Celebrating Black Business
We know that celebrating black owned businesses is not enough, support is also a crucial part.
We discussed about our partnership with Can I Live Inc. “Resident Owned Business Incubator (ROBI)” which helps black entrepreneurs and also the status of black businesses in America with Racquel W. Jones, President of Can I Live, Inc.
Speaker
Racquel W. Jones, President of Can I Live, Inc.
Racquel Williams-Jones knows first-hand the mindset of poverty and the detrimental effects it has on the decision making process. A survivor of the merciless welfare system, Racquel spent much of her life healing from the emotional scars her experience left. She quickly became an advocate for single mothers who had been enticed and ensnared into the bondage traps of welfare. In the process, Racquel became a noted national expert on resident engagement, leadership development and self-sufficiency, speaking and leading national conferences, keynotes and trainings.
She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration, a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Politics and Law, as well as an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis is Juvenile Delinquency. Racquel has led and organized tent cities, volunteered on civic boards, chaired a housing authority for 8-years, and founded Can I Live, Inc., a national resident association dedicated to become an effective voice for residents of Public and Indian housing communities. She is the thought leader behind the One Million Moms OFF Welfare Initiative-a ten year strategy that aims to remove and reduce moms dependency on social welfare programs and government subsidies.
Moderator
Deniz Karatas, Outreach Coordinator of Bay Atlantic University (BAU).
Bay Atlantic University (BAU) has partnered up with Can I Live Inc. to offer under-served and under-resourced entrepreneurs a network of support, capital, and technical assistance through the “Resident Owned Business Incubator (ROBI)” ROBI is an entrepreneurship and small business licensing course which gives DC low-income residents a fair shot to the middle class through self-employment. ROBI is also an “earn and learn” program thanks to the grant provided by the DC Government Employment Services (DOES) to BAU in order to offer this program tuition free for DC Residents for 15 weeks. Students who successfully complete the program will leave with their business plan, business license, website, logo, electronic business card, custom domain, personal email address and access to videos apps and intros, and royalty free high-resolution photos and a chance to pitch for cash in quarterly competitions.
New Cohort will start on March 15, 2021. More info and application
Event Recording:
BAU’s Other Initiatives to Support Black Communities in DC:
– A diverse and inclusionary educational space.
– Professors and administration that have undergone racial and sensitivity training and education
– James Wormley Full-Tuition Scholarship:
Each year 5 high-achieving students from DC’s Public and Public Charter schools will receive full tuition to attend Bay Atlantic University. We will be providing information about our James Wormley Full-Tuition Scholarship within this online event.
