Today's Date: March 28, 2024
United Makes It Easier for Customers Who Use Wheelchairs to Book Flights That Can Accommodate Their Personal Device   •   Mark Cuban Backs Overplay, the No-Code Game Creation Platform, Following Shark Tank Appearance   •   HCA Healthcare Releases 2024 Annual Impact Report   •   Lenzing strives to drive beneficial transformation across the value chain   •   PRIVATE SCHOOL VILLAGE (PSV) AWARDS INAUGURAL ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS   •   The Home Depot Announces Agreement to Acquire SRS Distribution, a Leading Specialty Trade Distributor Across Multiple Verticals;   •   Philip Morris International Demonstrates Clear Progress Toward Its Purpose as It Releases 2023 Integrated Report   •   Avnos and Deep Sky Forge Path to Gigaton-Scale Carbon Removal in Canada   •   Zuniga Health's 'Elevate' health plans fit the needs for Hispanic small businesses   •   Leidos Partnership deploys electronic health record system to joint DOD-VA federal health care site   •   Lightshift Energy Raises $100 Million From Greenbacker Capital Management to Expand Utility Scale Battery Storage Across North A   •   Chris Diehl Returns to 101 Mobility as Director of National Accounts   •   SunCoke Energy, Inc. Issues 2023 Sustainability Report   •   ¡BUENA! 'LOTERÍA FANTÁSTICA' BRINGS THE FIESTA WITH WORLDWINNER'S FIRST-EVER BILINGUAL GAME   •   SolarEdge Launches SolarEdge ONE Optimization Solution for Homeowners with a Dynamic Rate Plan in the Netherlands   •   Cadence OTC Announces Community Investment Campaign to Support the Movement for Accessible Birth Control in Post-Roe America   •   Fox Lake Grade School District 114 Selects Varsity Tutors for Schools to Provide Students with Additional Learning Resources   •   Sprinklr Appoints Amitabh Misra as Chief Technology Officer   •   Cardinal Tobin Blesses New Open-Air Mausoleum of the Holy Spirit Site   •   CYNTHIA BAILEY PARTNERS WITH KINDRA TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT VAGINAL HEALTH DURING MENOPAUSE
Bookmark and Share

Nat'l Black Entrepreneur Initiative Launched

PHILADELPHIA, PA - During President Barack Obama's January State of the Union Address, he challenged Americans to "do big things." OIC of America, Inc. (OICA) is taking big action. For generations, African American unemployment and underemployment have been at least double that of white Americans. While there have been gains in education, the wealth gap between African Americans and other groups has not closed.

Given the proven correlation between self-employment and wealth creation, OICA, in a groundbreaking move, announced today that it is launching a focused initiative designed to encourage more African Americans to think like and become entrepreneurs. The organization expects to reach over one million people in the years to come.

The Entrepreneurial Mindset Initiative will be funded perpetually by an endowment, raised in two parts. The first $10 million will come from the community nationwide through "OIC-10," a funding initiative designed to turn 1 million, one time, ten-dollar contributions into a $10 million endowment. The remaining $90 million will come through "challenge grants" from foundations and interested individuals.

The endowment will fund grassroots programs that encourage, train and support individuals in their quest to become successful business owners. OIC of America has trained over two million people nationwide since its origin. OICA's visionary founder, the late Reverend Leon H. Sullivan, was a force in African American entrepreneurship and self help when, in 1968, he started Progress Plaza. The North Philadelphia shopping center was the first black owned enterprise of its kind in America. Philadelphia citizens, who invested in Reverend Sullivan's 10/36 Plan, funded the project. The plan involved thousands of individuals and families contributing small sums of money to accomplish a goal.

In keeping with 21st century technological advances, OIC of America also introduced a mobile giving option for OIC-10. Cell phone users can make their donation by texting the keyword "OIC" to "41010" from their mobile phone. This convenient option allows a wider audience to make their $10 donation and support the Entrepreneurial Mindset Initiative.

In addition to announcing the Entrepreneurial Mindset Initiative, OIC of America also announced that it has appointed business executive and entrepreneur Stanley H. Greene as National Director-Entrepreneurial Mindset Initiative. He will oversee both the fund raising initiative and the implementation of the training initiative. "I am excited to take on this important initiative," said Greene. "I have been involved in many projects over the years, and this is the most challenging and potentially rewarding for communities nationwide," he added.

"Consistent with our history, OIC of America will not wait for someone to wave a magic wand and eliminate the economic disparities for African Americans. It has not happened in the past and will not happen in the future," said OIC of America Chairman, Art Taylor. "We are happy to have Stanley Greene on board as we make a big and bold move to help people make it in this economy."

President and CEO, Howard Sullivan added, "The foundation for economic success for African Americans was built close to 50 years ago. It is especially gratifying to me that we are launching this initiative today and using the simple but powerful principles my father put in place to help move African Americans forward."

Founded in 1964 by the late Reverend Dr. Leon Howard Sullivan, OIC of America, Inc. (OICA) is a national non-profit network of employment and training programs bound together by a common commitment, to help the disadvantaged realize their true potential. With forty-four (44) affiliated programs in twenty-two (22) states and the District of Columbia, OIC has grown into a movement, which has served over two (2) million disadvantaged and under-skilled people.

A philosophy of "self-help" and the system of developing the "whole person" enables individuals to become self-sufficient, productive workers. OICA prepares people for today's workforce with quality life skills development, fundamental education, job skills training, and employment readiness. 


STORY TAGS: Black News, African American News, Minority News, Civil Rights News, Discrimination, Racism, Racial Equality, Bias, Equality, Afro American News

Video

White House Live Stream
LIVE VIDEO EVERY SATURDAY
alsharpton Rev. Al Sharpton
9 to 11 am EST
jjackson Rev. Jesse Jackson
10 to noon CST


Video

LIVE BROADCASTS
Sounds Make the News ®
WAOK-Urban
Atlanta - WAOK-Urban
KPFA-Progressive
Berkley / San Francisco - KPFA-Progressive
WVON-Urban
Chicago - WVON-Urban
KJLH - Urban
Los Angeles - KJLH - Urban
WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
New York - WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
WADO-Spanish
New York - WADO-Spanish
WBAI - Progressive
New York - WBAI - Progressive
WOL-Urban
Washington - WOL-Urban

Listen to United Natiosns News