The Economic Empowerment Center (EEC) of the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati will be graduating its seventh class of the African American Business Development Program (AABDP). Senator Eric Kearney will be the keynote speaker for the event to be held on Thursday, June 16, 2011. EEC is the business development arm of the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati.
Developed in 2008, AABDP was established to assists African American business owners in building sustainable companies that help to create employment opportunities for community residents.
The graduation will be held at the Union Institute and University located at 440 E. McMillan Street, Cincinnati, OH from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. For more information contact Sheila A. Mixon, Ohio Small Business Development Center at the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, 513-487-1274.
Jun 16, 2011
Apr 25, 2011
2011 Summer Youth Employment
Urban League of Greater Cincinnati and partners Easter Seals WRC, Urban Appalachian Council, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College and the University of Cincinnati-GEARUP were awarded the City of Cincinnati's 2011 Summer Youth Employment Contract. This will provide 370 jobs for low income youth between the ages of 14 and 18 residing in the city of Cincinnati. Youth will be provided age appropriate work experiences for 8 weeks during the summer.
Information regarding the application process will be made available April 28, 2011 at the Mayor's Job Fair. Call the Summer Employment Hotline 513-281-9955 extension 303 for times and locations for application pick up and submission. You may also call Lisa McDonald at 513-487-6528 for assistance.
Employment partners are being recruited at this time.
Donna Jones Baker, President and CEO commented "this is an exciting opportunity for the UL and our partners to continue the work of the STRIVE You Can initiative and commitment to developing data driven programming."
"We are looking forward to a Summer Youth Employment Program that will be a positive experience for both our youth and employment partners." says Dorothy Smoot, Vice President of Youth Services.
Information regarding the application process will be made available April 28, 2011 at the Mayor's Job Fair. Call the Summer Employment Hotline 513-281-9955 extension 303 for times and locations for application pick up and submission. You may also call Lisa McDonald at 513-487-6528 for assistance.
Employment partners are being recruited at this time.
Donna Jones Baker, President and CEO commented "this is an exciting opportunity for the UL and our partners to continue the work of the STRIVE You Can initiative and commitment to developing data driven programming."
"We are looking forward to a Summer Youth Employment Program that will be a positive experience for both our youth and employment partners." says Dorothy Smoot, Vice President of Youth Services.
Apr 21, 2011
McDonald’s Adds 50,000 Jobs
To Be Equal #16
April 20, 2011
Marc H. Morial
President and CEO
National Urban League
“You're only as good as the people you hire.” Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s Corporation
In March, the American economy added 216,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 8.8 percent, the lowest in two years. That is the good news. The bad news is that the nation has a mighty long way to go to recoup the 13 million jobs lost during the great recession. The real bad news is that with an unemployment rate of 15.5 percent for African Americans and 11.3 percent for Hispanics, communities of color seem to be fighting a losing battle to keep from being overwhelmed by the jobs crisis.
For more than two years, the National Urban League has led the call for a national response to extremely high unemployment throughout urban America. Our Jobs Rebuild America 12-point plan offers a blueprint for change. It calls for the restoration of the Summer Youth Jobs Program to provide summer jobs for millions of teens. We also propose greater public/ private investments in job training for those most at-risk for joblessness and least equipped to navigate their way back to gainful employment. And while Washington thus far does not appear to be listening, we have sought and found allies elsewhere, including some in corporate America.
For example, we are pleased that this week, McDonald’s Corporation, is launching an unprecedented hiring campaign, aimed at adding 50,000 new crew and management employees to its payrolls. The company plans to add 3-4 new workers to each of its 14,000 U.S. restaurants. In addition to providing a pathway back to the dignity of work, many of these new “Mcjobs” come with training, flexible work schedules, competitive benefits, scholarship opportunities and growth potential. The company points out that more than 75 percent of its restaurant managers and many of its corporate staff and executive leadership, including current company president, Jan Fields, started behind the counter.
McDonald’s projects that the addition of 50,000 new employees will boost the economies of states and local economies, which can likely expect an additional $430 million spent on housing, almost $186 million in taxes, and $180.5 million in grocery purchases.
African American teens, 38.5 percent of whom are currently unemployed, may especially benefit from this hiring blitz. The unemployment rate for Black teens consistently hovers near 40 percent, the highest rate of any group in the country. In addition to putting thousands of Black teens on successful career paths, each year McDonald’s selects one high school student-employee from each state and the District of Columbia for $2,500 scholarships, as well as three national “McScholar” winners who each receive $5,000 scholarships.
The National Urban League will continue to push for federal action in response to the jobs crisis in urban America. In the meantime, we applaud McDonald’s for doing its part with its “National Hiring Day.” More jobs mean a stronger economy and a better future for our children, our neighbors and our nation.
###
April 20, 2011
Marc H. Morial
President and CEO
National Urban League
“You're only as good as the people you hire.” Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s Corporation
In March, the American economy added 216,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 8.8 percent, the lowest in two years. That is the good news. The bad news is that the nation has a mighty long way to go to recoup the 13 million jobs lost during the great recession. The real bad news is that with an unemployment rate of 15.5 percent for African Americans and 11.3 percent for Hispanics, communities of color seem to be fighting a losing battle to keep from being overwhelmed by the jobs crisis.
For more than two years, the National Urban League has led the call for a national response to extremely high unemployment throughout urban America. Our Jobs Rebuild America 12-point plan offers a blueprint for change. It calls for the restoration of the Summer Youth Jobs Program to provide summer jobs for millions of teens. We also propose greater public/ private investments in job training for those most at-risk for joblessness and least equipped to navigate their way back to gainful employment. And while Washington thus far does not appear to be listening, we have sought and found allies elsewhere, including some in corporate America.
For example, we are pleased that this week, McDonald’s Corporation, is launching an unprecedented hiring campaign, aimed at adding 50,000 new crew and management employees to its payrolls. The company plans to add 3-4 new workers to each of its 14,000 U.S. restaurants. In addition to providing a pathway back to the dignity of work, many of these new “Mcjobs” come with training, flexible work schedules, competitive benefits, scholarship opportunities and growth potential. The company points out that more than 75 percent of its restaurant managers and many of its corporate staff and executive leadership, including current company president, Jan Fields, started behind the counter.
McDonald’s projects that the addition of 50,000 new employees will boost the economies of states and local economies, which can likely expect an additional $430 million spent on housing, almost $186 million in taxes, and $180.5 million in grocery purchases.
African American teens, 38.5 percent of whom are currently unemployed, may especially benefit from this hiring blitz. The unemployment rate for Black teens consistently hovers near 40 percent, the highest rate of any group in the country. In addition to putting thousands of Black teens on successful career paths, each year McDonald’s selects one high school student-employee from each state and the District of Columbia for $2,500 scholarships, as well as three national “McScholar” winners who each receive $5,000 scholarships.
The National Urban League will continue to push for federal action in response to the jobs crisis in urban America. In the meantime, we applaud McDonald’s for doing its part with its “National Hiring Day.” More jobs mean a stronger economy and a better future for our children, our neighbors and our nation.
###
Feb 22, 2011
The Growth of Black-Owned Businesses: Entrepreneurship by Necessity
To Be Equal#8
February 23, 2011
The Growth of Black-Owned Businesses: Entrepreneurship by Necessity
Marc H. Morial
President and CEO
National Urban League
"I had to make my own living and my own opportunity! But I made it! Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them!" Madam C.J. Walker, trailblazing African American businesswoman.
There is a silver lining in the dark cloud of the great recession. A new Census Bureau report reveals that from 2002 to 2007 the number of Black-owned businesses in the United States increased by 60.5 percent to 1.9 million – more than triple the national rate. According to Census Bureau Deputy Director, Thomas Mesenbourg, “Black-owned businesses continued to be one of the fastest growing segments of our economy, showing rapid growth in both the number of businesses and total sales during this time period.”
The reasons for this are many, beginning with the long history of African American entrepreneurship in response to poverty, high unemployment and discrimination. Consider the case of Madam C.J. Walker, the daughter of slaves who, in the early 1900s, turned her dream of financial independence into a hair care and cosmetics business that revolutionized the beauty products industry, created good paying jobs, and made her a wealthy woman and philanthropist.
Like Madam C.J. Walker, many African Americans may have turned to entrepreneurship in the years covered by the Census Bureau study because of high unemployment in our communities. The fact is, Black unemployment never got back down to where it was before the recession in 2001. So in effect, what we are seeing is a bit of entrepreneurship by necessity. There’s also an economic independent streak, particularly among emerging generations in the Black community. Building a business gives great satisfaction and cushions them from the shock of losing jobs because of economic down cycles.
New York State leads the country with more than 204,000 Black-owned businesses, followed by Georgia and Florida respectively. From 2002 to 2007, nearly 4 in 10 of these businesses operated in the health care and social assistance; and repair, maintenance, personal and laundry services sectors. The retail trade and health care and social assistance sectors accounted for 27.4 percent of Black-owned business revenue.
The survey also found that in addition to an increase in the number of Black-owned businesses, annual sales increased by 55% to $137.5 billion.
I recently called on federal, state and local governments to develop a “hyper-focus” on black- and minority-owned businesses. Every city, county, and state needs to have a plan that focuses on small and minority business. There is a spirit of entrepreneurship out there that needs to be nurtured and energized.
While the Census Bureau report is generally good news, we know that Black businesses still make up only 7 percent of all companies and they tend to be smaller and have lower gross receipts than other businesses. Black-owned businesses are also often hampered in their revenue growth by a lack of capital, connections and contracts.
What I hope this report says loudly and clearly to the investment community is that you are missing an emerging market in the United States. If minority businesses are growing at a faster clip than overall businesses, imagine what the growth rate would be if those barriers were eliminated or lowered. We need the investor community to look at this report and recognize that they are missing an incredible opportunity.
###
February 23, 2011
The Growth of Black-Owned Businesses: Entrepreneurship by Necessity
Marc H. Morial
President and CEO
National Urban League
"I had to make my own living and my own opportunity! But I made it! Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them!" Madam C.J. Walker, trailblazing African American businesswoman.
There is a silver lining in the dark cloud of the great recession. A new Census Bureau report reveals that from 2002 to 2007 the number of Black-owned businesses in the United States increased by 60.5 percent to 1.9 million – more than triple the national rate. According to Census Bureau Deputy Director, Thomas Mesenbourg, “Black-owned businesses continued to be one of the fastest growing segments of our economy, showing rapid growth in both the number of businesses and total sales during this time period.”
The reasons for this are many, beginning with the long history of African American entrepreneurship in response to poverty, high unemployment and discrimination. Consider the case of Madam C.J. Walker, the daughter of slaves who, in the early 1900s, turned her dream of financial independence into a hair care and cosmetics business that revolutionized the beauty products industry, created good paying jobs, and made her a wealthy woman and philanthropist.
Like Madam C.J. Walker, many African Americans may have turned to entrepreneurship in the years covered by the Census Bureau study because of high unemployment in our communities. The fact is, Black unemployment never got back down to where it was before the recession in 2001. So in effect, what we are seeing is a bit of entrepreneurship by necessity. There’s also an economic independent streak, particularly among emerging generations in the Black community. Building a business gives great satisfaction and cushions them from the shock of losing jobs because of economic down cycles.
New York State leads the country with more than 204,000 Black-owned businesses, followed by Georgia and Florida respectively. From 2002 to 2007, nearly 4 in 10 of these businesses operated in the health care and social assistance; and repair, maintenance, personal and laundry services sectors. The retail trade and health care and social assistance sectors accounted for 27.4 percent of Black-owned business revenue.
The survey also found that in addition to an increase in the number of Black-owned businesses, annual sales increased by 55% to $137.5 billion.
I recently called on federal, state and local governments to develop a “hyper-focus” on black- and minority-owned businesses. Every city, county, and state needs to have a plan that focuses on small and minority business. There is a spirit of entrepreneurship out there that needs to be nurtured and energized.
While the Census Bureau report is generally good news, we know that Black businesses still make up only 7 percent of all companies and they tend to be smaller and have lower gross receipts than other businesses. Black-owned businesses are also often hampered in their revenue growth by a lack of capital, connections and contracts.
What I hope this report says loudly and clearly to the investment community is that you are missing an emerging market in the United States. If minority businesses are growing at a faster clip than overall businesses, imagine what the growth rate would be if those barriers were eliminated or lowered. We need the investor community to look at this report and recognize that they are missing an incredible opportunity.
###
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