Co-sponsored by Blacksonville Community Network

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CEO and founder of MOBO Kanya King MBE is an internationally recognized entrepreneur and innovator in the British music industry. She is the dynamic force behind the MOBO Awards and has played an instrumental role in elevating black music and culture to mainstream popular status in the U.K. 

More About Kanya

Raised in Kilburn, North West London, by her Ghanaian father and Irish mother, Kanya is the youngest daughter of nine children and grew up listening to and being inspired by black music. Whilst studying English Literature at Goldsmiths College in London, Kanya decided to organise her own live music events to highlight both the importance of and public demand for music of black origin.

Dedicated to following her passion, in 1996, while working as a TV researcher, Kanya decided to take this one step further. Kanya took the brave step to set-up an awards ceremony with mass-market appeal, which would celebrate these specific genres and music influenced & inspired by MOBO music.

Having formulated a proposal and business plan for the MOBO Awards, Kanya King embarked on a tireless campaign to attract sponsors and interest from TV networks.

Kanya’s overwhelming desire to succeed eventually led her to re-mortgage her house to raise the necessary finances to launch the first MOBO Awards. As well as funding the TV broadcast, Kanya organised the whole event in just 6 weeks. This involved assembling a production crew and securing sponsors, not to mention a star-studded line up and an audience to watch it! The hard work paid off and the show was a spectacular success attended by the likes of Tony and Cherie Blair, Lionel Richie and Gabrielle.

Now in its 14th year, the MOBO Awards Show is firmly established as one of the most prestigious events in the entertainment calendar and boasts a past guest list that includes an array of ‘A-list’ celebrities, legendary performers and top executives.

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HERITAGE MOVIE Q&A
JAN. 12, 2012 – DR. BENJAMIN CHAVIS

Benjamin Chavis is an African American civil rights leader. In his youth, Dr. Chavis was an assistant to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who inspired him to work in the civil rights movement. Dr. Chavis rose to international prominence as the leader of the Wilmington Ten. A former Vice President of the National Council of Churches, Dr. Chavis became the Executive Director of the NAACP, and he served as the National Director of the Million Man March as well as the Founder and CEO of the National African American Leadership Summit (NAALS). Since 2001 he has been CEO and Co-Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, in New York City which he cofounded with hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.

http://www.tampablackheritage.org

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Among myriad accomplishments under Johnathan’s leadership, $40 million of risk capital was formed, sparking creation of a $250 million network of early-stage investment funds to spur high-growth entrepreneurship. He worked to build an inclusive regional technology and innovation movement, providing the vision and leadership that brought together an urban school district and corporate partner to create the state’s first information technology-based high school, which is now a model of successful turnaround urban education that has attracted national media.

Johnathan partnered with universities, businesses and nonprofits to obtain over $40 million in grant funding, cash investments and in-kind support for research and commercialization and to nurture a high-growth entrepreneurship ecosystem, including a business accelerator and training program. And he received Ohio gubernatorial appointments to the Midwest Governors’ Association Investments for the Knowledge-based Economy project, serving as co-chairman of the Increasing Research Capacity and Accelerating Commercialization team, and to the Ohio House and Senate Joint Legislative Commission on High-Tech Business.

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BICI MISSION STATEMENT

The Black Innovation and Competitiveness Initiative is an open, collaborative and innovative platform that fosters solutions-based approaches to 21st century community economic development.

Supported by three essential pillars of innovation:

• STEM Education and Workforce Development
• Access to Capital and Capital Formation
• High-Growth Entrepreneurship

The BICI strategy seeks to leverage existing assets within Black American communities to create new opportunities and ensure competitiveness in the global Innovation Economy.

BICI – Black Innovation and Competitiveness Initiative

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JUNE 2011   Dear Christian, Beaver Street Enterprise Center will be celebrating it’s  8th Year Anniversary, Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 11:30am. So, SAVE THE DATE! The theme of this years celebration is, “Beaver Street  Enterprise Center and Beyond… Small Business Has No Boundaries”. This year we will highlight the far reaching impact of entrepreneurship on our region, thank key supporters and recognize the achievements of entrepreneurs in residence!   Join us for this momentous occasion!     REGISTRATION: $35 for individual tickets or $250 Corporate Table Sponsor (8) seats – contact: 904-265-4700 or visit www.bsecenter.net   Location: Beaver Street Enterprise Center 1225 W. Beaver Street Jacksonville, FL 32204 (904)265-4700   The Must Do Top Five Marketing Strategies to Win Federal Government Contracts! Speaker: Barbara English, English Solutions, Inc. Thursday, June 30, 2011 6pm – 8pm Cost: $55.00 If you are interested in hearing the real deal on winning federal government contracts, come to this seminar.  Ms. Barbara English, English Solutions, Inc. will share five “Must Do” strategies to win contracts. This seminar is for business owners who are serious about federal government contracting. English Solutions will provide actual examples of how the five marketing strategies have worked for small business owners. Ms. English spent 36 years as a Contracting Officer and Director of Small Business Programs before starting English Solutions, Inc.  Her passion is sharing the perspective she has on government contracting so others can strive and reach their goals. Learn more about English Solutions at www.benglishsolutions.com.   Registration Instructions:span> Please email barbara@benglishsolutions.com or  mail check to English Solutions, Inc.,  31 West Adams Street, Suite 102, Jacksonville, FL 32208. For credit card payments, call 904-755-2554.     Location: Beaver Street Enterprise Center 1225 W. Beaver Street Jacksonville, FL 32204   Leadership Lessons from the Top JUNE 15, 2011 11:30am – 1:30pm University Club 1301 Riverplace Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32207 Cost:  FREE ***EVENT SOLD OUT!** Sponsored by IBM *************************************** QuickBooks Training Classes at BSEC Introduction to QuickBooks July 12, 2011 (9:00am- 11:00am)   How to Use QuickBooks: Intermediate Level August 9, 2011 (9:00am- 11:00am)       Introduction to QuickBooks September 13, 2011 (9:00am – 11:00am)     How to Use QuickBooks: Intermediate Level October 11, 2011 (9:00am- 11:00am) Introduction to QuickBooks: November 8, 2011 (9:00am- 11:00am)     How to Use QuickBooks: Intermediate Level Dec. 6, 2011 (9:00am – 11:00am)   **The cost  – only $15.00 per session! Space is limited so register today!     Other Partner Events 06/15/11 (9am – 11:30am)   WOSB & EDWOSB Program(PTAC Program – for more information and to register call 904-620-2476 or visit www.sbdc.unf.edu)   06/22/11 (11:30am – 1:30pm)  Contract Review (PA Wallace & Associates (contact 1-800-651-0477)     Business Quote of the Month… “If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse.” Walt Disney     About Beaver Street Enterprise Center The Beaver Street Enterprise Center is a 25,000 square foot professional office facility offering modern workplace amenities for startup and existing small business as well as business technical assistance, counseling, mentoring and assistance in marketing and obtaining business financing.  The center is geographically positioned to stimulate economic growth in Jacksonville’s northwest neighborhood and is run by non-profit Core City Business Incubators, Inc. as an initiative of FreshMinistries. For more information about Beaver Street Enterprise Center visit our website at  www.bsecenter.net

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Investing in Community Transformation

Monday, June 27, 2011 – Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Potter’s House Christian Fellowship
5119 Normandy Blvd
Jacksonville, Florida 32205
United States
Map and Directions

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A president’s time is scheduled to the nth degree.  So, if the president is meeting frequently with the oil industry, it’s a safe bet that he will be pursuing legislation that will impact that industry.

So, with that as my premise, I think one could safely conclude that Obama sees little value in the Black community!

Obama was sworn into office on January 20, 2009.  In less than 2 months (March 18, 2009), Obama had his first meeting with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to discuss giving amnesty to the 30 million illegals in the U.S.  After the meeting, the White House’s Press Office issued this statement in part: “The President had a robust and strategic meeting with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus today on the topic of immigration. The meeting lasted approximately one hour. The President discussed how the administration will work with the CHC to address immigration concerns in both the short and long term. Notice that only Hispanics were in this meeting and the purpose was to discuss an issue that is of particular importance to only them (though other groups that support amnesty would also benefit if amnesty were made into law).

But Obama has repeatedly stated that he is President of all of America.  He made this comment last year when asked what he was going to do about the high unemployment rate in the Black community.  His point was that his policies would be “color blind” and that his policies would benefit everyone.  So, can someone please tell me how injecting about 7 million more low and under skilled people into the labor force is going to decrease the unemployment rate in the Black community?

Juxtapose that meeting with the one Obama held in February of 2010 with Ben Jealous (of the N.A.A.C.P.), Marc Morial (of the National Urban League), and Al Sharpton (National Action Network).  The purpose was to discuss with these 3 (who have never created a job), the high unemployment rate within the Black community.  Unlike with the Hispanics, the President had no legislation to offer; but it was more of a symbolic meeting.  Of course, these 3 were more than happy to attend so they could leave and brag about having a meeting with the President.  Nothing was accomplished, but they had a meeting!

I find it astonishing that it was well over a year into his term before Obama met with the Congressional Black Caucus!  Again, it’s about time.  Who the President meets with and for how long, will tell you where his priorities are.  Black folks, are you getting the message?

During the month of April 2011 alone, the President met with Hispanic groups 3 times to discuss amnesty for them and the DREAM Act.  So, in 1 month, Obama has met more with Hispanics than he has with the entire Congressional Black Caucus in 2 ½ years in office.  Black folks, are you getting the message yet?

Obama has never called a meeting of the leading Black entrepreneurs to discuss the state of the economy relative to the Black community!  People like Earvin “Magic” Johnson, K. David Boyer, Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman, Michael “Scooter” McGruder, Rick “Doc” Walker, Dave Steward, or Earl Graves (google these names to find out more about them).

Most of the Blacks who have been invited to the White House have been athletes and entertainers.  Black folks, you got the message!

Let’s be perfectly honest, Obama and his team have made a political calculation that they can ignore the Black vote, knowing that we surely will not vote Republican.  They also realize that doing so will anger the Black community; but they also know that we won’t do anything but complain and continue to blindly follow.  There is no fear factor in ignoring the Black vote.

Obama has spent an inordinate amount of time pushing the agendas of the Hispanics, gays, and women.  But, when it comes to Blacks, he is President of all of America.

Black people need to wake up and realize the game that is being perpetrated on us.  We need to do more than get angry.

To the White House, please realize that anger is just one letter short of danger; and if you continue this perverted strategy, your reelection might be in danger.

Hopefully, this column will light a fire under the most ardent of Democrats and cause them to think strategic, not emotional.

Please, it’s about time!

Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm.  He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (www.excellstyle.com).

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Now, you have the same thing happening again, of course during Black History Month.  This time the offender is the illustrious Washington Post (WP) newspaper.  They are supposed to be one of the top newspapers in the country, so this makes their offense even more egregious.

Next Wednesday, the WP will be hosting a town hall meeting in Prince Georges County, Maryland.  For those who live outside of this area, this is the wealthiest Black county in America.

This is how the Washington Post is advertising the event:

“Please join The Washington Post for an informative panel discussion, “Behind the Headlines: A Discussion on Race and the Recession in Metro Washington.” The panel will cover the recession’s impact on local black families and will look at how economic policies in Washington have affected African Americans.  The forum will also look at the first of three groundbreaking public opinion polls on issues facing the black community, conducted by The Washington Post, the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University.

Washington Post nationally syndicated personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary will moderate the discussion, and panelists will include Julianne Malveaux, a noted economist and educator; Cecilia Rouse, a member of the White House Council of Economic Advisers; Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus; Michael A. Fletcher, a Washington Post national economics reporter; the Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network; and Jeff Johnson, a political commentator on the nationally syndicated “Tom Joyner Morning Show.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/special/behindtheheadlines.html

So, you might ask, what is the issue I have with the WP?  Just as I questioned President Obama’s choice of people to meet with him in the white house last year about the high unemployment rate within the Black community, I have the same thoughts about the WP.

The moderator of the panel is a journalist, followed by a radical leftist economist, another liberal economist, a preacher/politician, a journalist, another preacher/politician, and finally, a political commentator.  You have got to be joking!

Prince Georges County is home to some of the most successful Black businessmen in the U.S. and not one has been invited to participate.  Five of the seven panelists are known Democrats (with Singletary and Fletcher having no known public political affiliation).

Is there any particular reason why the WP conveniently decided not to have any Black Republicans on the panel? Of course it could not be because they are biased.  The Post would never travel down that path, would they?  Of course they would and they have!

For all practical purposes, this will be an unpaid political commercial for the Obama reelection campaign.  The panelists (with the exception of 2) all are in agreement with most of Obama’s approach to the economy.  So, how can you have a serious discussion with people who already agree with each other?

It should not be surprising that 5 of the 7 panelists have ties to the Obama administration (formal or informal).  One of the constant criticisms of President Obama is that he has no one around him from the private sector.

None of these panelists have ever created a job, so what is it that they have to say that is relevant?

The last thing the Black community needs is another theoretical discussion. Even socialism works in a ‘theoretical’ world.   I can tell you everything that will be said next week and I won’t even be there.

At what point are Blacks going to rise up against this insulting pandering?  With all the super successful people in this town, the WP couldn’t find any businessmen to talk about these issues?  Why did they not invite any educators, like the dean of Howard University’s Business school, Dr. Barron Harvey?

After this event, then what?  Blacks will go there to hear all the usual arguments: racism, Republican budget cuts, Bush created the problems, etc.

So, I challenge the Washington Post to underwrite a town hall meeting that I will put together to deal with these issues in a more serious manner.  I will moderate the panel and assemble a group of panelist who will offer real world solutions to these problems.

I don’t expect the Post to respond to my challenge; for to do so would be admitting they made a huge mistake.

In the immortal words of the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, “like a dull knife—just ain’t cutting it; you just talking loud and saying nothing.”

Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm.  He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (www.excellstyle.com) & U.S. Africa Magazine (www.usafricaonline.com).

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