On the eve of August’s 11th annual National Black Business Month, co-founders Frederick E. Jordan Sr. and John William Templeton discussed how to increase economic growth in Black neighborhoods at a meeting of San Francisco Travel’s Diversity Advisory Council.

Jordan noted the “31 Ways 31 Days” strategy that urges all to visit at least one Black business each day of August.

Since they started National Black Business Month in 2004, it has been featured in such media as Black Enterprise Magazine.

Templeton reported the approval of San Francisco Supervisor Malia Cohen’s resolution endorsing the 400-site African-American Freedom Trail, the first on the West Coast, and the August launch of limousine and bus tours of the trail.

Service will be provided by Bay Limousine, a 20-year-old, Bayview-based, woman-owned firm.

Bay Limousine owner Lea Sweet is a third generation San Franciscan and cousin of the late Otis Redding. Sweet’s father remembers how thrilled Redding was to see the Pacific Ocean, during a week performing at the Fillmore Auditorium when he wrote “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.”

A familiarization tour of the African-American Freedom Trail will take place Saturday, Aug. 13 at 11 a.m. Tickets are available at www.blackbusinessmonth.com.

To familiarize Muni bus and train operators with the trail, an exhibition on the African-American Freedom Trail is currently on display in the offices of Transport Workers Union 250-A, which represents 2,000 drivers.

The exhibition is co -sponsored by San Francisco Travel, the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel and Holiday Inn Civic Center plus Park SFO and H.C.A. and Associates, C.P.A.

The co-founders of National Black Business Month encourage local hospitality professionals to increase their cultural competence by attending the eighth annual Preserving California Black Heritage Conference on Saturday, Sept. 13, at Ingleside Presbyterian Church. Registration is available at www.blackbusinessmonth.com

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post