“I don’t fit into spaces. I add to spaces.”
Maybe a quote from Melonie D. Parker (Google) but it is also the conundrum that so many black and brown people face in our consumer created world.
This is one of the reasons I attended the ForbesBLK conference.
ForbesBLK was formed in May 2023. It is a global community of exceptional leaders of color breaking down barriers, driving more equitable economies and catalyzing systemic change according to the Forbes website.
Several months later the first ForbesBLK summit was held in Atlanta, Georgia.
By 2024, both Blavity Inc. and CNBC states that spending power among people of the African Diaspora is expected to reach $1.8 trillion. That spending power was utilized to make the ForbesBLK inaugural meeting for people of color one of the quickest to sell-out. The inaugural theme was the future of black entrepreneurialism: convening culture, creativity, and community.
Some of the highlights were singer La La Anthony, and executives from AT&T (Michelle Jordan, Chief Diversity Officer), Microsoft (Todd Minor, General Manager, MCAPS Academy) and Google (Melonie D. Parker, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer.)
La La Anthony, singer, actress, and entrepreneur states that her mother is her champion. She emphasizes that dealing with someone she respects and trusts has helped her to surpass in a business that not only has numerous disappointments but where few prosper.
Several executives from various companies came to tell of programs both past and present that assist people of color. Some also told what the organizations look for when funding entrepreneurial programs. AT&T looks for certification, diversification, and scalability when looking for entrepreneurs to work with. Microsoft has programs such as Microsoft Sales Academy begun a few years ago. It is a six-month program that builds skills in sales with people that have had unusual first jobs. Its goal is to have them become acclimated to the sales culture. Google has mental health programs for African Diaspora and Latinx communities. Google also has programs that have funded these communities with one hundred thousand to one hundred fifty thousand dollars for their startups. People in these programs have had a ninety-six percent success rate.
Most of the people who were speaking were first generation and after college graduates, and came from inner city or limited income families but each had achieved what their relatives could not do due to barriers in education and employment. That was what was so inspiring for me. That is why I stayed. “I am the hope of my grandmother.” Todd Minor (Microsoft) stated.
Forums like this are needed to help continue to grow the seeds our ancestors cast.
“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise.” – Maya Angelou
