending. This website, Recovery.gov, will be the main vehicle to provide each and ev-ery citizen with the ability to monitor the progress of the recovery.
As the centerpiece of the President’s commitment to transparency and ac-countability, Recovery.gov will feature information on how the Act is working, tools to help you hold the government accountable, and up-to-date data on the expenditure of funds.
The site will include information about Federal grant awards and contracts as well as formula grant allocations. Fed-eral agencies will provide data on how they are using the money, and eventu-ally, prime recipients of Federal fund-ing will provide information on how they are using their Federal funds. On our
6 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
end, we will use interactive graphics to illustrate where the money is going, as well as estimates of how many jobs are being created, and where they are located. And there will be search capa-bility to make it easier for you to track the funds.
The fi rst incarnation of Recovery.gov features projections for how, when, and where the funds will be spent -- which states and sectors of the economy are due to receive what proportion of the funds. As money starts to fl ow, far more data will become available. Availability/Distribution Time Line
One of the main goals of the Ameri-can Recovery and Reinvestment Act is to provide quick relief to families who are hurting, and to invest in projects that will create jobs immediately. Funds will reach these projects in the coming weeks, and as they do, you will be able to judge whether these resources are being allocated as effectively as pos-sible.
Visit the Timeline section of the Re-covery.gov website to know when the funds that will aid you, your family, your community, or your business are being allocated and where to fi nd the funds you need.
7 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Survey Shows Mood of Americans on the EconomyThe Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation conducted a national survey of Ameri-
cans to gauge their opinions about the roles of government and the private sector in achieving economic recovery. What follows are a few examples of the fi ndings that reveal a stark and fundamental gap between the national policy agenda that led to the initial stimulus package and the attitudes and beliefs of the American people. The responses point to a key and unrecognized reason as to why the public has not been satisfi ed with the overall stimulus package.
Find the complete report at http://www.kauffman.org/uploadedFiles/Enterpre-neurship/Entrepreneurship_and_Economic_Recovery_poll.pdf.
The Survey Shows...•Despite the collapse of Wall Street, 89 percent of Americans say that capitalism is still the best economic system for our country. (Slide: 1)
•53 percent of Americans say that a better stimulus package that createsmore jobs could be crafted, while 25 percent say the current stimulus will createsustainable jobs. (Slide: 21)
see Survey on page 9
89%
9%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Despite the collapse of Wall Street, capitalism is still the best economicsystem for our country. It is not perfect, but it is better than the
alternatives.
Agree Disagree
The Stimulus Package� 53% say that a better
stimulus package that will create more jobs could be crafted.
� One-quarter say that the stimulus package will create sustainable jobs.
� 12% say it will not create sustainable jobs.
25%
53%
12%10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
$800 billioneconomic stimulus
package
Will createsustainablejobs
A betterpackage thatwill create morejobs could becreated
It will notcreatesustainablejobs
Youdeserve every opportunity to succeed.
You are proud. You are committed. You are a leader. You are an ethnically diverse business owner, and you deserve a bankthat can help you fulfill your dreams. Union Bank of California’s Business Diversity Lending program recognizes this andoffers a variety of smart financing options and flexible, less restrictive lending requirements.Whether you need short-termfinancing to help run your day-to-day operations, or long-term financing for new equipment or building improvements,your dream of running a successful business is well within your reach.
This is not a commitment to lend. Financing subject to credit and any applicable collateral approval.Other restrictions may apply. Eligible borrowers must meet all criteria for the BusinessDiversity Lending program. Financing available to businesses located in California, Oregon orWashington.Terms and conditions subject to change.
•Americans narrowly support the stimulus package, 51 percent to 44 percent. (Slide: 17)
•Americans have their doubts that the stimulus package will spur the entrepre-neurship that they hold as so important. 72 percent think that the government could do more to encourage entrepreneurs (Slide: 22).
While 60 percent of Americans say they are more skeptical about the stability of our capitalist system following recent events, they have not abandoned their faith in entrepreneurs. And 89 percent say that capitalism is still the best economic sys-tem for the country despite the collapse on Wall Street. These findings collectively suggest that Americans are looking to entrepreneurs more than the government for the solutions that will lead us to sustainable economic recovery. The American people fully recognize that policies that encourage entrepreneurship are critical to creating lasting jobs and revitalizing the economy.
The Stimulus Package� 51% of Americans favor
the $800 billion economic stimulus package that was just passed.
� 44% oppose it.
51%
44%
30%
40%
50%
60%
$800 billioneconomic stimulus
package
Favor
Oppose
from Survey on page 7
U.S. Government and Entrepreneurship� Almost three-quarters
of respondents think the government should do more to encourage entrepreneurship.
� 15% say the government should not.
72%
15% 13%10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Should the U.S.government do more
to encourageentrepreneurship?
Yes
No
Not sure
Support the BBA
Cash in on YourAuthentic Voice
May 16, 2009 • 9:00 a.m.-5 p.m. Courtyard Marriott
6333 Bristol ParkwayCulver City, CA 90230
Are you utilizing your natural gifts • and talents? Are you on your authentic career • path? Are you in the right relationship? • Are you a public speaker looking • to improve your skills or become a highly paid professional speaker? Are you looking for greater fi nancial • rewards? Are you seeking greater spiritual • fulfi llment? Do you seek more authenticity in • your life?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, we have just what the doc-tor ordered for you. Come and learn how you can fi nd, live and share your authentic voice and cash in on your authenticity.
This full day FREE program will as-sist you to:
Discover your ‘authentic voice’ • Learn how to leverage your • “authentic voice’ for fi nancial success Increase your exposure in the • marketplace Improve your communication skills • Inspire yourself to maximum success • Create a deeper connection to your • spirituality Uncover new revenue streams • Cash in on your authentic voice•
Session concludes with an Authentic Spiritual Journey on a facilitated Labyrinth Walk.
Learn more and register atwww.cashinonvoice.com
or call323-734-7144
Norma T. Hollis
America’s Leading Authentic Voice Doctor
9 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Economic Recovery News
The Governor of California’s Recov-ery Act Task Force is taking the
following actions in relation to federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funds:
I-405• . This afternoon, the Governor will appear at the groundbreaking of the Sepulveda Pass Widening Project in Los Angeles – the larg-est highway infrastructure project in the nation to use Recovery Act dollars. $190 million in Recovery Act dollars have kick-started the project, which will total over $1 bil-lion and mean 18,000 jobs.Discretionary Grants for Trans-• portation. Caltrans will conduct a stakeholders meeting today to discuss the Recovery Act Supple-mental Discretionary Grants for a National Surface Transportation System. The U.S. Department of Transportation will be issuing cri-teria on the application for these funds by May 18, 2009.
Additional announcements:LaHood and Light Rail Funds• .
The U.S. Department of Trans-portation Secretary Raymond La Hood announced that Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transporta-tion Authority received a $66.7 mil-lion Federal Transportation Agency grant for the Metro Gold Line East-side Extension. This project will extend light rail service from Union Station in Los Angeles to Pomona Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard in East Los Angeles for a total of six miles of new tracks and nine new stations.
Week-end Re-cap:Summer Jobs• . On Monday, the Governor participated in a press conference with Mayor Villarai-gosa at Los Angeles City Hall to announce an investment of $20 million in Recovery Act Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funds for the HIRE LA’s Youth Program. Be-cause of the Recovery Act fund-ing, the program this year will be able serve 7,000 additional youth. These funds are part of the $415
10 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
million pushed out to 49 Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs), about which the Governor sent a letter to local offi cials. Caltrans Highway Projects• . Cal-trans announced this week that is has exceeded the federal govern-ment’s expectations – in just half the time – for obligating Recovery Act funds to highway construction proj-ects. As of last Friday, Caltrans had obligated funds for 80 transportation projects, totaling $1,010,837,708 in Recovery Act funds, surpassing the $900,000,000 federal minimum threshold for obligation mandated by the July 1, 2009 deadline to avoid the use-it-or-lose-it provi-sions of the Recovery Act. The list of projects is posted on Caltrans’ Web site. Education Funding• . Estimates for the level of Recovery Act funding that will be awarded to the individ-ual school districts were be made available for the Title I and IDEA funds this week. The awards will be made through the Department of Education. State Energy Program• – Anoth-er First For California. Governor Schwarzenegger announced that California is the fi rst state in the nation to submit the application for American Recovery and Reinvest-ment Act (Recovery Act) State En-ergy Program (SEP) funding. The California Energy Commission, the agency responsible for administer-ing the $226 million in authorized Recovery Act funding, successfully completed the state’s paperwork for the SEP to ensure that Califor-nia can move forward in working with stakeholders to develop pro-gram guidelines.
The Task Force can be reached through its web site, www.recovery.ca.gov, or by telephone at (916) 322-4688.
“Access to Capital & Banking:Surviving In Tough Times”
Small Business Financial Management Workshop
10 AM-12:30 PM May 29, 2009U.S. Bank Branch Community Room
Slauson and Crenshaw Boulevards, Los Angeles
Advanced registration preferred because space is limited:
Call 323-291-9334 or
send an e-mail message to [email protected] your name, the number of people attending, company,
telephone number, e-mail address, and industry category.
Los AngelesWorld Affairs
Councilpresents
His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho
Kikwete President of the
United Republic of Tanzaniaspeaking on
“Africa’s Challenge in theGlobal Economic Crisis”
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 • 7:30 p.m. dinnerInterContinental Hotel • 2151 Avenue of the Stars • Los Angeles, CA
LAWAC Members: $57 • Guests of LAWAC Members: $67General admission: $72 • Tables of Ten: $570
Event Information & Reservation Form: www.lawac.orgor call (213) 628-2333
For links to President Kidwete’s bio and remarksbefore the IMF conference visit: www.lawac.org
Deadline for cancellations and refunds is Monday, May 18th
Special Report: Brett Tarnet,Tarnet Insurance Services, will provide an update from The Export Import Bank of the United States Annual Meeting that was recently held in Washington DC. Brett will discuss Ex-Im programs for trade fi nance and what Ex-Im is doing to support US exporters as part of the US government’s recovery plan. Signifi cant new program announcements will be
Parking is not available in the building garage Updates & Registration onwww.vitainternational.org
Make YourReservations Today!
International Business Forumhosted by
Riverside-Obuasi Sister City CommitteeInternational Relations Council of Riverside
Friday, May 29, 2008 • 2:00 pm - 5:30 pmRiverside Marriott Hotel, 3400 Market Street
Riverside, California 92501
Featuring these presentations:A Little Taste of Ghana (Subayo Foundation); Shovel-Ready Business
Projects in Obuasi, Ghana (ASK GHANA, LLC); Doing Business in Ghana: Opportunities and Resources (Gathers Strategies, Inc.); Investing In The
Culture of Obuasi (Vincate & Associates); and Growing the Business People of Tomorrow, Today (SIFE).
Admission is Free but Pre-registration is required. Seating is limited. R.S.V.P. to Lisa Brown at [email protected] or 951-684-1966
Business Forum Chair, Dr. Chipasha Luchembe, AIMS
12 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Johnson Products Under Black Ownership Againby Patrice J. Holmes, Contributing Writer, Louisiana Weekly
An 18-month long acquisition has brought new life to one of Ameri-
ca’s most recognized market leaders in African-American hair care products. Johnson Products has been sold from Proctor & Gamble (P&G) to Eric and Renee Cottrell-Brown, daughter and son-in-law of former Pro-Line owner Comer Cottrell. Brown, who will serve as chief execu-tive offi cer for the company, said Johnson Products has a chance to return to the greatness it once enjoyed.
“This repre-sents an oppor-tunity for John-son Products to come back to the legendary posi-tion it once held,” Brown said. “It has been viewed as a beacon in the African-Amer-ican corporate arena and the highest degree of professionalism.”
P&G sold its Johnson Prod-ucts Company unit to a newly formed independent entity comprised of Los Angeles-based private equity fi rms Rustic Canyon/Fontis Partners, LP and St. Cloud Capital LLC, along with Plus Factor, LLC, where Brown is the owner, and Opus Capital Partners. With this transaction, Brown said the four ven-ture capitalist companies played a tre-mendous role in making the Johnson Products transition a success.
“We are looking to rebuild to be as big as possible so we can be strong, retain earnings and invest enough money in Johnson Products to propel it to grow,” Brown said. “We were fortu-nate enough to acquire a well capital-
ized company and we are positioned to survive in tough times.”
Cottrell-Brown, who will serve as executive vice president of Johnson Products, said the company’s past suc-cess and recent resurgence is an op-portunity to fi ll a void.
“The acquisition of Johnson Products represents the renewal of a family of products that revolutionized the ethnic
hair care industry starting in the 1950s, and a next stage of growth for a legend-ary company that has been an iconic fi gure and model of success for African Americans,” Mrs. Cottrell-Brown said.
Both Browns have extensive expe-rience in the ethnic hair care arena, having both held senior executive po-sitions with the Pro-Line International, Inc. Their passion and business savvy is what Cottrell-Brown said will provide them with a platform to bring product innovations and promotions to a unique
multi-cultural consumer group and re-introduce the brands to a new genera-tion.
“We have an outstanding, motivated team, and we are extremely excited and optimistic about the future of this new venture,” she said.
Comer Cottrell, founder of Pro-Line International, said he is excited and pleased to congratulate the Browns on
13 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
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their acquisition of Johnson Products. “We have always had a great deal of
respect for the company and its found-er. The acquisition will perpetuate the legacy of minority ownership and con-tributions to the industry.”
Founded in 1954 by George Ellis Johnson, Sr., Johnson Products, for-merly headquartered in Chicago, has been a mainstay brand for more than a half-century in the African-American community. In 1971, the company be-came the fi rst minority-run enterprise to be listed on the New York Stock Ex-change. Through peaks and valleys of business developments, Johnson Products has been sold and bought to companies like Carson in Savannah, Georgia, L’Oréal, Wella, and fi nally Proctor & Gamble, each of which Cot-trell-Brown said could not make John-son Products the center of their busi-ness attention.
Today, under the leadership of the Browns’ full focus, Johnson Products, which has annual sales of more than $23 million and participates in a global market that the company estimates to be approximately $1.8 billion, offers more than 30 hair care products, in-cluding the Gentle Treatment and Ultra Sheen brands and the management team brings more than 55 years of ex-perience to the newly formed company. It has helped launch some of the indus-try’s most successful ethnic hair care brands, including the Soft & Beautiful, Comb-Thru and Just-For-Me product lines.
The new transaction also means changes for JP’s geographical make-up. The company is currently head-quartered in California, with prod-ucts manufactured in Mexico. But the Browns, who have been married for 28 years, said they hope to create jobs by
moving the manufacturing to the U.S. and bringing the core of sales and mar-keting to their new Dallas offi ce.
In bringing the epicenter to North Texas, the Browns said they will con-tinue to partner with their community as they have done in the past by reaching out to services and organizations that focus on African-American education, wo_men and youth like the United Ne-gro College Fund, and Boys and Girls Clubs.
“Johnson Products will look for op-portunities to partner with organizations that mean something to the communi-ty-they need volunteers and leadership in corporate America,” said Mr. Brown who has been on the advisory board at University of Texas at Arlington and served with UNCF in Dallas and Junior Achievement. “Im_proving the commu-nity also allows them to buy our prod-ucts.”
Johnson Products has been sup-ported by leading food, drug and mass retailers as well as beauty and barber suppliers for more than 50 years. Jay Forbes, president of the Forbes Con-nection LLC and former vice president of Drug Store News, said he welcomes JPC back to the forefront of the ethnic hair care industry.
“In a market that demands innova-tion, creativity and thoughtful prod-uct positioning, I cannot think of two more talented individuals who better understand the ethnic consumer and the retail community,” said Forbes. “I’m certain that Renee and Eric, with their collective experience over many years contributing to the growth of the Pro-Line family business, will excel in re-energizing Johnson Products, a great legacy company with outstanding brands.”
The Brown’s are equally confi dent in
the transformation they can make in the Johnson Products name. Historically, African-American hair care companies have slipped through the cracks, many closing, being sold and vanishing from store shelves, but Johnson Products founder believes this will be the revival the African-American hair care industry needs.
“It makes me extremely happy to know that the brands of Johnson Prod-ucts will be owned by people who un-derstand the African-American consum-er market and care about the brands,” said Johnson, 82, whose company be-came part of Procter & Gamble in 2003. “Eric Brown and Renee Cottrell-Brown will be successful in re-energizing the company, and I wish them the very best in their endeavors.”
14 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
The Black Business Association Annual Awards Dinner honors corporations, government agencies and individuals that have been most supportive of the growth and development of the Black Business Association (BBA) and the African American business community as a whole. This gala event also salutes those outstanding entrepreneurs, professional executives and corporations who serve as examples of the great results possible when “Best Practices” are applied to operating a business or corporation, or to achieving professional excellence.
Black Music Month celebrates the extraordinary talents and creativity of African-American singers, musicians, and composers whose achievements have enriched our culture and enhanced our lives. Often born out of great pain and strong faith, that music has allowed African Americans to endure tremendous suffering and overcome injustice with courage, faith, and hope. By speaking to the human experience and expressing heartfelt emotion, African-American artists have inspired people across the generations in America and around the world with their vision and creativity. More-over, throughout the course of American history, black musicians have used their great talents to share the richness of the African-American experience and to develop a uniquely American style of music enjoyed throughout the world.
The BBA/Black Music Month Celebration combines our annual business awards dinner with the recognition of Black Music Month to honor the Motown organization on the 50th anniversary of the founding of Motown. We celebrate the daring and creative risk-taking of the Motown founders and artists; and the creativity, wisdom and entrepreneurial zeal needed to be successful “over the long haul”. We honor the Motown Family as entrepreneurial heroes. Among the awardees are: Smokey Robinson, Lifetime Achieve-ment; Miller London, Jr., Business Pioneer; and James DuBose, Rising Star.
35th Annual Awards DinnerIN RECOGNITION OF BLACK MUSIC MONTH
YOUR LINK TO BLACK BUSINESS ENTERPRISE
IN SOUTHERN C ALIFORNIA
~ OVER 39 YEARS O F SERVICE ~
35th AnnualBlack Business
AssociationAwards Dinner
In Reconition ofBLACK MUSIC MONTH
Thursday, June 4, 2009Millennium Biltmore Hotel506 South Grand Avenue
Downtown Los Angeles, CA 90071Black Tie Optional6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Northrop Grumman CorporationDickerson Employee Benefi tsSouthern California Gas Co.
METROPacifi c Coast Regional
Western States Petroleum Assn.
15 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Rising Star
James DuBose, founder and CEO of DuBose Entertainment in Hol-
lywood, California, has spent over 18 years in television production and believes his creativity, determination and ability to understand his audience has served him well throughout his career. In the Fall of 2008, DuBose served as executive producer for sev-eral shows including his third season of “Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is” and his fi rst season of the new original se-ries “Brother to Brutha” both on BET. He also shepherded two one-hour specials “The Single: Monica” and “Dreamland” for Peachtree TV and has several shows in various stages of development with artists, celebri-ties and sports fi gures that will come to fruition later this year. There is no doubt that James DuBose is a prolifi c producer of reality programming who has become the “go to guy” for some of today’s biggest names.
DuBose recognizes the good for-tune that has enabled him the freedom to create and enjoy his own brand of “quality, intelligent programs.” A mar-ried father of two young girls, DuBose is enjoying the success he always believed was possible. DuBose’s philosophy, “I have unwavering faith in God and myself, so I always knew that if I continued to do my part, God would truly take care of the rest. Too many people live for the day when they will ‘arrive.’ The trick is to enjoy the journey. That’s the key.”
Business Pioneer
Miller London’s illustrious career began at Motown Records in
the late 60s, where he held senior ex-ecutive posts in sales and marketing. He was hands-on and instrumental in the careers of many of the company’s legendary artists such as Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.
Mr. London, after more than 23 years, left Motown in the early nine-ties to head up the black music divi-sion of RCA Records. From there he segued to A&M Records, where he was President of Black Music, work-ing with such artists as Vesta, the Sounds of Blackness, For Real, and a host of others.
In 1994, Mr. London transitioned to the music trade-publishing sector as President of Urban Network. He remained with the company for nine years, while under the helm of Clear Channel. In 2003, Mr. London ac-quired the Urban Network trademark from Clear Channel and re-launched the respected branch and its fl agship magazine, where he is now Publisher & CEO.
Lifetime Achievement
William “Smokey” Robinson, Jr. is a renowned American R&B and
soul singer-songwriter, record pro-ducer, and record executive. Robin-son is noted for being one of the pri-mary fi gures associated with Motown Records, second only to the compa-ny’s founder, Berry Gordy. Robinson’s countless hits, and consistent contri-butions to the Motown label earned him the title of the “King of Motown”. As both a member of Motown group The Miracles and a solo artist, Robin-son recorded thirty-seven Top 40 hits for Motown between 1960 and 1987, and also served as the company’s vice president from 1961 to 1988.
Smokey’s hit songs also earned him the title “America’s poet laureate of love”. During the course of his 50-year career in music, Robinson has accumulated more than 4,000 songs to his credit.
In 1972, he left the Miracles and began a solo career while continuing his duties as vice president of Mo-town. In 1988, Robinson published his autobiography, “Smokey”, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. In 1999, Smokey received the Grammy Life-time Achievement Award.
In 2004, Robinson’s company, SFGL Foods, launched a line of fro-zen foods called “Smokey Robinson’s ‘The Soul is in the Bowl’”.
At its Commencement Convoca-tion in May 2006, Howard University
conferred on Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa. In December 2006 Robinson was a Kennedy Center honoree. In March 2009, The Miracles were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
16 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
California Black Chamber of Commerce/Chamber Foundation2009 Annual Events and Activities Calendar
www.calbcc.org
June 19thJuneteenth Community Educational FundraiserSheraton Grand Hotel, Sacramento, CA A program dedicated to our young adults to celebrate the history of the African American contribution to the United States and California.
August 19th-21stRon Brown Business Economic Summit & Youth Scholarship Awards Wyndham Hotel, San Jose, CA This is our main event and major fundraiser for the Chamber & Chamber Foundation. The Summit addresses supplier diversity issues, corporate matching efforts, state and federal contracting & procurement opportunities. Our Youth Entrepreneur Summit & Scholarship Awards will climax the Ron Brown Memorial event topped off with exceptional world renowned entertainment.
35th Annual Black Business Association Awards Dinner • June 4, 2009
Quote of Note...
“I have always believed that our role as
lawmakers is not to stifl e the market, but to strengthen its ability to unleash creativity and
innovation.”President Barack H.
Obama
PRESENTED BY
NATIONAL BLACK BUSINESS COUNCIL, INC. (NBBC) 501 (c) 6INSTITUTE OF THE NATIONAL BLACK BUSINESS COUNCIL, INC. (INBBC) 501 (c) 3
Break The CycleBreak The Cycle
and MaryAnn Mitchell Scholarship AwardsThursday, June 11, 2009Marriott Los Angeles Airport
17 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Our Economic Recovery Plan: Midwest Couple Set ExampleFrom N’Digo Megapaper
Beginning January 2009, John and Maggie Anderson embarked on
a year-long pledge to purchase what-ever goods and services they need from businesses that are at least 51% black-owned. Included in the profile are businesses that contribute to neigh-borhoods that are home to substantial numbers of African American families. They call this endeavor the “Empower-ment Experiment.”
The experiment has garnered nation-wide attention, positive and negative. But whatever one thinks, the Empow-erment Experiment has put the “Re-cycling Black Dollars’ and “Buy Black” campaigns of old back on our minds.
While reaching a 100% goal is still impossible because African Americans do not yet own every type of business out there. We can, though, do the re-search in each of our communities to find the African American owned busi-nesses and become customers.
Black owned businesses are the second largest employer of blacks in the country. The U.S. government is the first. Our Economic Recovery Plan
(OERP) has to include buying from and doing business with African American owned firms. The more black dollars that we cycle through the community the more jobs that are retained, the more small businesses that will keep their doors open, the fewer homes that will be foreclosed on, and the more sta-ble property values will be.
We have a duty to preserve our families and our communities. During this eco-nomic downturn there is the temptation to hold on to every dollar. It is important to spend the money you have wisely, but now is not the time to be com-p l e t e l y i n s u l a r . Spending some of your dis-posab le i n c o m e with Af-r i c a n A m e r i -
can and neighborhood businesses will help us all get through the current chal-lenge.
John Anderson is quoted as saying “ There is a higher sense of duty to make sure these extablishments are thriving. As we strengthen the African American community economically, we’re helping society as a whole. And I think people are starting to understand what the endgame is.”
Invest the time it takes to search out the African American businesses in your community. Look for business organizations that have listings, seek our business owners that attend your church, look through the advertisers in your community newspapers, and ex-
OERP Starts Here!
Begin your search for businesses with which to spend the coming
Economic Stimulus monies right here with the BBA. The Black Business News is repleat with ads from many of our leading businesses. Visit the web-site (www.bbala.org) and look for our listing of advertisers.
So, where to start. Try having lunch at Uncle Darrow’s to take the time to design your spending plan. Visit Deg-nan Square and the surrounding Cren-shaw Business District for shopping and lunch. Consider a double order of Phillps Bar-b-que and don’t forget to try the Chicken Sausage Sandwich at Earl’s Grille.
Go shopping at the African Market-place in the Crenshaw-Baldwin Hills
P l a z a . W h i l e there visit the gift shop in the Mu-seum of A f r i c a n Art and take out a membership (take out a membership at CAAM while you have a fist full of dollars).
Celebrate the windfall with a Sweet Potatoe Cheesecake from Harriet’s on Centinela or a specialty cake from Gwen’s. Maybe dinner at the acclaimed Harold & Bell’s.
In the supermarket, look for Glory Foods canned products on the shelves with Michelle’s Syrups then search the freezer section for Smokey Robinson’s soul meals.
Go past the supermarket to get your meats from Money Saver’s Meats on Florence. This is where you will find re-ally great chicken sausage (hot or mild) along with a variety of creole sausages and products. Money Savers also car-ries products from some little know black producers.
For liquid refreshment look for “Spar-kle”, a new sparkling water product on the shelves of neighborhood stores.
Afraid to spend your money? Put it in
see Recovery Plan on page 22
see OERP on page 22
19 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
20 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Financial Management:
Preserve Your Legacy, Not Just Your Moneyby Attorney Caprice L. Collins
Death and incapac i ty
are natural parts of the process of life. We are
born; we grow up; we may experience incapacity; and we eventually pass away. Along the way, we develop our values and accumulate assets and ex-periences. Sure, when we die, we want to pass along our assets to our family while paying the least possible taxes, but, what is most important is passing along our lifetime of values and experi-ences.
A new paradigm in estate planning is emerging, Legacy Planning. This allows your plan to consider everyone and ev-erything that is important in your life. It considers not only how much money and assets you are going to leave to your family, but also your life story, your goals, your experiences, and your val-ues.
The heart of Legacy Planning is a Family Wealth Trust. This Trust leaves your tangible assets to your family. You may choose to leave the assets in the Family Wealth Trust so that your bene-fi ciary has the ability to withdraw all the assets at any time, called an Access Trust for the benefi ciary. While an Ac-cess Trust may provide divorce protec-tion, it does nothing to protect against other creditors. However, you may also choose to leave the assets in your Fam-ily Wealth Trust so that your benefi ciary is protected from the risks of potential future creditors by leaving the assets in a continuing discretionary Trust, some-times called a Sentry Trust for the ben-efi ciary. With a Sentry Trust another person is the Trustee and makes deci-sions regarding when it is appropriate to make distributions to the benefi ciary. This allows the Sentry Trust to protect your benefi ciary from the many perils and pitfalls of life, even if you cannot be there to protect them yourself. For ex-
ample, if your daughter is a physician and is sued for malpractice, the assets which you left for her in the Sentry Trust would not be in jeopardy.
In addition, a Legacy Plan includes Powers of Attorney for fi nancial mat-ters and health care matters, as well as a “HIPAA” power which ensures that those in need (whom you desig-nate) have access to your health in-formation. Perhaps most importantly, the Legacy Plan incorporates the My Legacy Workbook, in which you can share treasured memories, cherished values, and hard-earned lessons which you wish to preserve and pass on for those left behind.
You have more to share with your
family than the things which you have accumulated during life. Legacy Plan-ning recognizes that your most valuable possessions may be the values and life lessons you have to share…because the best things in life aren’t things.
An estate planning attorney experi-enced in Legacy Planning can help you develop a plan that meets your needs and which your family will cherish for generations to come.
Attorney Caprice L. Collins is a member of the BBA, a Harvard Law School graduate, a mem-ber of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and has been engaged in the practice of law for the last 29 years. For more informa-tion or to attend an upcoming seminar, call (310) 677-9787 ext. 5 or visit the fi rm website at www.collinslawgroup.com.
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As a Mother You Have Cared For Your Children All of Their Lives…Why Stop There?
Seating is Limited – Make Your Reservation Today!
Seminars will be presented at the
WWeessttcchheesstteerr--LLooyyoollaa LLiibbrraarryy7114 W. Manchester Avenue,
Los Angeles, CA 90045 Refreshments will be served!
• Avoid probate delays and expenses and leave a moral and value-based legacy including incentives for children and grandchildren to finish college.
• How protect your child’s inheritance from a divorcing spouse, creditors and predators.
• How to provide “Remarriage Protection” to safeguard assets for your children from outsiders.
• How to provide for a child with Special Needs while protecting their Government Benefits.
Caprice L. Collins is a top rated Harvard Law School trained attorney, fellow alumni with President Barack Obama and a noted speaker on Living Trusts and Estate Planning. Ms. Collins’ law practice is devoted exclusively to Estate/Business planning and Trust Administration. She is the only Central Los Angeles/South Bay member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, a distinguished organization of attorneys recognized by Money Magazine and Suze Orman as a first choice for Estate Planning legal services. Her seminars are said to be “entertaining, inspirational and easy-to-understand.”
Attend and Receive a Free One Hour Consultation ($350 Value)
Call 310-677-9787 ext. 5 for information or go to www.collinslawgroup.com
SATURDAY, MAY 16TH, 2009 Registration & Continental Breakfast Begins at 10:00 AM
Program Starts at 10:30 AM WESTCHESTER LOYOLA LIBRARY
7114 West Manchester Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90045
CAPRICE L. COLLINS ATTORNEY AT LAW MOTHER OF TWO
22 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Our Recovery Plan
Slaton Insurance Group Slaton Insurance Group offers solutions for individuals, business owners, entrepreneurs and small to mid-size companies. We work with businesses of all sizes, from trade contractors to general contractors, from project owners to restaurants. Some of our product offers are:
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change references with your neighbors and friends. Attend black expos across the nation to find African American busi-nesses and to identify those business-es that contribute to your community.
Like the Andersons, build a database of businesses for your community to share with your neighbors. The Ander-son’s website is www.eefortomorrow.com. Look at what they have done then create your own.
Take an active role in the national economic recovery process. Start in your neighborhood by spending near home. Look for funding and other eco-nomic relief options by checking the many economic recovery websites on display on the BBA website and on the White House website - www.white-house.gov.
OERP is a contact sport. Take an active role. Cycle those dollars around the community - Recycling Black Dol-lars is back in style.
OERP Starts Herethe bank - Founders, OneUnited, Watts Credit Union.
Take a walk on the African side and go shopping and dining in Little Ethio-pia, between Olympic and Pico on Fairfax. Great foods, clothing, gifts and groceries.
This meager list does not scratch the surface of what is available in Los Angeles. And we have not mentioned your favorite eating or shopping estab-lishment. All the more reason for you to promote these Black-owned business-es among your friends and associates. Build business for your Fave Five.
Plus, there are great shopping cen-ters and dining sites in Inglewood, Compton, Riverside, Carson, Burbank, Glendale and all of the cities that sur-round Los Angles.
As was said above, OERP is a con-tact sport. Take the blinders off. Discard the negative attitudes about Black busi-nesses (you might be one yourself). Get out into your community and re-cycle the dollars that you have.
The Recovery Needs You!
SupportBlack
BusinessesHire and/or
Contract WithBlack
BusinessesPractice
Recycling Black Dollars
from Economic Recovery Plan page 17
New Leaders for California Legislative Black Caucus Foundation
The California Legislative Black Caucus Foundation (CLBCF) re-
cently elected a new chair and board members. The new offi cers will be in place to lead the 5th annual business and professional conference to be held Thursday through Saturday, May 14th, 15th and 16th, in the Sheraton Gate-
way Hotel, 6101 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles.
The new CLBCF board chair is Are-va Martin, Esq. and the new CLBCF Vice Chair is Assemblymember Isa-
dore Hall, III (D., 52nd Dist.). Rounding out CLBCF’s recently-installed Execu-tive Committee are Sedrick Spencer, senior regional manager, Hoffman-La Roche Service Corp., also as a vice chair, and treasurer, Gregory Gorman, attorney-at-law.
Other Board members include CLB-CF founder, Mervyn Dymally, director, Urban Health Institute, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science; Andrew Antwih, legislative advocate,
Areva Martin, Esquire
Yvette Chappell-Ingram
23 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Shaw/Yoder, Inc.; Clinton Killian, at-torney-at-law; Edmond Lelo, execu-tive vice president, Wells Fargo Bank; Tamara Rasberry, governmental re-lations advocate, CA State Council of SEIU; Melanie Shelby, managing di-rector, Gray, Greer, Shelby and Vaughn and new member, Danny Bakewell, Jr., president and executive editor of the Los Angeles Sentinel and President and COO of The Bakewell Company, overseeing 4.5 million square feet of residential, retail, offi ce, industrial and commercial space throughout South-ern California.
CLBCF President Yvette Chappell-Ingram feels that CLBCF’s new lead-ership and upcoming conference will solidify the Foundation’s new direction while providing much needed informa-tion and resources for organizations and individuals offering an array of so-cial services.
behind the stage of music executive, the incomparable Clarence Avant. In his 40-year career, Clarence Avant has been actively involved in promoting op-portunities for African Americans in the recording industry. A Greensboro, NC native, in the late 1960s he success-fully engineered the fi rst joint venture between a black American and a major record company; MGM.
In 1975, Clarence Avant formed Tabu Record, where his sharp business acu-men played a key role in the success-ful rise of producers Timbaland, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis (also National Acad-emy of Recording Arts and Sciences Chairman which produces The Gram-my Awards) and he is credited with helping Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds create LaFace Records in the 1980s.
The BBA is actively sharing bid op-portunities on its web site www.bbala.org. We invite all subcontractors and procurement professionals to visit our bid opportunities page and make a de-termination as to how you want to see black enterprise grow and build capac-ity for creating jobs.
“Small Business Administration8A Procurement How-To”
Small Business Procurement Success Workshop10 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. June 19, 2009U.S. Bank Branch Community RoomSlauson and Crenshaw Boulevards, Los Angeles
Advanced registration preferred because space is limited:Call 323-291-9334 or send an e-mail message to [email protected].
Provide your name, the number of people attending, company, telephone number, e-mail address, and industry category.
25 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
State Wide News!
California Council of Black Chambers
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The Black Business Resource And Networking Directory Presents:
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The Inland Empire 2009 Spring Black Business Expo
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10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Hosts of the new business resource websites:
26 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
International:
Obama Signature Opens Doors for Contraceptives to KenyaBy Arthur Okwemba, African Woman & Child Feature Service www.awcf.org
The lifting of the Gag Rule, which had prohibited the US government
from funding organizations that talk about abortion or offer related services, has been greeted with tears of joy by Kenyan women, but scoffed and criti-cized by anti-abortion groups. This lift-ing means that the more than US$ one million (79 million shillings) from United States Agency for International Devel-opment (USAID) that was available to Kenyan organizations before the Gag rule was initiated will start fl owing again.
It also means thousands of contra-ceptives including, Microgynon, Mi-crolut and Nordette, whose availability suffered greatly when Bush Administra-tion reinstated the Rule, will be given once again to local organizations that were distributing them. The lifting is a big relief to Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK), which suffered greatly when the Rule was effected. Delighted offi cials at the organization now say they are likely to reopen the clinics or open new ones once the funding is re-sumed.
“We hope with the removal of the Rule our partnership with USAID is go-ing to be restored and we now readying ourselves for further consultations on how to regain the lost ground in help-ing women manage their fertility,” says Muraguri Muchira, the organization’s Director of Programs. The organization lost more than Sh 25 million and over 50,000 cycles of Microgynon, Microlut and Nordette it was receiving every
year from USAID towards it contracep-tive programmes.
Also affected were FHOK’s clinics which used to function as clinical train-ing sites for the Ministry of Health’s doctors and nurses on how to insert Norplant and IUDs, perform steriliza-tion procedures and improve quality of STI and HIV/Aids counselling. New funding is going to reactivate them.
“In countries such as Kenya, Ugan-da, Tanzania and Ghana we have wit-nessed fertility rate rise partly due to this policy. With this new funding, these countries should work to regain the lost gains and bring smiles on the faces of many couples,” says Jo Reinders, Technical Adviser, World Population Foundation.
The Global Gag Rule undermines democracy and puts women’s lives at risk, and hence the steps taken moves away from ideology and toward making sound policies that are based on evi-dence and reality, according to Serra Sippel, Acting Executive Director at the Center for Health and Gender Equity
Other reproductive health experts
say many organizations who depen-dent heavily on USAID contraceptive funding suffered irreparably just be-cause they uttered the word abortion or attended forums where abortion issues were discussed.
To many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where family planning indicators are saddening, the lifting means the over US$ 35 million (over Sh 2.7 bil-lion) for support of family planning and
reproductive health programmes which was cut will be reinstated.
Organizations that were affected by the rule say reversing of the policy by Obama has come just at the right time when more than 40 percent of births in Kenya are unplanned, and one in four married women have an unmet need for contraceptives, all due to problems facing family planning programmes.
This is according to a study fi ndings published late last year in Guttmacher Institute of Sexual and Reproductive Health Series No. 4 of 2008.
Likewise, lack of access to family planning commodities and information is partly blamed for the approximately 14,700 Kenyan women and girls who die each year due to pregnancy-related complications and another 294,000 to 441,000 who suffer from disabilities caused by complications during preg-nancy and childbirth.
Mexico City Policy, also known as the “Gag rule,” was installed in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan. The rule restricts USAID from giving family planning aid to any foreign NGO that provides abortion, abortion counselling and referrals services or abortion relat-ed advocacy with their own funds other than those given by US, even when abortion is legal in that country.
Trouble for many Kenyan organiza-tions started when the Bush Adminis-tration reinstated this rule in 2001 to
undo Bill Clinton orders that had earlier lifted it. Kenyan organizations that of-fer information or counsel women on safe abortion and post-care services, or participated in discussion on legaliz-ing abortion, were identifi ed and denied funding.
When it happened, rural and urban poor who benefi ted from these services described the decision as a bitter pill to
27 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
“A FEW NOTES ON AFRICA”
SEACOM Ready June 2009SEACOM, which is privately funded, will assist communication carriers in south and east Africa through the sale of wholesale international capacity to global networks via India and Europe. From June 2009, the 1.28Tbps 15,000km undersea fi bre-optic cable system will provide African retail carriers with equal and open access to inexpensive bandwidth, removing the international infrastructure bottleneck and supporting east and southern African economic growth.
SEACOM will launch services with a planned Ready-for-Service date of June 2009. SEACOM is 77% African owned.
Empowering and protecting Darfur’s women focus of new
UN initiativeEnsuring gender equality and promoting the participation of women in the search for peace in Darfur are among the aims of a new initiative launched by the United Nations in the strife-torn Sudanese region. Under a cooperation agreement police serving with the joint African Union-UN hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) will team up with the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) to support innovative measures to boost the standing of women in the region.Both parties are to enhance gender
equality, raise the profi le of women and address issues relating to all forms of discrimination against women, particularly in confl ict situations. UNAMID Police are mandated to
assist in harnessing the capacity
of women to participate in the peace process through political representation, economic empowerment and protection from sexual and gender-based violence. Together, UNAMID Police and
UNIFEM aim to create an enabling environment for women’s equal and meaningful participation in the process to bring peace to Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million have been forced from their homes since fi ghting erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and allied Janjaweed militiamen.
SEE YOU ON THE CONTINENT.
swallow. FHOK, which had received ap-
proximately 75,000 cycles of pills from USAID in 1999 before the Gag rule came into effect, wept.
The organization had also received Sh 135 million between 1997 and 2001 as support for fi ve of its 14 clinics – in Eastleigh, Kisii, Embu, Mombasa, and Phoenix House-which were offering re-productive health services to the poor.
But when support was withdrawn in line with the Gag rule, the organization was forced to close three clinics and lay-off close to 40 staff members. Ser-vices were scaled down by 40 per cent, with the number of tubal ligations done per year declining from over 3,000 to less than 1,000.
A total of 1,560 women, men and children who received services every-day from these clinics could not access them.
“The development threw us off bal-ance, and had to dig in the little saving we had to cater for desperate women, men and young girls who were still
knocking on our doors searching for contraceptives,” says Muchira.
In its monthly report in 2002, FHOK said aproximately 56,000 family plan-ning clients living in slums and densely polluted areas where the clinics oper-ated were going to be denied access to services with the closure of the clinics.
The net effect of all this, the report said, couples, or adolescents who de-pended on the organisations for Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and other services were going to fi nd it diffi cult to control their fertility resulting in un-wanted pregnancies and more unsafe abortion.
Equally overjoyed with the lifting is Marie Stopes International (MSI)-Ke-nya, where staffs describe the action as the best gift this year.
According to staffs at the organiza-tion, which runs many clinics in Kenya, the lifting is going to allow more con-traceptives to come in and help bridge the huge unmet need of family planning in the country estimated to be over 60 percent.
Their celebration is for a reason. When the Gag rule was reactivated, they were forced to close over 10 clin-ics. More than 2,000 women who were their family planning clients were af-fected, with over 80 employees being retrenched.
Closure of the clinics in the slums of Nairobi and Kisumu seriously affected the delivery of services in these poor settings. In one of the clinics, more than 400 women who were attended to every day could not access family plan-ning after it was closed.
Pleas by FHOK and MSI-Kenya that they do not procure abortion because it is illegal in Kenya; but offer post-abor-tion care services just like Kenyatta Na-tional Hospital did not soften the stand of the Bush Administration.
At the global level, the Internation-al Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), that also funds FHOK, esti-mates it lost about $100 million (Sh 7.9 billion) in U.S. funding in the past eight years. This money, it approximates
see Contraceptives on page 44
28 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
29 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
International:
20 Partnerships Awarded in Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative Grant Competition
The U.S. Agency for International De-velopment (USAID) and the Higher
Education for Development (HED) an-nounced today 40 paired winners of the Africa-U.S. Higher Education Initiative Planning Grant Competition. Nearly 300 applications were submitted for capac-ity-building partnerships between U.S. colleges and universities and higher education institutions in Sub-Saharan African nations. Paired winners will re-ceive planning grants from USAID of $50,000 each.
“This competition is an important opportunity to build the kind of higher education capacity critical to the devel-opment of Africa,” said Joseph Carney, director of USAID’s Offi ce of Education. “This initiative was proposed during the Higher Education Summit for Global Development and subsequent regional summit held in Rwanda last year. We are delighted to see this effort moving forward and expect great results from these planning grants.”
These paired institutions will use the grants to develop plans to address re-gional and national economic develop-ment priorities such as engineering, health, agriculture, environment and natural resources, science and tech-nology, education and teacher training/preparation, and business, manage-ment and economics.
HED manages the competition which grew out of the Africa-U.S. Higher Edu-cation Initiative (www.aplu.org), a col-laborative effort between a number of higher education associations and other organizations, led by the Associa-tion of Public and Land-grant Universi-ties (A۰P۰L۰U), formerly the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges (NASULGC).
“We were elated by the astounding number of highly qualifi ed applications received, and even more pleased by how many applications demonstrated a strong understanding of higher educa-tion needs in Africa,” said Dr. Tully Cor-
nick, executive director of HED. “The top 40 winners represent the best of these applications, and plans that are developed as a result of the grants will address a variety of critical develop-ment needs. It is our belief that if fund-ing is found to implement these plans, we will see tangible, measurable and sustainable impact made in these Afri-can countries.”
“This important initiative continues to illustrate the enormous unmet need for higher education partnerships in Africa,” added Peter McPherson, president of A۰P۰L۰U. “We see this as just the be-ginning - this is an ongoing campaign to accomplish much more in engaging higher education institutions in Africa.”
HED, funded by a cooperative agree-ment with USAID, was founded by the six major U.S. higher education asso-ciations to engage U.S. colleges and universities in international develop-ment. For more information about HED and to view details about the planning
grants competition, visit www.HEDprogram.org.
The American people, through the U.S. Agency for In-ternational Development, have provided economic and hu-manitarian assistance world-wide for nearly 50 years. For more information on USAID, visit www.USAID.gov.
U.S. Higher Education Institution African Higher Education Institution Calvin College Milton Margai College, Sierra Leone Cleveland State University Copperbelt University, Zambia Colorado State University University Nairobi, Kenya Durham Technical Community College Kigali Institute of Science & Technology, Rwanda George Mason University University Sierra Leone Georgia State University Grand-Bassam University, Cote d'Ivoire Michigan State University University Malawi North Dakota State University University of Makerere, Uganda Oklahoma State University Hawasa University, Ethiopia Texas A&M University University Namibia The George Washington University University of Moi, Kenya The Ohio State University Gaston-Berger, Senegal Troy University University of Liberia Tufts University Muhimibili University, Tanzania University of Alabama-Birmingham University Zambia University of Connecticut Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia University of the Pacifi c School of Banking & Finance, Rwanda Virginia Tech University Catholic University, Sudan West Virginia University Catholic University, Mozambique Wheelock College-Boston University Education Winneba, Ghana
Join the
BBA!323-291-
9334
30 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Technology:
Take a Look!by LaSandra StrattonCheck out what these fi rms and organi-zations have to offer for your personal interests, personal wealth building, and business expansion opportunities.
www.blender.orgBlender is the free open source 3D content creation suite, available for all major operating systems. Download this free software then use the tutori-als to begin learning the ins and outs of animation.
http://bcaglobal.orgThe BCA is a nationwide non-profi t, educational and networking organi-zation of hospitality and food service professionals with the mission to cre-ate exposure and provide education-al and professional opportunities for culinary and hospitality professionals of color. BCA provides quality educa-tional and employment resources, job
coaching, mentoring and assistance with placement, and networking sup-port. The BCA exposes inner-city high school students to the culinary arts through a setries of workshops that serve to introduce culinary arts as a viable career option.
www.reducetherate.orgJoin the campaign to urge lawmak-ers to extend the benefi ts of the fed-eral bailout to college students and their families in this fragile economy through adoption of the Rainbow PUSH Education Stimulus Plan.
Submitted by LaSandra Stratton BBA member, Chair of the BBA International Trade Committee.
California Black Chamber FoundationAnnual Juneteenth Community Recognition Luncheon
Friday, June 19, 2009 • 11:30 am-2:00 pm Sheraton Grand Hotel • Sacramento, California
Celebrate the contributions that African Americans have made not only in the state of California, but the United States of America.
CBCF, 2951 Sunrise Blvd., Suite 175, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742Tel: 1-916-463-0177 • E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.calbcc.org
32 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
International:
EX-IM Bank - Financial Support to Succeed WorldwideThe Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) can be your valu-
able partner in increasing your company’s international sales. Today, many companies are leery of competing in the global marketplace during the economic crisis, but the truth is exports are more important than ever! In fact, in these dif-fi cult times, companies cannot afford NOT to export.
As the offi cial export credit agency of the United States government, Ex-Im Bank’s sole mission is to help businesses get the fi nancing support they need to succeed worldwide. More global sales translate to more jobs here at home. Thus, Ex-Im Bank has teamed with the Department of Commerce’s U.S. Commercial Service division to offer three enlightening webinars to help executives grow their company’s export sales with confi dence.========================================================Webinar 1 of 3: Accessing Capital to Fulfi ll Your Export Orders (May 12)You have made the big international sale but don’t have the funds to buy materi-als. On top of this, the current recession has lenders tightening credit, especially for transactions in emerging markets. No need to panic as the Ex-Im Bank has the solution for your company to increase liquidity and improve cash fl ow.
Ex-Im Bank exists to help U.S. companies to increase their international sales, especially small businesses. The agency’s working capital loan guarantee en-ables exporters to obtain commercial loans to facilitate the export of goods or services. The funds can be used to purchase raw materials and labor as well as fund overhead costs. Exporters can turn export-related inventory into cash and even get support for posting bid and performance bonds.
In this interactive session, experienced trade fi nancial consultants will clearly explain how this loan guarantee:• encourages lenders to make these loans• enhances the value of your existing collateral base• offers generous advance rates (up to 90% for export-related accounts receiv-able and up to 75% for export-related inventory including work-in-process)
Furthermore, these loan can be obtained simply and quickly from many pre-qualifi ed local lenders. Thus, learn how to access capital now! Date: May 12, 2009 • Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT • Price: $50https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=9Q80========================================================Webinar 2 of 3: Extend Credit and Get Paid Too! (May 14)Take away the stress and grow your international business. Making international sales is challenging enough without having to worry about getting paid. Some-times buyers demand credit and expose your company to commercial and politi-cal risks. Sometimes buyers simply default and leave your company with a loss.
Relax … Ex-Im Bank can substantially reduce the risk of nonpayment. Without this worry, your company can enter new markets and increase its international sales with confi dence. In fact, Ex-Im Bank’s export credit insurance can cover your risk in over 150 countries. The insurance policy not only protects your com-pany against nonpayment but it also enables you to sell on competitive “open ac-count” terms instead of requiring cash-in-advance. This fi nancial support is often the critical factor in winning a sale, especially in emerging markets.
In this webinar, you will learn how this insurance can:• cover 90 to 100% nonpayment risk at an affordable premium• replace cash-in-advance, letters of credit, and other documentary sales• provide qualifying international buyers with advantageous terms of credit• enhance your company’s balance sheet and improve cash fl ow
• insure all export sales or just those from a single buyer
Register now to increase your export sales while minimizing risks.Date: May 14, 2009 Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT Price: $50 Register: https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=9Q7Y=============================Webinar 3 of 3: Competitive Financ-ing for Your Buyers (May 19)Many U.S. businesses lose interna-tional sales because their buyers ei-ther cannot obtain fi nancing, the inter-est rates are too high, or their foreign competitors have arranged loans. Ex-Im Bank assists U.S. companies by guaranteeing fi nancing to creditworthy international buyers, both public and private sectors, for purchases of U.S. capital goods and services.
The guarantee for the commercial lender loans to foreign buyers covers 100 percent of principal and interest against both political and commercial risks of nonpayment. Medium-term guarantees (up to seven years) cover the sale of capital items such as trucks and construction equipment, scientifi c apparatus, food processing machinery, medical equipment, or project-related services--including architectural, indus-trial design, and engineering services.
The loan guarantees enable interna-tional buyers to obtain loans from lend-ers at competitive rates, and the buyers can be foreign companies, govern-ments, and agencies. There are fl exible fi nancing options and repayment terms and no limits on transaction size.
In this webinar, exporters and im-porters will also learn about the Ex-Im Bank Letter of Interest (LI) to assist in negotiations for sales transactions. The LI indicates the Bank’s willingness to consider a fi nancing offer if sale is completed.
Buyer fi nancing can make or break your next sale so register now.Date: May 19, 2009 Time: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EDT Price: $50 Register: https://emenuapps.ita.doc.gov/ePublic/newWebinarRegistration.jsp?SmartCode=9Q7Z
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.
If you’re having trouble making your house payment, you’re not alone.
Call us. We may be able to help.
5 AM – 9 PM PT, Monday – Thursday5 AM – 7 PM PT, Friday
34 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Tribute to a Legend
dation. This foundation was founded by Retired Colonel Theodore Adams, now deceased, to further Parren’s legacy of effective leadership and ensuring equal opportunity for all, particularly minor-ity business enterprise. Receipt of this award was extremely special to me.
As the Director of the Offi ce of Small Business Programs for the Department of the Army, I attribute my indoctrination to the area of government procurement and the ability to lead the Federal Gov-ernment in contracting with small busi-
from Tribute page 5
nesses, to working for Parren Mitchell. I last saw Parren at the Foundation din-ner. He was 82. He had suffered physi-cally and his body was weak. It was quite obvious that while his communi-cation was slight, his spirit was alive and well. It is imperative that we keep the spirit of Representative Parren J. Mitchell alive and continue to advocate for much greater participation of small businesses and all the sub categories, in government contracting. And…when the government touts how well it is do-ing in meeting procurement goals in the small business arena, understand the real reason why.
Shop with BBAAdvertisers &
Members
35 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
QueenAminah’s Clothing
New Location!BALDWIN HILLS-
CRENSHAW MALLAfrican Marketplace Boutique, Suite #285
323-293-3277
Specializing in quality products for the whole family imported directly from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Mali including:•Cultural Clothing for men women and children •Arts, Sculpture, Masks from the African Diaspora•Authentic Jewelry from African Designers
Queen Aminah’s Clothing also offers Community Outreach Services:•Fashion Shows for Churches, Organizations and Civic Associations•Black History Presentations for Schools, Churches, Corporations and Government Agencies•Rites of Passage Programs for At-Risk Teen Girls, Teen Mothers, and Adult Women
African Marketplace BoutiqueCrenshaw-Baldwin Hills Mall, Crenshaw & King Blvd.
Los Angeles, California USA
A Royal Blend of all naturalWest African herbs
and fi ery spices
www.kingspepper.com 323.291.4267
Before you grill,before you bake,
Buy King’s Pepperand Shake, Shake, Shake!
Buy King’s PepperAfrican Marketplace
Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw MallLos Angeles
Nails by SaVerne“Your Feet are My Passion”
Citrus PedicuresSpa Style PedicuresParaffi n TreatmentThe Spa ManicureFrench Manicure
Gentleman’s ManicureHand Facial
After Acrylic Care Treatment
www.nailsbysaverne.com
by Appointment Only…4334 11th Avenue, Los Angeles
323-389-0075
3rd Annual Leimert ParkVillage Book Festival www.leimertparkbookfair.com
Saturday, June 6th • 10 am – 6 pmLeimert Park Village Theatre Parking Lot
(43rd Street & Degnan Blvd.)
Writers, storytellers, spoken word performers, poets, publishers, artists,
illustrators, booksellers & literary vendors
Special Highlights:•Four Presentation Stages
•Meet the Authors•Children’s Village & Reading Corner
•Music, Entertainment•Food Pavilion Court
FREE & FUN For the Whole Family!
Eso Won Books • 4331 Degnan AvenueLeimert Park Village • Los Angeles
For Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities call: 323.730.0628
FAME ASSISTANCE CORPORATION
FREE CREDIT MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPSHELD EACH MONTH AT
1968 W. ADAMS BLVD., LOS ANGELES
CALL FOR INFORMATION OR RSVP 323-730-7720
SPONSORED BY
36 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
37 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Speakers:David Jeromin & William Silva
Managing PartnersGolden Mean Capital
(www.goldenmeancap.com) Event Description:Dave and Bill discuss their experienc-es in investing in the Agro business in Africa and possible diversifi cations in other sectors. As a venture capital fi rm based in Silicon Valley and investing in Africa, they will share their experiences on capital costs (double taxation, for-eign currency fl uctuation, etc.), man-aging the risk in such a different envi-ronment, the main challenges and the worth of investing in Africa with respect to projected rate of return, untapped opportunities, etc. Q&A and reception follow the presentation. Speakers’ Bios:David Jeromin is a Co-Founder of Golden Mean Capital and is responsi-ble for the fi rm’s business development and the structuring of investments in Africa. Mr. Jeromin has a wide range of experience- from arranging middle mar-ket fi nancial transactions to business and economic development initiatives in frontier markets. His specifi c inter-ests are development projects involving African Small to Medium Enterprises with particular emphasis in fragmented or disparate markets. Mr. Jeromin has experience in the study and applica-tion of Social Return on Investment (SROI) analytics and believes the use
of SROI as well as traditional valuation measures allow individuals and institu-tions alike to measure the full impact of their investments. Prior to helping cre-ate Golden Mean Capital, Mr. Jeromin was a Vice President with the invest-ment bank Oppenheimer & Company from 2004-2007. David currently sits on the Board of Directors of Caranda Fine Foods, an African specialty foods company.William Silva is a Co-Founder and Man-aging Director at Golden Mean Capital.
At Golden Mean he is responsible for business development, consulting and strategic advisory services, and inves-tor services. Prior to founding Golden Mean, Mr. Silva was Senior Vice Presi-dentof Private Investments at the Sh-emano Group - a San Francisco based investment-banking fi rm. In this role he lead the company’s division focused on funding early stage ventures using eq-uity, quasi-equity, and debt instruments across a wide range of sectors health care, software, bio-tech, and retail.
Understanding the VC World:
When Silicon ValleyGoes to Africa
Thursday, May 28, 2009 • 6 P.M.Fenwick & West, LLP301 California Avenue
Check out our unsurpassed collection ofbooks, music, video, children’s books, and
games!
323-294-0324www.esowonbooks.com
//esowon.booksense.com for Calendar of Events
Books to Consider...Resilience: Faith, Focus, Triumph by Alonzo Mourning and Dan Wetzel. In 2000, Mourning was on top of the world: But in September of that year, he was di-agnosed with a rare and fatal kidney dis-ease. Over the next couple of years, as his health faltered, he retired, unretired, and retired again–and sought to make sense of the rest of his life. Finally in 2003, after a frantic search for a donor match, Mourning had a new kidney and a new outlook. He vowed to make this second chance count by dedicating his life to others. Although he battled his way back to the NBA, winning a cham-pionship with the Miami Heat in 2006, Mourning believed that the most impor-tant and fulfi lling part of his life still lay ahead. Basketball, it turned out, was just the vehicle that would allow him to devote his talents and energies to a greater cause. By sharing his experi-ences of the physical, emotional, and spiritual roller coaster of illness and recovery, Mourning hopes to deliver a
message of faith and fi re, hurdles and hope, trust and triumph. Resilience is a story about the meaningful every-day lessons that he longs to share and about the things that truly matter in life.
The Challenge for Africa by Wangari Muta Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize win-ner. This book blends personal history with as-tute political ob-servations. She creates a sen-sible blueprint for sustainable change--economically, politically and environmentally.
The 50th Law by 50 Cent and Robert Greene. 50 Cent (aka Curtis Jackson) comes to the business world from a non-traditional background. He gives a new defi nition of fearlessness. He is willing to take risks and create his own circumstances. 50 talks about the im-portance of “owning yourself.” When making deals and decisions owning yourself means looking ahead to three years down the road--can I own this material, can I own this company, can I
take an equity position in the proposi-tion. 50 Cent encourages a shift in think-ing from par-ticipation to o w n e r s h i p . Fear nothing, and you shall s u c c e e d . Whether one is willing to take the risk to apply the 50th Law, knowing the law will help you know when they are being used on you. Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power is a companion book for The 50th Law.
Don’t Miss This Market•There are 17 million Internet users over 62 years old.•They spend an average of 44 min-utes per day online. •Seniors online are better educated, have higher incomes, and are much more likely to be married and work-ing. •Connected Matures also spend 70% more each month than those offl ine.
Statistics from Focalyst & Pew ResearchSource: Wealthy Bag Lady
Meeting Management:
Wendy’s Worldby Wendy Gladney
Well as they say, “April Showers Bring May Flowers.” If this is true,
then we are just in time for Mother’s Day! May tends to be the month that a lot of people get antsy because sum-mer is right around the corner, but the weather can still be a little “iffy.” May brings Mother’s Day, Graduations, Me-morial Day and Cinco de Mayo…. It’s very important for us to remember our Latin brothers and sisters for their spe-
40 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
cial day as well!In today’s economic climate busi-
nesses are trying to maximize promot-ing their businesses while trying to keep down their expenses. I recom-mend that a way to keep in touch with people would be to develop a blog or on-line newsletter that you can send out announcements, congratulations and well wishes to all of your clients and constituents. These are just two on line tools that are relatively inex-pensive where you can put “keeping in touch” into action.
Although the BBA won’t be celebrat-ing their 35th Anniversary Awards Din-ner until June 4th, I wanted to bring it to your attention in this month’s article. The theme will be “Black Music Month” and Smokey Robinson will be receiving the “Lifetime Achievement Award.” So read the BBA News to keep up with the latest and how you can support!
To keep up with what’s happening with Wendy and PSP check out our blog www.personalservicesplus.blog-spot.com.
PSP’s Calendar of Events…•CROWNS Ebony Repertory Theatre May 8 – June 14th www.ebonyrep.org •CLBCF Conference – May 14 – 16, 2009 The Sheraton Gateway Hotel•BBA 35th Anniversary Awards Gala – June 4th Millennium Biltmore Hotel•NBBC/Break the Cycle Reception – June 11, 2009•Joseph Business School Summit – June 24 – 26, 2009
Give your all in all that you do.Then the PLUS won’t just be more,
it will be the difference!
Sincerely,
Wendy Wendy, a BBA member, is the founder and presi-dent of Personal Services Plus, Inc., an Event Management Company. Visit www.personalser-vicesplus.com . You can also hear Wendy on Dominique DiPrima’s “KJLH Radio Front Page” Friday Mornings @ 5:00am.
andComedy NightJoin the Fun!Share the Laughs!
The American Recovery and Rein-vestment Act contains a package
of loan fee reductions, higher guaran-tees, new SBA programs, secondary market incentives, and enhancements to current SBA programs that will help unlock credit markets and begin eco-nomic recovery for the nation’s small business sector.
“The tax incentives and credit stimu-lus elements of the Recovery Act will
t r u l y h e l p s m a l l b u s i -n e s s o w n -ers af-
fected by the credit crunch, and will provide fi nancing opportunities to help them create new jobs in their commu-nities,” said Acting SBA Administrator Darryl K. Hairston.
“We are excited that locally these new SBA programs and incentives will aid small business owners in a variety of ways by increasing the availability of credit for working capital, purchas-ing property, buying equipment, refi -nancing existing debt, obtaining bridge
and micro loans in addition to assisting contractors with bonding,” said Alberto G. Alvarado, Los Angeles SBA District Director.
The bill provides $730 million to SBA and makes changes to the agency’s lending and investment programs so that they can reach more small busi-
Government:
Planning Underway for Broadest, Quickest Stimulus Bill Small Business Impact
nesses that need help. The funding includes:• $375 million for temporary fee reduc-tions or eliminations on SBA loans and increased SBA guaranteed shares, up to 90 percent for certain loans• $255 million for a new loan program to help small businesses meet existing debt payments• $30 million for expanding SBA’s Mi-croloan program, enough to fi nance up to $50 million in new lending and $24 million in technical assistance grants to microlenders• $20 million for technology systems to
41 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
see Stimulus Bill Impact on page 43
Sign Up Now for the California Construction Contracting Program
El Camino College SBDC13430 Hawthorne Blvd.Hawthorne, CA 90250
310.973.3177www.southbaysbdc.org
If your business provides services, from asphalt to porta-potties; from backhoes to fencing; from catering to architectural and engineeringservices, now’s the time to prepare for the upcoming reconstruction projects from Caltrans and other municipal agencies.
FREE construction-related business management advising and training is available through the California Construction Contracting Program. Contact the El Camino College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for more information or visit www.buildcalifornia.org.
$20 Billion in Infrastructure Building Bonds Can Mean Money for You!
Monitor the RecoveryA private sector tool developed for monitoring the progress of the na-tion toward economic recovery is the Fortune Recovery Index. Found at www.fortune.com/recoveryindex, you may use the software tool to check out the strength of the economy via seven different metrics and chart the path to date of each one. Checking the recovery index periodically might help you be the one who in the know regarding early signs of the econom-ic rebound. The early bird makes the most profi t, maybe.
42 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Watch & Support the Africa Channel!Time Warner • Channel 176
Don’t have the Africa Channel in your area? Call Time Warner at: 1-888-892-2253 and ask that the Africa Channel be broadcast to ALL regions of Califor-nia.
For information on the Africa Channel visit www.theafricachannel.com or send an e-mail inquiry to [email protected].
Zizini Safaris, Inc.Zizini Safaris provides the traveller with an unsurpassed and memorable experience of a lifetime in Tanzania.
We share with you the beauty of Tanzania; its rich natural resources, warm, friendly people, and a wealth of cultural experiences; offer the opportunity to gain an appreciation of the fl ora and fauna of these beautiful lands, which will evoke the need to protect and enhance these experiences for today and future generations.
Tuesday, May 12th“For everyone interested in doing business with Metro”
streamline SBA’s lending and over-sight processes• $15 million for expanding SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee program• $25 million for staffi ng up to meet demands for new programs• $10 million for the Offi ce of Inspector General
The bill also authorizes refi nancing for certain SBA loans so borrowers can expand their businesses on favorable terms, and expands leverage capability for Small Business Investment Compa-nies.
“We are going to be part of the solu-tion, and this bill gives us specifi c tools to make it easier and less expensive for small businesses to get loans, give lenders new incentives to make more loans, and help restore healthy SBA secondary markets to boost liquidity,” Hairston said, noting also that more de-tails on implementation will be coming over the next few weeks.
The stimulus bill takes a compre-hensive approach and attacks several problems facing small businesses at once by reducing fees, guaranteeing a greater share of certain loans, expand-ing capacity in the Microloan program, providing new loans to help small busi-nesses keep their doors open through economic hardship, as well as new mechanisms to help unfreeze the sec-ondary markets for SBA-backed loans.
Declines in SBA lending volume last year, which are continuing in FY 2009, refl ect problems in the broader credit markets, and present hurdles to small businesses that are seeking credit in the current economy. The fi nancial cri-sis has created a variety of conditions that impact small businesses, including a lack of liquidity in the banking system, a reluctance of many lenders to extend new loans, tightened credit standards, weaker fi nances at small businesses, and uncertainty about taking on new debt on the part of many entrepre-neurs.
The Recovery Act addresses small businesses’ lending problems, and ad-
dresses key investment and contracting issues. The bill helps Small Business Investment Companies better leverage investment capital to reach more small companies. The bill also increases the current contract limit for SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee program, which will help small businesses compete for contracts.90 Percent Guarantee
The bill allows SBA to raise its loan guarantee from the current levels to as much as 90 percent for some loans. At present, SBA can guarantee loans up to 85 percent on loans up to $150,000, and up to 75 percent on loans greater than $150,000. The 50 percent guar-antee on SBA Express loans would remain unchanged. Increasing the SBA guarantee percentage will encourage lenders to extend more capital to small businesses by increasing the share covered by an SBA guarantee.Business Stabilization Loans
The bill creates a new SBA loan program to provide deferred-payment loans of up to $35,000 to viable small businesses that need the money to make payments on an existing, quali-fying loan for up to six months. These loans will be 100 percent guaranteed by SBA. Repayment would not have to begin until 12 months after the loan is fully disbursed. The bill provides $255 million for this new program. These loans will help ensure that small busi-nesses have time to refocus their busi-
Stimulus Bill Impact
from Stimulus Bill Impact on page 41
Alberto G. Alvarado, DirectorLos Angeles SBA District Offi ce
ness plans in order to succeed in the long run.Microloans
The bill expands SBA’s Microloan program, which provides small loans (up to $35,000) paired with technical assistance to start-up, newly estab-lished or growing small businesses. The bill provides funding to increase loans from SBA to participating Micro-lenders by $50 million through Septem-ber 30, 2010, and adds $24 million in grants to provide technical assistance to borrowers. Historically, these loans reach low-income individuals, women and minorities in both rural and urban areas. Expanding this program through the stimulus bill will help ensure these entrepreneurs are not left behind in the credit crunch.Refi nancing
The bill also gives SBA the power to use the 504 Certifi ed Development Company program to refi nance existing loans for fi xed assets, providing fresh support for small business expansion.
This change will help business own-ers expand their current development projects and create jobs in their com-munities.Secondary Market Expansion
The bill authorizes SBA to establish a secondary market for pools of “fi rst lien” loans under the 504 program. These “fi rst lien” loans from commercial lend-ers currently have no SBA guarantee. The bill authorizes SBA to deploy fed-eral guarantees for pools of these fi rst lien loans, so that they can be sold to investors in a secondary market. Pro-viding liquidity for these fi rst mortgages will help encourage lenders to continue participating in SBA’s 504 loan pro-gram, which provides a key source of capital for community development and other projects.
The bill also empowers SBA to set up a Secondary Market Lending Au-thority that would make direct loans to broker-dealers that participate in the secondary market for SBA-guaranteed 7(a) loans. These broker-dealers would use the funds to purchase SBA-backed loans from commercial lenders, as-semble them into pools and sell them to investors in the secondary loan mar-
see Stimulus Bill Impact on page 52
43 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
44 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Thursday Blues at
Uncle Darrow‛sHigh Noon-2pmEvery ThursdayCome by for lunch and relax to blues and jazzfrom our house band! 2560 S. Lincoln Blvd.
Marina del ReyNorth East corner of Washington & Lincoln
“LA Times Magazinefavorite cajun food”
310-306-4862www.uncledarrows.comContraceptives
could have prevented 36 million preg-nancies and 15 million abortions.
“For eight long years the global gag rule has been used by the Bush admin-istration to play politics with the lives of poor women across the world,” said Gill Greer of the IPPF in London. “In rescinding this disastrous and unjust policy, President Obama has returned the United States to the international consensus on women’s health.”
Access Denied: US Restriction on International Family Planning, a study conducted by Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., Pathfi nder International, Population Action, IPAS and EngederHealth, in four countries, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia and Romania,
from page 27
concluded that:“The Global Gag Rule has eroded
women’s access to contraception and reproductive Health care. This can only lead to more, not fewer, unsafe abor-tion and maternal deaths.”
It was further argued that the rule worsened the situation of over 360 mil-lion women-, majority of them in Africa, who have no access to contraceptives.
But there were organizations that de-cided to bend their principles in order to access the USAID money.
Those who were desperate for funds had to agree to sign an agreement de-nouncing abortion or any related issues and indicating that the money was not going to be used on anything that was in anyway related to abortion. Only those who agreed to these tough con-ditions were given funding. A number
of organizations in Kenya signed the agreement.
IPPF’s governing council on the other hand refused to abide with the rule, and warned the over 45 organizations af-fi liated to it to count themselves struck from the membership list if they commit themselves to the Gag rule provisions through signing an agreement with the Bush Administration.
45 March 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
46 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Shop with BBAAdvertisers &
Members2009 Events
June•Annual Awards Dinner
TBD•Trade Mission to Washington, DCSeptember
•Black Busines Day Conference & Luncheon
October•Utilities Procurement
Exchange Summit & Awards Luncheon
• Call for information •
323-291-9334
47 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Shop, Eat, Relax in Little Ethiopia Experience Africa in America
Culture, Retail,Entertainment
Fairfax Boulevardbetween Pico & Olympic in Los Angeles
Leimert ParkVillage
An African American Cultural, Retail, Foods & Entertainment Center.
Degnan Boulevardbetween
Crenshaw & Leimert Blvds.43rd Street-43rd Place, Los Angeles
SPECIALTY CAKES AND CATERING820 N. La Brea Ave., #D • Inglewood, CA 90302
(310) 677-9979gwensspecialtycakes.com
“You’ll Love That Homemade Taste”• Cakes & Catering for All Occasions •
Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m - 6 p.mSunday and Monday by Appointment
Lucy FlorenceCulture Center
3351 W. 43rd St. Leimert Park Village
Los Angeles, CA 90008Shop our boutiquesEnjoy our Cuisine
May…1st-3rdLos Angeles Black Business Expo & Trade ShowThe 20th Annual exposition will take place in Tom Bradley (South) Hall, Los Angeles Conven-tion Center, Pico & Figueroa. For show details visit www.blackbusinessexpo.com.7th2nd Annual Spring Green FairMetropolitan Water District hosts this free fair at 700 N. Alameda, downtown from 9 am to 3 pm. Benefi t from a day of meeting Green vendors and attending workshops on susainability top-ics. Contact the Business Outreach Offi ce for information: 213)-217-6719, www.mwdh2o.com and www.bewaterwise.com.14thInternational Trade OutlookGet up-to-date insight into the international trade outlook for 2009. International trade continues to provide more than 281,000 jobs in the region. During 2008, goods valued at more than $357 billion moved through the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex and LAX/Ontario airports. Register at www.LAEDC.org/tradeoutlook. Early Bird prices until May 1st. 8:00-10:00 am at Keesal, Young and Logan - 14th Floor, 400 Oceangate - Union Bank Building, Long Beach, CA 90801-1730..17th-20th14th Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference & Expo“Shifting Gears: New Markets, New Opportu-nities” will be held in Detroit, Michigan at the Detriot Marriott in Renaissance Center. The power confernce for entrepreneurs and profession-als looking to fi nd new markets and new opportunities in these volatile economic times. Hundreds of deal makers are expected to at-tend—from aspir-ing business owners to top-tier professionals—
50 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
all looking to build networks and seek growth opportunities. Expect innovative sessions, high-powered speakers, and an early peek into the products, trends, and services you’ll need to know about to stay competitive. Find infor-mation and registration at www.blackenterprise.com/beec.25thAFRICA DAYWorldwide celebration of African heritage. Check your local organizations for scheduled events.June…
4th35th Annual Black
Business Association Awards Dinner
Millennium Biltmore Hotel6-10 pm
Call: 773-323-29344th“Meet The Buyers” Meet Metro’s Strategic Business Unit leaders to discuss contract opportunities from 8:30 am to Noon. Metro Headquarters Building, One Gate-way Plaza, Los Angeles. R.S.V.P.s preferred. Contact Lizette Garcia at [email protected] or 213-922-2416.9thLADWP Business Development Expo and WorkshopsThe annual event begins with Registration at 4:00- 5:00 p.m. and the expos, networking and workshops from 5:00-9:00 p.m. LADWP Headquarters, Auditorium & A-level Lobby, 111 North Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. 27th-July 1st2009 Annual Conference - Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education FundThe conference will take place at the Hyatt Mc-Cormick Place, Chicago, Illinois. Get informa-tion or register at www.rainbowpush.org or call 773-373-3366.29th-30thG8 Corporate Africa Infrastructure Investment Conference The conference will take place at the Royal Gar-den Hotel, Kensington in London. Get informa-tion at www.corporate-africa.com/nepad2008.July…
22nd-24thNBCC 17th Annual ConferenceNational Black Chamber of Commerce confer-ence information is available at www.national-bcc.org. Send e-mail to [email protected] Annual International African American Hotel Ownership / Multi-Cultural Tourism Summit & Trade ShowThe 4-day summit will take place at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa. Topics include means of becoming a hotel owner or investor and partici-pating in the tourism industry. Register at www.nabhood.com or call 323-291-9334 for detailed information.August…7th-11th2009 Leadership InstituteThe Tavis Smiley Foundation Youth 2 Leaders program for high school and middle school students will be held on the campus of UCLA. Participation application deadline is May 31st. See details at www.youthtoleaders.org.
9th-16thBahia, Brazil - Festival of the Boa Morte 2009Experience the culture of Afro-Brazil on this exciting tour. See details on page 49 For infor-mation send an e-mail query to [email protected].
27thLeon H. Sullivan Summit Awards Celebration - Africa RisingThe gala awards dinner will be held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. For information visit www.the-sullivansummit.org.September…3rd-7thBlackEnterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge 2009JW Marriott Grande Lakes, Orlando, FL. Go to www.blackenterprise.com/begt.
For a complete listings of events around Southern California visit
Please complete then submit this form with your payment. Please type or print.
52 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
Open Supplier Certi fi cati on
ProcessThe 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.
BBA members wanting to expand market opportunities with a telecommunication company should consider completing a supplier certifi cation 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 fi rms. Last year the California Verizon Company reported an annual spend with African American owned suppliers in excess of $40 million.
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ket. This program may help address some of the issues fac-ing the secondary market for SBA loans and may ultimately help SBA lenders make new loans to borrowers.Investment Program
The bill helps SBA-licensed Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs) and families of SBIC funds better lever-age the capital they use to invest in small businesses. The bill sets maximum levels of funding the agency can provide to these companies at up to three times the private capi-tal raised by those companies, or $150 million, whichever is less. It also raises the percentage any one SBIC can invest in a single small business to 10 percent of total capital, and raises from 20 percent to 25 percent the percentage of any licensee’s dollar investments that must be made in “smaller” businesses.Surety Bonds
The bill also raises the maximum contract amount that can be covered by an SBA guaranteed surety bond from $2 million to $5 million, and, under certain circumstances, for contracts amounting to $10 million, and provides additional funds to cover the costs of expanding this program. Small businesses need surety bonds in order to bid on and obtain many federal and other contracts. SBA guarantees surety bonds to small businesses that private surety companies would not otherwise be able to extend.
Stimulus Bill Impactfrom Stimulus Bill Impact on page 43
53 May 2009 Black Business News www.bbala.org
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YOUR LINK TO BLACK BUSINESS ENTERPRISE and the AFRICAN GLOBAL ECONOMIC COMMUNITY (GAEC)
The Black Business Association, SBA 2007 Journalist of the Year, is pleased to invite you to be an integral part of our publication. Black Business News - International. The Black Business News is the offi cial voice through which public and private entities advertise business and investment opportunities, gain access to a highly affl uent target market via outreach and advertising opportunities.
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International Edition
ContentsCorporate Giving: EOY charitable
opportunities in health, education, hous-
ing, and more.
Tourism: Investment in Africa’s tour-
ism industry is active, vital and is evident
all across the continent.
Feature Articles: “Strategies For Constructisve Engagement with the African Diaspora”
“Diaspora Engagement: Remittances & Beyond”Investment Pro le: Moyo District
of the Republic of Uganda
Professional DirectoryCharitable Investments
Black Business NewsServing the Global African Economic Community
Rev. Leon R. Perry, III in Ghana with recently orpaned twins
see Corporate Giving page 21
At Comerica Bank, we choose to care about the dreams and visions
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We choose to celebrate equality and
diversity among all people, and we’re dedicated to ringing the bells
of freedom. Choose to celebrate the dream with us.
