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Publisher's Message FOCUS: TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION Is Africa Still Rising? Yes. Actually, We’re Just Getting Started! by John-Paul Iwuoha

O

n 13th May 2000, The Economist magazine ran a front cover that notoriously labeled Africa as ‘The Hopeless Continent’. In its eyes, Africa was a forsaken place — ravaged by war, famine and disease.

Just a decade later, the tune had changed. In 2011 and 2012 respectively, The Economist and Time magazine released editions with resplendent displays of the ‘Africa Rising’ slogan. Lavish with praise and optimism, they described Africa as a continent of promise, growth and Pubisher/Chief Executive Officer prosperity.

But as I write this, Africa’s biggest oil exporters – Nigeria and Angola – are in dire straits. Due to tumbling oil prices, their economies – which are heavily dependent on oil revenues – are dangerously close to recession, and there are rumors both countries could be reaching out for bailouts.

In the face of the slump in global commodity prices – gold, iron ore, copper and coffee, for example – countries like Ghana, Zambia and South Africa have been hit hard.

According to the World Bank’s predictions, economic growth across sub-Saharan Africa will slow to 3% in 2016, down from 8% nearly a decade ago.

These are not good times for Africa, right?

Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

Black Business News Group P.O. Box 43159 Los Angeles, CA 90043 USA 323-291-7819 Fax: 323-298-5064

www.blackbusinessnews.net PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Earl “Skip” Cooper, II

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Sarah Harris Dean L. Jones Steven Turner

ENTREPRENEUR EDITOR Kim Anthony

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Linda Ware

PRODUCTION MANAGER Narishima Osei

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dean Jones Linda Ware Ralph D. Sutton Veronica Hendrix Giavanna Foster P. Yvette Thomas LaSandra Stratton

Wrong!

John-Paul Iwuoha

It’s funny how history repeats itself, because the pessimists and naysayers are back. And they’re asking: ‘Is Africa still rising?’

The answer: a resounding ‘Yes!’ Actually, Africa’s just getting started. And I’ll give you 5 reasons why…

GRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Harris

STORY EDITORS Wanda Flagg Jennifer Marie Hamilton

PHOTOGRAPHY

1) Africa’s future is NOT in commodities Africa’s present commodity challenges have a silver lining. It’s actually a good thing.

For decades, our continent has continued to depend on the export of commodities – especially agricultural produce and raw minerals. As a result, the economies of several countries on the continent have historically been vulnerable to global price fluctuations of crude oil, cocoa, coffee, copper, gold and diamonds.

They say ‘adversity is the mother of creativity’, and both African governments and savvy entrepreneurs are finding interesting paths out of the continent’s commoditydependence conundrum.

Two of the key ways they’re doing this are diversification and local value addition.

Despite its heavy dependence on crude oil exports, Nigeria’s non-oil sector has been growing at an impressive rate, and currently contributes more than 60% of GDP. These rising ‘non-oil’ stars include retail, financial services, real estate and entertainment.

While it may take some years before Nigeria’s economy is weaned from oil, these rising stars are already changing the game.

For example, online retail giants — Jumia and Konga – which

Ian Foxx Sabir Narishima Osei

CONTENT ADMINISTRATOR La Sandra Stratton

LAYOUT/TYPESETTING Lion Communications Copyright © 2016

by Black Business News All Rights Reserved.

The posting of stories, commentaries, reports, documents and links (embedded or otherwise) on this site does not in any way, shape or form, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support of any of such posted material or parts therein. 

see Publisher's Message on page 56 3  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

About

ABOUT THE BLACK BUSINESS NEWS GROUP… The mission of The Black Business News is to inspire and inform public and private sector industry representatives on the importance of smart small business growth. As a versatile source of socioeconomic development activity news, the publications of the Black Business News Group impart current local, national and international industry and social trends and news affecting small businesses across the United States of America (USA), providing guides to greater access to financial capital, management efficiencies, business education, mentorship opportunities and social media networks. The goals of the Black Business News Group include: •

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cexploring major public and private sece tor contracting methods to educate s. black-owned and operated enterprises.

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Contents

Black Business News…April 2016 3

Publisher's Message

White House Kitchen Garden and Embark on American Garden Tour

Government 8 10 11

Thinking Outside the Cable Box Obituary/Memorials 39 Marva Smith Battle-Bey Succumbs White House Science Fair 2016 Prince, an Artist Who Defied Genre, Is Obama Administration’s National Travel 88 and Tourism Strategy Working Dead at 57 92 Singer Billy Paul Dead at age 80 93 World Music Star Papa Wemba Dies

International 99

USTDA Hosts Procurement Leaders from Ethiopia 102 Opportunity for Educators in Kuwait

63

Entertainment 20

BBN Show Biz Buzz

Business 22 24 25 28 28 29 30 34 63

Harriet Tubman: How Marketing Won the $20 The Top Jobs in 2025 and the Skills You'll Need to get Them The ‘Gig Economy’ is Coming.

The Largest U.S. Bank just Started Prepping to Prevent a Bank Run Amazon.com offers special features for small businesses Box's Partnership with Amazon.com and IBM Industry 4.0: Manufacturing's Next Act Password Obsolescence is Near Mouton Noir

136

Columns 82 97 111 135 136 137

Take A Look!

African Stock Exchanges Shopping Gallery BBA Master Planner Resource Vault Books to Consider...

CommunityPublic Interest 86

First Lady Michelle Obama to Plant 5  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819 1 32 3233 29 2911 78 7819 19

Government

Thinking Outside the Cable Box: How More Competition Gets

You a Better Deal

By Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and Jeffrey Zients, Director, National Economic Council and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy

B

uilding on efforts over the last seven years, the President is launching a new initiative to stoke competition across our economy, so that no corporation can unfairly squeeze their competitors, their workers, or their customers at everyone’s expense. Stronger competition matters because it can deliver lower prices, higher quality, and better customer service for consumers. It gives workers more of a voice and can help strengthen wage growth.

And it’s what entrepreneurs need to get a fair shot at growing their businesses and creating jobs.

Before There Were Cable Boxes Before getting into the details, a little historical context (and more on a specific action we’re taking today).

Millenials are often defined as the generation born after 1980. But Telephone

they could also be described as the generation that doesn’t remember what it’s like to be forced to rent a big, overpriced, basic phone from the phone company.

Until the early 1980s, the phone company had a monopoly—not just on the wire to your house but, in many cases, on the phone you plugged into that wire.

And the result wasn’t pretty.

Phones had little variety, evoking the famous Henry Ford quote — "You can have any color, so long as it’s black” — and only the most basic functionality. Worse yet, households had to pay a fee each month to rent these phones that added up over time to many multiples of what they would have paid to purchase a similar (or fancier) phone themselves.

Then, all that changed when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and others took action to open up phones to competition. This competition and the technological progress it helped drive, led to a proliferation of digital dialing, built-in answering machines, a panoply of styles, cordless phones, and other innovations.

A similar dynamic has taken hold elsewhere in American homes today: According to a recent study, 99% of all

cable subscribers lease a set-top box to get their cable and satellite programming.

It sits in the middle of our living rooms, and most of us don’t think twice about it. But that same study found that the average household pays $231 per year to rent these often clunky boxes. And, while the cost of making these boxes is going down, their price to consumers has been rising.

Like the telephones in 1980s, that’s a symptom of a market that is cordoned off from competition. And that’s got to change.

How We're Taking Action To Fix It That’s why the President has announced that his Administration is calling on the FCC to open up settop cable boxes to competition.

This will allow for companies to create new, innovative, higherquality, lower-cost products.

Instead of spending nearly $1,000 over four years to lease a set of behind-the-times boxes, American families will have options to own a device for much less money that will Set-Top Box integrate everything they want — including their cable or satellite content, as well as online streaming apps — in one, easier-to-use gadget.

But we’re not stopping there. In many ways, the set-top box is the mascot for a new initiative we’re launching. That box is a stand-in for what happens when you don’t have the choice to go elsewhere—for all the parts of our economy where competition could do more.

Across our economy, too many consumers are dealing with inferior or overpriced products, too many workers aren’t getting the wage increases they deserve, too many

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U.S. President Barack Obama discussing Net Neutrality

announced a broader new initiative through an Executive Order (www.whitehouse.gov/the-pressoffice/2016/04/15/executive-ordersteps-increase-competition-andbetter-inform-consumers) that calls

entrepreneurs and small businesses are getting squeezed out unfairly by their bigger competitors, and overall we are not seeing the level of innovative growth we would like to see. And a big piece of why that happens is anti-competitive behavior—companies stacking the deck against their competitors and their workers. We’ve got to fix that, by doing everything we can to make sure that consumers, middle-class and working families, and entrepreneurs are getting a fair deal.

That’s why, the has President

on departments and agencies to make further progress through specific, pro-competition executive actions that empower and inform consumers, workers, and entrepreneurs. In 60 days, agencies will report back on specific areas where we can make additional progress.

Alongside that announcement, the White House Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) released a new issue brief (www. whitehouse.gov/sites/default/ files/page/files/20160414_cea_ competition_issue_brief.pdf) that

describes the many benefits of competition, highlights recent work by the independent antitrust authorities, and argues that consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses would benefit

from additional policy actions to promote competition within a variety of industries. These new steps will build on pro-competition progress we’ve made—from cell phone unlocking (www.whitehouse. gov/blog/2014/08/15/heres-how-cellphone-unlocking-became-legal) to net neutrality (www.whitehouse.gov/netneutrality), from cracking down on

conflicts of interest in retirement advice (www.whitehouse.gov/ blog/2015/02/23/what-you-need-knowabout-retirement-conflicts-interestthree-big-sentences) to efforts to free

up essential technologies so that big incumbent companies can’t crowd out their competitors.

In the coming months, we’ll be doing everything we can across government to build on that progress and deliver on the pro-competition initiative we’re announcing today.  www.whitehouse.gov/ blog/2016/04/15/ending-rotaryrental-phones-thinking-outsidecable-box

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White House Science Fair 2016

Remarks by President Barack Obama (edited)

W

ell, hello, everybody.

Welcome to the White House. There are a lot of good things about being President.

But some of the best moments that I’ve had as President have involved science and our annual Science Fair.

I’ve just been able to see the unbelievable ingenuity and passion and curiosity and brain power of America’s next generation, and all the cool things that they do. And there’s nothing that makes me more hopeful about the future than seeing young people like the ones who are here -- and they come from all over the country, they come in all shapes and sizes. All of you are showing the rest of us that it’s never too early in life to make a difference.

You teach us about the power of reason and logic, and trying things and figuring out whether they work, and if they don’t, learning from that and trying something new. And you remind us that, together, through science, we can tackle some of the biggest challenges that we face.

Science has always been the hallmark of American progress. It’s the key to our economic success. I can’t think of a more exciting time for American science than right now, because we are busy reigniting that spirit of innovation to meet so many challenges.

To all the students, to all the young people, we could not be prouder of you. I want to thank the parents and the teachers and mentors who stood behind these young people, encouraged them to pursue their dreams. I asked all the

young people who I had a chance to meet, how did you get interested in this?

And there were a couple whose parents were in the sciences, but for the majority of them, there was a teacher, a mentor, a program, something that just got them hooked. And it’s a reminder that science is not something that is out of reach, it’s not just for the few, it’s for the many, as long as it’s something that we're weaving into U.S. President Barack Obama at nine-year-old Jacob Leggette's exhibit at the White House our curriculum and it’s Science Fair something that we're valuing as a society.

And so I hope that every technology, engineering, and math company and every college and education that’s going to set them every community and every parent up for success and keep our nation and every teacher joins us in competitive in the 21st century.

We are counting on all of you to encouraging this next generation of students to actively engage help build a brighter future, and for and pursue science and push the you to use your talents to help your boundaries of what’s possible. communities and your country and We’ve got to give all of our young the world. We will be with you every people the tools that they need to step of the way. And I will be keenly explore and discover, and to dig following your progress so that their hands in stuff, and experiment, when you invent some cancer cure and invent, and uncover something or find some new source of cheap, new, and try things, and see clean energy, I will take some of the hypotheses or experiments fail, credit. (Laughter.) I’ll say, if it hadn’t and then learn how to extract some been for the White House Science knowledge from things that didn't Fair, who knows what might have work as well as things that worked. happened -- even though it won’t We want to make sure every really be my credit to take. So I’m single one of our students –- no just teasing, guys.

Thank you very much, everybody. matter where they’re from, what income their parents bring in, Proud of you. Good job.  regardless of their backgrounds -www.whitehouse.gov/the-presswe want to make sure that they’ve office/2016/04/13/remarks-presidentgot access to hands-on science, white-house-science-fair

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Obama Administration’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy Working

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n April 6, Secretary Pritzker traveled to Dallas to speak at the 2016 World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit. She discussed the Obama Administration’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy and the Commerce Department’s role in making progress toward national travel and tourism goals.

When President Obama entered office in 2009, the global economy was in crisis. People around the world were canceling vacations and business trips in favor of staying home. Nearly 40 million fewer people globally visited another country that year compared to 2008. The United States experienced a 5% decrease in international visitors from 2008 to 2009.

The United States was also suffering from a global image problem – wait times for visa interviews could be more than 100 days, processing international visitors could take up to four hours at busy airports – and there was no coordinated national travel and tourism branding effort to combat this reality. President Obama saw travel and tourism as a vital sector and a tremendous growth opportunity, and he made it a priority to ensure the United States remained the world leader in travel and tourism receipts.

In 2012, the Obama Administration developed the National Travel and Tourism Strategy to set real benchmarks to gauge its progress.

As part of this Strategy, the Administration’ set an ambitious goal of welcoming 100 million international visitors to the United

States by the end of 2021. It was the first time ever that the United States government had developed a thoughtful, comprehensive approach to attracting more visitors to the country. Four years later, the Administration’s efforts are paying huge dividends.

Secretary Pritzker announced at the Summit that the Administration is on track to meet the Strategy’s goal of welcoming 100 million international visitors to the U.S. by the end of 2021. The Department estimates that 75.3 million people visited the United States in 2015, up from 55 million in 2009, a 37 percent increase. These visitors spent a record $217 billion on goods and services, supporting 1.1 million U.S. jobs and making travel and tourism the United States’ number one services export.

The Administration has stepped up its efforts to support the Strategy by growing trusted traveler programs like Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI that now boast more than 4.5 million travelers; expanding the Visa Waiver Program to 11 additional countries; extending visa validity with China to 10 years; and reducing visa waiver interview wait times in key markets.

One of the reasons this Strategy is working is that the Administration has solicited private sector input from the very beginning and made sure that private sector feedback was incorporated every step of the way. The Commerce Department created the Travel and Tourism Advisory Board in 2013 to solicit

private sector input on travel and tourism matters, such as how the Administration can achieve its National Goal of the “best-in-class”

international arrivals experience.

In the early days of his administration, President Obama signed the Travel Promotion Act into law and created Brand USA – the nation’s first-ever destination marketing organization. Brand USA, which partners with the Commerce Department and other federal agencies, uses innovative marketing approaches to show the world all the United States offers as a travel destination.

Travel builds bridges and creates deeper ties between nations. It can even make the country more secure, if smart policies are enacted and adapt to the constantly changing world.

This transformative impact on both lives and economies is why the travel and tourism industry has been a top priority for this administration from the beginning.

Working together with the private sector, the Obama Administration will continue to make sure the world knows that America is open for visitors and open for business. www.commerce.gov/news/blog/2016/04/ secretary-pritzker-discusses-obamaadministrations-national-traveland-tourism?utm_source=weekly_ updates&utm_medium=email&utm_ campaign=Trade_Wkly

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Obama Administration Announces New Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Hub

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ecretary of Defense Ash Carter announced that a leading consortium of 89 manufacturers, universities, and non-profits organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will spearhead a new manufacturing innovation institute in partnership with the Department of Defense focused on securing U.S. leadership in revolutionary fibers and textiles manufacturing.

The new Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Institute in Cambridge, MA, will combine over $75 million of Federal resources with nearly $250 million of non-Federal investment in innovative fabrics and textiles with novel properties ranging from being incredibly lightweight and flame resistant, to having exceptional strength and containing electronic sensors.

With wide-ranging applications, these technical

textiles can forge protective gear for firefighters impervious to the hottest flames, replicate the sensing capabilities of a smart watch into a lightweight fabric, or detect when a wounded soldier needs to be treated with an antimicrobial compression bandage.

This new institute is the eighth manufacturing hub to be awarded by the Obama Administration, building on the President’s vision to create a National Network for

12  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) of at least 15 hubs across the country during his Administration.

Collectively, the Federal government’s commitment of nearly $600 million to the eight awarded institutes has been matched by over $1.2 billion in non-Federal investment from across industry, academia, and state governments.

The institutes, each led by manufacturing experts renowned in their field, have attracted over 800 companies, universities, and non-profits as members of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation.

The American textile industry is adding jobs for the first time in decades, increasing shipments by 14% from 2009 to 2015, and growing exports globally with a 39% increase in exports from 2009 to 2015. After a decade in decline during the 2000s, the U.S. manufacturing sector as a whole has added nearly 900,000 jobs since February 2010.

Today’s announcement builds on this momentum in American textile manufacturing and lays the

foundation for future leadership and innovation in the production of sophisticated fibers and textile technologies.

In addition to the manufacturing institute award, today the Obama Administration released a new report detailing a snapshot of Federal priorities across 13 agencies for research and development investment in advanced manufacturing technologies. The President’s FY2017 Budget builds on the Obama Administration’s success in increasing manufacturing research and development by 40 percent since 2011 by proposing to further grow Federal investment in manufacturing technologies to $2.1 billion.

Early Successes from the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation The new institute is part of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) launched in 2012.

From the very first manufacturing institute pioneering novel 3D printing technologies in Youngstown, OH, to the most recently awarded institute

pushing the boundaries on flexible hybrid electronics in San Jose, CA, each of the now eight institutes is part of a growing innovation network dedicated to securing U.S. leadership in the emerging technologies and manufacturing capabilities required to win the next generation of advanced manufacturing.

Each manufacturing institute is designed to build U.S. leadership and regional excellence in critical emerging manufacturing technologies by bridging the gap between early research and product development; bringing together companies, universities, and other academic and training institutions, and Federal agencies to co-invest in key technology areas that can encourage investment and production in the United States while serving as a ‘teaching factory’ for workers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs looking to develop new skills or prototype new products and processes.

The Revolutionary Fibers and see Innovation Hub on page 14

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Innovation Hub from page 13

Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Institute being announced today is

next-generation semiconductors, enabling new business opportunities to sustain hundreds of jobs.

• Using next-generation metals

Manufacturing Innovation is already having a visible impact on advanced manufacturing in America as detailed in the NNMI Annual and Strategic Reports released by the Department of Commerce.

New Report from the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) on Federal Priorities for Manufacturing Research and Development

the eighth institute awarded to date.

Already, these investments are generating wins for U.S. manufacturing, including • In March, two photonics companies announced $1.4 billion of investment and over 800 manufacturing jobs in Rochester, NY, leveraging the facilities and capabilities of AIM Photonics, the Integrated Photonics Manufacturing Innovation Institute. These investments are helping revive a region that was once a global powerhouse for optics manufacturing.

• To help anchor production of new semiconductor technologies in the United States and accelerate the commercialization of advanced power electronics, in March the Power America Manufacturing Innovation Institute successfully helped X-FAB in Lubbock, TX, upgrade a hundred-million dollar foundry to produce cost-competitive,

manufacturing techniques, Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT), the institute in Detroit focused on lightweight metals, has successfully reduced the weight of core metal parts found in cars and trucks by 40%, helping improve fuel efficiency and save consumers dollars at the pump. In addition, LIFT has introduced curriculum in 22 states to train workers on the use of lightweight metals.

• America Makes has attracted hundreds of millions of dollars in new manufacturing investment to its region, including helping to attract GE’s new $32 million global 3D printing hub and spurring Alcoa to invest $60 million in its New Kensington, PA facilities, both of which will benefit from proximity to America Makes and its expertise in 3D printing with metal powders.

• While still in its early stages, the National Network for

Growing and sustaining an i n n o v a t i o n e c o s y s t e m for cuttingedge advanced manufacturing technologies, like revolutionary fibers and textiles, requires a concerted effort across government, industry, and academia.

To foster a shared technological vision across the public and private sectors, today the NSTC Subcommittee on Advanced Manufacturing, representing 13 Federal departments and agencies, released Advanced Manufacturing: A Snapshot of Priority Technology Areas Across the Federal Government, a report detailing common priorities for research and development in advanced manufacturing technologies and initiatives to strengthen manufacturing education and workforce development. Among the shared-priorities identified in this new report are: • Advanced materials manufacturing: designer materials that are “born ready” for specific next-generation products, approaching atomic

14  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

precision at kilogram scales • Bio-manufacturing for regenerative medicine: repairing and replacing cells, tissues, and organs that might one day lead to 3D-printed organs • Continuous manufacturing for pharmaceuticals: uninterrupted production enabling greater quality, yield, and flexibility toward personalized medicine Launched in its current form in 2015—following recommendations from the university and industry leaders of the President’s Advanced Manufacturing Partnership—the NSTC Subcommittee on Advanced Manufacturing seeks to identify gaps in the Federal advanced manufacturing research and development portfolio and policies; programs and initiatives that support technology commercialization; methods of improving business climate; and opportunities for public-private collaboration.

The Subcommittee’s new report captures technology areas in advanced manufacturing that are current priorities for the Federal Government and are strong candidates for focused Federal investment and publicprivate collaboration. Recognizing these areas is a critical step toward identifying smart, strategic investments that build on our strengths—revving the engines of American ingenuity and honing the skills of the world’s most productive workforce.

in Cambridge, MA, uniting 89 partner companies, nonprofits, independent research organizations, universities and startup incubators to help ensure that America stays at the leading edge of fiber science and the production of modern-day fabrics and fibers with extraordinary properties.

This new manufacturing innovation institute will harness the Northeast region’s community of technical textile manufacturing entrepreneurs and innovators, strengthened by a robust nationwide network of manufacturers, to underpin a national fibers and textiles manufacturing ecosystem and position the United States for growing leadership in this critical technology area.

The institute will bring together nontraditional partners to integrate fibers and yarns with integrated circuits, LEDs, solar cells, and other devices and advanced materials to create textiles and fabrics that can see, hear, sense, communicate, store energy, regulate temperature, monitor health, change color, and more. For example, the institute will pair the likes of audio equipment maker Bose, computer chip maker Intel, and nanofiber manufacturer FibeRio with more customary textile manufacturers and textile users like

Warwick Mills, Buhler Yarns, and New Balance.

The institute will work to commercialize innovations being developed in the labs of member universities including MIT, the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, Cornell University, and others, while partnering with local workforce organizations to train workers on how to manufacture these technologies in the United States. The institute will also accelerate technology transfer to enable defense and commercial applications such as shelters with power generation and storage capacity built into the fabric, ultraefficient, energy-saving filters for vehicles, and uniforms that can regulate temperature and detect threats like chemical and radioactive elements in order to warn warfighters and first responders.

The new institute’s headquarters in Cambridge, MA will host a prototyping facility designed to help start-ups test their first products and scale up new technologies into full production, to ensure that textile technologies invented in America are made in America..  https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-pressoffice/2016/04/01/fact-sheet-obamaadministration-announces-newrevolutionary-fibers-and

Additional Information on the Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Institute: To lead the new Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Institute, MIT is starting up Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, or AFFOA, a new consortium headquartered 15  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

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here’s a lot that’s been done for women and girls, but there’s still plenty to do. Convened by the White House, this Summit will rally all of us together to celebrate what we’ve achieved, and how we’re going to take action moving forward. Covering key gender equality issues, we’ll make a powerful difference in our collective future.

SUMMIT TOPICS: Economic Prosperity; Health and Wellness; Educational Opportunity; Violence Against Women; Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Civic Engagement, Leadership and Visibility Add your voice to the Summit by registering at www. theunitedstateofwomen.org to receive updates on the event and to let the White House know about your specific concerns or interests.

SUMMIT DATE: May 23, 2016 SUMMIT LOCATION: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC. www.facebook.com/TheUnitedStateofWomen http://fortune.com/2016/02/04/united-states-women/?xid=soc_socialflow_twitter_FORTUNE

16  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

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Use Your Senses to Spot a Gas Leak To help keep your community safe and secure, use your senses of sight, hearing or smell to alert you to any of the following signs of a natural gas leak.

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT A GAS LEAK • Remain calm • Don’t light a match, candle or cigarette • Don’t turn electrical appliances or lights on or off or use any device that could cause a spark • Natural gas leaking from a plastic pipe can create static electricity which can ignite the gas • Immediately evacuate the area, and from a safe location, call 800-427-2200, 24 hours a day, seven days a week; or call 911

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• A damaged connection to a gas appliance • Dirt or water being blown in the air • Dead or dying vegetation (in an otherwise moist area) over or near gas pipeline areas • A fire or explosion near a pipeline • Exposed pipeline after an earthquake, fire, flood or other disaster

LISTEN • An unusual sound, such as a hissing, whistling or roaring sound near a gas line or appliance

SMELL • The distinctive odor* of natural gas *Some people may not be able to smell the odor because they have a diminished sense of smell, olfactory fatigue (normal, temporary inability to distinguish an odor after prolonged exposure to it) or because the odor is being masked or hidden by other odors that are present, such as cooking, damp, musty or chemical odors.

In addition, certain conditions in pipe and soil can cause odor fade – the loss of odorant so that it is not detectable by smell.

BBN Show Biz Buzz

By Linda Ware

United Shades of America Launches on CNN

T

he United Shades of America, a new CNN original series featuring comedian W. Kamau Bell, airs on Sundays at 10 pm. Over the course of eight episodes, Bell travels to places where "you either wouldn't expect I would go or where I absolutely shouldn't go."

KKK compounds in the South would likely rank among the latter, but Bell goes anyway.

The result is a combination of hilarious moments and deeply disturbing interactions. The episode's first scene shows Bell driving down a long country road in Arkansas at night (almost all of the compounds he visits are on long country roads). He's going to meet with a man who identifies himself as the Imperial Wizard of the International Keystone Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and is dressed in full KKK regalia.

In a Facebook Live interview, Bell admitted to being afraid during the encounter -- particularly because he

couldn't see who else was around him. But despite the intensity of the man standing before him, Bell lightens the moment by suggesting the KKK member (whose voice is disguised) add an opening to his mask so people can hear him speak better. The KKK member said he would consider it.

Comedy, said Bell, was one of the ways he was able to connect with his subjects. It was also a way to help him deal with the emotionally draining process of being a black man interviewing people who vehemently hate blacks and other people of color. Whenever he was able to get a Klan member to laugh, Bell said he jokingly thought, "Wait a minute white supremacy, I think you just submitted to my black supremacy."

While the pièce de résistance in the episode includes Bell witnessing a cross burning in the woods, there were also scenes with Klan members who weren't wearing their robes. In one, Bell meets Pastor Thomas Robb, the national director of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, for lunch at a diner in Harrison, Arkansas, where the population is 96% white.

Despite his sense of humor, Bell said he never forgot the weight of the horrifying role that the Klan played in terrorizing blacks throughout U.S. history.

"Those robes carry a lot of weight," Bell said "I never got that far from it. I never could disconnect from it.

Most black people, most people of color who got that close to the Klan probably didn't get away alive."  http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/23/media/w-kamaubell-kkk-united-shades/index.html

'Miles Ahead' movie review

T

W. Kamau Bell

his isn't a film that seeks to explain the details of Miles Davis' life in the staid manner of the traditional music biopic, or to demonstrate what made him so special. This is a jazz movie, both in style and in substance, and so, rather, his goal is to try to capture the foglike essence of Miles.

As seen through Don Cheadle's unconventional lens, facts become mere suggestions instead of the rigid, unforgiveable beasts that handcuff other, more literal filmmakers. In their places, feelings and vibes become the thing, crowding out objective truths in favor of something else.

All that is to say, much of the plot

20  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Don Cheadle as Miles Davis of "Miles Ahead" never actually happened -- most prominently, the extended, breathless hunt for a stolen recording that occupies Cheadle's version of Davis for much of the film's running time. But that doesn't necessarily make the film any less true. Rather, Cheadle is aiming for -- and for the most part hits -- a different kind of truth than what audiences have been trained to expect.

That might strike convention-bound moviegoers as odd, but the daring "Miles Ahead" is a better film for it. It could have become, like so many other biopics, a narrative version of Davis' Wikipedia page. Instead, it becomes something else, something striking and distinct -- but illuminating all the same. As a result, moviegoers will walk away from it with a truer sense of who the man was than they likely would have otherwise.  www.nola.com/movies/index.ssf/2016/04/miles_ ahead_movie_review_jazz.html

Comedies 'Barbershop 3: The Next Cut' and 'Keanu' in Theaters Now

T

he two comedies feature some of the most popular black actors and comedians from stage, film and cable/TV today. 'Barbershop 3' features Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Regina Hall, Common, Anthony Anderson along with Nicki Minaj, Eve, and many more (www.imdb.com/title/ tt3628584).

'Keanu' features Jordan Peele and KeeganMichael Key along with a stand-out performance by Method Man (www.imdb.com/title/tt4139124). 

21  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

In Focus - How Work and Business are Changing

Harriet Tubman: How Marketing Won the $20

By Heather Fletcher

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onprofit marketers Women On 20s (www.womenon20s. org) asserted women were worth more than twice as much as the U.S. Department of the Treasury believed. As a result on Wednesday, April 20th, the department announced Harriet Tubman would grace the front of the $20 bill, replacing the likeness of President Andrew Jackson, rather than taking up half of the space on a $10.

Less than a year ago, the treasury department was going to place a woman’s portrait alongside Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill (https://modernmoney.treasury. gov), but the nonprofit said that wasn’t good enough. Women On 20s continued its campaign by gathering votes from more than 600,000 Americans about which woman’s portrait to place on U.S. currency.

Tubman won.

“On May 12, 2015, Women On 20s presented a petition to President Obama and the treasury department informing them of the results of the election and our many

endorsements,” reads the nonprofit site, “encouraging them to use their authority to make this change in time to have a new bill in circulation before the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage in 2020.” (To see the results, visit: www.womenon20s. org/campaign_metrics)

[Author’s note: There’s precedent for this. About 15 years ago, Tubman won a similar vote among women for the most influential American woman to be displayed at the now-closed Women’s Museum in Dallas. As happened in the Women On 20s vote, Americans picked Tubman over First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Another museum, the National Women’s History Museum (www.nwhm.org/building-themuseum) that will soon have a

new building in Washington, D.C., doesn’t list Tubman as American history’s most influential woman.]

To make the case for placing a woman’s portrait on the $20, Women On 20s asserted to Obama and the treasury department that

the following needed to happen: • Commemoration of the inclusion of women in the American democracy and as full citizens in 1920 on a redesigned $20 dedicated to women’s history in this country.

• Recognition of the contributions of women to our country.

• Removal of symbols of hate, intolerance and inequality to enable equality that will bring forth the full potential of all people regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual preference or identity.

The nonprofit used everything from YouTube videos and media outreach to hashtags and grassroots campaigning to accomplish its goal.

On Wednesday, the nonprofit saw the results: Tubman on the $20 and suffragettes on the back of the $10.

“The redesigned $10 bill is expected to enter circulation by 2020, though it’s unclear what the $20’s timeframe is,” CNNMoney says on Wednesday (http://money. cnn.com/2016/04/20/news/10-billhamilton-20-tubman/index.html). www.targetmarketingmag.com/ article/harriet-tubman-marketerswin-the-20-bill/#utm_source=today%40-target-marketing&utm_ medium=newsletter&utm_ campaign=2016-04-21&utm_content= harriet+tubman%3A+how+marketing+ won+the+%2420-3

22  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

In Focus - How Work and Business are Changing

LinkedIn’s SlideShare Your Window to the World http://www.slideshare.net/about

Start exploring top categories (http://www.slideshare.net/explore).

O

ver 70 million professionals trust SlideShare to learn about any topic quickly from subject matter experts.

Founded in 2006 with the goal of making knowledge sharing easy, Slideshare joined the LinkedIn family in 2012 and has since grown into a top destination for professional content. With over 18 million uploads in 40 content categories, it is today one of the top 100 most-visited websites in the world.

Explore the best of SlideShare with our featured content (http:// www.slideshare.net/featured).

Learn any topic - Get up to speed on any topic. You’ll find content from experts in every imaginable field – from Google’s Eric Schmidt to the White House – who have contributed to over 35 categories and 18 million uploads.

Share your insights and get noticed - Show what you know through a presentation, infographic, document or videos. Visual formats help you stand out and resonate more with your readers. When you upload to SlideShare, you reach an audience that’s interested in your content – over 80% of SlideShare’s 70 million visitors come through targeted search. This can help you build your reputation with the right audience and cultivate more professional opportunities.

For upload ideas or tips and best practices, visit the Creator’s Hub (http://www.slideshare.net/ss/ creators?from=about). 

Why use SlideShare?

Learn faster, smarter - Build your knowledge quickly from concise, well-presented content from top experts. Instead of scrolling through pages of text, you can flip through a SlideShare deck and absorb the same information in a fraction of the time.

23  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

In Focus - How Work and Business are Changing

These Will Be the Top Jobs in 2025 (and the Skills You'll Need to get Them)

By Gwen Moran

T

wo-thirds of Americans believe that, in 50 years, robots and computers will do much of the work humans now do. The World Economic Forum’s 2016 report, The Future of Jobs, estimates that 5 million jobs will be lost to automation by 2020 and that the number will keep growing. Jobs that once seemed like "safe bets"— office workers and administrative personnel, manufacturing, and even law—will be hit hardest, the report estimates.

"There are some overarching shifts poised to change the nature of work itself over the next decade," says Devin Fidler, research director at Institute for the Future, a nonprofit research center focused on long-term forecasting. That includes a demand for new skills and strategies that could help people to thrive in future work environments, So what do you need to work on to be marketable in 2025? Here are six skill areas that the experts recommend, as well some of the strongest job-growth categories, as defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and other sources—that relate to them.

Technology and Computational Thinking It’s no surprise that tech skills will be in demand. However, Fidler says that "computational thinking"— the ability to manage the massive amounts of data we process individually each day, spot patterns, and make sense out of all of it—will be valued.

"As the total amount of information coming at you increases and

increases, the ability to manage that in a way that you're not overwhelmed, is pretty key," he says.

R e l a t e d jobs: Software developer jobs will grow 18.8% between now and 2024, according to the BLS, while computer systems analyst jobs will increase 20.9% by 2024. Market research analyst and marketing specialist jobs, which also require those analytical skills, will increase 18.6%.

CAREGIVING As more people live longer, every aspect of the health care sector is poised for growth. And while telemedicine, robotic surgical equipment, and other forms of automation are changing how some health care is delivered, demand for caregivers is going to increase as we commit to providing health care for more of the population—a population that is growing and living longer, says John Challenger, CEO of outplacement and career coaching firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, Inc. Related jobs: Challenger’s firm analyzed the hottest job sectors from 2018 through 2025 and half of the sectors were caregiving and health-related. Hot fields included medical technicians, physical therapists, and workplace ergonomics experts. Veterinarians

will also be in demand, the report found. BLS also found that support jobs related to caregiving, such as medical secretaries and medical assistants will also be in high demand. Home health aide jobs are expected to grow a whopping 38.1%.

SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE AND NEW MEDIA LITERACY It’s going to take a long time for robots to be good at soft skills, like social and emotional intelligence and cross-cultural competency, "which are hugely valuable in a world where you or I could go and be working with somebody in the Philippines within an hour.

Virtual collaboration itself is really useful in that environment as well," Fidler says. In addition, new media literacy—understanding various media platforms and how to best communicate effectively in them— are valuable skills that robots won’t be likely to match any time soon.

Related jobs: Sales and related jobs are one of the top five growth areas worldwide, according to the WEF report. In the U.S., BLS

24  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

projects that jobs for retail and other sales representatives, marketing specialists, and customer service representatives are each projected to grow between 6.4% and 18.6%, depending on the category by 2024.

LIFELONG LEARNING With the world moving as fast as it is, we need to become a society of people who are always learning new things, says Julie Friedman Steele, board chair of the World Future Society, a membership organization for futurists. But we’re also going to need to shift how we learn, she says. As so many things advance quickly, it will be difficult for teachers and trainers to keep up with the latest thinking. Instead, we’ll use technology to find the best sources of information to keep our knowledge and skills current.

Antonia Cusumano, people & organization leader at consulting

giant PwC says that we’ll also need to turn to more dynamic resources.

"You're going to have 10 minutes on your bus ride home when you're commuting. You're going to pull up an app from one of the many businesses out there that are doing these mini-clips of video learning.

I'd like to learn 10 minutes on C++ so that I can brush up on my coding.

You're going to see learning shift to these little mini bite-sized chunks of information that you can get on the go and when you need it and at any given time," she says.

Related jobs: Teachers and trainers made Challenger’s firm’s list of eight hot fields through 2025.

Education and training is number six on the WEF report’s list of growth sectors.

ADAPTABILITY AND BUSINESS ACUMEN With opportunities in innovation

and entrepreneurship and the rise of the "gig economy," Cusumano says understanding how businesses work is essential. Even if you’re working for a company, you have to have a better understanding than ever of how the business operates.

"It's how the millennial generation has been raised. They are more in tune to collaborate. They know how to do project-based work and move quickly, which I think is inherent in today's economy," she says.

Related jobs: BLS estimates that management analysts, accountants and auditors will experience double-digit growth through 2024.

One Intuit report projects that more than 40% of U.S. workers will be independent contractors by 2020.  www.fastcompany.com/3058422/ the-future-of-work/these-will-bethe-top-jobs-in-2025-and-the-skillsyoull-need-to-get-them

It is spawning a host of new economic activity. More than a million “makers”

By Arun Sundararajan sell jewellery, clothing and accessories through the and issues have entered the early online marketplace Etsy. The shortexchanges of the presidential race. term accommodation platforms Earlier this month, Hillary Clinton, Airbnb, Love Home Swap and was cautious in her support. In a onefinestay collectively have close speech laying out her economic to a million “hosts”.

This explosion of small-scale plan, she said: “This on-demand, or so-called gig, economy is creating entrepreneurship might make one exciting economies and unleashing wonder whether we are returning innovation. But it is also raising to the economy of the 18th century, hard questions about workplace described by the economist Adam protections and what a good job will Smith in his book An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth look like in the future.”

Today’s digitally enabled gig of Nations. The economy Smith economy was preceded by described was a genuine market marketplaces such as ELance and economy of individuals engaging in oDesk, through which computer commerce with one another.

Over the following two centuries, programmers and designers could make a living competing for short- however, the emergence of term work assignments. But the gig mass production and distribution economy isn’t just creating a new yielded modern corporations. The digital channel for freelance work.

The ‘Gig Economy’ is Coming.

N

ot so long ago, the only people who looked for “gigs” were musicians. For the rest of us, once we outgrew our school dreams of rock stardom, we found “real” jobs that paid us a fixed salary every month, allowed us to take paid holidays and formed the basis for planning a stable future.

Today, more and more of us choose, instead, to make our living working gigs rather than full time.

To the optimists, it promises a future of empowered entrepreneurs and boundless innovation. To the naysayers, it portends a dystopian future of disenfranchised workers hunting for their next wedge of piecework.

In the US, the “gig economy” is now so salient that the phrase

see Gig Economy on page 26

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Gig Economy from page 25

entrepreneurs of Smith’s time gave way to the salaried employees of the 20th century.

A different technological revolution – the digital revolution – is partially responsible for the recent return to peer-to-peer exchange. Most of the new on-demand services rely on a population equipped with computers or GPS-enabled smartphones.

Furthermore, the social capital we’ve digitised on Facebook and LinkedIn makes it easier to trust that semi-anonymous peer.

Does this suggest a shift towards a textbook market economy?

Granted, Uber, Airbnb, Etsy and TaskRabbit are quite different from organisations such as Apple, BP or Sainsbury’s. Because you aren’t actually renting a space from Airbnb, taking a ride in a car owned by Uber or buying a product made by Etsy.

The platform simply connects you with a provider of space, a driver of a vehicle or a seller who runs a virtual shop.

But these platforms are by no means merely the purveyors of Smith’s invisible hand. Rather, the hand they play in facilitating exchange is decidedly visible.

Uber, not individual drivers, sets prices. Airbnb trains its hosts to be better providers of hospitality. Etsy facilitates seller community building.

All of them provide user-generated feedback systems, creating a highquality consumer experience. Much like an organisation building a brand might.

So it seems like we’ve invented a new institutional form – the peerto-peer platform – a digitally powered hybrid between organising economic activity through the market and within the organisation.

And because these platforms provide layers of trust, brand and expertise on demand, the need for

First Lady Michelle Obama hosts White House Fashion Maker Faire specialising before you’re qualified to become a provider is reduced.

Almost anyone with talent can become a part-time hotelier through Airbnb or an artisan retailer on the side through Etsy. Any reasonably competent driver can morph into a provider of commercial transportation by plugging into Uber or BlaBlaCar. And providers don’t have to commit to full days of work. You can pick up your kids from school (and then switch to being an Uber driver). In the gig economy, the lines between personal and professional become increasingly blurred.

There’s certainly something empowering about being your own boss. With the right mindset, you can achieve a better work-life balance. But there’s also something empowering about a steady pay cheque, fixed work hours and company-provided benefits. It’s harder to plan your life longer term when you don’t know how much money you’re going to be making next year.

On the other hand, starting a new business has generally been an allor-nothing proposition, requiring a significant appetite for risk. There are benefits to dipping your toes into the entrepreneurial waters by experimenting with a few gigs on the side. Perhaps this lowering of barriers to entrepreneurship

will spur innovation across the economy.

Economist Thomas Piketty tells us that the main driver of sustained economic inequality over the past two centuries has been the concentration of wealthproducing “capital” in the hands of a few. This seems less likely if the economy is powered by millions of micro-entrepreneurs who own their businesses, rather than a small number of giant corporations.

But the latest generation of specialised labour platforms also raises the spectre of greater social inequality. We’ve now got apps through which providers will park your car (Luxe), buy and deliver your groceries (Instacart), and get you your drinks (Drizly). There’s a risk we might devolve into a society in which the on-demand many end up serving the privileged few.

In many countries, key slices of the social safety net are tied to fulltime employment with a company or the government. Although the broader socioeconomic effects of the gig economy are as yet unclear, it is clear we must rethink the provision of our safety net, decoupling it from salaried jobs and making it more readily available to independent workers.  www.theguardian.com/ commentisfree/2015/jul/26/will-we-getby-gig-economy

26  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

In Focus - How Work and Business are Changing

The Largest U.S. Bank just Started Prepping to Prevent a Bank Run

Amazon Business Amazon.com offers special features for small businesses

Edited by J. Reeves

T

he Wall Street Journal reports JPMorgan Chase & Co. just capped ATM withdrawals at $1,000 per day for non-members worldwide.

Banks often cap their own members’ ATM withdrawals. But JPMorgan Chase is the first to cap withdrawals on other banks’ clients who use their ATMs. Bank spokespeople said withdrawals of $20,000 by nonmembers at some of their Russian ATMs prompted the move. The bank doesn’t want to aid “criminal activity” by allowing easy transfers of cash around the globe.

Cash is liquid. It’s private. And it’s the last convenient place to store value outside of a banking system plunging into negative interest rates (http://palmbeachgroup.com/

content/palm-beach-daily/war-oncash-negative-5-to-10-on-yoursavings-and-banks-will-charge-you-towithdraw-cash/23796/). That’s why

central bankers now say cash must go (http://palmbeachgroup. com/content/palm-beach-daily/acapitulation-and-a-stunning-revoltin-the-war-on-cashs-easternfront/23994). 

http://palmbeachgroup.com

A

mazon Business is a relatively new marketplace on Amazon.com that gives businesses of all sizes access to hundreds of millions of products in a shopping experience built for businesses.

New features include: • FREE Two-Day Shipping on orders of $49 or more, • Business-pricing on select items, • Shared payment methods, • Enhanced order reporting, • Multi-user accounts, • Tax-exempt purchasing, • Fullment services, and • Approval workflows.

Businesses can now shop on Amazon and use purchase orders to improve recordkeeping. Amazon Business also makes it easy for businesses to compare multiple offers on products, and is integrated and certified for punchout with leading purchasing systems.

Whether you are a manufacturer or a distributor you can sell your products on Amazon Business and access Amazon.com's growing base of business customers.  www.amazon.com/business www.amazon.com/AmazonBusiness-Tour/dp/B00WN5U03W

BUY BLACK EVERYDAY!!

THE SHOPPING GALLERY-PAGE 108 AND THROUGHOUT THE PUBLICATION

28  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

In Focus - How Work and Business are Changing

Everyone Wins in Box's Partnership With Amazon.com and IBM From The Motley Fool Introducing Box Zones

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t a company event in London recently, Box (www.box.com) announced the launch of its new Box Zones, which will give its customers in Asia and Europe greater control over the geographic locations where their data is stored.

That might sound like a trivial selling point, but the launch of Box Zones could meaningfully expand Box's value proposition among global businesses. The key is understanding the data sovereignty laws with which many large, international businesses must comply.

Numerous countries have strict laws forcing companies to warehouse the servers that store potentially sensitive data inside their borders or regions, creating an obstacle for cloud adoption.

As Box CEO Aaron Levie said in a recent interview with Re/code: "If you are a hospital in France or a bank in Germany, you have a lot of challenges moving to modern cloud technology, because there are local laws that require you to store your files in your country or region. ... It's really one of the last big hurdles for some of these large global organizations in adopting the cloud."

To address this issue, Box Zones will employ cloud hosting powered

by Amazon Web Services (AWS) or IBM Cloud facilities located in Germany, Ireland, Singapore, or Japan. Doing so should allow Box to court large European and Asian companies to continue to expand

its client roster. The AWS-powered version will reportedly go live next month, while the IBM-powered edition will launch later this year.

A rising tide lifts all boats This is great news for Box, IBM, and Amazon alike. Box says 57,000 paying businesses use its cloud-based content-management software, including 59% of Fortune 500 organizations. At the same time, Box's international presence badly lags its U.S. operations. As of the end of its 2015 fiscal year, nonU.S. customers accounted for only 18% of total revenue. Partnering with Amazon and IBM will allow Box to pursue additional international business at a time when the company needs continued growth to justify its 8.8 price-to-sales ratio.

As the company continues to be unprofitable, more conventional metrics are less useful.

IBM and Amazon, meanwhile, will enjoy the added cloud revenue as the industry continues to evolve.

Amazon is already widely viewed as the market leader in cloud computing, as its AWS platform has surpassed $10 billion in revenue and continues to innovate at a torrent pace.

IBM's cloud business, though less evolved than AWS, focuses on a

slightly different segment of the cloud market. Much of IBM's cloud business targets what's known as the "hybrid cloud" market, in which companies combine their own servers with software or services from IBM. After adjusting for items such as currency fluctuations and divestitures, IBM says it generated $10.2 billion in total cloud revenue last year. Cloud service fees, a better proxy to compare against AWS, totaled $4.5 billion.

In its press release, Box only commented on pricing for Box Zones as coming with "an additional fee."

Whether this is a big price increase

or not, this move stands to benefit Box, Amazon, and IBM, while also serving as a useful example of Levie's repeated argument that

success in the booming cloud computing market is not a winnertake-all proposition.  www.fool.com/investing/ general/2016/04/21/everyone-wins-inboxs-partnership-with-amazoncom-a. aspx

29  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

In Focus - How Work and Business are Changing

Industry 4.0: Manufacturing's Next Act

By Cornelius Baur and Dominik Wee

I

ndustry 4.0, Industrie 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution, is a collective term embracing a number of contemporary automation, data exchange and manufacturing technologies. It had been defined as 'a collective term for technologies and concepts of value chain organization' which draws together Cyber-Physical Systems, the Internet of Things and the Internet of Services. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_4.0

I

ndustry 4.0 is more than just a flashy catchphrase. A confluence of trends and technologies promises to reshape the way things are made.

Mention “Industry 4.0” to most manufacturing executives and you will raise eyebrows. If they’ve heard of it, they are likely confused about what it is. If they haven’t heard of it, they’re likely to be skeptical of what they see as yet another piece of marketing hype, an empty catchphrase. And yet a closer look at what’s behind Industry 4.0 reveals some powerful emerging currents with strong potential to change the way factories work. It may be too much to say that it is another industrial revolution. But

call it whatever you like; the fact is, Industry 4.0 is gathering force, and executives should carefully monitor the coming changes and develop strategies to take advantage of the new opportunities.

Coming to terms Start with some definitions. We define Industry 4.0 as the next phase in the digitization of the manufacturing sector, driven by four disruptions: • the astonishing rise in data volumes, computational power, and connectivity, especially new low-power wide-area networks; • the emergence of analytics and business-intelligence capabilities;

• new forms of human-machine interaction such as touch interfaces and augmented-reality systems; and • improvements in transferring digital instructions to the physical world, such as advanced robotics and 3-D printing.

(The four trends are not the reason for the “4.0,” however. Rather, this is the fourth major upheaval in modern manufacturing, following the lean revolution of the 1970s, the outsourcing phenomenon of the 1990s, and the automation that took off in the 2000s.)

Most of these digital technologies have been brewing for some time. Some are not yet ready for

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application at scale. But many are now at a point where their greater reliability and lower cost are starting to make sense for industrial

applications. However, companies are not consistently aware of the emerging technologies. We surveyed 300 manufacturing

leaders in January 2015; only 48% of manufacturers consider themselves ready for Industry 4.0. 78% of suppliers say they are

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Business Industry 4.0 from page 31

prepared.

Consider an example of each disruptive trend: Big data. An African gold mine found ways to capture more data from its sensors. New data showed some unsuspected fluctuations in oxygen levels during leaching, a key process. Fixing this increased yield by 3.7%, worth up to $20 million annually.

Advanced analytics. Stronger analysis can dramatically improve product development.

One automaker uses data from its online configurator together with purchasing data to identify options that customers are willing to pay a premium for. With this knowledge, it reduced the options on one model to just 13,000— three orders of magnitude fewer than its competitor, which offered 27,000,000. Development time and production costs fell dramatically; most companies can improve gross margin by 30% within 24 months.

Human-machine interfaces.

Logistics company Knapp AG developed a picking technology using augmented reality. Pickers wear a headset that presents vital information on a see-through display, helping them locate items more quickly and precisely. And with both hands free, they can build stronger and more efficient pallets, with fragile items safeguarded.

An integrated camera captures serial and lot ID numbers for realtime stock tracking. Error rates are down by 40%, among many other benefits.

Digital-to-physical transfer.

Local Motors builds cars almost entirely through 3-D printing, with a design crowdsourced from an online community. It can build a new model from scratch in a year, far less than the industry average

of six. Vauxhall and GM, among others, still bend a lot of metal, but also use 3-D printing and rapid prototyping to minimize their time to market.

These changes and many others like them are sure to be far reaching, affecting every corner of the factory and the supply chain.

The pace of change, however, will likely be slower than what we’ve seen in the consumer sector, where equipment is changed frequently.

The coming of steam power and the rise of robotics resulted in the outright replacement of 80% to 90% of industrial equipment. In coming years, we don’t expect anything like that kind of capital investment.

Still, the executives surveyed estimate that 40% to 50% of today’s machines will need upgrading or replacement.

Exhibit on page 33). The compass consists of eight basic value drivers and 26 practical Industry 4.0 levers.

Cross-functional discussions that will help companies find the levers that are best suited to solve their particular problems.

One kind of lost value that is sure to interest manufacturers is process effectiveness. Industry 4.0 offers new tools for smarter energy consumption, greater information storage in products and pallets (so-called intelligent lots), and real-time yield optimization. Swiss giant ABB used the latter in an Australian cement kiln. A computerbased system mimics the actions of an “ideal” operator, using realtime metrics to adjust kiln feed, fuel flow, and fan-damper position. The company found that the new tools boosted throughput by up to 5%.

Lightning in a bottle

The bigger picture

To capture the potential, manufacturers can consider three moves. Primarily, companies can gather more information and make better use of it. An oil-exploration company collected more than 30,000 pieces of data from each of its drilling rigs—yet 99% of that data was lost due to problems of data transmission, storage, and architecture. The tiny trickle of data it did capture was incredibly useful for managers. But so much more can be done. The executives we surveyed said that correcting these data inefficiencies should improve productivity by about 25%.

With production data now available for the asking, executives rightly wonder about how to begin. Which data would be most beneficial? Which data leakages are causing the most pain? Which technologies would deliver the biggest return on investment for a company, given its unique circumstances? To sort through the choices, manufacturing leaders can use a “digital compass” (see

Strategists should also take Industry 4.0 into account as they contemplate the company’s future directions—the second way to capture the potential. The traditional manufacturing business model is changing, and new models are emerging; incumbents must be quick to recognize and react to these new competitive challenges.

More specifically, executives must consider the following options— and watch for others that may be deploying them. 84% of the manufacturing suppliers we surveyed expect new competitors to enter the market soon.

• “Platforms,” in which products, services, and information can be exchanged via predefined streams. Think open-source software applied to the manufacturing context.

For example, a company might provide technology to connect multiple parties and coordinate their interactions.

SLM Solutions, a 3-D-printer manufacturer, and Atos, an

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IT services company, are currently running a pilot project to develop such a marketplace.

Customers can submit their orders to a virtual broker platform run by Atos. Orders are then allocated to SLM’s decentralized network of production sites, and subsequently produced and shipped to the customer.

Some companies are also trying to build an “ecosystem” of their own, as Nvidia has in its graphics-processor business. It provides software developers with resources, and offers startups help to build companies around Nvidia technologies.

• Pay-by-use and subscriptionbased services, turning machinery from capex to opex for manufacturers. Rolls-Royce pioneered this approach in its jet-engine business; other manufacturers have followed suit.

• Businesses that license intellectual property. Today,

many manufacturing companies have deep expertise in their products and processes, but lack the expertise to generate value from their data. SAP offers consulting services that build on its software. Qualcomm makes more than half of its profits from intellectual-property royalties. Manufacturers might offer consulting services or other businesses that monetize the value of their expertise.

• Businesses that monetize data.

The SCiO, a Kickstarter project, is a low-cost, pocket-sized spectrometer that uses nearinfrared technology to assess the composition of materials. It is expected to cost $250, whereas traditional machines cost upward of $10,000. Every time a SCiO is used, it contributes to a large database of scanned materials, helping to make the machine more accurate. To be sure, it is a consumer product, and not yet ready for industrial use. But

industrial models are on the way.

Kaggle, a distributed network of about 270,000 data scientists, has already helped more than 20 Fortune 500 companies solve their toughest data problems.

To get the most out of Industry 4.0 technologies, and to get past square one with a digital business model, companies will have to take a third step: prepare for a digital transformation.

Manufacturers should begin today to join the hunt for the best digital talent, and think about how to structure their digital organization. Data management and cybersecurity will be critical problems to solve. Many companies will find that a “two speed” data architecture can help them deploy new technologies at the speed required, while also preserving mission-critical applications.  www.mckinsey.com/businessfunctions/operations/our-insights/ manufacturings-next-act

www.facebook.com/pages/Los-Angeles-Worlds-Fair/543396465697684

www.laworldsfair.org

33  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

In Focus - How Work and Business are Changing

Password Obsolescence is Near

By Ben Dickson

T

here’s no arguing that passwords are becoming less and less reliable in protecting our data and identities.

Their management, protection and memorization are becoming increasingly problematic, and malicious actors have countless ways to steal them, break them, reset them, or get past them.

A study by research firm Gartner shows that 95% of Web app attacks make use of stolen passwords.

Multi-factor authentication mechanisms have long been known to be the solution, but due to the complexities of their initial forms of implementations, they have failed to gain traction. Passwords continue to remain the principle method of authentication because of their simplicity and straightforwardness.

That might change in the near future as tech firms and associations such as the FIDO alliance are researching and developing simple and unified multifactor technologies and standards

to replace or improve the password experience while, at the same time, avoiding user frustrating and annoyance.

Here are some of the technologies

that enables users to leverage their own mobile devices in place of traditional passwords or tokens for remote login,

likely to reshape the future of user authentication:

KodeKey KodeKey is a mobile app and Web service combination developed by Puerto Rican startup Qondado LLC. KodeKey is based on the idea that you don’t need to create and remember passwords because you already have all you need to uniquely identify yourself: your phone and your fingerprints.

KodeKey’s ease-ofimplementation and use has made biometric authentication easier.

It takes advantage of the fact that more and more users own smartphones that have fingerprint scanners and highly-secure verification infrastructure.

An easy-to-use Web service allows user accounts to be registered with the KodeKey server and associated with phone numbers and a PIN. The authentication platform can be integrated into any website via a Web-based API, and there’s a special plugin for WordPress that makes the integration process a breeze.

Each time users enter their phone number and PIN combination in the site’s login page, a notification is sent to the KodeKey app, which prompts users to confirm their identity by performing and fingerprint scan test with their phone.

KodeKey eliminates the threat of social engineering hacks “by associating a client with their phone number, a pin and the fingerprint registered to their device,” three factors that can never be found in one place.

LaunchKey LaunchKey is a flexible multifactor authentication platform

realtime authorization, and twostep verification.

Signing up with LaunchKeyauthenticated services is as easy as installing the free LaunchKey Mobile app or any other app integrated with LaunchKey’s white label SDK on a tablet or phone.

LaunchKey Engine, the online service that handles the core functionality of the system, can be accessed through a public API, but can also be independently deployed on-premise or within private clouds. No personally identifiable information is stored in the LaunchKey Engine, and sensitive authentication data never leaves the user’s device.

LaunchKey offers a plethora of authentication methods, including fingerprint verification, geo-fencing, pattern codes, and many others.

Users can setup and choose any or a combination of these options based on their needs, while applications can setup policies to enforce the level of security they require, which provides maximum flexibility and unlimited possibilities.

For instance,when a company wants to limit access to some of its accounts exclusively to its office buildings, they can place a geo-fence around their corporate campus while forcing employees to authenticate with a fingerprint scan. In this manner, accounts can only be accessed by users who have devices associated with those accounts, can verify their fingerprint and are physically located within

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the set geographical boundary.”

Applications can also send authorization requests to users when suspicious of account breaches or when wanting to proceed with critical and sensitive actions, such as payment transaction approvals.

LaunchKey is already being used in several major websites and firms, and recently announced a partnership with MasterCard and Silicon Valley Bank.

Clef Clef tackles two-factor authentication from a different perspective. It uses a smartphone camera, a waveform image, and an asymmetric key combination to verify the identity of the user.

When users sign up with a service that is backed by Clef, they associate their phone with their account.

Subsequently an asymmetric key is produced, the public part of which is stored on the Clef server and the private part on the user’s phone.

Clef’s main point of strength is its ease-of-use, which some describe as “magical.”

Login is initiated when the user enters a Clef-backed service’s login page, after which a waveform image is displayed on the screen.

Users only have to hold up their phone to capture the image with their handset’s camera, and leave the rest to the Clef mobile app, which digitally signs the waveform image’s contents with the phone’s private key and sends it back to the server. Account access is granted after the server verifies the signature with its public key.

The use of public/private key combination is a reliable method that mitigates the threat of man-inthe-middle attacks, one of the banes of password-based logins. It also

eliminates the threat of identity theft in case of server breaches by not storing any critical user information on the server side.

Clef is currently powering more than 100,000 sites.

MIRACL M-Pin British tech startup MIRACL offers the M-Pin crypto application, a PIN and software token authentication protocol, as a substitute for traditional passwords.

M-Pin involves a user-selected 4-n length PIN and a related software token to create a unique key that runs a zero knowledge proof authentication protocol against its server.

M-Pin stores no passwords or other shared secrets on the server.

Instead, it stores a key, which is split in two parts and stored on two servers, one belonging to the application server and the other to MIRACL, a measure that further complicates identity theft. No personal information is stored on servers.

When registering with M-Pinenabled services, users select a PIN and associate either their desktop browser or a mobile device with their account, in which the second factor token is stored. Afterwards, accounts can only be logged into with the device that contains the

of physical USB keys for desktop computers, and its YubiKey devices have been endorsed and adopted by quite a few leading tech companies, including Google, Dropbox and Github.

Now the tech firm takes physical two-factor authentication to the next level with YubiKey Neo, its brand new NFC-enabled physical key that can act as a second factor on mobile devices.

YubiKey Neo is used by being held against the back of an NFC-enabled phone and pressed to confirm user authenticity during login. The key generates a login code specific to the user and service at hand each time it’s pressed.

YubiKey Neo also offers the

same features as the YubiKey 4, which means the device can also be plugged into desktop computer USB ports to be used as a normal physical USB key during logins.

The key stores no personal details and when linked to an account, anyone with your credentials will also need the physical key to login to your account.

Bottom line token.

M-Pin has already been slated as the authentication technology to power a government-led project that will provide driving license renewal and tax form filling services to millions of UK citizens.

YubiKey Neo Yubico has long been known as one of the leading manufacturers

These promising new technologies are making inroads into mitigating the many threats that are plaguing our online lives and identities by focusing on avoiding to store critical secrets on servers and using multiple factors to verify and authenticate users, while at the same time avoiding being complicated for end users.  http://thenextweb.com/ insider/2016/03/31/5-technologies-willflip-world-authentication-head/

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In Focus - How Work and Business are Changing

Fashion Re-Boot: The Changing Fabric of the Textile Industry

By Shelley Goldberg

W

hile it may seem that the U.S. textile industry has largely headed overseas – thanks to the ever-present “Made In…” tags tucked into the seams of every item you buy – we’re actually about to witness a revival in U.S. textile manufacturing.

This revival will primarily be due to the textile industry’s latest advancement, digital technology.

Sooner rather than later, smart

technology will not only be woven into the fabric of our daily lives but, quite literally, into the fabric of our clothes.

We’re essentially merging traditional textiles with cutting-edge technology to create a new frontier for both industries. And it’s all happening right here, in the United States.

Taking Textiles to a New Level Whether

you call it smart clothing, functional fabric, or textile devices, these innovations are groundbreaking.

Electrical engineers, material scientists, software developers, manufacturers, and fashion designers have all collaborated in an effort to merge the ageold industry of textile materials with nanotechnology and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Today’s smart fabrics are far more complex than a blend of wools, cottons, and polyesters.

They incorporate a variety of metals, fiberglass, and ceramics.

Rather than being superficially glued together, these make up the basic elements of the fiber, itself.

These innovative fabrics – while not yet made to wear as a fashion statement –

serve much-needed and practical purposes of safety and protection.

The textile industry is reinventing fabrics to allow them to collect and store data in order to address many unresolved human needs.

Already, scientists have developed fabrics that react not only to the signals our body emits but to the elements it faces.

After collecting the data, hightech fabrics can actually process that information. This means that the fabric will be able to see, hear, communicate, and store energy.

Ultimately, the fabric will monitor the health of and heat or cool its wearer, accordingly.

Some articles of clothing currently in the making include safety gloves for industrial businesses and body armor for the military. Weaving chips into the fabric of these items is practical for mountain climbers and triathletes, as well as our nation’s defense.

Imagine the possibilities: camouflaged, weather-resistant, and temperature-controlled uniforms for military and law enforcement, alike. Think about our soldiers being in ground combat and making their clothing invisible to the enemy.

Other novel properties, with wideranging applications, include fabrics that are incredibly lightweight and durable, as well as flame resistant.

These technical textiles can forge protective gear for firefighters, rendering them impervious to flames, replicate the sensing capabilities of a smart watch,

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or detect when a wounded soldier needs to be treated with an antimicrobial compression bandage.

the U.S. textile industry. It expects to generate over 50,000 jobs in multiple fields the next 10 years.

Dressing the Department of Defense

Professor Yoel Fink of MIT explains that light conducting fibers could function as optical identifiers or barcodes, and fibers comprised of lasers could project light in multiple colors.

These high tech fibers collect information and can actually see light and develop perception of depth.

They function like cameras, but rather than a single aperture by which to view the world, there will be thousands of viewpoints covering the surface of the material.

Genevieve Dion of Drexel University examined future knitting capabilities. She explains that, by adding conductive yarn to different types of knit structures, knitting as a digital fabrication can mimic 3-D printing.

By weaving fabric of the average belly band, worn by pregnant women, with carbon fiber and integrated super capacitor, the wearer can wirelessly monitor the baby’s vitals on a moment-tomoment basis directly from her sweater.

Juan Hinestroza of Cornell University stated, “I believe that one of the big transformations of the 21st century is going to be taking fabrics and apparel and turning them from something that has a fairly low functionality into a functional high-tech industry.”

Hinestroza considers cotton to be one of most fascinating and misunderstood materials, despite the fact that civilization has been wearing if for thousands of years.

Rather than merely adding function to the material (i.e., the Apple watch), the material becomes the function with automatic abilities.

Just like the materials worn by Spiderman, Batman, and Wonder

With so many incredible possibilities, the U.S. government is already backing this initiative.

The Obama Administration has just announced the New Revolutionary Fibers and Textiles Manufacturing Innovation Hub (www.whitehouse.gov/thepress-office/2016/04/01/fact-sheetobama-administration-announcesin new-revolutionary-fibers-and)

Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a reported $2 billion in manufacturing research and development (R&D) investments.

This leading consortium of 89 manufacturers, universities, and non-profits, organized by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), will spearhead a new manufacturing innovation institute in partnership with the Department of Defense.

Having already brought in over $300 million in public-private investment from leading universities and manufacturers, this initiative aims to accelerate the revival of

Involving the Academics

Woman, the average person will have almost super human abilities to keep themselves healthy and safe inside their clothes.

By adjusting both the size and the space between nano-particles, Hinestroza’s team was able to control the interaction between light and matter, meaning we can make and control colors.

By making transistors from cotton, his student discovered how to trap toxic gasses or smells in a selective manner, which would change the threat of chemical or biological warfare, and prevent epidemics.

Weaving in Profits As this exciting new innovation spans multiple industries, the investment opportunities are incredibly diversified.

First, there are all of the integrated device manufactures and chip makers such as Intel Corp. (INTC), Analog Devices Inc. (ADI), and Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN).

Then, there are the designers and sellers of chips that outsource the manufacturing, such as Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD).

Further, textile manufactures like International Textile Group Inc. (ITXN), apparel companies such as VF Corp. (VFC) and Columbia Sportswear Company (COLM), materials businesses like Corning Inc. (GLW), as well as health and biotech companies like Amgen Inc. (AMGN) will all see major growth from the imminent success of smart fabrics.

In the meantime, just image: Soon you’ll be able to attend a sporting event in a textile device. If it starts to rain, your sweatshirt will not only keep you warm and dry, but you can even change its color and pattern and root for the opposing team, if you so please.  http://www.wallstreetdaily. com/2016/04/07/department-ofdefense-textile-devices/

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Special Focus - Marva Smith Bettle-Bey

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Marva Smith Battle-Bey Succumbs

by Corey Williams, Associated Press

M

a r v a S m i t h BattleBey, Executive Director of Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation, one of the leading community advocates for economic development within the African American Community, Ms. Battle-Bey transitioned Wednesday Evening, April 6, 2016.

Ms. Battle-Bey has been the Executive Director of VSEDC for the past thirty years, spearheading the organization to accomplish over $60 million in economic development projects within the Vermont Slauson community. As a nationally recognized authority

California Business Development Center, a multi-bank CDC representing 30 lenders and a loan fund of $35 million; the California Economic Development on economic development, Ms. Lending Initiative (CEDLI), Battle-Bey has also attained and the California Organized academic recognition from Investment Network (COIN), the University of Southern which was co-founded by California, where she is a VSEDC. Ms. Battle-Bey Ph.D. candidate and serves on possesses a Bachelor’s and the Advisory Council for the Master’s Degree in Urban School of Policy, Planning and Planning and Regional Planning, Development. Active in a variety and a Master’s Degree in Public of organizations, Ms. Battle- Administration.  Bey is a member and/or serves https://lasentinel.net/ on the Board of the National executive-director-ofCongress for Community vermont-slauson-economicEconomic Development, development-corporation-marvaAssociation of Women Business smith-battle-bey-succumbs.html Entrepreneurs, the Southern

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40  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

41  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Avoiding the Dreaded Middle Seat May Now Cost You

by Martha C. Whiteapril (BBN edited)

T

he middle seat has become the third rail of flying — and it is getting harder to avoid.

As planes fly at record capacity and new cabin configurations squeeze in ever more passengers, airlines are, intentionally or not, nudging fliers into paying extra to avoid drawing the proverbial short straw. Airlines are making it harder than ever to avoid the middle seat based on luck alone.

Southwest, which does not

assign seats, raised the price of an early-boarding pass to $15 from $12.50 last month. For those who do not pay up, it is a mad rush when online check-in opens 24 hours before the flight.

Delta Air Lines’ Basic Economy fare, introduced last year, does not allow seat assignments to be made until after check-in — when higher-paying customers have had a chance to claim window and aisle seats.

American Airlines and United Airlines plan to introduce similar fares this year. Neither would confirm whether selecting a seat would be one of the perks eliminated, but one airline analyst said it was likely, given the competition legacy airlines face from low-fare carriers.

“It’s a way to compete,” said Max Rayner, a partner at Hudson Crossing, a consulting firm in New York. “If you want to go at premium times, there will be far fewer seats available at the lower end of prices.”

In the end, analysts say, airlines are selling a form of real estate, but they are trading in square inches, not square feet.

“People buy work space; that’s really what they buy on board,” said Robert W. Mann Jr., an airline industry consultant. “Some of those configurations may not give you enough room, for example, to take out a laptop and use it productively.”

One carrier, though, has tried to address the issue. Frontier Airlines recently installed new seats on its Airbus A319 and A320 planes, with the middle seats about an inch wider than the window and aisle seats.

But for most passengers, the tight squeeze continues, and business travelers say counting on their frequent-flier status to avoid the middle seat is no longer a sure thing.

“We find that people will pay for premium economy or any kind of seat assignment if they’re traveling solo to avoid the middle seat,” said Julia Douglas, owner and president of Jet Set World Travel in Chicago.

Some travelers will spend hundreds of dollars more, she added.

Last year, airline capacity again hit a record high, just shy of 85 percent, meaning that a lot of flights are full.  www.nytimes.com/2016/04/19/ business/avoiding-the-dreadedmiddle-seat.html?t=head

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Skills Needed by Firms Deploying Smart Tech Problem-solving: 61%, Gathering and Analyzing Data: 59%, Critical Thinking: 51%, Collaborating: 51%

A

nticipating that innovative smart technologies will significantly increase companies' revenues over the next five years, the vast majority of organizations are adopting these solutions, according to a recent survey from Avanade. While its potential impact on ROI is astonishing, smart tech also promises to profoundly transform workplace cultures and staffing strategies, findings reveal. For example, a sizable share of companies will likely reorganize in the near future due to the growing presence of smart tech, and a significant number of jobs will have to be "repurposed." Speaking to the latter, with machines picking up mundane tasks that employees now perform, hirers will seek job candidates who can demonstrate superior problem-solving and critical/analytical thinking skills. "Smart machines clearly offer benefits to the enterprise," according to the report, "including the opportunity to increase revenues, optimize efficiencies and better serve their customers in a digital world. … With more smart machines working in the enterprise, people are freed up to concentrate on critical business issues and innovation; to decide on which course of action artificial intelligence should take in certain instances; or even to override decisions made by machines." An estimated 500 global C-level business unit leaders and IT decision-makers took part in the research.  www.baselinemag.com/innovation/slideshows/how-smart-technology-will-shake-up-the-workplace.html?utm_ medium=email&utm_campaign=BL_NL_BB_20160411_STR1L1&dni=318112231&rni=25652266#sthash.M87vPQIx.dpuf.

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A

re you a Small Business interested in selling your product or services to Metro or to Prime Contractors that do business with Metro? Would you like to learn how to win contracts as a Prime Contractor through SB Prime, Metro's exciting set-aside initiative? If so, we invite you to come grow with us and learn about Metro Connect.

Start now and register for a How to Do Business with Metro Workshop. Metro staff will show you how to take advantage of the vast array of products, services and transportation related opportunities projected over the coming weeks, months and year. As an added bonus, Metro's procurement staff will host informal interviews with firms before the workshop, starting at 9:00 a.m.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016 8:30 a.m.: Registration 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.: One-on-One with Contract Administrators and Continental Breakfast 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.: Program

Metro Headquarters 3rd Floor, Board Room, One Gateway Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Topics: Highway Project Update, Procurement Update, Certification Update, Small Business Prime Update, LA SAFE/511 Next Generation Update To learn more about how Metro Connect's Small and Disadvantaged Business Certifications can help open the door to contracting opportunities with Metro visit Metro Vendor Portal.

For further questions, please contact Marisela Villar at VillarM@metro.net or via phone at 213.922.2235.

44  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

In Focus - How Work and Business are Changing

5 Ways to Support Black-owned Businesses

By Yohana Desta

can be your best bet when it comes to supporting the business of your choice. The blog Afrobella compiled a huge list of online vendors, from popular solo sellers to Etsy stores (www.afrobella.com/2014/11/26/101independent-black-owned-businessessupport-blackout-friday).

4. Spread the word on social media.

Once you find businesses you like, make sure other people know about them. Everyone loves having a secret, favorite local spot, but that doesn't bring those businesses any revenue. Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr are all great starting places to spread the word about local business you love.

Lowell Hawthorne, left, who started the Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery in a Bronx storefront, now manufactures his meat patties at a Bronx production facility. His son Omar, right, is the franchise development manager.

B

lack-owned businesses need your support.

In 2011, it was reported that by 2015, black buying power in the U.S. could reach $1.1 trillion. But that money doesn't always go back to the black community. If that's one of your priorities, giving back to black-owned businesses is a great way support black entrepreneurs.

However, unless you live in Columbus, Montgomery or Atlanta, Georgia (the top three cities for black-owned businesses), it requires a little more effort to find and support these kinds of initiatives.

From shopping online to trying out different apps, here are five ways you can support black-owned businesses.

1. Locate local businesses.

One of the most convenient ways to support black-owned businesses

is by finding the ones in your area.

It's simple to do and can make shopping at these businesses easier. Try sites like Black Owned Biz (http://www.blackownedbiz.com) to find spots near you.

2. Download these apps.

Enter a phrase like Black Owned Business in the Google Play and the Apple iTunes Store search to see an array of apps like USBC App and Black Owned Businesses

5. Host events at black-owned businesses.

Have a birthday, meeting or special event coming up? Keep a local black business in mind. Not only does this spread awareness, it brings new customers through the door.

There are also ways to incorporate small businesses if you're hosting an event elsewhere. Catering and party planning, for instance, are great ways to bring black-owned businesses into any event you throw.  http://mashable.com/2015/03/31/blackowned-businesses/#_B.2K1naGPqL

(https://play.google. com/store/apps/ details?id=com. blacktradelines. mobile) to help

you locate nearby businesses.

3. Shop online.

From hair products to jewelry to art, online shopping

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Life Insurance Policy Evaluation and Comparison Methods What Is It? Evaluating and comparing life insurance policies is complicated. After determining how much life insurance you need, you must decide what type of life insurance to buy. Should you buy term insurance?

A whole life policy? A flexible insurance product such as universal life? Or, if you already own a life insurance policy, you may think about replacing it from time to time. How can you be sure that the policy you own is better than another one? When comparing life insurance alternatives, you want to find the policy that's best for you and one that will match your protection-planning philosophy. You may be buying a life insurance policy mainly for its protection value, or you may be interested in life insurance as an investment.

One of the difficulties in comparing policies is that it's not easy to find objective information about the true cost or investment value of a policy. As a result, you may end up purchasing a policy that's not right for you or, worse, end up replacing a good policy with an inferior one. Although nothing is foolproof, several methods do exist that can help you compare and evaluate life insurance policies. They use mathematical formulas to determine the cost of protection and the rates of return received on policies with an investment component. They can also help you compare policies of a similar type (term with term, for instance) or, in some cases, policies of differing types (term with whole life, for instance).

Mathematical Methods Used to Evaluate and Compare Life Insurance Policies The Baldwin Method The Baldwin method allows you to determine the annual rate of return you are receiving on the savings (investment) component of a permanent life insurance policy. It takes into consideration the consequences of borrowing or not borrowing funds from the policy, as well as the effect of taxes on the rate of return. In addition, you can also determine the value of the protection component of the policy if this is important to you as well.

The Belth Methods: yearly price of protection and yearly rate of return The aim of the Belth yearly price of protection method is to help you to determine whether a life insurance policy you are considering is competitively priced, rather than help you find the lowest price policy available. Using a formula, you calculate the yearly price per $1,000 of protection and compare it against a table of benchmark prices. The Belth yearly rate of return method can be used to determine whether the rate of return you are receiving on the savings component of a cash value policy is good, fair, or poor. Using a formula, you calculate the yearly rate of return on the savings component of a policy for several years. If the return is 6% or more, the rate of return is good; approximately 5%, fair; and approximately 4% or less, poor.

Cash Accumulation Method The cash accumulation method may be used to compare both similar and dissimilar policies (e.g., 48  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

term with term or term with permanent) where premiums are different. The premium difference is accumulated in a hypothetical side fund at an assumed interest rate, then compared with the cash or face value of the other policy to determine which is the better value.

Equal Outlay Method The equal outlay method assumes that the policyholder pays (outlays) the same premiums for each policy and purchases equivalent death benefits every year. The goal is to find the policy with the highest death benefit and cash values. It can be used to compare both similar and dissimilar policies but is often used to compare flexible premium policies.

Interest-adjusted Cost Methods: the net payment index and the surrender index In the 1970s, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) issued regulations requiring insurers to provide buyers with information that would help them compare the cost of life insurance policies. Two indices--the net payment index and the surrender cost index--must be included as part of sales illustrations that show how an insurance product might perform over time given that certain assumptions (such as interest rate and dividends) are correct. The net payment cost index assumes that the policy will stay in force and estimates how much $1,000 worth of coverage will cost you per year (your net premium). The net payment cost index may be useful to you if you are buying life insurance mainly for its protection value. The surrender cost index may be useful to you if you are buying life insurance as an investment, because it measures the cost of insurance, taking into account the cash value aspect. The surrender cost index assumes that the policy will be surrendered at a certain time.

Linton Yield Method The Linton yield method can be used to analyze the savings (investment) portion of a permanent life insurance policy. The Linton yield is the average rate of return earned on the investment portion of the policy over a certain time period. FWR

Faison Wealth & Retirement Regina Faison Wealth Manager/Registered Principal* 3070 Bristol Street Suite 500 949-200-8212 714-329-7184 regina@faisonwealth.com www.faisonwealth.com

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES Regina L. Faison *Wealth Manager/Registered Principal Faison Wealth & Retirement Services C/O Woodbury Financial Services 3070 Bristol Suite 500, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Office Direct -949-200-8212 * Efax - 949-556-9806 * Regina cell - 714-329-7184 Customer Service Email- service@faisonwealth.com Ph# - 949-939-1194 Website - http://faisonwealth.com "Helping businesses and individuals achieve their life goals" *Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor. Woodbury Financial Services P.O. Box 64284*St. Paul, MN 55164*-800-800-2638. Insurance offered through Faison Wealth and Retirement Services is not affiliated with Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. Faison Wealth and Retirement Services and Woodbury Financial are not affiliated entities.

49  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Publisher's Message Publisher's Message from page 3

started in the country just about 5 years ago, now have a combined worth of nearly $1 billion.

value addition to their commodities, and diversify their economies by stimulating dormant industries, and encouraging the growth of totally new ones.

As these changes continue, the new Africa will be much more resilient in the face of commodity price shocks.

2) A fast growing domestic market There’s also good news for local value addition to Africa’s ‘traditional’ commodities. Take Good African Coffee, for example – a business that works with coffee farmers in Uganda to grow, roast and export finished coffee products to retailers in Europe.

Rather than export raw coffee beans, like Uganda has been doing for decades, the country and its coffee growers now earn more revenue by having a larger footprint in the coffee value chain.

Nigeria and Uganda are just two examples. Several other countries on the continent are now taking deliberate steps to increase local

Over the next 30 years, Africa will have the fastest growing population in the world. Its population is projected to reach 2.4 billion by 2050 — double its current size, and a quarter of the world’s estimated population by 2050.

It’s not just the size of Africa’s current and future population that should interest you; but its composition. An overwhelming proportion of Africans (more than 60%) are below the age of 30. In a future of aging populations in the developed world, Africa’s youthful population will be a growth engine for the global economy in the coming decades.

The other secret weapon that’s driving the growth of Africa’s domestic market is its middle class. Currently numbering over 15 million households, the size of the continent’s middle-income households is expected to reach 40 million by 2030. They are urban dwellers, often well-educated and a strong source of demand for a wide range of products and services.

Urbanization is also reshaping Africa in very interesting ways.

Currently, over 300 million Africans live in urban areas. By 2050, the population of urban dwellers on the continent could grow by more than 150%.

3) It’s now much safer and easier to do business in Africa Democracy, characterized by regular elections, defined term

limits, and concession of power to a victorious opposition, may be the norm in the West, but it’s a way of life Africans are starting to get used to.

While there are exceptions in places like Burundi, DR Congo and a few other countries, democracy is taking root in Africa. The continent is now more peaceful and stable, compared to a few decades ago when it was run by dictators, military juntas and warlords.

However, while terrorism remains a growing domestic threat, it’s part of a global phenomenon that affects business even in the world’s most developed regions.

In the World Bank’s latest Ease of Doing Business report, five of the ten fastest reformers on the index are African. While some countries on the continent have made more progress than others in dismantling the structural and economic barriers that frustrate business and investment, the overall trend is looking up.

4) A hotbed for innovation and entrepreneurship In 2015 alone, African startups received over $500 million in funding from investors within and outside the continent. The entrepreneurs behind these ventures are young, hungry and ambitious to transform the continent with their ideas and innovations.

Technology, especially the internet and mobile phones, has become a powerful springboard for innovation in Africa, and will help the continent leapfrog its way to ‘first world’ status. More African entrepreneurs are using technology to create simple and practical solutions to tough problems.

And there are hundreds of interesting examples and success stories, but I’ll just give you a few…

Offshore Electric and M-Kopa are using the power of sun to

56  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Marriott Adds Perks to its Rewards Program

by Nancy Trejos

S

tarting globally in late May, Marriott Rewards (www.

marriott.com/rewards/rewardsprogram.mi) members will be

able to use their points in a new “experiences marketplace.”

Members of The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Program (www.ritzcarlton. com/en/rewards), which is part of Marriott, will also have access to the marketplace.

The curated experiences could include tickets to a Broadway show or a private cooking class with a well-known chef.

Hotel companies are increasingly giving its frequent guests more flexibility when it comes to how they use their points.

Thom Kozik, vice president of Loyalty at Marriott, says hotel guests don’t always want to use their points to get a free hotel stay. Instead, they crave more personalized experiences.

“Points are not the point anymore,” he told USA TODAY. “We weren’t keeping track of how consumers were changing their behavior.”

Also in late May, Elite members of the Rewards program will have access to an Elite concierge service (www.marriott.com/marriottrewards/member-benefits/silver. mi). The concierge can arrange

amenities on the property such as spa treatments and golf sessions.

The service will launch first for U.S. members of the program traveling worldwide and then expand to all Elite members.

Finally, loyal guests who have reached Gold and Platinum level will get guaranteed late check-out starting May 16. They can request

a check-out as late as 4 p.m. when making a reservation by phone, via Marriott’s mobile app, or upon arrival at the property.

The benefit will apply to members of both the Marriott and RitzCarlton programs at all participating Rewards hotels except for resorts, convention hotels and Marriott Vacation Club (www. marriottvacationclub.com).

The changes come just a few weeks after shareholders for both Marriott (www.marriott.com) and Starwood Hotels and Resorts (www.starwoodhotels.com) agreed to a merger (http://news.marriott. com/2016/03/marriott-internationalreaffirms-its-commitment-to-acquirestarwood-hotels-resorts-worldwidesays-it.html).

Marriott’s purchase of Starwood has had many Starwood Preferred

(www.starwoodhotels. com/preferredguest/index. html?language=en_US) worried that

Guests

they will lose the benefits they enjoy from that loyalty program.

Kozik says the two companies are still figuring out how to merge the two programs, and that any changes are probably more than a year away.

“You’ve got nothing to worry about,” he says. “It’s not going to be one camp versus another. It’s going to be the best of both programs.

When we bring the programs together, it’s going to be a better program overall.”  www.usatoday.com/story/travel/ roadwarriorvoices/2016/04/20/ marriott-adds-perks-its-rewardsprogram/83283270/?t=head

Marriott Premiers Delta Brand in the United States

by Julie Sickel

M

arriott International's Delta Hotels and Resorts brand opened its first U.S. property, in Orlando, on Thursday, April 21st . Marriott completed its acquisition of the Canadian hotel company last April and plans to expand the upscale, fullservice brand to major gateway cities like New York, Shanghai and London. The Delta portfolio is comprised of 36 hotels across Canada and now the 241-room Delta Orlando Lake Buena Vista.

In November, North Carolina-based CHD Investments bought the Marriott-branded Racine Architect Hotel & Conference Center in Wisconsin and plans to reopen the property under the Delta brand after renovations, according to The Journal Times. www.businesstravelnews.com/Lodging/Marriott-Premieres-Delta-Brand-inUnited-States?t=head&cid=eltrMtgNews

58  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

Edouardo Jordan Is a Food & Wine Best New Chef

by Angela Garbes "I need to be open about my path and the road I traveled so that other young black cooks understand the road is not easy," said Edouardo Jordan, the first African-American chef to be named a Food & Wine Best New Chef. Jenny Jimenez

I

t's been a good year for chef Edouardo Jordan. Last June, he opened his first restaurant, Salare (http://salarerestaurant.com), in Ravenna. Since then, he's gotten a three-star review, been on the cover of the fall issue of our food magazine The Sauce, been written up in the New York Times, and featured in Lucky Peach magazine.

As of this morning, he is one of Food & Wine magazine's Best New Chefs of 2016.

In praising Jordan, the magazine had this to say: "The menu at Salare represents the chef’s outstanding and diverse training, from salumimaking in Italy to working the line at Per Se in New York City and cooking over live fire at Seattle’s Bar Sajor. His superb sweetbreads

with collard greens merge his finedining experience with his Southern roots."

Jordan's food—excellent housemade charcuterie, dishes like honeycomb tripe braised in San Marzano tomatoes, and halibut run down, a Jamaican stew made with local fish, coconut milk, and plantains—is informed equally by his rigorous French and Italian training, experience with Northwest ingredients, and black Southern upbringing. It would have been easy for him to open a straightforward Italian restaurant here in Seattle, but instead he chose to cook food that is a full and complex reflection of his identity. Jordan has challenged diners to try—and embrace—new flavors and unfamiliar cuts of meat.

"With Salare, I'm being respectful of my heritage, going deep into slavery when our folks were cooking in the fields and given end pieces of pork and offal," he told me last fall. "They figured out how to make those things taste good and feed the family. I still think about that kind of heritage and history now. I also want to open people's eyes."

While there have certainly been other African-American chefs before Jordan who deserved this honor, Jordan is the first AfricanAmerican to be named a Best New Chef by the magazine. That he has always spoke openly about the challenges he's faced as a black chef in fine dining kitchens makes this recognition feel even more significant.

Congratulations, chef.  www.thestranger.com/ slog/2016/04/04/23904086/edouardojordan-is-a-food-and-wine-best-newchef

59  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

A

t Salare, a restaurant in Seattle, Edouardo Jordan serves winter squash with fried okra and a seed-based sauce modeled on the egusi stews of Nigeria.

In “The Up South Cookbook” by the Brooklyn author Nicole A. Taylor, collard greens are cooked Japanese style, with a coating of sesame dressing.

And in California California, chefs create swoon-inducing and deeply personal takes on shrimp and grits at places like Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland, 1300 on Fillmore in San Francisco and Willie Jane and Post & Beam in Los Angeles.

Across the country, a new generation of black chefs and cookbook authors has been reinventing, reinterpreting and reinvigorating what’s thought of as African-American food. Their work is part of the culinary development and self-discovery that has been going on for decades — centuries, really — but for anyone sampling their handiwork now, it’s clear that we’re in the middle of a belle époque.

All sorts of revolutions in AfricanAmerican cooking have been

A Belle Époque for AfricanAmerican Cooking

By Jeff Gordinier, New York Times

building momentum. Especially on tthe West Coast, age-old conventions of soul food and Lowcountry cooking are getting a fresh take via farm-tottable philosophy and contemporary ttechnique.

At Salare; the Cecil in Harlem; tthe Grey in Savannah, Ga.; the Fat Ham in Philadelphia and Sbraga & Company in Jacksonville, Fla. (both from the chef Kevin Sbraga), the t menus explore and pay tribute to t the food of the African diaspora — the ingredients and ideas that the t people of Africa carried all over t world for centuries. the Of course, black gastronomes have been enriching and expanding American cooking for many years.

A But to observers like Frederick Douglass Opie, a professor who specializes in food history at Babson College in Massachusetts, the lack of mainstream media attention calls to mind Ralph Ellison’s novel “Invisible Man.” “His whole book is about how people don’t see me,” said Dr. Opie, the author of “Hog and Hominy: Soul Food From Africa to America.” “That’s the same thing with black chefs and black writers.”

The question “Where are all the black chefs?” increasingly comes across as silly, and it’s not just because of stars like Carla Hall and Marcus Samuelsson.

“We’re here,” said Mashama Bailey of the Grey, a restaurant that was built from the ruins of a oncesegregated bus station.

Like many of her contemporaries, she’s digging into old cookbooks and

developing personal ways to showcase the roots of American cuisine. One example: She places eggplant at the center of a peanut stew whose prototype is found in West Africa.

Those roots are on display even more prominently at the Cecil, where the flavors of Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean and Asia merge in dishes like gumbo, beef suya on skewers, oxtail dumplings and a collard-green salad with spiced cashews and coconut dressing.

“It’s always been a rallying cry

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for me,” said Alexander Smalls, the chef, entrepreneur and social powerhouse behind the Cecil. “The idea that black folks cooking are only making soul food is frightening.

What we have to say is much bigger than that. It’s our job to expand the conversation. People need to be enlightened.”

Joseph Johnson, the executive chef at the Cecil and Minton’s in Harlem, spent a month doing research in Ghana before the Cecil opened in 2013. “I came back here a changed man,” said the chef, who goes by JJ. He now builds flavors from an Africa-inspired version of the French mirepoix: his involves bird’s eye chiles, onion, tomato, garlic, shallots and ginger.

Culinary schools tend to be highly Eurocentric, so chefs who decide to explore the food of the African diaspora are often self-driven.

“You have to ask yourself, ‘Where does this come from?’” Mr. Smalls said. “You have to walk backward through some slave markets and an ocean or two. You have to follow the African trail to really understand our vision.”

At Salare in Seattle, Mr. Jordan is fashioning “a different expression,” he said, one that merges the cucina povera of Italy, the Southern and Caribbean flavors that he picked up during his childhood in Florida and a growing interest in his African roots. “When I began the process of opening Salare, a little bird kept singing in my head, ‘Embrace your heritage,’” he said.

That heritage manifests itself in different ways. He turns toward his childhood with a dish involving duck leg with dirty rice. The twist?

He uses Arborio rice and whips up a kind of dirty risotto. “I take duck livers, hearts and gizzards and sauté them with celery, onions, peppers, espelette chile, tons of black pepper, habanero and spices to make the dirty base,” he said.

And he looks further back in a dish of parsnips with yogurt and pickled sultanas. Before being grilled, the parsnips are rubbed with a tsire spice mix reminiscent of West Africa. “I’m hearing more about the spice trade in Africa,” Mr. Jordan said. “It’s new for me.”

But ideas about the foundations of African-American food are not new, necessarily, for anyone who has spent time with the works of authorities like Dr. Opie, the food historian Jessica B. Harris and the late chef and cookbook author Edna Lewis, among others.

In her groundbreaking 2011 book “High on the Hog,” Ms. Harris explores the countless ways in which what’s commonly known as “American food” can follow its lineage to Africa and the slaves who did much of the cooking in the New World. American food “in many ways belongs to AfricanAmericans, because we were the stewards and the caretakers of the whole enterprise for so long,” said Mr. Smalls of the Cecil.

“Thanks to the writings of authors

like Jessica Harris, the myth of Africa as a land of scarcity, with no real cuisine, is being gradually dispelled in African-American communities,” said Pierre Thiam, an African-born chef and the author of a recent

cookbook called “Senegal.”

B.J. Dennis, a chef in Charleston, S.C., who is digging into the GullahGeechee cuisine of his ancestors, has made a two-day guest appearance at the Nashville branch of Husk, the acclaimed restaurant in Charleston whose white chef, Sean Brock, has become increasingly devoted to highlighting the African influences that pour into Southern cooking.

A recent book by Toni TiptonMartin, “The Jemima Code,” compiles and examines scores of African-American cookbooks from across the decades, shedding light on how the contributions of black cooks were often dismissed and put down. The new generation is using that work as a launching pad. “What you’re seeing with the newer chefs are folks who are more Afrocentric and more historical in their interpretation,” Dr. Opie said.

One afternoon in San Francisco, Jay Foster, the chef and owner of Farmerbrown, pointed to a bowl of vegetarian jambalaya and said, “That would be impossible if I didn’t go to the farmers’ market three see African American Cooking on page 62

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Business Africa American Cooking from page 61

times a week.”

Over the y e a r s he has s p e n t a lot of t i m e , he said, “digging into soul food and where soul food c a m e f r o m .

A n d lo and behold, it comes from farms.”

Attention to such details can be a revelation. At Willie Jane, in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles, and at Post & Beam, in the Baldwin Hills area, Mr. Armstrong, the executive chef, cooks Anson

Mills grits until they are creamy, then adds a spice- and bourbon-spiked shrimp paste adapted from an Edna Lewis recipe. Then come shrimp from Baja California, pork belly that has been cured and smoked on site

and microgreens from the gardens outside.

The objective is not to skirt tradition but to give it a tuneup, with dishes that “show that it can be contemporary without losing the authenticity,” said Brad Johnson, the restaurateur behind Post & Beam and Willie Jane.

If any dish at Willie Jane represents the new wave, it’s Mr. Armstrong’s vegan crab cakes, in which slivers of hearts of palm echo the texture of crab meat. The cakes are paired with a persimmon chutney as well as oven-roasted squash that’s puréed with tahini suffused with homemade berbere, the spice mix associated with North Africa. (It’s because of dishes like that that Bryant Terry, the author “Afro-Vegan,” said: “I feel like we’re in an exciting place.”)

At Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland, Tanya Holland’s Creole shrimp and grits seems to be infused with concentric layers of flavor. Customers feel so passionate about the dish that they regularly pay tribute with love letters left on their tables. What she offers is a “Californiaized” rendition of AfricanA m e r i c a n comfort food, she said, but it’s about classic technique, too.

Everything depends on making the grits early in the morning and making the rest à la minute — and then paying

Support the C hefs & Restaurants in your "neck of the wo ods". close attention. attention “It’s a dish I have to watch cook for about 10 minutes,” Ms. Holland said. “First the vegetables sweat, then I add the shrimp and sear them, then sprinkle with Creole spice. Next I add a ladle of sauce and let it reduce. Finish with cream, lemon juice, then a small amount of butter. There’s something very meditative in it.”

She also has big plans. “I want to do many more of these,” she said.

“Shake Shack of soul food: That’s my vision.”. 

62  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Read the complete article at: www.nytimes. com/2016/01/27/ dining/beyondsoul-food-africanamerican-chefs. html?smid=plshare&_r=0

Mouton Noir From http://officialblackwallstreet.com/ F black-owned-wine-spirit-brands

M

outon Noir is a two-fold lifestyle project producing both a T-Shirt line and Oregon wines. Founded by sommelier André Hueston Mack in 2007, both ends of Mouton Noir incorporate a trademark attitude and personal perspective on wine subculture. The wines are unique and distinctive garage wines, initially created for some of the New York's best restaurants for whom Mack was a sommelier and now available nationwide. Mouton Noir apparel is inspired

by WINE LIFESTYLE/ STREET CULTURE of skateboarding, punk, and hip-hop cultures. The design is also reminiscent of independent

skateboard company apparel of the 1990s.

Shop wines at http:// moutonnoirwines. com/wine-shop and T-Shirts at http:// moutonnoirwines. com/schwag.

Read the Mouton Noir story and view Andres TEDx video at http:// moutonnoirwines. com. 

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64  February 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

T

he face of California is changing. Today, people of color make up the majority of the state, and will soon be the majority nationwide. Going forward, the measure of good public policy rests on its impact on the New Majority.

Every year, Greenlining (http://greenlining.org) brings together movers-andshakers from business, government, and grassroots community groups at our annual Economic Summit. This year, we will uplift solutions from the New Majority that are already building a new California – one in which the dream of a fair, equitable, and prosperous economy is real for all. With hard-hitting speakers, interactive panels and countless networking opportunities, attendees will engage with some of the most innovative ideas in the equity movement today.

Join us in Oakland to connect with fellow change-makers, share ideas, and help us reinvent California with solutions from the New Majority. Together, we can build a stronger, better, more equitable future PROGRAM TOPICS CLIMATE SOLUTIONS THAT LEAD WITH EQUITY: ADDRESSING COMMUNITY NEEDS WHILE PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT - While climate change ranks high as a priority for communities of color, so do jobs, health, education, and safety. California’s strategy to address climate change offers an unparalleled opportunity to address community needs and protect the environment. In this panel we will discuss community-driven projects funded by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund that advance our fight against poverty and pollution DIVERSE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: BUILDING VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS WITH RACIAL EQUITY - While popular rhetoric suggests that our economy is on the mend, redlining, disinvestment, and gentrification continue to decimate communities of color. This interactive session will highlight equity-driven community development innovations from the new majority that combat the widening racial wealth gap TECH AND EQUITY IN CALIFORNIA: CAN THE TWO EXIST, AND IF SO, HOW? - The digital economy is disrupting and changing society and the economy in profound ways. While many agree that technology has the potential to solve many of the world’s problems, there is also a growing understanding that technology is leaving many behind. The benefits of our technological surge have been unevenly distributed, and some communities could be left in the lurch. Can the tech sector lead with greenlining policies and if so, how?

REGISTRATION Online registration ends May 18 at 12 p.m. Your ticket grants you an all-access pass to all of the panels and sessions throughout the day, including a continental breakfast, plated lunch, and dinner. Register at: https://greenlining.secure.force.com/events/CnP_PaaS_EVT__ ExternalRegistrationPage?event_id=a1fG0000002IfO2IAK

T

he Black Business Association (BBA) headquartered in Los Angeles, CA presented the "Role Models for Success" workshop for young women ages 13-18 during the 2016 Salute to Black Women Business Conference, Vendor Faire & Awards Luncheon in recognition of National Women's History Month.

The workshop provided an environment of interactive discussion designed to improve the lives and development of young women and teenage girls in urban and underserved communities through positive exposure to outstanding speakers.

"Role Models for Success" allows open and candid discussion that focuses on the needs of the individual participants; in addition the workshop fosters caring and supportive relationships, encourages individuals to develop to their fullest potential, increases their sense of self-worth, and assists the young ladies in developing their own positive vision for the future.

The BBA is proud to provide a platform for a program that is consistently cited as constructive. This workshop is sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Corporation and your organization may participate as a sponsor for the "Role Models for Success" workshop at the BBA's 2017 Salute to Black Women. www.bbala.org

66  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

68  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business

5 Foolproof Ways to Start Any Presentation

By Geoffrey James

I

f you want your presentation to be memorable, always start with the audience's needs, desires, and fears. Here are five foolproof ways to accomplish that:

how much money you're losing every year. Fortunately, there IS a better way, and I'm going to explain how you can easily save that money."

1. A problem/opportunity slide

3. A physical metaphor

The easiest way to make your presentation more memorable is simply to move your problem/ opportunity slide forward. For example, I recently reviewed a 28page slide presentation that finally

got to the customer's problem on slide 28. And even then the problem was only implied.

My recommendation - start with the customer's problem Here's an example: As simple as this technique sounds, it works. Why get fancy when a workmanlike approach does just as well?

Business ideas, including problems and opportunities, tend to be abstract. However, you can make them more vivid by using a "prop" that communicates the idea in real-word terms.

I saw an example a while back with a motivational s p e a k e r who handed out "clicker" noisemakers at the beginning of the presentation and asked the audience to use them when something "clicked." Simple, yet effective.

4. A surprising or intriguing video People in our culture are trained from birth to pay rapt attention to television. It's not surprising, then,

that a video--if it's interesting--can get an audience's attention and involvement.

Years ago, when I was responsible for marketing a groupware product, I'd start my presentations with a video of a team of people working hard (but not getting much done) and then being chewed out by an ogre of a boss. It was like The Office, but in hell.

Needless to say, after seeing that video (and relating to the universality of the experience) my audience was ready to listen to ideas for getting people to work together more effectively.

Probably the most effective use of a video for opening a presentation is Kodak's "Winds of Change."

When I saw it for the first time, it was introduced with "our keynote speaker couldn't make it, so Kodak sent us a video of his speech."

Here's the video...be sure to watch the entire thing: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GtYXGY4wB-0.

Afterwards, the actual speaker appeared and used the "energy" from the video to make his point about Kodak's corporate strategy.

Brilliant!

5. An audience activity Finally, you can engage an audience quickly by getting them to DO something that's relevant to the subject matter of your presentation.

For example, I recently attended a conference where one presenter-

2. An eye-opening fact or statistic Begin with a fact that will create an immediate emotional reaction and then craft the presentation to put those emotions into context.

The fact or statistic can be made more memorable (and convey more emotion) if you use some arresting graphic that reinforces the point: Here's how the script might go: "Yes, $1 million." (Pause.) "That's 72  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

T

he FedEx Small Business Grant Contest (https://

smallbusiness.fedex.com/ grant-contest.html?cmp=EMC1003335-1-1-200-1111110-US-USopens EN-SBGCBLACKENTR)

on May 3 — is your entry ready?

You could win a $25,000 grant and become part of a community of small-business owners who

learn from one another and grow their businesses together.

This will be our fourth year to award small-business grants to help designers, craftsmen, butchers receive great exposure for their businesses.

Visit the FedEx® Small Business Center now to

Kodak's Winds of Change" video (www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtYXGY4wB-0) -the subject was effective use of social media--had everyone in the audience simultaneously tweet a selfie with the conference hashtag.

A group activity is another option,

but only if the presentation is going to be long one. A quicker alternative is to ask a series of winnowing questions: "Everybody raise their hands

understand the rules, learn from past grant winners and get the inspiration you need to prepare a strong contest entry. View the videos to explore the benefits of entering the contest, tips on creating your entry, and advice on voting. Entries must be submitted by May 30th . 

if they've made a sale in the past year. (Pause.) In the last month.

(Pause.) This week.

(Pause.)

Today. (Everyone's hand is down.)

Well, I'm going to show you how to sell even when you're at a meeting." (etc. etc.)

The five methods described above are truly foolproof because they pique the emotions of the audience rather than ask them to figure out why you're talking about yourself and your company.

Warning: In my experience, most presenters find it very difficult to get out of their own heads and into the shoes of the audience.  www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/5foolproof-ways-to-start-anypresentation.html

73  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

In Focus - How Work and Business are Changing

Contactless Payments Coming to a Flight Near You

By Charlie Osborne

P

anasonic has revealed talks with major payment providers and airlines to bring contactless payments to your next flight.

Scrambling for change or reaching over with a credit card to pay for services while you're in the

In the UK, it's common for contactless payments to be accepted at many outlets -- although in the US, signatures and PINs are still the most frequently used way to pay -- but as this uptake increases, Panasonic would like a slice of the pie.

sky can slow down attendants and annoy your in-flight neighbours, but if Panasonic has its way, near field communications (NFC) technology will be embedded within entertainment devices used on flights to streamline this process and potentially provide airlines with fresh revenue.

A recent study by Juniper Research suggested that online, mobile and contactless payment transactions will reach a value of $3.6 trillion in 2016, a 20% surge from 2015.

The use of NFC technology inflight entertainment (IFE) systems is currently unheard of, but there is no reason this revenue stream could not be exploited in providing Wi-FI and premium content to frequent fliers.

Panasonic has revealed talks are ongoing with major credit card providers such as Visa and China Union Pay to implement the firm's NFC reader in in-seat entertainment systems.

The reader will be used not only for customer products and services

such as Wi-Fi and entertainment content but will also be able to use flier data to push forward frequent flier bonuses, promotions and benefits. In addition, the Japanese firm plans to harness the technology for crew check-in and out systems.

The company has already signed up MasterCard to the scheme and has also opened up discussions w i t h Discover and American Express.

Panasonic hopes to gain regulatory approval to bring NFC readers to flights in the coming months.

P a u l M a r g i s , President and Panasonic Avionics CEO said: "For airlines, EMV payments on IFE platforms should help eliminate potential transaction liabilities that they face today. In addition, passengers will be able to synchronize their own trusted token to the IFE system and create unique "just-for-me" experiences without compromising any of the personal data stored on their own device."  www.zdnet.com/article/contactlesspayments-coming-to-a-flight-nearyou/

75  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

www.nubianskin.com/us www.nubianskin.com/us/lace-collection

Quote of Note “…Passion is vital.

But you must have a strategy..”

Barack Obama (www.pbs.org/newshour/ rundown/watch-obamasfull-speech-to-graduatesat-howard-university)

78  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

FOR

Mother's Day

OR ANY SPECIAL OCCASION

In Focus - How Work and Business are Changing

Launch of UBA’s Red TV

By BellaNaija.com

R

ed TV, an online TV channel designed to inspire and entertain African youth and young people all over the world, was launced recently at the UBA Headquarters, Marina, Lagos.

The United Bank for Africa initiative is the most complete entertainment platform to hit the internet. The online platform will syndicate fresh and exciting African content. Although with an African focus- RED TV which showcases the best in entertainment, music, news, tv series, lifestyle, travel, comedy, fashion- is for a global audience.

Powered by UBA (United Bank of Africa), Red TV is set to deliver rich, engaging and dynamic video content with just a click of a button.

The launch event was attended by ‎the UBA Chairman, Tony Elumelu; the UBA Group CEO,

Phillips Oduoza; the bank’s Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications, Bola Atta‎; leading Nollywood movie directors, Zeb Ejiro and Fred Amata; veteran media personality, Betty Irabor among others.

The Chairman, Tony Elumelu expressed his joy at the realization of the initiative and reassured viewers that by being online, Red TV will increase the access of Africa’s youth to entertainment, information and inspiration.

While speaking, Zeb Ejiro acknowledged the significant contributions UBA has made to the sustainable development of the Nigerian film and entertainment industry over a period exceeding two decades. He expressed his excitement at launch of the online TV channel noting that the future of TV is digital and the future of Africa is her youth.

Red TV is yet another initiative by UBA, consistent with its drive for innovation and contribution to the development of Africa.  www.bellanaija.com/2015/12/tony-elumelu-phillipsoduoza-bola-atta-witness-the-launch-of-ubas-red-tv/ http://ynaija.com/red-tv-the-future-of-entertainmentcomes-alive/

Tony Elumelu & Phillips Oduoza

80  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Business mikey_digital

Technology:

Take A Look!

by LaSandra Stratton

C

heck out what these firms and organizations have to offer for your personal interests, personal wealth building, and business expansion opportunities.

www.k-tor.com/pocket_ socket.php

T

he Pocket Socket 2 is a hand-cranked generator that provides electrical power on the go! It is perfect for anyone who needs to charge a portable electronic device immediately, but does not have access to a wall outlet. From the business traveler to outdoor enthusiast, commuting student to emergency personnel, the Pocket Socket is a great eco-

friendly source for emergency backup power. Fully functional anytime, anywhere, it lets you charge a wide variety of electronic devices, including, but not limited to, your cell phone, mp3 player, camera, GPS, or tablet. If you need an adapter included to convert to European two pin standard from US, please let us know. 

www.bluemic.com/

M

ikey Digital is an ultracompact stereo condenser microphone that turns your iPhone or iPad into the sleekest mobile recording device around.

Capture pristine recordings of live music, audio for video, podcasts, interviews, guitar and vocals—and whatever else you can imagine— whenever and wherever inspiration strikes. And it’s Lightning and iOS 7 compatible, so you can just plug in and go. With Mikey Digital, it’s never been easier to capture pristine audio—anywhere, anytime.

Thanks to Auto Level Sensing technology and multiple gain settings, Mikey Digital protects your recordings from distortion.

Microphone shielding drastically reduces environment noise, and an onboard LED clipping indicator lets you know when to adjust the sensitivity so you can get flawless recording results. Whether you’re recording a piano recital from the back of an auditorium or a monster truck rally from the front row, Mikey Digital is always optimized for best-quality sound.

Mikey Digital has a unique 230-degree swivel head and reversible Lightning connector that lets you capture sound from any direction. Just direct the logo side of Mikey toward the sound source you want to capture. 

www.itsred.tv/index.html

I

ntroducing RED TV, the fast paced lifestyle channel that puts Africa on the global stage.

Proudly associated with the United Bank for Africa, RED TV is here to entertain and inform.

With content that feature the very best in entertainment, fashion, news, design, music, sport, movies and travel.

REDTV collaborates with the most talented visionaries. Creative minds daring to believe in a New Africa, and putting together content that reflects it.

What's On Now • • • • •

Africa's Next Top Model by Oluchi The Sauce Afropolitan Chef Interiors By Design Red On Red Watch your dreams, your passions, your loves.

Feel the Heat on Red TV. 

KPMG Africa Business Guide App

T

he KMPG Africa Business Guide app offers a one-stop shop for latest insights on doing business in Africa.

This feature rich application gives users an unparalleled view of the continent with guidance from KPMG experts available on one interface.

What does the App offer?

• Africa Business Guide Latest snapshots of any African country's geopolitical climate, economic performance and fiveyear forecasts.

• Doing Business in Africa KPMG Africa capability and key country contacts.

82  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

• KPMG ClientTalkǦǟ - Connect directly with KPMG experts from your sector and country of interest and receive insights.

• Osarge News - Global daily breaking news for a pan-African audience from Nigeria to New Guinea, Burundi to Brazil and Ghana to Guyana.

• Africa Blog - Access live insights on key issues affecting business in Africa today. Join the conversation on the KPMG Africa blog.

• Publications and Insights The latest KPMG Africa sector reports, thought leadership and survey results.

• Africa Events - View up-to-date information about key Africa events on the continent and across the globe.

Download the KPMG Africa Business App now! Available for Android and iOS devices. 

Coming to your e-mail box.

Read Back Issues at: https://issuu.com/blackbusinessnews

Submitted by LaSandra Stratton, Chief Content Administrator of the Black Business News.

83  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest

First Lady Michelle Obama to Plant White House Kitchen Garden and Embark on American Garden Tour

T

he First Lady welcomed students from across the country as well as NASA representatives to plant the White House Kitchen Garden for the eighth year in a row, and final time as First Lady. In 2009, Mrs. Obama planted a vegetable garden on the South Lawn to initiate a national conversation around the health and wellbeing of our nation—a conversation that evolved into her Let’s Move! initiative.

Mrs. Obama was joined by students that have inspiring school garden programs from Wisconsin, Colorado, and Louisiana, and she was joined by students from Bancroft Elementary School and Harriet Tubman Elementary School, who regularly help in the White House Kitchen Garden. The First Lady also invited some of the students from Bancroft Elementary who participated in the ground breaking of the garden and in the very first planting in 2009.

In addition, NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman and Astronaut Cady Coleman joined Mrs. Obama and the students to plant the same variety of lettuce that has been grown on the International Space Station.  www.whitehouse.gov/photos-andvideo/video/2016/04/05/first-ladymichelle-obama-plants-whitehouse-kitchen-garden

First Lady Michelle Obama joins students for the "Let's Move!" spring garden planting in the White House Kitchen Garden.

First Lady Michelle Obama walks back to the White House with Obama family pet, Sunny, after joining students for the "Let's Move!" spring garden planting in the White House Kitchen Garden, April 5, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

86  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest

Call for Entries

H

ave hopes for the future?

Thoughts on how your generation will bring them to life? Love to make films - or ever just secretly wished to give it a shot? Well, this is your chance!

From now through July 15th, 2016, we'll be accepting submissions for the third annual White House Student Film Festival. Our theme is "The World I Want To Live In" and we're inviting U.S. students, grades K-12, to participate. Tell us what you hope the future will hold for us - sci-fi lasers? flying cars? yourself as President? - in the form of a short film. It can be fictional, animated, live-action documentary, or anything else you dream up.

We're just excited to see what you make!

Bonus: if selected, you may have the chance to attend the film fest yourself at the White House.

For inspiration, take a look at the official selections from last years White House Student Film Festival (www.whitehouse.gov/ filmFest#lastYear), when the themes were The Power of Technology in

Education & The Impact of Giving Back.

Films can be short – in fact, they must be 3 minutes tops. The official selections will be featured on the White House website, and shared across the world on White House sites and official social media accounts.

Submission Guidelines: • All films must be shorter than 3 minutes.

• All films must be made by students in grades K-12.

• No film may use copyrighted material including music, TV shows, or movies.

• All films must be uploaded to YouTube • All film submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on July 15th, 2016.  www.whitehouse.gov/ filmfest?utm_source=email&utm_ medium=email&utm_ content=email594-text1&utm_ campaign=filmfest

The President's Assignment for You Your generation will soon be shaping the world we live in – what do you want to do with it?

In many ways young people like you are already having a dramatic impact on the society and culture, so what’s your vision for our country, for our world? What are your hopes and dreams for the future? Tell us the story of where we could go, and how we could get there – together. You can certainly choose to show a broad vision, or perhaps focus on an issue that matters to you, like: • Leadership • Civic Engagement • The Environment • The future of service • Combating inequality • Citizenship • Access to education • The pursuit of happiness • Social justice • Unmet community needs

87  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest-Obituary

© David Corio/Michael Ochs Archives

Prince, an Artist Who Defied Genre, Is Dead at 57

© Bertrand Guary/AFP/Getty Images

by Jon Pareles (BBN edited)

P

rince, the songwriter, singer, producer, one-man studio band and consummate showman, died on Thursday at his home, Paisley Park, in Chanhassen, Minn. He was 57.

Prince was a man bursting with music — a wildly prolific songwriter, a virtuoso on guitars, keyboards and drums and a master architect of funk, rock, R&B and pop, even as his music defied genres. In a career that lasted from the late 1970s until his solo “Piano & a Microphone” tour this year, he was acclaimed as a sex symbol, a musical prodigy and an artist who shaped his career his way, often battling with accepted music-business practices.

“When I first started out in the music industry, I was most

getintothis.co.uk

concerned with freedom. Freedom to produce, freedom to play all the instruments on my records, freedom to say anything I wanted to,” he said when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

A seven-time Grammy winner, Prince had Top 10 hits like “Little

© Kevin Ma

Red Corvette,” “When Doves Cry,” “Let’s Go Crazy,” “Kiss” and “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World”; albums like “Dirty Mind,” “1999” and “Sign O’ the Times” were fulllength statements. His songs also became hits for others, among them “Nothing Compares 2 U” for Sinead O’Connor, “Manic Monday” for the

88  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

© REX/Shutterstock/Rex Images

© MIKE BLAKE/REUTERS

azur/WireImage/Getty Images

Bangles and “I Feel for You” for Chaka Khan. With the 1984 film and album “Purple Rain,” he told a fictionalized version of his own story: biracial, gifted, spectacularly ambitious. Its music won him an Academy Award, and the album sold more than 13 million copies in the United States alone.

In a statement, President Obama said, “Few artists have influenced the sound and trajectory of popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent.”

He added, “He was a virtuoso instrumentalist, a brilliant bandleader, and an electrifying

performer.

‘A strong spirit transcends rules,’ Prince once said — and nobody’s spirit was stronger, bolder, or more creative.”

A Unifier of Dualities Prince recorded the great majority of his music entirely on

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see Prince on page 90

Prince from page 89

his own, playing every instrument and singing every vocal line. Then, performing those songs onstage, he worked as a bandleader in the polished, athletic, ecstatic tradition of James Brown, at once spontaneous and utterly precise, riveting enough to open a Grammy Awards telecast and play the Super Bowl halftime show (http:// www.nytimes.com/2007/02/05/sports/ football/05halftime.html).

On Prince’s biggest hits, he sang passionately, affectionately and playfully about sex and seduction.

With deep bedroom eyes and a sly, knowing smile, he was one of pop’s ultimate flirts: a sex symbol devoted to romance and pleasure, not power or machismo. Elsewhere in his catalog were songs that addressed social issues and delved into mysticism and science fiction. He made himself a unifier of dualities — racial, sexual, musical, cultural — teasing at them in songs like “Controversy” and transcending them in his career.

Prince’s music had an immediate and lasting influence: among songwriters concocting comeons, among producers working on dance grooves, among studio experimenters and stage performers. He sang as a soul belter, a rocker, a bluesy ballad singer and a falsetto crooner. His most immediately recognizable (and widely imitated) instrumental style was a particular kind of pinpoint, staccato funk, defined as much by keyboards as by the rhythm section. His music was a cornucopia of ideas: triumphantly, brilliantly kaleidoscopic.

Runaway Success Prince Rogers Nelson was born in Minneapolis on June 7, 1958, the son of John L. Nelson, a musician

whose stage name was Prince Rogers, and Mattie Della Shaw, a jazz singer who had performed with the Prince Rogers Band. They were separated in 1965, and his mother remarried in 1967. Prince spent some time living with each parent and immersed himself in music, teaching himself to play his instruments.

He recorded with a Minneapolis band, 94 East, and began working on his own solo recordings. He was still a teenager when he was signed to Warner Bros. Records.

His first album, “For You” (1978), gained only modest attention. But his second, “Prince” (1979), started with “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” a No. 1 R&B hit that reached No. 11 on the pop charts; the album sold more than a million copies, and for the next two decades Prince albums never failed to reach the Top 100.

With his third album, the pointedly titled “Dirty Mind,” Prince moved from typical R&B romance to raunchier, more graphic scenarios.

It was a clear signal that he would not let formats or categories confine him. “Controversy,” in 1981, had Prince taunting, “Am I black or white?/Am I straight or gay?” His audience was broadening; the Rolling Stones chose him as an opening act for part of their tour that year.

Prince grew only more prolific.

His next album, “1999,” was a double LP; the video for one of its hit singles, “Little Red Corvette,” became one of the first songs by an African-American musician played in heavy rotation on MTV. He was also writing songs with and producing the female group Vanity 6 and the funk band Morris Day and the Time, which would have a prominent role in “Purple Rain.”

Prince played “the Kid,” escaping an abusive family to pursue rock stardom, in “Purple Rain.” Directed

by Albert Magnoli, it was Prince’s

film debut and his transformation from stardom to superstardom.

With No. 1 hits in “Let’s Go Crazy” and “When Doves Cry,” he at one point in 1984 had the No. 1 album, single and film simultaneously.

Business Battles Friction grew in the 1990s between Prince and his label, Warner Bros., over the size of his output and how much music he was determined to release.

By the mid-1990s, Prince was in open battle with the label, releasing albums as rapidly as he could to finish his contract; quality suffered and so did sales. He appeared with the word “Slave” written on his face, complaining about the terms of his contract, and in 1993 he changed his stage name to an unpronounceable glyph, only returning to Prince in 1996 after the Warner contract ended. He marked the change with a triple album, independently released on his own NPG label: “Emancipation.”

For the next two decades, Prince put out an avalanche of recordings.

Hip-hop’s takeover of R&B meant that he was heard far less often on the radio; his last Top 10 hit was “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” in 1994.

But Prince could always draw and satisfy a live audience, and concerts easily sustained his later career. He was an indefatigable performer: posing, dancing, taking a turn at every instrument, teasing a crowd and then dazzling it.

A trove of Prince’s recordings remains unreleased, in an archive he called the Vault. Like much of his offstage career, its contents are a closely guarded secret, but it’s likely that there are masterpieces yet to be heard.  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/22/ arts/music/prince-dead.html?_r=0

90  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest-Obituary

'Me and Mrs. Jones' Singer Billy Paul Dead at age 80

B

illy Paul, a jazz and soul singer best known for the No. 1 hit ballad and "Philadelphia Soul" classic "Me and Mrs. Jones," died Sunday.

Paul, whose career spanned for more than 60 years, died at his home in Blackwood, New Jersey, his co-manager, Beverly Gay, told The Associated Press. Paul, 80, had been diagnosed recently with pancreatic cancer, Gay said.

Known by his beard and large glasses, Paul was one of many singers who found success with the writing and producing team of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, of Philadelphia International Records.

"Me and Mrs. Jones" was an extramarital confession and a characteristic Gamble and Huff production, setting Paul's thick tenor against a lush and sensuous arrangement. Many fans best remember the moment when Paul's otherwise subtle vocals jump as they reach the title words, stretching out "Me" and "And" into multiple syllables and repeating "Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones." (Paul himself was married to the same woman for decades).

The song was one of the top singles of 1972 and brought Paul a Grammy the following year for best male rhythm 'n blues performance, with runners-up including Ray Charles and Curtis Mayfield. Paul remained identified with the song for the rest of his life.

Paul continued to perform live until he fell ill and his manager said he had been lining up numerous appearances at the time of his death.

Among his favorites in concert was a cover of Prince's "Purple Rain."

(Prince died last Thursday).

He was born Paul Williams but later agreed to his manager's suggestion that he change his name to Billy Paul to avoid confusion with songwriter Paul Williams and other musicians with the same name. A Philadelphia native, he sang much his life, performing with such jazz stars as Charlie Parker and Dinah Washington and being featured on a handful of singles while still in his teens.

Paul was drafted into the military in his early 20s, and found himself on the same base in Germany with a couple of famous show business names, Elvis Presley and Gary Crosby, Bing Crosby's son.

"We said we're going to start a band, so we didn't have to do any hard work in the service," he told bluesandsoul.com in 2015. "We tried to get Elvis to join but he wanted to be a jeep driver. So me and Gary Crosby, we started it and called ourselves the Jazz Blues Symphony Band."

By the mid-1960s, the Beatles had inspired him to incorporate more rhythm 'n blues into his singing and he had found a new home for his recordings after meeting Gamble at a Philadelphia music shop. His early albums with Gamble and Huff, including "Ebony Woman" and "Going East," sold modestly, before "Me and Mrs. Jones" briefly made him a superstar.

Paul faced numerous obstacles following his biggest hit. Radio stations resisted his more socially conscious follow-up song, "Am I Black Enough for You" and the Rev. Jesse Jackson was among those who objected to the explicit "Let's Make a Baby."

Years later, Paul sued Gamble and Huff and other industry officials over unpaid royalties and was awarded $500,000 by a Los Angeles jury in 2003.

"It was like a family full of music," he told bluesandsoul.com. "It was like music round the clock, you know. And I reminisce and I still wish those days were here."  www.msn.com/en-us/music/ news/me-and-mrs-jones-singerbilly-paul-dead-at-age-80/arBBscFc3?li=BBnb4R7

92  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Community/Public Interest-Obituary

World Music Star Papa Wemba Dies After Collapsing on Stage

by ISIDORE KOUADIO

P

apa Wemba, a musician known around the world as the king of Congolese rumba, has died following a collapse on stage during a concert, officials said. He was 66.

Culture Minister Baudouin Banza Mukalay confirmed the musician's death Sunday, calling it a "great loss for the country and all of Africa."

Footage from the concert in Ivory Coast shows his fellow performers rushing to his side as he collapsed in front of thousands of fans. He was taken to a nearby clinic, but couldn't be resuscitated. The cause of death wasn't immediately known.

"It is a great loss for Congo and for all of Africa," Congo's cultural minister said. "He was a self-made man, a role model for Congolese youth."

The musician, whose real name was Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba, rose to fame in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa during the 1970s with the band Zaiko Langa Langa, whose guitarbased fusion of Latin and African dance styles inspired a generation of African musicians.

With a new band, Viva La Musica, Wemba moved to Paris in the 1980s and helped popularize Congolese music beyond Africa. He toured in the 1990s with British rock star Peter Gabriel and appears on his "Secret World Live" album.

Wemba also was a pioneer of the "sapeur" youth culture marked

by its dedication to extravagant fashions. The young men are known for wearing stylish suits and fedora hats, standing out in stark contrast in countries where poverty is endemic.

In 2003, Wemba spent more than three months in jail after French and Belgian authorities accused him of helping Congolese immigrants illegally obtain visas by passing them off as musicians working with him on European shows. Wemba, who later received a suspended sentence, maintained that others had done so using his name.

Wemba had appeared to be in good health just days earlier when he met with journalists at the beginning of the music festival.

Fans across Abidjan were mourning news of his death Sunday.

"My sadness is great — I wonder how such a wonderful artist can die before such a large audience," said Mariam Cisse, 32, who lives in Anoumabo where the festival was being held..  www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/ world-music-star-papa-wembadies-after-collapsing-on-stage/arBBsbssZ?li=BBnb7Kz

93  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

African Stock Exchanges • Bolsa de Valores of Cape Verde - www.bvc.cv (in Portuguese) • Bond Exchange of South Africa - www.bondexchange. co.za • Botswana Stock Exchange www.bse.co.bw • Bourse Regionale des Valeurs Mobilieres - UEMOA (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) - www.brvm.org • Casablanca Stock Exchange (Morocco) - www.casablancabourse.com/bourseweb/index. aspx • Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (Tanzania) - www. dse.co.tz • Douala Stock Exchange (Cameroon) - www.douala-stockexchange.com/index_us.php • The Egyptian Exchange - www.

• • •

•

•

• • •

egx.com.eg/English/homepage. aspx Ethiopia Commodity Exchange - www.ecx.com.et Ghana Stock Exchange - www. gse.com.gh Johannesburg Stock Exchange (South Africa) - www. jse.co.za/Home.aspx Khartoum Stock Exchange (Sudan, in Arabic) - www.kse. com.sd Libyan Stock Market - www. lsm.ly/_layouts/membership/ login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fEnglis h%2fPages%2fdefault.aspx Lusaka Stock Exchange (Zambia) - www.luse.co.zm Nairobi Stock Exchange (Kenya) - www.luse.co.zm Malawi Stock Exchange - www. mse.co.mw

• Mozambique Stock Exchange (in Portuguese) - www. bolsadevalores.co.mz • Namibian Stock Exchange www.nsx.com.na • Nigerian Stock Exchange www.nse.com.ng/Pages/default. aspx • Stock Exchange of Mauritius www.stockexchangeofmauritius. com • Swaziland Stock Exchange www.ssx.org.sz • Tunisia Stock Exchange - www. bvmt.com.tn • Uganda Securities Exchange www.use.or.ug Read the lastest issue of The Exchange Magazine www.nse.co.ke/media-center/ecommunique/exchange-magazine/ category/50-free-version.html

97  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

Hosted Buyer Invitation: MICE East Africa Forum & Expo 2016 9-11 June 2016 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The first MICE industry trade show in East Africa will take place from June 9-11, 2016 at the Millenium Special Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The three-day event will offer 150 hosted buyers the opportunity to meet with more than 100 of the region’s top suppliers.

Attending the MICE East Africa Forum & Expo will allow you to experience Addis Ababa’s MICE infrastructure and the cities top level suppliers and meet with the major Ethiopian tourism offices; the East and Central African country tourism organizations, airlines, hotels and resorts with suitable MICE facilities, local venue providers and vendors, professional conference and event organizers, destination management companies etc.

The Hosted buyer programme includes round trip air tickets to/from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, up to 4 night hotel accommodation during the show, free admission to the exhibition hall, the East Africa Innovation Center, the event’s networking functions, food & beverage services of the event, ground transportation and a minimum of 25 valuable business appointments during the 3-day event.

For detailed information visit: micemm.com/index.php/hosted-buyerevents/mice-east-africa-forum-expo To apply visit: survey.micemm.com/index.php/374368/lang-en

98  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

USTDA Hosts Procurement Leaders from Ethiopia

USTDA's Director Zak meets with Ethiopian officials to share best practices that can improve public procurement outcomes

T

he U.S. Trade and Development Agency has welcomed a delegation of 14 senior Ethiopian officials to share best practices on innovative, value-based mechanisms that can improve public procurement outcomes.

"USTDA is pleased to host this visit for our partners from the Ethiopian government," said USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak, who welcomed the delegates to the Agency's headquarters.

"We applaud their commitment to achieving greater value for money, improving project outcomes and receiving the highest-quality goods and services for the people of Ethiopia."

The delegation is taking part in an 11-day study tour to the United States under the Global Procurement Initiative: Understanding Best

Value (GPI). They will receive advanced training in life-cycle cost analysis, best value determinations and risk management from experts at the George Washington University's Government Procurement Law Program and technical specialists from Green Powered Technologies (McLean, Va.). They will also meet with U.S. procurement officials at the federal, state and local levels, and view case studies in value-based procurement in Virginia and Pennsylvania.

This visit marks the second phase of USTDA's partnership with Ethiopia under the GPI. The Agency is supporting the Ethiopian government's efforts to incorporate life-cycle cost analysis and value for money elements into their public procurement practices to obtain the best value for government funds and to improve overall procurement

outcomes.

Many of the delegates participated in a USTDA-sponsored procurement training in Addis Ababa last fall. The delegation also includes a representative from Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP), the recipient of a USTDA grant for a senior procurement advisor to help EEP achieve value for money in energy projects - including those that support President Obama's Power Africa initiative, which aims to increase electricity access in Ethiopia and across sub-Saharan Africa.

About USTDA: The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. 

99  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

www.ustda.gov

International

I

n proclaiming this Decade, the international community is recognizing that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected. Around 200 million people identifying themselves as being of African descent live in the Americas. Many millions more live in other parts of the world, outside of the African continent.

The International Decade for People of African Descent, proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 68/237 and to be observed from 2015 to 2024, provides a solid framework for the United Nations, Member States, civil society and all other relevant actors to join together with people of African descent and take effective measures for the implementation of the programme of activities in the spirit of recognition, justice and development.

It is also a unique opportunity to build on the International Year for People of African Descent, which was observed by the international community in 2011, and to further underline the important contribution made by people of African descent to our societies and to propose concrete measures to promote their full inclusion and to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

Watch the video "United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein hails the launch of the United Nations Decade for People of Africa Descent" at www.youtube.com/wa

tch?v=asg378OIZ8s&feature=you tu.be.

Programme of Activities for the Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of

African Descent (resolution 68/237) citing the need to strengthen national, regional and international cooperation in relation to the full enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights by people of African descent, and their full and equal participation in all aspects of society.

As proclaimed by the General Assembly, the theme for the International Decade is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.”

Objectives of the Decade

The main objectives of the International Decade are as follows: Promote respect, protection and fulfilment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by people of African Descent, as recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Promote a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse heritage,

culture and contribution of people of African descent to the development of societies; Adopt and strengthen national, regional and international legal frameworks according to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and to ensure their full and effective implementation.

Programme of Activities implementation

100  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

The Programme of Activities for the Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent, which was endorsed by the General Assembly, is to be implemented at several levels.

At the national level, states should take concrete and practical steps through the adoption and effective implementation of national and international legal frameworks, policies and programmes to combat racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance faced by people of African descent, taking into account the particular situation of women, girls and young males in the following areas: • Recognition • Justice • Development • Multiple or aggravated discrimination

At the regional and International levels, the international community and international and regional organizations are called, among other things, to raise awareness, disseminate the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, assist states in the full and effective implementation of their commitments under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, collect statistical data, incorporate human rights into development programmes and honour and preserve historical memory of people of African descent.

There are also a number of steps and measures to be taken by the United Nations General Assembly (www.un.org/

en/events/africandescentdecade/ generalassembly.shtml), including

• the appointment of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to act as coordinator of the Decade, • the establishment of a forum to serve as a consultation mechanism, convening of a final assessment of the Decade, and • ensuring the completion of the construction and the inauguration, before the mid-term review in 2020, of a permanent memorial at UN Headquarters to honour the memory of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.

See the full text of the Programme of Activities (PDF) at www.un.org/en/ events/africandescentdecade/pdf/A. RES.69.16_IDPAD.pdf. 

www.un.org/en/events/ africandescentdecade/index.shtml

Annual Day of Special Remembrance and Commemoration

25 March

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

F

or over 400 years, more than 15 million men, women and children were the victims of the tragic transatlantic slave trade, one of the darkest chapters in human history.

In commemoration of the memory of the victims, the General Assembly, in its resolution 62/122 of 17 December 2007, declared 25 March the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, to be observed annually.

The resolution also called for the establishment of an outreach programme to mobilize educational institutions, civil society and other organizations to inculcate in future generations the "causes, Overview of the slave trade out of Africa, 1500-1900. David Eltis and David Richardson, Atlas of the Transatlantic Slave consequences and lessons of the transatlantic slave Trade(New Haven, 2010). trade, and to communicate the dangers of racism and prejudice."

Since then, every year on 25 March, the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade has offers the opportunity to honour and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system.

This International Day also aims at raising awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice today.

101  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

Opportunity for Educators in Kuwait

T

he American Embassy Kuwait has been approached by a Kuwaiti company recruiting qualified and experienced teachers from the U. S. A. with a minimum Bachelors of Education degree, from accredited colleges and universities.

A brief description of the positions and the requirements is included below for your information.

Please provide your personal expressions of interest or lists of recruitment agencies and consultants in the United States to: Bobby Hines bobby.hines@trade.gov 1-213-894-4231 C 1-213-276-3675.

Opportunity Description 1) A private school in Kuwait is looking to hire the Head Of the Department for their English, Math & Science sections. The H. O. D.’s must have a Master’s in Education with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in that position.

2) The school is looking for English language & Math teachers for grades 5 to 12. The teachers need to have Bachelors in Education with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in that position.

The school is offering a competitive package associated with western educated native English language speakers that includes but not limited to: • A tax–free salary, • Minimum of a one-year renewable contract, can be extended depending upon both the parties (the teacher & the school), • Joining air ticket, (from the U.S.

to Kuwait), • Free furnished centrally airconditioned accommodation with all required amenities incl. free electricity & water, (individual or on sharing basis , • Health insurance, • Medical treatment at privately run hospitals, • Paid vacations, (for July & August), • Transportation, • Visa, • Work permit, etc. per the Kuwaiti labor law.

The demand is from the privately held education prviders: • Playgroups or pre-kindergarten, • Educational institutes, • Technical institutes, • Schools, • Colleges, • Universities, • Vocational institutes. 

We need Bachelors, Masters & Ph.D.’s. We have a great opportunity in Kuwait for qualified and experienced U. S. citizens.

It is in the hundreds every year. (college lecturers, instructors, teachers & professors, other academic staff related to schools, colleges & universities, to name a few).

102  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

Download the Zambia-USA Chamber of Commerce App from the

Apple App Store or

Google Play Store Search: "Zambia USA Chamber"

Find links to the chamber website and facebook page, and embassies; access business resources; receive breaking news; view relevant video presentations; communicate via Twitter, smartphone and e-mail.

www.zambiausachamber.org 103  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

International

Returning to Africa?

African Repatriation is an invaluable online resource for any African national who is thinking about returning to Africa.

Our industry articles and specialist editorials provide the latest sector information. Why not find out for yourself and become a part of our growing community today? www.africanrepatriation. com

Career Opportunities in Africa Search and apply online for the latest vacancies in Africa with African Talent. We provide candidates and employers with the tools and resources needed in today’s competitive job market. For employers, we offer numerous options to feature your jobs in Africa and for candidates, reviewing the most recent job vacancies in Africa is a fast, easy process.

Uploading your CV is simple and takes just a few moments. www.africantalent.com

104  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Thursday Blues at Uncle Darrow‛s High Noon-2pm Every Thursday

Come by for lunch and relax to blues & jazz from our house band!

2560 S. Lincoln Blvd.

Marina del Rey North East corner of Washington & Lincoln

“LA Times Magazine favorite cajun food”

310-306-4862

www.uncledarrows.com 105  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

konya

gi.co.t

z

International

One Africa:

J

Tell the US Government that North Africa is Africa Too!

oin with and support the United Africa Organization’s campaign to petition the U.S. Department of State to include the whole African continent under its Bureau of African Affairs.

Why? The State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, led by Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson, currently excludes Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Western Sahara from its agenda.

Instead, the aforementioned countries are grouped with the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, together with Iran, Iraq, Israel and others.

This artificial distinction between North Africa and the rest of Africa

negatively impacts US foreign policy relations throughout the entire continent of Africa.

We unequivocally reject the argument that North African countries are outside the scope of African affairs.

North Africa is geographically and historically part of the African continent, and all fifty-three (53) independent African states, including North African countries, are represented in the African Union (AU).

It would be far more productive for the State Department to engage with the entire continent of Africa, including North Africa, under its Bureau of African Affairs.

We are one Africa, from the Cape to Cairo, indivisible and bound together!

Therefore, no square inch of African

land should be excluded from African affairs.

Sign The Petition!!!

Go to www.change.org/petitions/ one-africa-tell-us-state-departmentthat-north-africa-is-part-of-africa and sign the online petition to support this important proposition. Next tell everyone you know to sign. 

www.uniteafricans.org

International

September 16-17, 2016 Carson Community Center Carson, CA panafricanglobaltradeconfeerence.com Contact for more information: Al Washington, Exec. Director 1-626.243.3614 alwashington@africa-usa.org 108  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Publisher's Message 2000 and 2015. This is a very significant developmental milestone for the continent.

Publisher's Message from page 56

provide reliable and affordable electricity to millions of homes without access to power grids in East Africa.

MPesa — the disruptive mobile payment solution —

M-Kopa Solar has significantly improved financial inclusion in East Africa and continues to facilitate trade and commerce.

Omega Schools (in Ghana) and Bridge International Academies (in Kenya) are for-profit social enterprises that are transforming education for the poor in Africa. Andela, another innovative business model, trains world-class African software developers and hires them to top global companies like Microsoft.

Everywhere you look, across several industries – agribusiness, healthcare, financial services, education and tech – Africa’s entrepreneurs are transforming the continent’s landscape.

5) Generally, life is better on the continent Most people who have been constantly fed a warped image of Africa by mainstream media may have a hard time believing this, but it’s hard to ignore the following facts.

Across the board, Africa is less poor than it used to be. According to the World Bank, the proportion of Africans living in absolute poverty (on less than $1.90 a day) has fallen from 56% in 1990 to 35% in 2015.

Literacy rates among the continent’s young people now exceed 70% in most countries, and primary school enrolment has increased from 60% to 80% since the year 2000.

The battle against major diseases like HIV/AIDS and Malaria is making great progress. According to the World Health Organisation, the annual deaths from malaria in Africa declined by as much as 66% between

Africa is just getting started…

Africa’s journey to economic prosperity has followed a long and tortuous path. After decades of domination, decline, instability and uncertainty, the stars are starting to align for the continent, and the prize could be within reach in this century – regardless of its present challenges.

However, our optimism for Africa must not be blind.

There is still a whole lot of work that needs to be done on the continent, especially in the areas of infrastructural development, economic integration, political freedom and social transformation. And if Africa’s governments and we, the people, remain committed to closing these crucial gaps, then the road to prosperity is guaranteed.

But here’s something to always keep in mind: Africa’s rise to the top will not be achieved by sudden flight. No. Its rise to the top is not a matter of speed, but a test of strength, endurance and faith. There will be setbacks and headwinds along the way, but rise we shall.

Africa is not for the shortsighted; it’s for those who are in for the long haul.

Africa is for those who believe. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR John-Paul Iwuoha is an author, impact entrepreneur, business strategist, and founder of Smallstarter Africa (www.smallstarter.com). He works with entrepreneurs and investors to start up and grow businesses in Africa.

He is also the co-author of 101 Ways To Make Money in Africa (page 136), the widely-acclaimed book which reveals several interesting business ideas, market opportunities, and inspiring entrepreneur success stories across Africa.  www.linkedin.com/pulse/africa-still-rising-yes-actuallywere-just-getting-started-iwuoha

109  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37) presents

A Forum on U.S.-Africa Policy in the Era of Obama With Special Guest Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren D. Price, Jr.

Saturday, May 21, 2016 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W Adams Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90018

Rep. Bass will host a forum to discuss her work in Congress to ensure that the United States is ready to maximize its partnership with African nations, and she will answer any questions you may have.

RSVP today at bass.house.gov/LA-Africa-Policy or call 323-965-1422

Shopping Gallery

@EleVenbyVenus elevenbyvenus.com

Artwear Handpainted Handbags, Skirts, Tees, Accessories, Calendars, Wall Hangings & More! http://gbabysworld.blogspot.com Gbabyartwear@hotmail.com or Gbabyart345@gmail.com Find Gbaby Products at the “Collective� http://www.atthecollective.com 280 Elizabeth Street, Atlanta, GA www.carolsdaughter.com

.com

Find us at: https://nubianskin.com, www.nubianskin.com/us and 15 Nordstrom stores in the USA

Empowering Women.

Embracing our Colour.

The Economic Turn Around in the USA is in Our Hands •Buy Products Made or Assembled in the USA •Hire One New Employee •Eat an Extra Meal Out Each Week •Start/Grow a Business to Generate Wealth & Jobs

Buy Black  Save Black  Invest Black 116  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Collection Bed, Bath & Beyond

http://bsmith.com/shop

http://marvin-sin.squarespace.com

This magnificent handcrafted concert grand is a "Best of" in terms of sound, new technology, beauty, and construction.

Massively well-built to withstand the rigors of intense concert performances without compromise, the SHADD Concert Grand is a coveted treasure for pianists and collectors.

With a rich voluminous sound that performs true to all genres of music, this phenomenal instrument has a rare diversified ability to play from the softest whisper with pure clear sound to a major roar with a bass section exuding an abundance of power and resounding singing sensations.

www.shaddpianos.com

Baron's Painting & Decorating Service Baron Williams

30 Years of Experience in the Greater Los Angeles Area Specializing in Exterior and Interior Painting, Tiling, Linoleum Flooring,

Cultural Interiors West &

Cordially Invited Cultural Interiors West 5573 West Pico Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90019

& Wall Paper

"I will paint any one story building or house for $2,500 satisfaction guaranteed."

1-323-490-3774

Experience our exciting array of products from Cards to Cupcakes, African Masks, Asian Teacups, Healthy Herbal Teas, Gourd Purses, Candles, to Furniture Hope to see you soon!!!

In the meantime visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/pages/CulturalInteriors-West/140688362658236

119  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

New Location Leimert Park Village 3347 W. 43rd Street Los Angeles, CA 90008 1-323-299-6383 www.zambezibazaar.com shop@ zambezibazaar.com

120  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

ZIMBABWE GALLERY 1-484-459-6625 zimbabwegallery@yahoo.com www.shonasculpture.com @ZimbabweGallery www.facebook.com/Zimbabwe Gallery

PHIPPS PLAZA 3500 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30326

GREENBRIAR MALL 2841 Greenbriar Pkwy SW, Atlanta, GA 30331

Shop for all of the NoMu products at: https://shop.nomu.co.za and www.amazon.com

Locations: Downtown Culver City: 9537 Culver Blvd.

310-202-5453 City of Compton: 2600 E. Alondra Blvd.

310-638-7871 www.honeyskettle.com Open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm

121  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Bernahu Asfaw & Getahun Asfaw

1041 S. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90019 323-938-8827 or 323-938-8806 • Fax: 323-932-6047 messob@gmail.com • www.messob.com

Open 7 days a week • 11am - 11pm

Krispy Kruchy Chicken is in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, Los Angeles.

Krispy Krunchy Chicken is a cajun-style chicken (bone-in and tenders), served fresh, never frozen and fried in zero trans fat oil. Their menu also includes signature dishes of Traditional Wings; Krispy Wings; Cajun Sweet & Sour Wings; Cajun Tenders; Red Beans and Rice; Jambalaya; Boudin Bites (Cajun rice balls); Krispy Shrimp and Honey Butter Biscuits.

For additional information, please call Krispy Kruchy at 1-323-293-3332 or visit www. krispykrunchy.com.

124  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Parker House Sausage (www.parkerhousesausage.

com) was started by Chicago entrepreneur, Judge H. Parker who came to Chicago from Montgomery County, Tennessee with little more than the conviction that there was a potential market for homemade sausage products prepared according to his mother’s recipes. By 1919 Judge Parker began selling his unique blend of herbs and spices mixed with flavorful, savory sausage from a horse drawn cart on a retail basis.

Recognized as one of the oldest family owned businesses in the U.S. In 2014 Parker House expanded its product line to include chicken products including breakfast sausage, hot links, and smoked sausage.

www.wosa.us

SHOP ONLINE! //shop.parkerhousesausage.com

We invite you to browse through our store and shop with confidence.

Need a dinner idea. Go to the Recipe Page on our website.

Thanks for visiting!

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Ma's Best is a bakery specializing in the production of home-style yeast rolls and baked products. www.facebook.com/masbestrolls/#!/masbestrolls/?tab=page_info#!/masbestrolls/info

Try all 3 flavors!

In your local grocery store or shop online for syrups, recipes, and books. Learn about our special projects and join the recipe contest.

MICHELE FOODS, INC. 1-708-331-7316 www.michelefoods.com

132  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Eso Won Books African American Books 4327 Degnan Boulevard Leimert Park, Los Angeles

Give the Gift of Books and Music Come see our unsurpassed collection of books, music, videos, children’s books, and games!

1-323-294-0324

www.esowonbookstore.com  //esowon.booksense.com for Calendar of Events

133  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

BBA Master Planner May

BBA Procurement Exchange Summit Taking place at the LA Hotel Downtown, the awards dinner will highlight the achievements of African American entrepreneurs and the government agencies and corporate entities that provide positive supports for African American businesses. For particiation information visit www.bbala.org.

June 2017

BBA Annual Awards Dinner Taking place at the LA Hotel Downtown, the awards dinner will highlight the achievements of African American entrepreneurs and the government agencies and corporate entities that provide positive supports for African American businesses. For particiation information visit www.bbala.org. ď ƒ

Resource Vault Media/Information Africa Interactive Multimedia Press/Content Agency in Africa www.africa-interactive.com Africa World Press Books www.africaworldpressbooks.com African Trade Magazine www.africantrademagazine.com African Vibes Magazine www.africanvibes.com The Africapitalist www.tonyelumelufoundation.org/ africapitalisminstitute/africapitalist-magazine The African World www.theafricanworld.tv Africast TV www.africast.tv Afritorial www.afritorial.com www.facebook.com/Afritorial AllAfrica http://allafrica.com Black Wall Street Times http://bwstimes.com Black Business News Group www.blackbusinessnews.net Black Children's Books and Authors http://blackchildrensbooksandauthors.tumblr.com BlackPast.org www.blackpost.org Black Press USA www.blackpressusa.com BridesNoir www.bridesnoir.com The Chocolate Voice www.thechocolatevoice.com CuisineNoir www.cuisinenoirmag.com DiasporaVoice www.blogtalkradio.com/diasporavoice Publish Africa http://wow.gm/publishafrica Rock Me Africa //rockmeafrica.com YouTube Educational Channels http://teacherswithapps.com/197-educational-youtube-channels-know World Library www.worldlibrary.org

Africa Leadership Forum http://africaleadership.org The African Union www.au.int/en Black Business Association www.bbala.org CauseCast www.causecast.com www.causecastfornonprofits.com Pan African Film Festival www.paff.org United African Organization http://uniteafricans.org Zambia-USA Chamber of Commerce www.zambiausachamber.org

Investment/Development Africa Reports www.africareports.com African Development Bank www.afdb.org African Export-Import Bank //afreximbank.com/afrexim/en AfrigadgetTV www.afrigadget.com Disrupt Africa http://disrupt-africa.com/ The Exchange Magazine www.nse.co.ke Silicon Harlem http://event.siliconharlem.net Ventures www.ventures-africa.com United Nations http://webtv.un.org

U.S. Government

Commerce Department www.doc.gov International Trade Administration http://trade.gov Minority Business Development Agency www.mbda.gov Power Africa www.usaid.gov/powerafrica Small Business Administration www.sba.gov State Department www.dos.gov Trade Africa www.usaid.gov/tradeafrica White House www.whitehouse.gov

Organizations 136  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

Books to Consider

Books to Consider...

Blue Note Preaching in a Post-Soul World: Finding Hope in an Age of Despair

by Otis Moss III

F

rom Chapter 1--"Can preaching recover a Blues sensibility and dare speak with authority in the midst of tragedy? America is living stormy Monday, but the pulpit is preaching happy Sunday.

The world is experiencing the Blues, and pulpiteers are dispensing excessive doses of non-prescribed prosaic sermons with severe ecclesiastical and theological side effects."

U n i q u e l y gifted preacher Otis Moss III helps preachers effectively communicate hope in a desperate and difficult world in this new work based on his 2014 Yale Lyman Beecher Lectures. Moss challenges preachers to preach with a "Blue Note sensibility," which speaks directly to the tragedies faced by their congregants without falling into despair. He then offers four powerful sermons that illustrate his Blue Note preaching style. In them, Moss beautifully and passionately brings to life biblical characters that speak to today's pressing issues,

including race discrimination and police brutality, while maintaining a strong message of hope. Moss shows how preachers can teach their congregations to resist letting the darkness find its way into them and, instead, learn to dance in the dark. 

Otis Moss III

www.amazon.com/Blue-Note-Preaching-Post-SoulWorld/dp/0664261604

Afrikan Alphabets: The Story of Writing in Afrika

A

by Saki Mafundikwa

frikan alphabets have a rich cultural and artistic history. Many continue to be in current use today.

Their story, however, is little known due largely to their past suppression by colonial powers. This book sets the record straight. Both entertaining and anecdotal, African Alphabets presents a wealth of highly graphical and attractive illustrations.

W r i t i n g systems across the Afrikan continent and the Diaspora are included, analyzed and illustrated: the scripts of the West Africans - Mende, Vai, Nsibidi, Bamum

137  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

and the Somali, and Ethiopian scripts. Other alphabets, syllabaries, paintings, pictographs, ideographs, and symbols are compared a n d Saki Mafundikwa contrasted.

This informative and beautiful book will be of interest to anyone fascinated with African cultural and art.

Mr. Mafundikwa discusses the book and the history of writing in Africa in a Ted Talk. Use the link below to hear his excellent lecture.  www.amazon.com/Afrikan-Alphabets-Story-Writing-Afrika/ dp/0972424067 www.ted.com/talks/saki_mafundikwa_ingenuity_and_ elegance_in_ancient_african_alphabets?language=en

Our Virtual Shadow: Why We Are Obsessed With Documenting Our Lives Online

W

personal experiences, pop culture observations, and historical evidence to answer key questions concerning the prioritization of our "virtual shadow" over our real lives: Does documenting our lives keep us from living it? Do we sacrifice our sensual experiences (touch or taste) when we use technology to capture memories?

And when did this obsession with life documentation begin? Back in the caves of Chauvet?

Brown doesn't believe we should stop technological progress, nor is he advocating that technology is necessary to the progress of Damon Brown humanity. Instead, he forces us to question how we have become so dependent on social media and why, like technologies before it, it taps into our basic human need to be remembered and understood. And ultimately, Brown offers lessons about using social media tools while also teaching us how to stay present in our real lives.  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/our-virtual-shadowdamon-brown/1115143209#productInfoTabs www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4kMmjBEA6Q

By Damon Brown

e've become a world of infinite status updates, constant tweeting, and compulsive pinningbehavior that can put documenting our lives at odds with actually living. We blame technology, but our need to capture time didn't start with Instagram. In Our Virtual Shadow: Why We Are Obsessed with Documenting Our Lives Online, longtime culture writer and Quote UnQuote app co-founder, Damon Brown calls upon

Whose Shoes Are You Wearing? 12 Steps to Uncovering the Woman You Really Want to Be

D

By Christine K. St. Vil & Julian B. Kiganda o you find yourself living the definition of insanity on a daily basis? Do you have a hard time saying no to people, things and situations that

138  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819

drain you? Are you allowing unhealthy relationships to block your blessings?

Do you struggle to reconcile your cultural heritage to the woman you want to become? Are you still waiting for Prince Charming to come along and complete you before you can really be happy?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you need this book. Julian B. Kiganda and Christine K. St. Vil are two sisters known for being Bold & Fearless Moms N Charge. After conquering their own personal and professional struggles to finally walk in their purpose, they re giving you their most powerful insights to move you along your own path to uncovering your God-given purpose.

In Whose Shoes Are You Wearing?, these no-nonsense siblings take you through key steps to help you

Julian Kiganda

Christine K. St. Vil

create the unprecedented transformation you want to see in your own life.

They draw upon their own life changing experiences from ending unhealthy relationships to surviving unimaginable trauma which are closely intertwined with their East African upbringing.

With practical action steps included at the end of each

chapter, Whose Shoes shows you how to walk boldly and fearlessly in your own shoes regardless of the shoes you've been wearing. With a generous dose of humor, solid spiritual principles and a keepin' it real attitude, this book will become a staple in your library as you embark upon your own journey to discover the shoes God meant for you!  http://www.amazon.com/Whose-Shoes-WearingUncovering-Really/dp/0996097805

101 Ways to Make Money in Africa

By John-Paul Iwuoha & Harnet Bokrezion (PhD) This book is the most detailed compilation of business ideas, on-the-ground facts, market intelligence, tips and advice for anyone who's looking to start a business or invest in Africa.

We wrote this book to show you a side of Africa the media still doesn’t talk about very often. We wrote this book to show you the unbelievable business opportunities that exist in Africa and the amazing success stories that prove their viability and profitability. We wrote this book to spark your brain with innovative ideas that will make you money in Africa.

About The Authors Dr. Harnet Bokrezion and John-Paul Iwuoha are entrepreneurs and Africa business consultants. They share a passion for business blogging and have written several articles on e entreprenership, investing and doing business in Africa. In their pursuit to empower the masses of Africans, both at home and in the diaspora, who are still wondering how to get their business aspirations off the ground, they decided to write this book to provide facts, a clear direction and practical guidance.

Hundreds of people have read this book and were amazed by its rich content.  https://www.amazon.com/Ways-Make-Money-AfricaOpportunities-ebook/dp/B00SMYPUV0

139  April 2016  Black Business News  www.blackbbusinessnews.net  1-323-291-7819