SPARK’s Post

As family dinners become less frequent, the tradition of "kitchen table talk" is also on the decline, particularly among Black families. This shift has resulted in fewer opportunities for open communication and shared experiences, which historically served as a platform for discussing important topics, including business, finance, and wealth-building. The Good Soil Forum, held in Dallas, TX, aimed to bridge this gap by providing a platform for Black entrepreneurs to connect, share experiences, and learn from each other. The forum featured engaging breakout sessions, inspiring speakers, and a pitch competition, all aimed at fostering a collaborative atmosphere and equipping attendees with the knowledge and resources to navigate a world often stacked against them. The forum's focus on financial literacy and wealth-building is particularly important for Black Americans, who face systemic barriers to financial literacy and economic security. The forum's commitment to fostering a thriving entrepreneurial community is a testament to the power of community and the importance of open communication in achieving financial success. What are your thoughts on the role of family dinners and kitchen table talks in fostering financial literacy and wealth-building? Do you believe that more emphasis should be placed on these conversations in today's fast-paced society? Read the full story by Marlissa Collier and check out our coverage of this week's e-edition at dallasweekly.com #iamdw #blackpress #goodsoilforum #blackentrepreneurs #kitchentabletalk #financialwellbeing #wealthbuilding

If you're looking to grow your business, find out about local news and events, or just link up to the #black community. #Bantucola is the way to go. #Register today at https://bantucola.com the largest directory on the Gulf Coast from Birmingham, Alabama to Panama City, Florida. #bantucola #CorePrinciples #blacksuccess #blackculture #blackenterprise #blackwealthmatters #blackentrepreneur #blackwallstreet #buyblack #blackwealth #blackbusiness #blackbusinessstatistics #blackeconomics #blacklivesmatter #blackownedbusiness #communitygrowth #information #blackentrepreneurs #blackown #growblackbusinesses #groupeconomics

Occurring in Austin from March 8-15, the 2024 SXSW Conference consists of hundreds of panels and presentations covering all the topics relevant to the global community of digital creatives. Read these daily LinkedIn posts to better understand the breadth and depth of content options at this year's event. Today's edition of this series reveals five sessions from the 2024 SXSW Conference that highlight the many opportunities for advancement if we apply our creativity in a thoughtful and forward-focused manner. 1) Advancing Social Justice and Economic Opportunity: Heading into the 2024 campaign, hear from the leaders of the country’s most significant organizations empowering communities of color to discuss the ways they are coordinating to ensure that economic and social justice are front-and-center during the presidential election. Join the Global Black Economic Forum, National Urban League, and National Coalition of Black Civic Participation for this important conversation. https://lnkd.in/gEAnfTw9 2) Cannabis Around The World: Where Are The Big Opportunities?: While the U.S. cannabis industry lags, this panel of industry experts will examine the many opportunities posed around the world as other countries embrace a more aggressive path towards legalization. https://lnkd.in/gsTBF-st 3) Climate Chaos: Risk or Opportunity: Attend this solo presentation to learn how private companies can be proactive in this new world. Bruno Garfinkel, Chairman of Porto, a Brazilian insurance company with over 12MM customers, will share examples of cutting edge practices in assuming risk through new technologies, bold rescue and protection solutions, innovative recycling programs and regenerative leadership. https://lnkd.in/g_8PmeXb 4) The Entrepreneur’s Crystal Ball: 7 Advances, Infinite Opportunities: From groundbreaking green technologies to the transformative possibilities of Web 3, this session is a creative gateway to the promising and emerging sectors beyond AI, each teeming with entrepreneurial opportunities. https://lnkd.in/gKa8M45k 5) The Tech Industry and Cold War Two: Risks, Threats and Opportunities: This solo presentation from best-selling futurist Jason Schenker will address the biggest risks, threats, and opportunities for the tech industry due to rising geopolitical tensions in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. https://lnkd.in/gGjFRikW Find even more new opportunities by clicking on the link below to browse the entire SXSW 2024 online schedule. https://schedule.sxsw.com/ #sxsw, #sxsw2024, #opportunity, #opportunities, #opportunitiesforgrowth, Jason Schenker, Melanie Campbell, MARC MORIAL, Alphonso David, Bruno Garfinkel, Chris Day, Nancy Whiteman, Cynthia Salarizadeh, Will Yakowicz, Nancy Giordano, Janay Brower, Trey Holder, Elizabeth Strickler, #creativity, #innovation, #Austin, #MarchMagic, Tracy Mann

You don’t have to have the perfect answer right away. The best ideas need a period of incubation before they can become transformative. Gal Beckerman’s book, The Quiet Before, focuses on the quiet incubation stage of transformative movements and ideas. Twenty years of letter writing in the 1600s led a French astronomer to coordinate observations led to improvements in celestial navigation at sea and a broader openness to empirically testing “perceptions against reality.” The network of Riot Girrrl zines in the 1990s created a space among girls and young women that allowed discussions of “taboo” topics in blunt and personal terms. However, social media has eliminated the quiet space where strategy is created and consensus is built. Social media leaves no room to disagree amicably and direct movements toward concrete goals. There’s no substitute for small groups of thoughtful people hashing out ideas in private before using social media to galvanize followers. Beckerman ends his book with a local Black Lives Matter branch that formed a tightly guarded group of activists to figure out which policy goals to pursue and how to gain lasting support from community members. This offline incubation space gave these activists insights into the people in their community, which policies they could be convinced to support, and which city council members could be elected in the long game of local politics.     Good ideas and effective social movements come from real engagement with real people. Don’t be afraid to miss out on having the first hot take. Be okay with following up with the most thoughtful answer instead.  #book #readingcommunity #personalgrowth

If you do nothing else for Juneteenth, read this article.

What’s pretty sad about this most recent turn of events is the implication that killing a single person is somehow going to solve a divide of ideologies. Here is what conservatives stand for, and this comes from the Heritage Foundation. This is the platform that they’ve had up publicly for a long time and I copied and pasted it from a Google search that pulls up the Heritage website. “Heritage's mission is to formulate and promote public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.” https://lnkd.in/g68RbrxC. These are the values I stand for, which should include the bill of rights.

Happy International Day of Families! Today is the annual day of  commemoration for one of the most precious things on earth that many of us cherish more than silver and gold: family. This six-letter word is crucial to the favorable development and wellbeing of the one very thing that we can’t do without: life. Whether it be your chosen family and/or biological family, its power and influence to enrich our lives with love, protection and joy is undeniable. The Origin Story As we celebrate the importance of families, it’s equally important to understand the origin of this special day.  According to the Economic Times, “International Day of Families, began as a tradition back in the year 1994, started by the United Nations, talks about the significance of families across different and all communities of today's world. This year will also see this day being celebrated in high spirits.” Embracing Diversity Strengthening Families Let’s give a special round of applause to the United Nations for its pivotal role in developing International Day of Families. Additionally, this year's theme for International Day of Families is all about "Embracing Diversity & Strengthening Families," which entails building stronger bonds with family through understanding and unconditional love. Our Thanks to YOU! Here at BCIF, family means the absolute world to us! Without your loyal support, Black entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Southern California would not have access to the capital they need to take their small business to the next level. Therefore, we’d like to take this time to say Happy International Day of Families to all of our family, friends and supporters near and far. Kindly we ask for your continued love and support—together we can truly make this world a better place through the creation of more Black-owned businesses. #familyfirst #diversity #internationaldayoffamilies #internationaldayoffamilies2024 #bciffamilies #blackeconomicempowerment #blackownedbusiness #unitednationscelebrateshappyinternationaldayoffamilies #aspiringblackentrepreneurs #blackexcellence #supportblackbusiness #supportblack #economictimes #embracingdiversity #embracingdeib

Hey LinkedIn Family, let's make history together! Alpha Phi Alpha isn't just the first Black Greek-letter frat; we're frontliners in the fight for our rights. Our mission? Get us all to vote with "A Voteless People is a Hopeless People." This is about more than just casting a ballot. It's about empowering our community, shaping policies, and ensuring we're heard. From registration drives to educational seminars, we're all in. And it starts with you. Get registered. Vote. Let's change the game. #VoteReady #AlphaImpact Want to learn more about how you can get involved? Please fill out this link to stay up to date. https://lnkd.in/e45rN_Hx

In #DefiningIdeas, Hoover Institution fellow Brandice Canes-Wrone discusses the mission of the Center for Revitalizing American Institutions and why it is important. Read more here: https://hvr.co/3uzjgMX