Business

PRESS ROOM: Rev. Jesse Jackson’s 22nd Annual Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project Economic Summit

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The Wall Street Project’s Economic Summit will bring entrepreneurs, corporate executives and the nation’s leading policymakers together to increase business and employment opportunities for African Americans, women, and all people of color.

Published

5 years ago

February 12, 2019

Oakland Post

Join National Urban League President & CEO Marc H. Morial, Rev. Al Sharpton, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, President & CEO CVS Health, Larry J. Merlo, Susan L. Taylor, CEO & COO Ariel Investments John W. Rogers and more ….

New York, NY– The Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund will host its 22nd Annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit, February 20 – February 22, 2019 at The Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, 811 7^th Ave., 3^rd Floor in New York City. The Wall Street Project Economic Summit is themed, “400 Years Later: Closing the Wealth Gap, Expanding Opportunity.” It will feature sessions on closing the wealth gap, consumer protection, the state of telecom, the tech industries, diversity, investing globally and in Africa, a fireside chat with Larry J. Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Health, and much more.

“We’re looking to expand upon the progress and discuss ways to increase opportunities for minorities and women,” says Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and organizer of the Wall Street Project. “After 400 years, there is still much more work to be done in terms of our freedom, equity, diversity and inclusion, particularly in today’s political climate if we want to close the wealth gap and expand opportunity.”

The Wall Street Project’s Economic Summit will bring entrepreneurs, corporate executives and the nation’s leading policymakers together to increase business and employment opportunities for African Americans, women, and all people of color.

“History is an unbroken continuity that cannot be denied. Americans should not hide from the past nor engage in an extended exercise of rehashing 400 tragic years. However, we do need to continue to push to close the wealth gap and expand opportunities for African Americans,” adds Rev. Jackson. “This year’s Wall Street Project Economic Summit plans to address where and what African Americans should and can do – since setting foot 400 years ago on U.S. soil.”

Day One: The Summit will consist of discussions on the State of Black America since Blacks were brought to America, closing the wealth gap, with panelists Alfred A. Edmond, Jr. SVP/ Executive Editor-at-large, Black Enterprise and Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League and a fireside chat with Toni Townes-Whitley, President, U.S. Regulated Industries Colleges and Universities; and end with an opening reception where members of the Congressional Black Caucus will be in attendance.

Day Two: Kicks off with a fireside chat with Rev. Jackson and Larry J. Merlo, President & Chief Executive Officer, CVS Health; a session on the racial wealth gap and its ties to Wall Street, including diversity on corporate boards, C-suites, consumer protection, the state of Historically Black Colleges and University, the annual Ministers & Labor Luncheon where the keynote speaker will be the Honorable Emanuel Cleaver II, U.S. Representative Missouri’s 5th congressional district. The day continues with a sports session and a session on the ‘Business of Hip Hop.’ On the evening of Day Two, the Wall Street Summit will end with “Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund 22^st Annual Wall Street Project Scholarship Gala,” which will include distinguished honorees and musical entertainment by singer, songwriter Lalah Hathaway.

Day Three: The Summit ends with the Wall Street Project Economic Project Annual Business Luncheon where the keynote speaker will be Congresswoman Maxine Waters and David L Casey, Vice President, Workforce Strategies & Chief Diversity Officer, CVS Health will be honored.

Confirmed speakers to date include: Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.; Congressman Emanuel Cleaver; Dr. Darrick Hamilton, executive director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State, Reverend Al Sharpton, president and CEO, National Action Network, Janice Mathis, executive director of the National Council of Negro Women; Congressman Gregory W. Meeks – Senior Member- House Committee on Financial Services and Senior Member- House Foreign Affairs Committee; Larry J. Merlo, President & CEO of CVS Health; John W. Rogers, Jr., CEO and CIO, Ariel Investments; Gala CO-Chair Susan L. Taylor, Founder & CEO, National CARES Mentoring Movement and Editor-in-Chief Emerita, Essence Magazine; Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL AGENDA

TO REGISTER, Visit: http://www.rainbowpushwallstreetproject.org/registration.html or call (646) 569-5889

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

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6 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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State Controller Malia Cohen Keynote Speaker at S.F. Wealth Conference

California State Controller Malia Cohen delivered the keynote speech to over 50 business women at the Black Wealth Brunch held on March 28 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 301 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

American Business Women’s Association Vice President Velma Landers, left, with California State Controller Malia Cohen (center), and ABWA President LaRonda Smith at the Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the ABWA at the Black Wealth Brunch.

By Carla Thomas

The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

“Our goal is to educate Black and Brown families in the masses about financial wellness, wealth building, and how to protect and preserve wealth,” said ABWA San Francisco Chapter President LaRonda Smith.

ABWA’s mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.

“This day is about recognizing influential women, hearing from an accomplished woman as our keynote speaker and allowing women to come together as powerful people,” said ABWA SF Chapter Vice President Velma Landers.

More than 60 attendees dined on the culinary delights of Chef Sharon Lee of The Spot catering, which included a full soul food brunch of skewered shrimp, chicken, blackened salmon, and mac and cheese.

Cohen discussed the many economic disparities women and people of color face. From pay equity to financial literacy, Cohen shared not only statistics, but was excited about a new solution in motion which entailed partnering with Californians for Financial Education.

“I want everyone to reach their full potential,” she said. “Just a few weeks ago in Sacramento, I partnered with an organization, Californians for Financial Education.

“We gathered 990 signatures and submitted it to the [California] Secretary of State to get an initiative on the ballot that guarantees personal finance courses for every public school kid in the state of California.

“Every California student deserves an equal opportunity to learn about filing taxes, interest rates, budgets, and understanding the impact of credit scores. The way we begin to do that is to teach it,” Cohen said.

By equipping students with information, Cohen hopes to close the financial wealth gap, and give everyone an opportunity to reach their full financial potential. “They have to first be equipped with the information and education is the key. Then all we need are opportunities to step into spaces and places of power.”

Cohen went on to share that in her own upbringing, she was not guided on financial principles that could jump start her finances. “Communities of color don’t have the same information and I don’t know about you, but I did not grow up listening to my parents discussing their assets, their investments, and diversifying their portfolio. This is the kind of nomenclature and language we are trying to introduce to our future generations so we can pivot from a life of poverty so we can pivot away and never return to poverty.”

Cohen urged audience members to pass the initiative on the November 2024 ballot.

“When we come together as women, uplift women, and support women, we all win. By networking and learning together, we can continue to build generational wealth,” said Landers. “Passing a powerful initiative will ensure the next generation of California students will be empowered to make more informed financial decisions, decisions that will last them a lifetime.”

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Business

Black Business Summit Focuses on Equity, Access and Data

The California African American Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual “State of the California African American Economy Summit,” with the aim of bolstering Black economic influence through education and fellowship. Held Jan. 24 to Jan. 25 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, the convention brought together some of the most influential Black business leaders, policy makers and economic thinkers in the state. The discussions focused on a wide range of economic topics pertinent to California’s African American business community, including policy, government contracts, and equity, and more.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CALSTA), answers questions from concerned entrepreneurs frustrated with a lack of follow-up from the state. January 24, 2024 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, Lost Angeles, Calif. Photo by Solomon O. Smith

By Solomon O. Smith, California Black Media

The California African American Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual “State of the California African American Economy Summit,” with the aim of bolstering Black economic influence through education and fellowship.

Held Jan. 24 to Jan. 25 at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, the convention brought together some of the most influential Black business leaders, policy makers and economic thinkers in the state. The discussions focused on a wide range of economic topics pertinent to California’s African American business community, including policy, government contracts, and equity, and more.

Toks Omishakin, Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency (CALSTA) was a guest at the event. He told attendees about his department’s efforts to increase access for Black business owners.

“One thing I’m taking away from this for sure is we’re going to have to do a better job of connecting through your chambers of all these opportunities of billions of dollars that are coming down the pike. I’m honestly disappointed that people don’t know, so we’ll do better,” said Omishakin.

Lueathel Seawood, the president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of San Joaquin County, expressed frustration with obtaining federal contracts for small businesses, and completing the process. She observed that once a small business was certified as DBE, a Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, there was little help getting to the next step.

Omishakin admitted there is more work to be done to help them complete the process and include them in upcoming projects. However, the high-speed rail system expansion by the California High-Speed Rail Authority has set a goal of 30% participation from small businesses — only 10 percent is set aside for DBE.

The importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in economics was reinforced during the “State of the California Economy” talk led by author and economist Julianne Malveaux, and Anthony Asadullah Samad, Executive Director of the Mervyn Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute (MDAAPEI) at California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Assaults on DEI disproportionately affect women of color and Black women, according to Malveaux. When asked what role the loss of DEI might serve in economics, she suggested a more sinister purpose.

“The genesis of all this is anti-blackness. So, your question about how this fits into the economy is economic exclusion, that essentially has been promoted as public policy,” said Malveaux.

The most anticipated speaker at the event was Janice Bryant Howroyd known affectionately to her peers as “JBH.” She is one of the first Black women to run and own a multi-billion-dollar company. Her company ActOne Group, is one of the largest, and most recognized, hiring, staffing and human resources firms in the world. She is the author of “Acting Up” and has a profile on Forbes.

Chairman of the board of directors of the California African American Chamber of Commerce, Timothy Alan Simon, a lawyer and the first Black Appointments Secretary in the Office of the Governor of California, moderated. They discussed the state of Black entrepreneurship in the country and Howroyd gave advice to other business owners.

“We look to inspire and educate,” said Howroyd. “Inspiration is great but when I’ve got people’s attention, I want to teach them something.”