EVENT ALERT: NAACP CEO Cornell Brooks and Grammy Winner Charlie Wilson at NAACP Commerce & Industry Ribbon Cutting At Philadelphia Convention Center July 11th

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

The 106th Annual Convention of the NAACP has arrived in Philadelphia and is being hosted at the Convention Center at 11th and Arch Street.

These are exciting times we are living in, indeed.  The NAACP conventions, which are generally well attended, promises to have twice the number of attendees and participants in the wake of the heinous criminal massacre that took place in South Carolina scarcely a month ago.

It has caused civil rights organizations, leaders and activists, now more than ever, to hone in on what will be necessary to safeguard millions of innocent African Americans, who are innocently going about their every day lives, but become targets of violence nevertheless. 

Having just returned from Washington DC, and National Action Network's annual Legislative and Policy Conference, these issues are on the top of the agenda of our Civil Rights Organizations as they come together to work in concert in impacting the legislation that governs these problems (more about that in a later posting ).  

The NAACP has lead the charge over the century in fighting for economic, social, educational, and criminal justice for Black people.  There has been a coalescing of efforts with other civil rights organizations, with the NAACP, in many ways, leading the charge.  The recognition for the need to collaborate has long been their driving spirit as they work to eradicate egregious acts of violence and gross miscarriage of injustice that have been perpetrated against Black people for centuries.

Of course, interlaced with that important focus, will also be events and programs that are essential to the day to day lives as well as the advancement of African Americans, locally and nationally.  Along with the workshops there are promises of expansion, exposure to opportunities, and the possibilities of interaction with key people who may be the gatekeepers for career and job opportunities.   

The Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony that will open the Commerce and Industry Show, may well provide pathways to success for those who have long been looking for employment, or the next step up the ladder of career success. 

Join Chairman Roslyn M. Brock, Vice Chair Leon W. Russell, President and CEO Cornell William Brooks as they officially open the 46th Annual Commerce and Industry Show.  Also on hand for the ceremonies will be nine-time Grammy nominated recording artist Charlie Wilson. 

Grammy Award Winner Charlie Wilson

Cornell Brooks & Roslyn Brock

Beginning July 11 through July 14th, the show will feature exhibits and booths from industry and emerging businesses leaders.  Additionally there will be a  health fair, and and author pavilion.

The Comerce and Industry Show has been a cornerstone of the NAACP’s convention for over half a century.  A special feature this year,  will be an open casting call for the show “Shark Tank” and the ACT – SO culinary arts competition.  

ACT – SO, which is an acronym for the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics, a yearlong achievement program designed to recruit, stimulate, and encourage high academic and cultural achievement among African-American high school students, has set records in helping High Schoolers achieve their potential and go on to make major contributions to society as adults.

Those interested in participating or registering their youth in the ACT-SO Program can do so at the convention site.

The NAACP Five-Day convention, is the 106th since the founding of the illustrious Civil Rights organization in 1909.    If you have not already done so, you can register on line for the upcoming workshops and events.  

I'm providing a copy of the overview of the 4-day event, which will culminate on July 14.  Of course the high point will be President Barack Obama's address which will take place on Tuesday, July 14.    Make it your business to avail yourselves of the opportunities they are providing - not just because it will be advantageous to you, but because we have to support those who have supported us as a people - the NAACP!

 

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NOW THAT YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

Stay Blessed & 
ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria 

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Up Close Interview with OIC CEO Robert Nelson – 35 years of Service and Success

by Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

This week is the celebratory week for the founding of OIC – Opportunities Industrialization Center, founded fifty (50) years ago by Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan, in Philadelphia, PA. The organization, from its outset, has been a stalwart in providing career path training in both traditional and non-traditional industries for African Americans and others who were in need of gainful employment, but did not have the necessary marketable skills, education, or level of sophistication required.

I recently conducted a telephonic one-on-one interview with Mr. Robert Nelson, CEO of OIC, who, after 35 years of continued service, 33 of which has been as CEO, is retiring at the end of June:

Robert C. Nelson CEO of OIC to Retire after 35 Years

 When Robert Nelson came to OIC, while a grad student at Temple University, the organization was in full swing – having established more than 133 branches throughout the United States and Africa. His original intention was to have a part time position while he completed his masters at Temple, so he could support his wife and family at the same time.

In addition to the milestone of fifty years as a viable organization still focused on the skills training and job development/placement, serving 35 years in an organization, when the current trend is to job hop, so to speak, I a major feat. More significantly, it is a labor of love.

Robert Nelson admits that initially, the job with OIC as a counselor, was an interim one. He actually left to take another position that was purported to be more in line with his field, but after having worked with OIC, found the new atmosphere not to his liking. So after two years, he returned to continue working with Dr. Sullivan, and has been there ever since. That was 35 years ago. And interestingly enough, it was probably the best move he could have made, because he has served as CEO of the organization for 33 of those 35 years. It's as much a testimony to Dr. Sullivan's great judgment in character as it is a testimony to Nelson's dedication to the principles of the organization, and the continued success they have enjoyed under his stewardship.

It's apparent that his enthusiasm and love for the organization has not waned over the years, even though he is retiring at the end of June. When asked what are some of the things he was most proud of, he responded: “Aside for the tenure of it all? My predecessor, Rev. Thomas Ritter, was first executive director, and he held the title of being the longest serving at 13 years. He's passed some years ago; but I've eclipsed his record. I only say that in a moment of levity – but this is kind of an accomplishment in that I kind of hung tough in the good and the bad times.”

Nelson continued, thoughtfully, “What I'm most satisfied with is that we never abdicated our responsibility. We've always maintained fidelity to the original purpose of OIC by Dr. Sullivan in helping people help themselves.”

In his role as CEO, Nelson had been tasked with both fund raising and innovational programs that would provide skills for OIC's constituents. He established two such programs that have evidenced immeasurable success, of which he is equally proud: “The programs that I was able to initiate here, was the OIC Futures program, which is really a social and vocational rehab program for mental health consumers. But, that was actually the first proposal I ever wrote, and that program lasted 22 years, until it lost its funding about two years ago. The second one in longevity is the Hospitality Training Industry Program I founded 23 years ago, and that's still going, placing about 150 people in jobs in hotels, restaurants, entertainment. I'm proud of those only because I can state that I founded them. They may not want to name one after me, but I'm proud of them, and at least I can say that that's what I did that really resulted in jobs for people.”

Robert Nelson at one of OIC's Hospitality Training Classes

OIC began during turbulent times in Philadelphia – when Dr. Sullivan, head pastor at Zion Baptist Church, was spending more time participating in protests, joining forces with Dr. Martin Luther King and others. Initial funds came from the churches and from the people, rather than from foundations and federal dollars. Per Nelson, in speaking of the continuing success of the organization: “The other thing I would say, for a community based organization, it's difficult to survive. It really is, because if you look at the federal level, state level – everybody's being impacted - particularly in Washington, because the President can't get anything done. On the state level they're cutting back – and the bulk of their budgets cuts affect poor people are primarily who are cut and they are the ones who we serve. We're 95% African American; 4% Latino and 1% other. So again, the two programs as my accomplishments, and being able to survive the vicissitudes of trying to survive this community based environment.”

It's clear that anyone coming behind Nelson is going to have some mighty big shoes to fill – something that was also said after Dr. Sullivan's passing in 2001. When asked what the criteria for his successor would be, he laughed it off initially, stating that the Board of Directors was basically taking care of that concern. However, with the upcoming conference, prayer breakfast and gala surrounding the celebration of the 50^th Anniversary Celebration, they've temporarily put it on the back burner.

But after I teased him about his successor needing to be able to walk on water, he laughingly responded: “That wouldn't be characteristic of my tenure either!  I think we begin with criteria that's more subjective than not. You really have to have a passion for what we do; and you've got to understand that it ain't easy.  Because having a passion for what we do, when we're dealing with is people coming in off the streets and applying in a city that has 200,000 low literate adults.  So you pretty much have to understand that we get people where they are - what they come with or don't come with. We certainly see people with a lack of educational experiences.  So the ability to understand that - the ability to try to empathize with that.  They have to be sensitive to those things things, because for the most part staff has it – good or bad.”

Nelson made it clear that while empathy is an important quality, being a phony is not acceptable: “And if you haven't lived it, don't be out there acting like you have.  I never grew up in public housing, for example. I never was on drugs; I was never unemployed for the most part.  So, I say to my people, don't use your own life experiences as a frame of reference for people that we receive. It's not the same!  You get people where they are, and you begin to motivate and progress them at a beginning point, which is their beginning point.  Don't try to give people your set of values.   You give people  space to formulate their own values. So that's one set of circumstances.”

It's apparent from this next statement that the new CEO will also have to have a thick skin and mental toughness:   “Plus you've got to be able to contend with every year fighting and struggling for dollars.  Don't get frustrated - because nowadays it's difficult to raise money from the foundations and corporations, because everybody else is going after the same limited pot of money.  So that's something you always have to deal with - and it changes from year to year whether your resources are going to come through – no resources, no programs, no jobs. It becomes a vicious cycle in that regard.  The other area is to be political.  I'm not that - I don't think that I've ever been that politically involved - things happen because of political relationships.  Not because I have a nice suit and tie on today, but because it's about understanding the political alliances, and how do you connect the dots that makes things happen for our organization.  That's why being politically astute is another thing that I would thing would be great.”

Dr. Sullivan established the Sullivan Progress Plaza, in Philadelphia on Broad Street, near Temple University, in the late 60's and it's still thriving today. When asked whether or not any of the revenues from the center are accrued to underwrite OIC, he responded, “No, it really doesn't.  It's a separate economic development initiative.  It was really one of the first one of Dr. Sullivan's focus on economics for civil rights.  His thinking was that 'It's okay and I will join the fight for people to have equal access in a restaurant, for example - and we can sit together. But what I'm really fighting for why don't we think about owning the restaurants, as opposed to working for the restaurant.' And then he decided well maybe what we ought to do is to create ownerships - and he designed what he called the 10/36 program.  He went around to any number of people in the church and the community and said "Give me ten dollars a month for three years, or thirty six months, and that will give us enough money to capitalize the Plaza.  The Plaza became the shopping center.  And that was started and that became another focus, as well as one in West Philadelphia.  And so that became the economic development activities that are still alive and well. “

OIC recently received a grant for $41,000 from the Philadelphia Foundation, to make it possible to build a state of the art interactive website for OIC, as well as produce the historical documentary celebrating fifty years of success. “Our website is our business card - it goes out to a number of different people.” 

One key program Nelson should also be proud of is the OICKeyspot Centers and NOMAD, which have been serving the Philadelphia area for quite some time, providing  free open access computer lab and mobile Computer lab facilities, as well as no-cost computer training in Internet Essentials, Computer Basics, Internet Safety, eMail Basics; Search Engine Basics, Microsoft Office Certification, among other essentials.  

N.O.M.A.D (Neighborhood Opportunities for Mobile Access Destinations) is a mobile computer lab outfitted with 50 laptops, WiFi internet access, and assist partner organizations that don't have computer lab equipment.  It serves more than 30 partner community based organizations.  Both are members of the Philadelphia Freedom Rings Partnership, which is a collection of community and local government agencies funded through the City of Philadelphia BTOP grant.  

Having recently lost funding for the program for those with mental challenges, as well as funding for homeless men who had been participating in the training in order to get back on their feet, is an indication that the larger funding population are not totally aware of how valuable and viable OIC is to Philadelphia in particular, and the US in general. So I asked Robert Nelson, if he was given the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with those people and organizations in Philadelphia, and to the President of the US, what message would he give them about the necessity for maintaining the financial viability of OIC?

He took a deep breath and responded, thoughtfully: “I would first of all talk to them about the history.  We're a great organization with incredible institutional presence in and of the Philadelphia community - that's one part - the historical part … And what we really need to be talking about is to establish what the priorities that we have attached ourselves to.  And that's real simple.  We've attached ourselves to the vision of creating and placing people into jobs. That becomes critical so we need to talk about the resources that will allow us to do that.  But more importantly, or equally important is ability that we first identify where the jobs are, because the employers will say “Well we have jobs, what we have is difficulty finding people with the skill sets for those jobs.” We want to make sure that we are providing skills training for jobs that will be around in the future.”

Nelson is concerned that programs that equip themselves for the “hot jobs” of the moment are doing a disservice to people who are hard core unemployed. They may last for a few months or a couple of years, but are not jobs with longevity or career promotional potential. So when he asks where the jobs are, there is a very real concerns that these positions meet that criteria. He continues: “So for us the fundamental question is whether that employer, or that official  can help us  understand where are the jobs?  There are skill sets - because that's how we start to develop our training programs consistent with where the jobs were.  That would be a conversation - and it also involves the battle with the income equality. Because all we've ever doing in life is dealing with poor folks - so obviously, by definition, there's income inequality among the people we serve.  So, we would argue for a raise in the minimum wage - it's becoming contested all over the place; but in some places they're saying, "yeah, that's a good idea."  So a series of things like that.”

The biggest challenge, according to Nelson, with OIC's moving forward, stems from issues in Washington, DC. “There's government, and there's nothing moving in Washington - I think it's important to concentrate on the midyear elections - we'd better make sure that the president doesn't lose the Senate.  We'll never get anything else out of Washington at all.” 

Currently OIC has 44 Branches throughout the United States, with the largest being in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Antonio, TX, Washington State. There are also smaller satellite branches in Montgomery County, and Erie County, PA.

The bottom line of how much it would take to make OIC whole, to really service people in PA in terms of funding and grants, in addition to the funds they receive from the Department of Labor and the Department of Education, is not one that is easily quantifiable in terms of dollars and cents, according to Nelson, who stated: “I'm not sure I could even quote you a dollar amount - what we need to do is do the things that make OIC relevant.  Nowadays, development has changed over the years and what it means to certain people; what it means to the organization.  What are the core principles that we stand for - certainly education is one of them, with 200,000 low illiterate people, we've got to go back to the basics - I'm almost ready to get back to Dick, Jane and Puff - we got to go back there, because we have adults at a certain age who can't read!  It's such a sad situation.  They've spent their whole life compensating for no skills - so that's the fundamentals.”

He continued “The second part of that is that we need the understanding from the chambers around the city and wherever else, where are the jobs, so we can develop the training programs consistent with those people sets, and at the same time partnering with the companies who are going to be the employers. 'Hey! let's sit down; we're OIC, we have the capacity to fill your jobs, we want to train people to fill them.'  Once we do that, we can literally make that open up the doors for funding sources that your local manpower and people here in the city;   make partnerships with employers and community based organizations.”

As the bid for funding becomes more challenging, with the landscape now also encompassing community colleges, and churches who are using Sullivan's principles as prototypes for their own programs, it's important that the original not be allowed to go down in the dust. Not only does their longevity speak volumes, but those they have served are living proof of the viability and value of OIC now and in the future.

Nelson, who has participated in 33 graduations, mentions how impactful it is when people who have graduated, whose lives have been changed around – no longer on welfare, or formerly on drugs, formerly in different negative circumstances when they came to OIC, and they graduated and moved forward with their lives.   “We invite them back to OIC to tell their story. And you look around the room and everybody's crying.  We had a program for formerly homeless men – And one of our graduates - his wife and two kids were there - they had been reconciled by the fact that he came to OIC, completed the training, got a job, and went back and got his family.  I'm sitting on the stage with four or five men and everybody's crying - everybody!  And I've done it any number of times, because, you know, real men cry.  I don't mind - I don't mind crying - it's something that impacts you, and I think this whole position has a way of getting tears because we've done so many good things for so many good people.” And thus the reason for the criteria for passion – coupled with compassion, is going to be a large part of who follows in those illustrious footsteps.

In considering what his parting message to his co-workers and staff might be, Nelson stated: “This has been a great experience - not one that I would have anticipated 33 years ago - that I'd be here.  Could I have done something else? could I have made more money? could I be all the things that I might have become, on looking back?  I don't say that about here because it's been a great experience.  I have met people that I never would have met if it hadn't been for being a part of OIC.  I sat at a luncheon with Colin Powell;  had conversations with presidents of the United States, presidents of African countries.  I've done those things.  I've been to Africa - I've had a lot of experiences, and I got the chance to be around and among and with Rev. Sullivan, and all the people who were a part of his mission.  I've also been in the room with other executives and staff members and more people from around the country.  And being in the room with hundreds and hundreds of people, literally - they all were inexplicably kind to one another by virtue of OIC - we're all here the same - that is we're all here to help people.  Dr. Sullivan would always say that he was just a poor Baptist preacher doing God's work.  And I think in OIC we're all doing that - we're all doing God's work .  I think it was a great experience.  I will miss it.”

While Nelson is stepping down formally as CEO on June 30, it's doubtful that they will let him get too far away from them – and equally doubtful that he will be able to resist returning from time to time to his second home away from home.

This week end is lined up with wonderful events open to the community and the loyal supporters of OIC through the decades. It would be a great send off to come out and celebrate the accomplishment of both the organization and the man who kept it running - Robert Nelson and OIC - they are both legends.

PS:  FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE, THERE IS A PRAYER BREAKFAST AND A COMMEMORATIVE GALA FOR OIC'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK END:

Come and show your appreciation and continued support for the organization whose works are the gifts that keep on giving.

Stay Blessed &

ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria Dulan-Wilson

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EVENT ALERTS: NEW YORK AND PHILLY ARE POPPING AND HOPPING WITH ENERGY THIS WEEK - SO GET OUT AND ENJOY!

-->By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
The next five days are going to be nothing but non-stop activities.  I am by no means trying to list everything that's going on - just some of the highlights that caught my attention:

TODAY JUNE 4:  

JANELLE MONAE Free Concert at the Prospect Park Bandshell in Brooklyn -  Gates Open 6:30 PM

THURSDAY, JUNE 5: 

2014 Real Dad Awards Ceremony & Celebration
	Hosted by Real Dads Network
	Thursday, June 5, 2014 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (EDT)
	Medgar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11225  |  Directions

 Print Tickets  Contact the Host

Download Mobile Tickets 

FRIDAY, JUNE 6:

PHILADELPHIA, PA:  The KAMA SAHLER GROUP PRESENTS "THE LION KING"

 

This is a one time only event put together through the ingenuity of Ms. Lisa Hopkins and the children at the John B. Kelly Elementary School at 5116 Pulaski Ave (at Hansberry), in Philadelphia; 6:00 PM
For tix call:  215-884-6998 or email lisayhop@msn.com
This is a treasure you won't want to miss as these beautiful kids come together to give their interpretation of THE LION KING.  Come out and support them - Our Children Are Beautiful, Talented, Creative, Special, Precious and Smart.  Show them the love and support they deserve.
Presented by the Philadelphia Cultural Fund

JUNE 7, 2014

NEW YORK CITY:  
JOEL OSTEEN NIGHT OF HOPE AT YANKEE STADIUM

Finally, it's June 7, 2014 and Joel and Victoria Osteen's Night of Hope returns to New York City.  They kicked off their first Night of Hope here at Yankee Stadium, to a packed audience.  This will be the third one that I've attended, and they never fail to uplift and encourage.  If you're looking to do something to set the rest of your life off on a good foot, this is definitely a great way to start. 
See you there!!  Stay Blessed - GDW

Joel and Victoria Osteen Night of Hope NYC 6/7/2014

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Reply-To: Philadelphia Jazz Project <info@philajazzproject.org>

PJP Jazz Dance Party Saturday, June 7, 2014 View this email in your browser It's finally happening.  Our first Jazz Dance Party.  After 4 months of free dance classes with the 52nd Street YMCA, we are ready to party.  Are you? JAZZ DANCE PARTY! Saturday, June 7th at 8:00pm Center For Architecture 1218 Arch Street -  Phila PA 19107 Blues, Bebop, Latin Jazz, Organ Trios, Swing, Soul Jazz, Funk and Fusion. Music spun by DJ: Mr. Sonny James of the IllVibe Collective Humor flipped by Comedian:  Food! Wine!  Beer! Raffles! All included with your ticket.  Tickets: $15 in advance / More at the door To purchase tickets now, click here Many thanks to our dance instructors Otis Givens, Kevin Tan, Tony McFadden, Gail Conley, Charlie Willingham, our advisors, Germaine Ingram, Brenda Dixon Gottschild, Sheron Wray, our collaborators at the YMCA, Terry Henry, Felecia Thompson, Alonzo Holder, Kevin McPherson El, and most important, PJP's Melissa Talley Palmer who started the off party months ago in our office. Dance Party Flyer/Poster Illustration: Eric Battle Purchase Tickets online at http://www.eventbrite.com/o/philadelphia-jazz-project-3564190905?s=25019175 Our mailing address is: Philadelphia Jazz Project ℅ Painted Bride Art Center 230 Vine Street Philadelphia, PA  19103 http://info@philajazzproject.org http://www.philajazzproject.org unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

JUNE 4- 8, 2014:

Odunde Festival = HAPPY NEW YEAR!

One of the largest and most longstanding African-American street festivals in the nation

Odunde is one of the largest community-based street festivals in the nation. Credit: M. Edlow for Visit Philadelphia

Description  -  Dates: June 4-8, 2014

Overview

The annual Odunde Street Festival brings a genuine taste of Africa to South Street and one of Philadelphia’s oldest, historically African-American neighborhoods.  This year, as the landmark festival celebrates its 39th anniversary, it becomes a five-day abundance of cultural, historical and family-friendly events that’s expected to draw nearly 500,000 people and cover 12 city blocks.

Events

A variety of events are slated to take place at various locales throughout the city, beginning on Wednesday, June 4 with an Odunde365 talk from influential Philadelphians at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.
Thursday, June 5, festivities moves to Ms. Tootsies for the Odunde365 Networking Mixer, and on Friday, June 6, City Hall welcomes ambassadors from Senegal, Granada, Ivory Coast and the African Union.
Come the weekend, events include a Guinness World Record-sized Zumba Class and the African Family Day at the Please Touch Museum on Saturday, June 7 and the blockbuster festival/street fair on Sunday, June 8.
The festival begins with a procession to the Schuylkill River, where prayers are offered and blessings bestowed. The procession then returns to South Street for the start of the street festival.
The enormous street fair covers 12 blocks, features more than 100 food and artisan vendors and is one of the largest community-based street festivals in the country taking over streets from 23rd and Lombard to Grays Ferry and Christian, and along South Street from 20th to 24th streets.
For a full list of events, click the button below.
Odunde Events

Come Prepared: Festival streets will be closed to traffic and parking, so consider taking public transportation.

Don’t Miss: Odunde’s authentic African Marketplace features vendors from around the world, including the Caribbean and Brazil.

Outsider Tip:Odunde is a Yoruba word that means “Happy New Year.” Every year, Odunde draws vendors from not only America but from Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, Tanzania, and Guinea.

JUNE 12 - 14 

OIC CELEBRATION AND CONFERENCE

Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan Founder of OIC America & International

 OIC 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION Pennsylvania Convention Center 

For the uninitiated OIC stands for Opportunities Industrialization Center - and was founded in Philadelphia 50 years ago by the great Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan.  He developed a program that was both national and international in scope that provided marketable skills for African Americans in Philadelphia - initially - who were locked out of the job market because of the lack of the necessary skills for particular job opportunities and crafts.  His program was so successful it quickly spread throughout the US, with centers in more than 144 cities. 

 

Rev. Sullivan with Philadelphia School Children

He later expanded the program to those peaceful countries in Africa looking to ensure their own people were able to provide the skills and services necessary for growing economies.  He subsequently developed the "Sullivan Principles" by which these countries are guided in their interaction.  Progress Plaza, which is a Black owned  commercial center is just one of the many wonderful things that was established by Rev. Sullivan during his prolific lifetime among us.

The Hon. Nelson Mandela and Rev. Leon Sullivan in South Africa

***Just so you'll know, Rev. LeonSullivan was a personal hero of mine.  I met him several times after having graduated from Lincoln University.  I lived not too far from his church; and actually tried to learn use a power sewing machine - didn't do so well at that.  Nevertheless, I think that the evidence of his faith through his works is exemplary.  And I have a major concern  that OIC is not being adequately supported or recognized for all that it has done, and continues to do.  This is a true Philadelphia Treasure - not to mention a national treasure - and definitely needs to be better supported and expanded - We have a tendency to take too many of our own accomplishments for granted.  Stay Blessed - GDW

June 13, 2014: Prayer Breakfast - 7:30AM - 9:30AM

June 14, 2014: Black Tie Anniversary Gala:  7:00 PM

Keynote Speaker: Rev. Al Sharpton

Rev. Al Sharpton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lifetime achievement Award recipient:  Congressman John Lewis 

Congressman John Lewis

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Additional information, log onto www.OICofAmerica.org or call 215.236.7700 x 300

Reverend Dr. Leon H. Sullivan, Founder

“Build Brother Build” is the title of Reverend Leon H. Sullivan’s book detailing the birth and development of Opportunities Industrialization Centers (OIC). It is also the philosophy by which he governed his life.
Born in Charleston, West Virginia, on October 16, 1922, Leon H. Sullivan became a Baptist minister at age 18. He graduated from West Virginia State College and the Columbia University Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
He eventually moved to Philadelphia to become pastor of the Zion Baptist Church in 1950. From the pulpit, he could clearly see the needs of his community. Thousands were unemployed and yet thousands of jobs were vacant. Rev. Sullivan believed that jobs were the key to the economic development and true empowerment of African Americans rather than a dependence upon public assistance.
Sullivan organized 400 other ministers and launched a “selective patronage” campaign whose main purpose was to boycott the Philadelphia-based companies that did not practice equal opportunity in employment. The boycott opened up more than 4,400 jobs to African Americans, yet many still needed to be trained and prepared for those jobs.
In order to insure that those individuals who got a job possessed the skills to keep the job, Rev. Sullivan founded the very first OIC training center in 1964 in an abandoned jailhouse in North Philadelphia. The dilapidated building was renovated using donations from people in the community and an anonymous grant. The OIC provided job and life skills training and matched its graduates with the employment needs of Philadelphia businesses. The undertaking was a huge success, and the programs were quickly replicated in cities across the United States providing comprehensive employment training and placement for disadvantaged, unemployed and unskilled Americans of all races. In 1969, OIC International was created to provide employment-training services on a global scale based on the OIC philosophy of “self-help”. In 1970, Rev. Sullivan established OIC of America, Inc. to serve as the national headquarters to OIC Affiliates and the technical assistance center for communities replicating the OIC model.

Like I said - Rev. Sullivan was a personal Hero of Mine.  

Stay Blessed & 
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson
www.gloriadulanwilson.blogspot.com/ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS

EVENT ALERT: NACA AND NUL IN PHILLY AT CONVENTION CENTER JULY 25-29

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Well after a rousing keynote speech by Marc Marial President of the 103 year old venerable National Urban League (NUL), there can be no doubt in any one's mind that they are in Philly to take care of business.  The next three days will be jammed with activities and workshops that will leave the participants reeling.  But they appear to be up to it, as evidenced by the applause he received during his keynote speech - themed on the basis that Philadelphia has been the Black music capital for decades.  He used excerpts from famous songs to depict the thrust of the organization over the next year; and ended by saying that the murder of young Black males will not be tolerated; nor will the evisceration of the Voting Rights Act by the Supreme Court (I call them the subprime court) go unchallenged.

If you are in or around the East Coast - or if you're on the moon - it makes sense that you take this opportunity come and support this organization that has stood for jobs, quality of life, education, training and civil/human rights of Black people for over 100 years; and they've not slowed down since their inception.  For more information, log on to www.nul.com.

Simultaneously, and coincidentally, the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, more popularly known as NACA is also at the Philadelphia Convention Center for a 5 day stint to help make renters into home owners; and help save those homeowners who were victims of predatory lenders from foreclosure; or overly high monthly mortgage payments.

Having just left New York City where they worked with thousands of New York families, NACA is doing an East Coast sweep to try and shore up those families that are still struggling to make ends meet, maintain their families, keep a roof over their heads; or own a quality home in a good neighborhood without it costing them half their souls.  Bruce Marks, who founded the organization 25 years ago is a hands on activist as well as the genesis behind the world's best mortgage package.  In addition to no down payment, no closing costs; not predicated on your credit scores, the mortgage is always 1% below the current prevailing mortgage rate.  It also offers buy-down opportunities, so you can practically reduce your interest rate to 0.   Because they deal with more than 80 banks, those facing foreclosure also have the advantage of getting same day solutions, often seeing mortgage reductions of between $500  to $1,000 or more per month!

It seems to me that there is some sort of synchronicity here - having both organizations in the same place - the Philadelphia Convention Center - at the same time.  There would, to me, appear to be opportunity for cross pollination - there are bound to be those among the Urban League who would like to own their own homes, but don't have the down payment or closing costs (yet) to do so.  Why wouldn't they take advantage of the proximity and spend some time in a FREE NACA workshop?  And concomitantly there are bound to be some NACA participants who would benefit from the job fair that the National Urban League is presenting at the Philadelphia Convention Center; why not bring resumes and avail yourselves of the opportunity.

Both organizations are national in scope, so regardless of where you're from, there is relevance and applicability in both arenas.

Let's hope the particpants and conveners both see the wisdom in this and make avenues for synchronicity to work for both of them.

The Philadelphia Convention Center is conveniently located in downtown Philadelphia on Arch Street between 11th and 12th Streets and can be reached either by subway or bus.

If you do attend both events, you will come out the winner.  Look forward to seeing you there.

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson



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