Jay Bailey

124th National Black Business Conference Returns to Atlanta “We Are Together” Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the World Conference of Mayors. The National Alliance for Black Business (2022), co-founded by The National Business League ® (1900), National Black Chamber of Commerce ® (1993), and The World Conference of Mayors ® (1984), is thrilled to cohost the NBL’s 124th National Black Business Conference ®. Set to take place from August 21-24, 2024, at the Hilton Atlanta in downtown Atlanta, GA, this highly anticipated event coincides with Atlanta Black Business Weekend ™, promising an exhilarating gathering of the nation’s foremost Black business leaders and community luminaries.   Building upon the success of last year's conference, which commemorated the 30th Anniversary of the National Black Chamber of Commerce founded in 1993 and drew over 1,900 attendees, this year's event holds special significance as it celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the World Conference of Mayors. Established in 1984, The World Conference of Mayors serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of Black Mayoral leadership and economic empowerment within Black communities worldwide. This year marks a significant milestone, as it pays homage to 50 years since the Southern Conference of Black Mayors held its inaugural National Conference at the Hilton Atlanta Hotel. Notably, Daniel "Chappy" James, the first four-star Black general in the Air Force and a Tuskegee airman, served as keynote speaker, setting the stage for the remarkable journey of Black elected leadership in the years to come. The conference agenda will spotlight the profound impact of Black mayors in fostering entrepreneurship, economic development, and community growth, echoing the visionary principles championed by Booker T. Washington. In 1881, Lewis Adams (Town) and Booker T. Washington (Gown) joined forces to establish Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, now known as Tuskegee University, in Tuskegee Institute, Alabama. This institution was surrounded by a historic Black settlement, conceived by Dr. Washington, which, though never formally incorporated, was assigned its own zip code: 36088. This collaboration between "Town" and "Gown" laid the groundwork for further partnerships in central Alabama.   Anticipated to attract hundreds of Black-owned businesses, professionals, and elected officials from around the globe, the conference will serve as a dynamic platform for networking, knowledge-sharing, and forging strategic partnerships with city, state, national, federal, and global resources, and leadership. The event is hosted by local, Black-led business institutions, including the Atlanta Business League, Greater Georgia Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council. Join us as we celebrate the vibrant spirit of Black entrepreneurship at the 124th National Black Business Conference in Atlanta! Register Today: https://lnkd.in/eE5Did8a

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PNC And Howard University Are Shaping The Future Of Black Entrepreneurship The collaboration supports scholarships, grant programs, and educational initiatives specifically designed to empower aspiring Black entrepreneurs. Contributing over $206 billion annually to the economy and supporting 3.56 million American jobs, companies like Calendly, SheaMoisture, and Esusu Financial are among over 100 Black-owned startups that have achieved unicorn status with over $1 billion-plus valuations. Multi-million-dollar acquisitions like Compass Diversified’s purchase of The Honey Pot underscore the growing economic power of Black-owned companies. While headlines celebrate these successes—as they should—they remain exceptions rather than the norm. Despite the surge in Black entrepreneurship, significant funding gaps persist, with approximately 71% of Black-owned startups denied VC funding compared to only 12% of their white-owned counterparts. Assessing success through the lens of oppressive historical context can skew perspective. Surpassing benchmarks set under discriminatory conditions is a flawed measure demanding broader evaluation. In comparison, only 1% of Black business owners are able to obtain loans during their founding year, compared to 7% of white business owners. Federal Reserve data shows that loan applications from Black business owners are rejected at more than twice the rate of their white peers, and even when they do secure loans, they face higher interest rates averaging 7.8% compared to 6.4% for their white counterparts. These funding disparities paint a troubling picture beneath the surface of celebrated Black business growth.

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🌟 **Celebrating Juneteenth: A Day of Freedom and Reflection** 🌟 Today, we honor Juneteenth, a pivotal day in history marking the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. At The JPI Group, a woman minority-owned firm, we celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values. 🔹 **Honoring History:** We pay tribute to those who fought for freedom and justice. 🔹 **Commitment to Change:** We are dedicated to creating opportunities and advocating for equality. 🔹 **Empowering Future Leaders:** We invest in programs that support education and career development. On this Juneteenth, let's remember that true freedom and equality come from understanding, empathy, and action. Together, we can build a future where everyone thrives. #Juneteenth #FreedomDay #Diversity #Inclusion #TheJPIGroup

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Did you know that women are starting more profitable businesses? The Black business community is an untapped market for financial institutions. I'm putting this out in the open—repeating it: Access to Capital: A Persistent Challenge for Black Businesses and Real Estate Developers! Access to capital is a real problem for Black businesses and real estate developers. Despite many of them having exceptional credit scores and holding significant equity in several properties, they still receive lukewarm treatment from commercial lenders. What’s the real deal here? Is there an underlying agenda to prevent Black individuals from building wealth? It's time to address these disparities and advocate for equitable access to financial resources. Let's raise this issue and advocate for change. Everyone deserves a fair shot at building wealth and achieving financial success. Grow with us. Here is a unique opportunity to become an Innovative loan originator. Contact me at RIBBA #EconomicEquity #AccessToCapital #SupportBlackBusinesses #WealthBuilding #FinancialInclusion #women #jobs #wealth #loans

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Despite the attack on Diversity and Inclusion, it is crucial to champion diversity in the business sector, as it fosters innovation and economic resilience. Providing varied perspectives and solutions is essential for navigating a complex system. The South has something to say. ~Andre 3000 I want to express my gratitude to my colleague Jarryd Bethea, MPP for writing this insightful opinion piece. Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative #Atlanta #Businesses #Justeconomy #AWBI #AJC #AtlantaJournalConstitution #Ownership #Equity https://lnkd.in/eMGqhgDp

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UNCF, the United Negro College Fund, known as the United Fund, is a philanthropic organization that funds scholarships for Black students and general scholarship funds for 37 private HBCUs. UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944, by Frederick D. Patterson, Mary McLeod Bethune, and others. UNCF is headquartered in DC. In 2005, UNCF supported approximately 65,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities with approximately $113 million in grants and scholarships. About 60% of these students are the first in their families to attend college, and 62% have annual family incomes of less than $25,000. UNCF administers over 450 named scholarships. UNCF’s president and chief executive officer is Michael Lomax. Past presidents of the UNCF included William H. Gray and Vernon Jordan. Though founded to address funding inequities in education resources for African Americans, UNCF-administered scholarships are open to all ethnicities; the great majority of recipients are still African-American. It provides scholarships to students attending its member colleges as well as to those going elsewhere. Graduates of UNCF member institutions and scholarships have included many Black people in the fields of business, politics, health care, and the arts. Some prominent UNCF alumni include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Alexis Herman; Spike Lee; Samuel L. Jackson; General Chappie James; and Dr. David Satcher. UNCF adopted as its motto the maxim “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” This maxim has become one of the most widely recognized slogans in advertising history. The motto was notably mangled in an address to the organization by VPOTUS Dan Quayle, who stated: “And you take the UNCF model that what a waste it is to lose one’s mind or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is.” The motto, which has been used in numerous award-winning UNCF ad campaigns, was created by Forest Long, of the advertising agency Young & Rubicam, in partnership with the Ad Council. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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Black Dreams are powerful tools, to close the racial wealth gap. Book a session with us today. #wealthgap #Blackdreams #KCGIFT

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As Black women assume more leadership positions across industries they are coming under attack in a variety of ways. The goalpost for success and credibility is constantly being moved backward or redefined. Therefore, the way attacks are crafted and deployed is also changing. We are ready to Clapback and Get the Facts.   #SistersLead #SistersVote @SistersLead    https://lnkd.in/eMJGY8dj

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The #diversity of our country is something to be #proud of as it is a source of endless #opportunities, which should not be overlooked – especially in sectors like #technology. On Monday, I attended an insightful conversation presented by the Cercle canadien de Montréal highlighting the important missed opportunity we face as a country given the financing gap when it comes to unrepresented communities. It was a refreshing conversation where Wils Theagene, B.Eng,Msc, Annick Charbonneau and Jean Vincent talked about their important work and provided tangible examples of actions that can be taken by the investment ecosystem to bridge the #fundinggap. This made me reflect on the op-ed Isaac Dream Maker Olowolafe and I wrote earlier this year on that subject. TheFutureEconomy.ca approached us to provide insight on what could be improved to better support #Blackentrepreneurs in Canada. We pulled out results from Senator Colin Deacon and L'Hon./Hon. Amina GERBA, M.B.A., C.Q.🇨🇦 ’s studies and shared our lived experience in the space - having raised the first institutionally backed Black-led #VentureCapital fund in Canada and having been focused on investing in Black-led tech companies for the past three years. One of the experiences that was striking to us was the number of talented #BlackEntrepreneurs we met, giants in their industries, who were welcomed and celebrated at social and visible functions while still getting denied when it came to significant long-standing partnerships (i.e. #funding). We have seen progress but dismantling entrenched systems requires a long-term vision, sustained commitment, and concerted efforts from financial institutions, philanthropic organizations, government bodies, corporations, and individual investors. There is still a long way to go but we're excited to be part of the solution. https://bit.ly/3JvAH5c BKR Capital #TechStartups #DiversityAndProfit #RepresentationMatters 

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Starting a business? Read below for top tips!

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The moment we've all been eagerly anticipating is finally upon us! Tomorrow marks the launch of Black Female Founders Hub, a groundbreaking initiative borne out of passion, perseverance, and the unwavering determination to empower and uplift Black Female Founders. Join us as we embark on this transformative journey together. Tomorrow we unveil something truly extraordinary! Stay tuned! . . . . . . #blackfemalefoundershub #blackfemaleentrepreneurs #blackwomeninbusiness #relaunch #blackwomeninbusiness

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🚀 The Future of Wealth: A Call to Action for Black and Brown Communities 🚀 Tune in to an urgent and powerful episode of the RISE Urban Nation Podcast, “The Future of Wealth: Empowering Black and Brown Communities.” Our guest highlights the critical need for immediate action within Black and Brown communities to secure and build wealth for future generations. 📈 The discussion focuses on the stark projections for wealth accumulation in these communities and the pivotal role that equity, diversity, and inclusion play in reversing these trends. Our expert shares inspiring insights on the necessary changes and strategies to foster economic empowerment. 💬 What steps do you think are essential for Black and Brown communities to enhance their economic future? How can initiatives in equity, diversity, and inclusion contribute to this goal? 👍 Like, comment, and share your ideas and strategies below. Engage with us as we explore actionable solutions to ensure a prosperous future for these communities. Your voice matters as we discuss how to make impactful changes. #EconomicEmpowerment #CommunityWealth #SocialJustice #DiversityAndInclusion #RISEUrbanNation

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Breaking the Self-Made Myth: A Million-Dollar Story of Collaboration and Innovation >> Who says old-school Bingo can’t be a blockbuster? We turned it into a $1 million hit for HBCU grads! This wasn’t your grandma’s bingo—unless your grandma likes breaking fundraising records during a global pandemic. >> Let’s shatter the "self-made" fairy tale together! Dive into our tale of how a motley crew of visionaries, big dreamers, and celebrity gate-crashers smashed expectations and made graduation unforgettable. >> Discover why going solo is a no-go and how our collective genius turned a simple game into a million-dollar extravaganza. >> Got a wild collaboration story? Spill the beans in the comments! Let’s celebrate the chaos and creativity of working together. 🔗 Read the Full Story #TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork #Innovation #BingoRevolution #ABCsOfAudacity #Leadership

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Breaking Barriers: Black Women Entrepreneurs and Venture Capital Join Tammy, a successful Black woman business owner, as she shares her experience in the world of venture capital. Discover the challenges faced by women of color and the strategies they employ to overcome them. Don't miss this insightful discussion on breaking barriers and paving the way for a more inclusive future. #BlackWomenInBusiness #VentureCapital #DiversityandInclusion #BreakingBarriers #WomenEntrepreneurs #BusinessSuccess #InclusiveEntrepreneurship #WomenEmpowerment #MinorityBusinessOwners #EntrepreneurshipJourney

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Building generational wealth for Black and Brown women entrepreneurs goes beyond merely increasing income; it's about crafting a financial foundation that spans generations, primarily through savvy real estate and investment decisions. Yet, the traditional routes to building wealth often fall short of leveling the playing field for BIPOC communities. This reality underscores the importance of embracing targeted, intentional strategies that address these entrepreneurs' unique barriers. Tailoring support within the framework of Targeted Universalism offers a strategic path to ensure all entrepreneurs have equal opportunities to build substantial wealth. #financialplanning #wealthbuilding

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