Saving America’s Black Boys Launches National Campaign

Saving America’s Black Boys Launches at SXSWedu in Austin, Texas on March 4, 2013. QUESTION: How is it possible that across every economic development district in the nation Black Americans uniformly produce paltry percentages of business revenue, create few jobs and have virtually no net worth? DATA: The total number of Black-owned businesses in America was 1.9 million in 2007 (Census, BLS) with a total revenue production of LESS than 1%... Read More

Saving America’s Black Boys (SABB) Solutions Summit

Saving America’s Black Boys (SABB) Solutions Summit By Mike Green March 5, 2013 marks an unprecedented moment in American history when a group of concerned stakeholders from around the nation will gather in Austin, Texas at the George Washington Carver Museum to address the issue of investing in cultivating the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of America’s Black boys. The Saving America’s Black Boys (SABB) Solutions Summit on March 5 will... Read More

America21-BDPA Summit Agenda & Speaker Bios

AGENDA & SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES *Speaker lineup subject to changes.* About the America21-BDPA Innovation Summit & Dinner. America21-BDPA Innovation Leadership Summit & Dinner   Baltimore Hilton, July 31, 2012 401 West Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21201 (443) 573-8700 8:15 pm   Theme: Moving Black America into the 21st Century Innovation Economy AGENDA: 5: Welcome / Opening Remarks: BDPA & Sponsor 15: Minority Pathway to Success in... Read More

America21 – BDPA host Innovation Summit in Baltimore (Success!)

UPDATE: SUCCESS!! Thanks to a tremendous effort by the BDPA and our partners, NAMDE and DiversiTech, about 80 attendees engaged in a historic gathering that served as a catalyst for developing a framework of collaboration and ongoing partnership with America21. We’re running hard and working now to prepare for our upcoming National STEM Summit in early October (details coming soon) with NIH, NASA and a host of others, which will include our... Read More

America21 Responds: Minorities Missing in Tech Fields

A new study produced by local urban think tank Policy Bridge says there is a growing threat to regional competitiveness in Northeast Ohio:   The dearth of blacks and Hispanics in emerging technology businesses.   On the next Sound of Ideas, we’ll talk about regional efforts to fix that, concentrating on entrepreneurship, engagement, employment and education. (see video below) Guests: * Gregory L. Brown, executive director, Policy... Read More

America21′s Mike Green featured in Oregon Business Mag

In the past decade, much of the new wealth creation and job growth in the United States has occurred in the startup technology sectors. “But those types of innovations and market disruptions are not happening across black America,” says Green, who is also a part-time blogger. The reasons “are systemic, historical and institutional, and someone has to address it.” Programs that try to alleviate the economic inequities plaguing African-American... Read More

Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report 2011

“To create such energy for making positive changes, societies must consider that entrepreneurship is not a heroic act of a few individuals, but the accomplishments of many people who pursue their ambitions in a supportive cultural and institutional environment.” Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2011 (slide deck) Share this:  Read More

Former NFL Player Sees Competitive Role for Black Press

INCLUDED BELOW ARTICLE: July 5, 2012 Ideastream interview with Johnathan Holifield on the “new economy” and the lack of significant minority participation. Interview based on PolicyBridge’s new report on the economy in Northeast Ohio, “Fusion of Inclusion.” * * * Former NFL Player Sees Competitive Role for Black Press   Johnathan Holifield may no longer be taking hand-offs for the Cincinnati Bengals but this retired... Read More

Holifield joins Nortech as VP of Inclusive Competitiveness

NorTech Adds Economic Inclusion Expert to Leadership Team CLEVELAND, OH – June 25, 2012 – NorTech, a nonprofit technology-based economic development organization serving 21 counties in Northeast Ohio, today announced that Johnathan M. Holifield, Esq. has been named Vice President of Inclusive Competitiveness. In this role, Mr. Holifield is responsible for leveraging existing efforts within Northeast Ohio’s innovation ecosystem and leading... Read More

Mike Green and Jamila Bey discuss Black Innovation

Jamila Bey hosts the radio program, “Spar with Jamila” during the Sex, Politics and Religion hour on the American Urban Radio Network (AURN) stations AM1430 in New York City and am1390 in Washington D.C.   Mike Green was a guest on Jamila’s program that aired on June 25, 2012 in NYC and DC 6-7pm eastern. (Mike’s segment was 17 mins 57 secs long and aired at 6:22pm eastern). Check out the recording below. Discussion topics: Jamila... Read More

Black Founders: Ideas are Worthless!

It’s an unspoken rule across the landscape of entrepreneurship and investing: Ideas are worthless. Ironically, it’s not the idea that wins investment and compels an angel or venture capital investor to write a five-, six- or seven-figure check. It’s the founders in whom the investors are making a bet. And it’s the capacity of the founders to execute an idea that draws attention, not simply the idea itself. Of course, the idea... Read More

Can collaboration cause catalytic economic change?

What are the possibilities of collaboration?   What problems can be successfully addressed?   What economic challenges can be overcome?   What would happen if economically disconnected peoples in America collaborated (individuals, education institutions and businesses) to develop entrepreneurial infrastructures that served as a foundation upon which new ideas were cultivated and grown into success stories?   Would you support... Read More

What Black American Innovators need to produce jobs

What Black American Innovators Need to Produce Jobs By Mike Green April 29, 2012 Originally written for Dominion of New York. See full article here.   Black Americans are no strangers to entrepreneurship. But sheer numbers of entrepreneurs do not translate into fast-growing companies that create jobs. Case and point: The Census Bureau Statistics data show a 60 percent spike in Black entrepreneurship between 2002 and 2007, equivalent to 1.9 million... Read More

MLK Would Support Obama’s JOBS Act

MLK WOULD SUPPORT OBAMA’S JOBS ACT By Mike Green April 16, 2012 On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated — just a few weeks before he was to travel to Washington D.C. with the intent of excoriating a stagnant nation over the issue of the American economy (see video). On April 5, 2012, the most powerful Black man in the world, President Barack Obama, signed into law the historic JOBS Act and opened an unprecedented economic... Read More

America21 to lead panel at White House HBCU Summit

America21 will Moderate a Panel on the Economic Strategy of Inclusive Competitiveness at the White House HBCU/MSI Summit on Entrepreneurship         WASHINGTON D.C. — The White House is hosting a Summit on Entrepreneurship for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) on April 16, 2012 in Washington, D.C. in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the... Read More

‘Gathering of Angels’ summit at Rutgers a success

                        There’s nothing like success to attract more success. The America21 Project produced three successful events in rapid succession preceding its unprecedented gathering of angels and entrepreneurs at Rutgers University in mid-November. Silicon Valley in California and Long Island, New York served as coast-to-coast bookends on Nov. 3 and 9 respectively — surrounding... Read More

The Root of Innovation is STEM Education

Recently, much has been written about the need for a greater emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM education, and how that is linked to our national priority – innovation and competitiveness.  President Obama and U.S. Department of Education Secretary Duncan, along with leadership from both public and private sectors have effectively made the case for increased investments, performance and outcomes with regards to... Read More

The Economic Imperative of Unstructured Play

A few years ago, I had stunning experience. While visiting friends on a warm, sunny summer afternoon, I observed the family’s mother direct the children to, “Go outside and play.” The kids responded, “Play what?” Hmmm, I thought, ‘play what?’ Come again? What could they have possibly meant by, “play what?” Then it dawned on me that these children were displaying a total lack of imagination. My intent is not to opine about how great... Read More

BICI: 21st century approach to 20th century challenges

“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today.  We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.  In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. “Procrastination is still the thief of time.  Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity.  The ‘tide in the affairs of men’ does not remain at the flood; it ebbs.  We may cry out desperately... Read More