Vote No On The Proposed New Royal Stadium In Downtown Kansas City I wish to discuss the proposed new Royal Stadium in downtown Kansas City, MO. I relocated here from New York in 1978 and have been a business owner and community leader since then. I owned a candy store at 3027 Prospect, known as the Candy House, before the Lynnwood Shopping Center was established. I ventured into construction and was proud to have one of the top three Black general contracting companies in Kansas City. As a founding board member of the Full Employment Council, I also owned Goodfellas Pizzeria at 3027 Prospect. I’ve coached South Suburban basketball, and Red Bridge baseball, and initiated the Cub Scout system in the Kansas City School District, thanks to my godfather, Carl DiCapo, who served on their board of directors and ran the Italian Gardens restaurant on 11th and Baltimore. However, given my understanding of how this city operates and the projects funded by taxpayers’ money, I cannot support the new stadium or any other downtown project. Over the past 40 years, I have not seen any significant improvement in the Black community despite the millions of dollars poured into projects like 18th and Vine. Our education system is in a poor state, decent housing is virtually non-existent, and outside investors are swooping in like carpetbaggers. When you consider the Chiefs and the Royals, their owners have the financial means. If they want a new stadium, they should fund it themselves. Many of my constituents are struggling to pay their bills and healthcare costs. Only a select few in the Black community benefit when these projects go through. The last debacle with the Royals and the Chiefs stadium should have created ten new Black millionaires through construction contracts, but it didn’t. You have to ask yourself why. I’m more aligned with Malcolm X’s perspective – we’ve been bamboozled. In my view, any Black leadership that supports this ambiguous, insincere conversation that the Kansas City Royals’ owners are having with our community representatives is participating in a farce. I stand with County Executive Frank White – not enough information has been disclosed to warrant asking our community to vote yes on this proposal for a new stadium.
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Vote No On The Proposed New Royal Stadium In Downtown Kansas City I wish to discuss the proposed new Royal Stadium in downtown Kansas City, MO. I relocated here from New York in 1978 and have been a business owner and community leader since then. I owned a candy store at 3027 Prospect, known as the Candy House, before the Lynnwood Shopping Center was established. I ventured into construction and was proud to have one of the top three Black general contracting companies in Kansas City. As a founding board member of the Full Employment Council, I also owned Goodfellas Pizzeria at 3027 Prospect. I’ve coached South Suburban basketball, and Red Bridge baseball, and initiated the Cub Scout system in the Kansas City School District, thanks to my godfather, Carl DiCapo, who served on their board of directors and ran the Italian Gardens restaurant on 11th and Baltimore. However, given my understanding of how this city operates and the projects funded by taxpayers’ money, I cannot support the new stadium or any other downtown project. Over the past 40 years, I have not seen any significant improvement in the Black community despite the millions of dollars poured into projects like 18th and Vine. Our education system is in a poor state, decent housing is virtually non-existent, and outside investors are swooping in like carpetbaggers. When you consider the Chiefs and the Royals, their owners have the financial means. If they want a new stadium, they should fund it themselves. Many of my constituents are struggling to pay their bills and healthcare costs. Only a select few in the Black community benefit when these projects go through. The last debacle with the Royals and the Chiefs stadium should have created ten new Black millionaires through construction contracts, but it didn’t. You have to ask yourself why. I’m more aligned with Malcolm X’s perspective – we’ve been bamboozled. In my view, any Black leadership that supports this ambiguous, insincere conversation that the Kansas City Royals’ owners are having with our community representatives is participating in a farce. I stand with County Executive Frank White – not enough information has been disclosed to warrant asking our community to vote yes on this proposal for a new stadium.
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Did you know: 📑 "If the racial wealth divide is left unaddressed, median black household wealth is on a path to hit zero by 2053" - Institute for Policy Studies + Prosperity Now I learned this from Kelley F. Cornish, MA, CCDP, moderator at the Community Conversations on Building Generational Wealth hosted by Frost Bank. This was the FIRST event hosted by the new The DEC Network entrepreneur center at Red Bird Mall! I also learned from panelists Benjamin J. Vann and Tony Hills that only 6% of businesses in Dallas are black-owned, and of that 6% of businesses, 97% are solo-preneurs (meaning no employees). As citizens of Dallas, this means we need to do everything we can to support black business owners, their business growth, and black wealth holistically across DFW if our community is to have a chance at future equity. The status quo will not get us there. 💡 Some ideas on my personal business list: • Use minority-owned businesses for consultant work • Shop black owned for business purchases • Continue working toward DEIB in hiring/development practices • Vote this coming week • Continue conversations and learning: I just attended a "Together We Dine" event hosted at the Junior League of Dallas by Project Unity and highly recommend! Engage in conversation about race relations to connect with others about their real lived experiences. More here: https://lnkd.in/gaBqPcjy ➡ What other ideas would you add to this list? Please share below. ------------ Link to the study: https://lnkd.in/gs8CW2JB Thanks to all the additional panelists, sponsors, supporters, and organizers of these two significant events: J. A. Armstrong III, Sadat Rashid, Tristen Paige Wilson, Th. M., Baker Botts, Renita Joyce Smith, CDE ..I'm sure there are more!
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Contracting Officer at U.S. GSA | Financial Mentor & Coach at Smart Money Bro on YouTube where I help people make, save, and invest more money
Please like 👍🏾 comment and share Honoring and never forgetting what took place on May 31, 1921 on what is referred to as Black Wall Street: Today, we commemorate Black Wall Street, a symbol of Black excellence, entrepreneurship, and community resilience. Established in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Black Wall Street was a thriving hub of African American business and culture in the early 1900s. This remarkable community boasted hundreds of Black-owned businesses, including banks, restaurants, theaters, and more, reflecting the entrepreneurial spirit and economic ingenuity of its residents. Black Wall Street was more than a place of commerce; it was a beacon of hope and a testament to what can be achieved through unity, hard work, and determination. Tragically, this prosperity was violently disrupted during the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, a brutal attack that destroyed much of the district and took countless lives. According to a 2001 report by the Oklahoma Commission to Study the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921, between 200 and 300 Blacks were killed, and at least 1,256 homes were destroyed, alongside dozens of churches, schools, businesses, and hospitals. Greenwood residents would go on to file over $1.8 million dollars in damage claims; in today's dollars, this would be over $27 million. Despite this horrific event, the legacy of Black Wall Street endures as a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of the Black community. As we honor Black Wall Street today, let us remember the entrepreneurs, families, and visionaries who built this extraordinary community. May their legacy inspire us to continue striving for economic equity, justice, and the empowerment of Black businesses everywhere. #tulsa #blackwallstreet #racism #blackexcellence #business
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We getting sidewalks! My team and I have been working in partnership with the community members of Alton, a historically black underserved community on revitalizing the area. A key priority for the residents were to add sidewalks for the kids and elderly to walk the neighborhood. Last night alongside St. Tammany Parish government we were able to notify the community that they will be getting sidewalks added to their main street that all other streets intersect. THIS IS PROGRESS! CELEBRATE THE WINS! We are very aware of the potential benefits and drawbacks of revitalization in underserved neighborhoods. We are being intentional about the strategies we implement to ensure that the process is inclusive and equitable for all residents. Things that make my team rise to start a new day: 1. Economic Growth 2. Increased Property Values 3. Improved Infrastructure 4. Community Pride 5. Access to Services Things that keep my team up at night: 1. Gentrification 2. Displacement 3. Loss of Cultural Identity 4. Limited Affordability 5. Resistance to Change History of the community: The Alton Neighborhood began its development around 1880, after the end of the Civil War (1865). With the Victory of the Union, many Black Families were now free from slavery and anxious to become independent landowners. They were able to purchase lands in Alton through the Homestead Law which was passed in 1862. This allowed residents and future citizens to purchase up to 160 acres of public land for a small registration fee and agreed to live and improve the land for 15 years. After 15 years, the properties were registered with the United States Department of Interior (1894). Although the core development of Alton Neighborhood was due to Black Families, the lands owned by Black Families were not registered on the St. Tammany Parish Books until 1937. (Reference: History of Alton Township Little Zion Church Alton Junior High School)
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Here is my latest article published on Medium. Y'all check it out!
CEO/Developer of Gilmore Homes-Gilmore Loans, LLC|Former Mgr $50 Million SEC Stock Fund RegA+ Tier 2|Homeless Advocate|Educator|Designer|Founder of 85+ Companies|Planning 10,000 Homes @ $100,000 Yielding $1 BILLION
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Make sure you register to secure your spot for tomorrow’s webinar on Black Wealth Transfers, featuring Michael Neal, Ashon Nesbitt, and Dara Eskridge and moderated by our very own David Asiamah Ph.D.. We’ll discuss the recent Urban Institute research findings, how the Great Wealth Transfer may impact homeownership, small businesses, and public policy, as well as reasons to remain hopeful about the future of Black wealth equity. https://lnkd.in/e_CXEgnA
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@AAERTT - No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it. Albert Einstein
Go Jags is all good for most football fans in Jax. As an individual, I say, at what price for the two percenters stadium? Research shows that the NFL Games do not impact taxpayers' quality of Life or the city. Plus, the folly to invest in Eastside is fool gold unless the Eastside dollars are simulating with the stadium renovation. To elevate a community, four pillars are required - rebuilding the family infrastructure, Afrocentric education, preventative health, and collective economics. African American leadership must demand more from the city when addressing unmet promises unfulfilled. Let Go, Jaguars, but put the citizens First. The African American leadership on the Eastside is dysfunctional. Albert Einstein once said we cannot solve our problems using the same thinking that created the problem when it comes to elevating the thinking and embracing stem education through workshops. The Jaguars or the city cannot save the Eastside without community activists, entrepreneurs, and subject matter experts who live in the community. Donna promises the Urban Core. Real talk.
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On Friday, February 23, Young Black Homeowners (YBH), partnering with the African American Leadership Forum (AALFWA), hosted the second Black Equity Ball. This red-carpet affair was created to honor the journey of current and future black homeowners as they embark on the experience of gaining first-time homeownership. The event showcased DJing, musical performances, vendors, a champagne toast, and a dinner catered by That Brown Girl Cooks! that set the tone for the evening. "Here in Seattle, King County, we actually have homeownership rates that are lower than the average on the national scale. So by having events like this, what we're doing is changing the narrative or changing the culture," Anzhane Slaughter, the founder and CEO of YBH, said. "We're getting people excited and inspiring others to make homeownership a legitimate and tangible goal for them. " The event, held at Washington Hall, featured Washington State Representative Jamila Taylor as the MC for the night. "It's important that we support black homeownership; folks who want to be part of the community forever in a day pass on this asset to their next generation," Taylor said. "So these young folks who are ready to start their lives with home ownership and celebrate that fact, I think, is something that can help the rest of the community feel like they're part of that journey as well." This event follows the African American Leadership Forum's groundbreaking $100,000 BIPOC downpayment assistance program. "With these funds, we're able to help 20 families get into homes with over 20% down, and this is zero interest," Slaughter said. "You don't have to repay it until you either pay off your loan, refinance or in 30 years when you sell your home." Young Black Homeowners will continue hosting this event annually, as their 3rd Annual Black Equity Ball is planned for February 22, 2025.
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Counting Down to Juneteenth, part 5: The Seattle area’s Field Order 15 Fund, a reparative lending fund supported by the Black Home Initiative and HomeSight, assists Black developers who are building affordable homes in the communities that need these resources most. Nearly (and only) 160 years after Civil War General Tecumseh Sherman issued Special Field Order 15 as a promise that formerly enslaved people would build wealth on land they owned, this fund seeks to address the first and often most difficult barrier to building new affordable homes – project planning capital. Reparative lending, and reparations more broadly, seek to break cycles of disenfranchisement from land and generational wealth in Black communities. Learn from HomeSight’s executive director, Darryl Smith, about the history behind this project: https://lnkd.in/gWrREfd8 You can learn more about the Greater Seattle’s Connecting Capital and Community team here: https://lnkd.in/g92qb-Cw And for even more about how leaders are supporting Black developers, don’t skip Fulcrum Fellow alumna Maggie J. Parker’s blog, “Building a Network of Developers of Color: What We Learned.” https://lnkd.in/gxSUveEu
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Why It Matters
🎉 MBCC Turns One! 🎉 We are thrilled to celebrate the first anniversary of the Maine Black Chamber of Commerce! Over the past year, we've made incredible strides in empowering Black entrepreneurs, fostering economic growth, and building a supportive community. From launching the Maine Futures Program to forming impactful economic partnerships, our journey has just begun. A huge thank you to our members, partners, and supporters who have been with us every step of the way. Here’s to many more years of growth, innovation, and success! 🚀 #MBCCAnniversary #BlackOwnedBusinesses #CommunityGrowth #MaineInnovation
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