Electronic Village: community organizers

Showing posts with label community organizers. Show all posts

October 25, 2012

Minority Technical Organizations Join Together to Improve STEM Success in Our Community

Did you know that there are more than 40 minority technical organizations (MTOs) working independent of each other on initiatives to diversify the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce? These groups represent a large segment of the demographics of the next generation of scientists, technologists and engineers. Unfortunately, these MTOs are unable to fully implement their mission because too often they are underfunded and are not recognized as full partners in the national STEM effort.

As a result, we are very happy to report that representatives from a number of these MTOs held a luncheon meeting in Washington DC on September 24, 2012. At the conclusion of their summit the MTOs agreed to work together to strengthen their influence on STEM development and to help each other more effectively reach mutual goals and objectives.

The organizations at this meeting included:

The MTOs agreed to work collaboratively on ways to push forward the agenda for STEM development that would positively impact on people of color. Some of the ideas that came forward were:

Combine expertise to support projects of mutual interests and benefit;
Collaborate on outreach and marketing activities;
Meet at least annually to discuss and select collaborative activities;
Pursue collaborative strategies that strengthen the MTO influence on STEM development;
Share their common interests and support each other's mission, purpose and activities through information exchange using various communications media;
Unite their voice to support STEM policies that promote diversification of STEM and to oppose policies that hinder diversification.

If you're reading this blog post ... then we would love your thoughts. Are you part of any of these MTOs? Do you have other suggestions for them to consider?

August 3, 2009

Missing or Murdered Sisters (MOMS)

Village drumbeats from Symphony led us to the Missing or Murdered Sisters (MOMS) crew down in North Carolina. MOMS is a grassroots organization that brings attention to missing and murdered Black women.

They recently paid for a billboard in Rocky Mount, NC to focus attention on the plight of nine Black women. Over the past four years 5 black women have been found dead, one is still unidentified. Three other woman are missing.

Lamar Advertising gave the community group a significant discount on the billboards. The signs will stay up for at least a month. Supporters said they hope to raise more money to keep them up longer, if needed.

“We’re just trying to raise the public’s awareness about what’s been going on,” Wiggins said. “These women are all someone’s daughter or someone’s sister, and we need the community to rally together to help bring this to an end.”

VILLAGER'S VIEW: This group, MOMS, is providing all of us with a powerful example. If we see a problem ... take action. Do what you can do with what you have to make a difference. I wonder if we are willing to learn from their example?

What say u?

February 17, 2009

Small Business Resources

Do you own a business? Have you ever thought about starting a business?

I ran a small business incubator for five years. I would interact on a daily basis with entrepreneurs, small business owners and people that had an idea for starting a business. I suspect that the current economic crisis is causing a lot more people to consider work outside of corporate America.

There are some great resources that I heartily recommend for your consideration if you are thinking about starting a business ... or if you are in the first couple of years of operation.

Service Corps of Retired Executives - SCORE provides an excellent cadre of industry experts who volunteer to help small businesses tackle growth issues. You can call (800) 634-0245 to find a SCORE office in your village.

Minority Business Development Centers - MBDCs provide free and low-cost help with financing, marketing, contracting issues for African American business owners. Find the center nearest you by calling (888) 324-1551.

Procurement Technical Assistance Centers - I suspect that PTACs will be very popular in the coming months as the $780 billion stimulus funding from Washington DC. You should use PTAC as your first stop in learning more about doing business with the US Government. PTAC provides free training or set up a one-on-one appointment with a counselor to track down contracts you could bid on. Call (409) 886-0125 to find the center closest to you.

Chambers of Commerce - One thing that I learned while at the incubator is that there are a dozen chambers in every city. Seriously! Chambers are a great help when you need to identify funding sources or local entrepreneurial services. Call (202) 659-6000 to find the main chamber of commerce in your village.

Networking Groups - I never joined a networking organization like BNI or Le Tip, however they are are great resources if you need to get more involved with the local small business community. These groups exist to generate more business for their members. Call (800) 825-8286 for a local BNI group or (800) 825-8286 for a Le Tip club in your village.

Business Plan Help - Business plans are tedious ... however, they are critical for the success of your business enterprise. You can get started with free templates or step-by-step guides here or here or here.

Have you tried any of these resources in the past? Do you have other ideas that might be helpful for villagers that have a business or think that they want to start a business?

February 3, 2009

Festive 40-Day Fast for the Future

Barack Obama announced his intention to campaign for the presidency two years ago in Springfield, IL. Nobody gave him much of a chance. We all know how that announcement turned out.

Lenny McAllister recently put out the call to Black leaders across our communities to participate in a 'Festive 40-Day Fast for the Future.' Nobody gives him much of a chance. When will we learn?

We live in a world where anything is possible. As such, the Electronic Village stands in support of this celebratory call for change considering the magnitude of the early part of 2009 - the 80-year birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the initial days with our first African American president.

We ask that all African Americans use the remainder of 2009 Black History Month as a time to enjoy what is happening in America. This is a unique opportunity to address the ills found in Black America, leveraging the depth of experienced Black mentors with new Black leadership to bring about a new reality for Black people - and all citizens - in 21st century Americ

a.

The initial goals that have been listed for these 40 days are:

No Black-initiated crime during the 40 days (thus, calling a truce, if you will)
No Black truancy from school during the 40 days (to celebrate accomplishment, not disengagement)
No Black-on-Black violence or murder during the 40 days (to celebrate life, not death)
No "b****es, no n**gaz, no jiggas, and no hoes" for 40 days (to usher in a return of Black Chivalry)

Other goals will be added to a list of long-term initiatives to create required solutions to make permanent, positive changes in Black America. There are a number of initiatives in place currently that will be highlighted in order to generate additional momentum for these efforts.

This is a short-term initiative that Black leaders throughout the country can embrace, not as a call that one is individually making, but as a call that we collectively need.

Our children - American children - are at need, and it will take their fathers, mothers, brothers, and cousins to turn this around more than it will ever take a program or a government to do it for them.

The support of all villagers will be greatly appreciated, but this must be led by African Americans because it is our families, Black young men, and children in crisis.

What better way to celebrate from MLK Day through the end of Black History Month than to permanently change our communities just as the history of the country has changed?

The next step is yours. You've heard the call. Will you heed it as well?

January 25, 2009

From Stokely to Obama: Organizing for America

I saw Stokely Carmichael speak when I was in college. His message was that it was critical for people of African descent to ORGANIZE. Barack Obama worked for many years in Chicago as a community organizer. In fact, Sarah Palin criticized him for that organizing work.

What Stokely and Barack knew then ... and Mama Grizzley Palin learned later ... is that the key to success is the ability to ORGANIZE. In fact, Obama continues to ORGANIZE. His peeps created Organizing for America in an effort to work towards those things he promised in his campaign.

I signed up today. I encourage all villagers to visit the OFA website and sign up as a volunteer. It's time for us to ORGANIZE!

September 8, 2008

Tell Sarah Palin that I Am a Community Organizer

Last week during her speech to the Republican National Convention, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) sought to play up her experience as mayor of a small town in Alaska by mocking community organizing:

PALIN: I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a “community organizer,” except that you have actual responsibilities.

I was upset at Sarah Palin for her comments about community organizers. I sat around a kitchen table with four others in 1998 when decision was made to rejuvenate a defunct organi

zation in Cincinnati. We presented ourselves to the community in January 1999. Our group grew from those 5 people to over 200 members by the next year. We were recognized as 'chapter of the year' for our work in 2000 and again in 2001. We trained over 200 high school students with volunteers on weekends and after school in the past decade. These students competed in regional and national computer competitions each year. Over 50 of these students earned scholarships to help them attend colleges. Community organizers made a difference for BDPA Cincinnati chapter.

And Sarah Palin pissed all over our efforts with her comments.

I

took over a struggling non-profit small business incubator in 2003. The incubator had 17 small business owners as clients when I came on board. Over the course of the next five years we grew the incubator to upwards of 50 clients. One of our clients is challenging to become the top Black-owned business in Cincinnati. The clients at our incubator provided over 300 jobs per year. We were named the 'non-profit of the year' in 2006 by the local chamber of commerce. Community organizers made a difference for the Cincinnati Business Incubator.

And Sarah Palin pissed all over our efforts with her comments.

Sarah Palin pissed all over the Montgomery Improvement Association - the community organization run by MLK that launched and supported the Montgomery bus boycott. Sarah clowns, 'No responsibility there'.

Sarah Palin pissed all over the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the network of community organizations and churches that MLK co-founded, that proved so crucial to the civil rights movement. Apparently no responsibility there, either.

Sarah Palin pissed all over the March on Washington for Jobs & Freedom that the Republicans like to wrap themselves up in, the shared work of countless community organizers and activists. Sarah doesn't see responsibility here, huh?

Sarah Palin wanted to mock Senator Obama. Instead she mocked many of us he

re in America ... including former President George H.W. Bush.

"I have spoken of a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good."
- George H. W. Bush, 1989

Many of the nation’s leading organization’s responded to Palin’s attack. Over the past few days I have heard from many bloggers and online activists that proudly proclaim, "I Am a Community Organizer". Perhaps one day Sarah Palin will find this list and apologize for her obnoxious comments on community organizers:

I am very interested in feedback from all villagers that read this post. What is your honest take on Sarah Palin's comments about community organizers? What say u?

September 6, 2008

Will You Support 'Day of Blogging for Justice: Community Organizers'

I am a member of The AfroSpear. I think that Sarah Palin is out of line with her caustic criticism of community organizers like Martin Luther King Jr. or Norman Mays.

As such, I will participate in the Day of Blogging for Justice: Community Organizers on Monday September 8, 2008 along with along with blogs such as the The Young Black Professional Guide, Slant Truth 2.0, The Jose Vilson, From My Brown Eyed View, The African American Political Pundit, Springer’s Journal, and Inkognero in honor of the great work that Community Organizers do.

I invite you to participate as either a blogger or a blog reader.