Learn How Dr. Cameka Smith Helps Raise $1.5M in Funding for Black Woman-Owned Businesses

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DR. CAMEKA SMITH MAKES HISTORY, RAISES $1.5 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR BLACK WOMAN-OWNED BUSINESSES

Dr. Cameka Smith, CEO and Founder of The BOSS Network, an online community of professional and entrepreneurial women who support each other through digital content, programs, and event-based networking, continues to support the success of Black women entrepreneurs as it celebrates its 14th anniversary.

In addition, she has partnered with Sage, the global market leader for technology that provides small and medium businesses with the visibility, flexibility, and efficiency to manage finances, operations, and people, for the launch of the Sage “Invest in Progress” Grant Program, a $1.5 million dollar commitment to Black woman-owned businesses for over three years.

As Black business ownership continues to grow in the U.S., Black women entrepreneurs are experiencing an increasing rise despite a challenging economic forecast.

Smith launched the organization to promote and encourage the small business spirit and career development of women of color. Under Smith’s leadership, The BOSS Network (which stands for “Bringing Out Successful Sisters”) has become one of the fastest-growing women’s communities.

See How Acclaimed Gospel Star Keyondra Lockett Pays Homage To Living Legend Anita Baker

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Billboard Gospel Artist Keyondra Lockett

Shows Love to Anita Baker

in Her New "You Your Love" 

Live Session Performance Video!

Gospel singer and songwriter Keyondra Lockett shows love in her new You Your Love (Live Session) performance to Anita Baker with a special music run snippet of "Caught up in the Rapture" from the iconic singer's song at the end of her live music video.

The Billboard award-winning gospel singer said, "Anita Baker is a phenomenal artist, songwriter, arranger, and producer.  She is also a woman of faith and one of my favorite artists." 

On August 19th to the surprise of her fans, Keyondra dropped her second single, You Your Love, ahead of her highly anticipated album, "Cornerstone." Click the video below and listen to the You Your Love Live Session Video by Keyondra Lockett

Returning from the success of Made A Way Remix from Bella Dawn Music and MNRK Music - Nashville indie distribution division, Indie Blu Digital Distribution, Billboard award-winning gospel artist and songwriter releases yet another gem, You Your Love, now available across all digital outlets.

Back 2 School Community Fair

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Back 2 School Community Fair

Learn How 2 Powerful Black Business Organizations Work To Develop Viable Companies

Help Us To continue to inform and empower our community please Donate. Get The Scoop Weekly On the Global Black Community and Southeast Queens, NY. Subscribe to Our Mailing List. Receive the Latest Events, News, Jobs, and Top Community Economic Development Stories Like this one Click Here | Reach up to 1.3 million people Promote

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United States Black Chambers, Inc. names New York States Largest Black Chamber LIAACC Spoke of the Month August 2022

New York, New York - United States Black Chambers, Inc. names New York States largest black chamber LIAACC Spoke of the Month August 2022. 

The USBC Community Economic Development Corporation (USBC CEDC), providing services to the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. and Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. was awarded $5 million from the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) Community Navigator Pilot Program.

The grant, awarded to 51 applicants nationally, is part of a $100 million initiative to help reduce the barriers that underrepresented and underserved entrepreneurs face in accessing the programs and services that they need.

The SBA's Community Navigator Pilot Program was created to ensure that small and micro-businesses receive support and access to federal relief programs in response to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic that can help them recover, grow, and thrive.

Be There As The Queens Underground Showcases "Poetry In The Park" In Jamaica, Southeast Queens

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The Queens Underground To Get King Manor Museum Lit With "Poetry In The Park" Showcase - Saturday, August 20th, 2022

Poetry In The Park, hosted by Queens Underground Poets as a free-for-the-community event will showcase more than 7  featured poets along with a variety of open mic performers. This historic outdoor showcase will also highlight local vendors, artists, and book authors.

The festival takes place on August 20th, 2022, from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm, outdoors at King Manor Museum in downtown Jamaica, Queens, NY.  Free Tickets are available on Eventbrite: Click Here To Reserve Your Free Tickets 

 

Since 2017, Queens Underground Poets has hosted Poetry Showcases/Slams, Open Mic Nights, Jazz and R&B Nights and with its first outdoor Showcase, attendees will experience feature Poets such as:

• Mr. Orange Live, Poet, Host, Book Author, and award-winning filmmaker
• M. A. Dennis, the original host of the Poetry Showcases is also a book author- Mistaken Identity Crisis (NYSAI Press). Articles written about him were published by the New York Times and  Daily News
• Anyrah Shavéh, a remarkably enigmatic author and poet has performed with All Def Poetry in many cities across the country
• Sabreen Speaks, Poet and Author travels the world as a feature, sharing her love of art, spoken word, and visualization. A first-place winner at the legendary Apollo Theater Amateur Night in Harlem, NYC, she was also selected as a residential artist for the Chateau d’Orquevaux French Residency in Orquevaux, France
• Bro Earl, Host of his own weekly Poetry Night in Harlem, NYC is an Author who also works with At-Risk Youth teaching Expressive Arts Therapy in after-school programs, family shelters, foster care facilities, juvenile detention centers, and Rikers Island. He has toured around the world and independently released several albums, published in Yale University's Peabody Museum Anthology.
• Poet and acclaimed photographer, The Verbal Artisan is still a local favorite and published author.  Verbal is a passionate poet who shares relatable stories of abuse and resilience. Verbal also hosts her own Poetry Showcases around the Boro’s.
• Oscar Bruce, best known for his TedTalks on healthcare, is a poet, author, and filmmaker with animated versions of his phenomenally insightful poetry.
  
  Both Oscar and Mr. Orange Live dare to take poetry to another level on the big screen and their projects have also been screened at the Queens Underground International Film Festival.

See How Top African Artists Thrill Fans as Laurie Fonhoue Wins African Most Beautiful USA Pageant 2022

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Fameye, Akwaboah, Others Thrill Fans as Cameroon’s Laurie Fonhoue Wins African Most Beautiful USA 2022 Crown

The Second edition of the much anticipated African Most Beautiful USA pageant www.ambusa.org sponsored by the Abofem Area Foundation, Inc. www.abofremareafoundation.org came off July 23rd in New York City, USA.

The event happened on the plush Cornucopia Majesty Yacht with beautiful display of rich African culture among contestants and exciting performances from top Artistes.

Musicians Fameye, Akwaboah, Taylor Jaye, Jay Hover and more took center stage to thrill audience with back to back hit songs with DJ RBNice on the turntables throughout the night as the contestants battled it out for the ultimate crown.

This year’s edition of African Most Beautiful USA pageant saw contestants from several African countries including Ghana, Kenya, Gambia, Cameroon, Nigeria, among others competing for the ultimate crown, car and cash.

New Insights And Tools To Empower Black Economic Growth

Help Us To continue to inform and empower our community please Donate. Get The Scoop Weekly On the Global Black Community and Southeast Queens, NY. Subscribe to Our Mailing List. Receive the Latest Events, News, Jobs, and Top Community Economic Development Stories Like this one Click Here | Reach up to 1.3 million people Promote

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Systemic Financial Racism Requires Greater Insights And Smart Tools To Build Black Wealth

Photo Credit Christina at Upsplash

By Kamau Austin, Publisher Scoop Publications

In June, 2022 a compelling meme circulated on Facebook alluding to the 400-year head start whites have over Blacks in the US economic system.  It was ironic in that it was being shared in a Black group on a social media platform with a leaning towards conservative "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps" types.  Even Black conservatives, like others in the society, too often regurgitate the usual ole tropes about Blacks.

This Meme On Social Media ignited negative tropes about Black people. 

For instance the following are some stereotypical tropes perpetuated by Black conservatives or financial coaches about the lack of Black financial success:

• Blacks can't achieve financial literacy because we're trying to achieve acceptance with consumerism.
• Blacks don't achieve wealth because we don't understand investments and buy real estate.
• Blacks aren't knowledgeable or disciplined in terms of credit. 

These tropes, while having some truthful claims about some Blacks, puts the onus of the present inequality in wealth concentration between whites and Blacks squarely on clueless or undisciplined African Americans.  These stereotypes side step the fact Blacks, in the past and presently, are fighting systemic economic racism, marginalized business ownership, and industry isolation.

It should be obvious individuals can't beat systems by themselves so financial literacy should evolve beyond just having insights on getting a mortgage, Debt to Income (DTI) ratios, and investing in stocks and bonds.  Financial literacy for Blacks should also extend to new technical tools, political, social, and economic advocacy to gain more economic empowerment and collective wealth creation.

Timothy Griggs, a Black real estate investor and mortgage broker is extremely concerned about Blacks and other financially marginalized people getting access to wealth building knowledge and systems.  He's been inspired to help people have technical access to manage their credit and finances.

Griggs, an African American, is a pioneer among a growing number of techno-preneurs looking to harness the communication prowess of digital media and platforms to help put Blacks and wealth seekers on the road to affluence.  He has developed The Good Stewart (TGS) financial system to help those seeking more control and also to understand the ways to improve their credit score and overall wealth.

Timothy Griggs Developed The TGS financial App To Help Manage Credit

His tech innovation is a timely tool for those looking to drive insightfully on the road to financial success. But why is credit, wealth creation, and financial disparities such an important focus for entrepreneurs like Timothy Griggs?

Let's review a small synopsis of systemic racism in the past and moreover - present times that contributes to the lack of Black wealth. Let's touch on some solutions beyond the typical ones floated to develop more Black economic development...