Jan. 18, 2022 A Durham-based nonprofit is focused on creating wealth in minority communities through training, seminars, advice – and direct involvement in financing of businesses serving those communities. The National Institute of Minority Economic Development may one day be a household name from ... Continue Reading →
Entrepreneur reflects on what it takes to succeed
Jan. 11, 2022 Committed. Driven. Hungry. Those were among the words Tuesday's presenter used to describe what it takes to succeed in the entrepreneurial space. Rachelle Latimer's last visit to the Forum in 2017 focused on details what makes success difficult for minority contractors. Today's ... Continue Reading →
Urban League adding satellite office, staying focused on economic empowerment
Dec. 7, 2021 Two key leaders at the Urban League of Central Carolinas today described a relatively small staff pushing to prepare Charlotte workers to upgrade their skills or prepare themselves to own their own businesses as a path toward economic stability and life satisfaction. Presenters were ... Continue Reading →
Developer’s story plays out in Beatties Ford Road corridor project
Nov. 9, 2021 In other hands, a rundown strip shopping center might turn into a less rundown strip shopping center. In Chris' Dennis's hands, Chase Bank is a major tenant, a portion of the building has been set aside for a yet-to-be-announced art presence, and the South Carolina native who's been ... Continue Reading →
How to build small businesses? Invest in one
Oct. 5, 2021 Dr. Shanté Williams is gathering her colleagues to move a big mountain. The head of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce is gearing up to reorient the focus of the chamber she heads. Networking and workshops and events are fine, she told the Forum this morning. But ... Continue Reading →
Supporting housing initiatives, business development
June 15, 2021 Ralphine Caldwell opened the Charlotte office of a national nonprofit in 2019, got settled, and then of course had to deal with a pandemic. It's been a bumpy road for Caldwell and her Charlotte staff of four. This morning, the executive director of the Charlotte office of Local ... Continue Reading →
Calif. entrepreneur makes a case for cryptocurrency
May 11, 2021 For a former financial adviser from black Inglewood in Los Angeles, where the money is is where the power will be, and digital cryptocurrency (e.g., Bitcoin) is an emerging tool to use to keep money circulating in the minority community rather than immediately leaving it. Najah ... Continue Reading →
Goodwill’s missions: training, training, training, training
June 25, 2019 Marvin Kelly presented this morning about training and other opportunities at Goodwill Industries. A course catalog for the Goodwill Construction Trades Training Center was distributed during this meeting. In the video below, the initial presentation begins immediately. The ... Continue Reading →
A committed, driven electrician uses training to halt recidivism, rebuild communities
June 4, 2019 By day, Michael Norman is an electrical contractor, one of his passions. Each weekday evening, Norman pursues his other passion: giving young people, including felons just released from prison, a way out of crime and into stable employment by training them in the electrician trade, ... Continue Reading →
Why the Battle of the Bands left Charlotte for Houston
May 7, 2019 He cut his teeth on executing the details of the CIAA tournament. Derek Webber went on to create a Battle of the Bands that after five years had outgrown Charlotte's Memorial Stadium. Webber Tuesday recounted his side of unsuccessful efforts to move the showcase for HBCU marching banks ... Continue Reading →