GDW EVENT ALERT: Rainbow Push Wall Street Project - March 10-12 - Has been postponed

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:  

Upcoming Events

Mar10

Wall Street Project: A Call For A Moral Economic Agr

Mar 10 - Mar 12 · Rainbow PUSH Coalition · Chicago, Illinois

You like Rainbow PUSH Coalition

I know most of us are accustomed to attending the Rainbow Push Coalition's Annual Wall Street Project Conference in NYC in January.  A few years ago, it was moved to February, appropriately during Black History Month.   This year the 23rd Annual event is March 10th through the 12th.  

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.

I'm like a homing pigeon.  I can't wait to participate in what I consider the most pivotal event of the year in Black intelligentsia.  Rev. Jackson never fails to come up with epoch making information, resources, presenters.  His research team is impeccable.   You leave with an arsenal of information that is applicable to your future success - irregardless of whether you are involved in a business venture, personal development, educational endeavors, political aspirations, international interactions, health, sports, entertainment, or whatever - The Rainbow Push Wall Street Project covers all the bases.

Most of you know that Rev. Jackson is a personal hero of mine - and has been for years.   Prior to the inception of the Wall Street Project, he had been mostly perceived of as an activist - a very effective and innovative activist, whose reach was international.  Most of us were not aware of the fact that he was also a phenomenal economist, with broad base knowledge in the realm of investments, development, pension funding, and other arenas Black people are not ordinarily aware of.  In his interest to bring about financial parity between main stream America and most African Americans whose background in the realm of finance is limited - both by lack of experience and resources, as well as lack of education, of the requisite family background that provides them with the silver spoon that makes it possible to reap the benefits available in the investment realm, he launched the Wall Street Project.   Many of us still don't get the connection.  The fact that we have been deliberately excluded from those major decision making realms that ultimately impact us - from home ownership, investing, educational accessibility, etc.  

I first became aware of Rev. Jackson's economic prowess when David Dinkins was running for Mayor of New York City.  New York was facing a major economic downturn, and Rev. Jackson recommended that Dinkins utilize the New York Pension Funds for upgrading the faltering economy and the educational system.  It was a brilliant plan that would have totally turned the entire economic downturn around.  Allies of both Mayor Dinkins and Rev. Jackson, also supported the concept.  However, sadly enough it was not implemented.  However, I became aware of a side of Rev. Jackson that I think few of us realized - his superior knowledge of  the realm of Finance and financial literacy.  It also indicated why he would have been a fantastic President of the U.S.  

He has channeled that wisdom, knowledge, understanding and resources into the Rainbow Push Organizations signature events - of which the Wall Street Project is pivotal.

My post started out to urging you to participate in the upcoming 23rd Annual event.  However, I just received communication that it had been postponed to a later date owing to the impending pandemic of the Coronavirus, which is currently causing most major gatherings to either cancel or reschedule - see advisory below.

In the interim, while we're waiting for updated information, I'm including some of the initial information about the programs that will be included in the upcoming 23rd event.  And for those of you who need additional information, check out their FaceBook Page.  Hopefully the links I've provided below will be instrumental in expanding your knowledge base on what they've been involved in and will be doing.

In the interim,
Stay Blessed & 
ECLECTICALLY BLACK 

Gloria Dulan-Wilson 

NOW THAT YOU KNOW

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

About Wall Street Project

The Wall Street Project challenges corporate America to end the multi-billion-dollar trade deficit. with minority vendors and consumers and works to ensure equal opportunity for diverse employees, entrepreneurs, and consumers.
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Opening Reception

On Tuesday evening, March 10, 2020, the reception will celebrate Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., and the release of his new book “Keeping Hope Alive: Sermons and Speeches of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. with Grace Ji-Sun Kim.”
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2020 Agenda

The Summit will feature sessions on closing the wealth gap, board diversity, supplier diversity, global and Africa diaspora investment, sports, state of black wealth/black economy, technology, Hip Hop, and much more...
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MAILING LIST

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Click here to join

400 Years Later White Paper

To download the 400 Years Later White Paper, click here.

Hotel Information

To make your hotel reservations, click here.

Wall Street Project Reports

To request your copy of the reports, click here.

NEWS ADVISORY Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Delays 23rd Annual Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project Economic Summit to Protect Delegates and Attendees from Possible High-Risk (New York, NY) March 4, 2020 Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. announced today that he and Rainbow PUSH Coalition have been closely monitoring and evaluating the expanding impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) or organizational and travel operations. To ensure the safety of attendees at the upcoming Summit, the social justice organization is taking necessary measures to protect the health and well-being of all stakeholders who planned to participate in the upcoming Rainbow PUSH Coalition & Citizenship Education Fund’s 23rd Annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit (“Wall Street Project”).  “We regret that due to the global health concerns, and ongoing travel restrictions being instituted over the ongoing spread of COVID-19, we have decided to postpone the Wall Street Project,  originally scheduled for March 10 through March 12, 2020 at the Sheraton Hotel Times Square in New York City,” says Rev. Dr. S. Todd Yeary, senior vice president of Rainbow Push Coalition. Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. and the entire team at Rainbow PUSH want to prioritize everyone’s health and safety during this period of high public health concern.  The Wall Street Project Economic Summit draws hundreds of delegates and attendees from various countries on the continent of Africa and in Europe.  “Amid this global public health emergency, we are committed to protecting our delegates and attendees from heightened health risks associated with public gatherings and international travel,” says Rev. Jackson, the organization’s founder and convener of the Wall Street Project Economic Summit.  Over the past days, New York State officials confirmed six cases of COVID-19, and New York is one of 13 U.S. states with confirmed cases of the virus. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is now a total of at least 80 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus nationally, with dozens new diagnoses expected. Rev. Jackson noted, “We can’t keep COVID-19 from becoming a global pandemic, but the more we can do to protect ourselves, slow the spread of the disease, the less severe the impact will be.”  He added, “We want to make sure we do our part to protect our friends and partners, and not add to the complexity of managing and monitoring essential containment measures. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by the delay and appreciate everyone’s understanding and support. In the meantime, we hope that everyone stays safe and healthy.” Alternative dates will be confirmed once the current public health crisis has subsided.  The organization hopes to reschedule the Summit for early June 2020  #####

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Day One of Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project: Intel Established $300M Diversity Fund To Transform their Workforce to Achieve Parity by 2020

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

Tuesday, January 13, 2015 was the opening day of Rev. Jesse Jackson's Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project Economic Summit - and if you think that title was a mouthful, it's nothing compared to the days activities - which was impactful from beginning to end.  This marks the 18th year of the acclaimed three-day conference, which brings together experts in major areas of financing and investment - from venture capital to angel funding; from direct investors to strategic partnerships.  There is something of value there for everyone - whether you're a veteran or just getting your feet wet in the realm of investing and high financing.

Rev. Jesse Jackson Rainbow/PUSH WALL STREET PROJECT ECONOMIC SUMMIT 2015

Kudos to Rev. Jackson for once again raising the bar, and focusing on areas that have heretofore not been dealt with in the realm of economic parity for Black people and people of color.  This year's theme, "Where Wall Street, Main Street & Silicon Valley Converge, focuses on tech, tech stocks, technical innovation, hiring in the tech industry and all things tangential to the ongoing development of silicon valley.

But that wasn't even the big news - The audience let out a collective gasp when Rev. Jackson announced Intel's intention to set aside $300 Million in funds to achieve parity for diverse employees across their entire industry.  He stated: "Rainbow/PUSH argues that companies must set measurable diversity and inclusion goals, targets and timetables.  Intel has done just that, and more.  Intel CEO Brian Krzanich is demonstrating visionary leadership by committing the company to a bold new hiring and retention goal to mirror the face of America in its US workforce by achieving full representation of women and under-represented minorities at Intel by 2020.  Intel's "parity 2020" commitment is a game changer with the potential to fundamentally transform the diversity and inclusion landscape in the technology industry. "  

And Intel is putting a budget behind its vision, committing $300M over the next five years.  Called the Diversity in Technology Initiative, it will make investments to build a pipeline of underreprensented engineers & computer scientist; fund programs and business that support more positive representation of women and under-represented minorities in technology and gaming, including increased investments in supplier and diversity and venture capital for minority tech entrepreneurs.  

Always thinking of the next generation, Rev. Jackson, who graduated from North Carolina A&T, an HBCU, announced that there would also be an expansion of collaboration with HBCU's to strengthen their infrastructure to teach CS and prepare students to enter the tech industry.  

He further stated that "Intel has defined unequivocally and measurably what it means to "do better."  They have now set the standard by which all other companies will be measured; othr comanies will be invited to join the "parity pledge" including development of uniform workforce data reporting standards.  

Stating that RainbowPUSH will be partnering with Intel to implement this 2020 initiative, he added, "It is our hope that the participation of African Americans and Latinos will be greatly accelerated in the next five years.  Participating fully and equitably in this world changing, innovative tech economy is the civil rights imperative of this generation.

African Americans are 14% of the population of the US or some 45 million people.  According to Rev. Jackson, "There is no talent deficit, but an opportunity deficit," he stated - having the audience to repeat it after him like a mantra.  He further intimated that the tech industry had demonstrated that it can solve the most challenging complex problems in the world - and inclusion is a complex problem.  "If we put our collective minds to it, we can solve it, too.  Intel's "parity 2020" doesn't just pay lipservice to the problem, he added, "they solved the problem."  

In addition to the technical realm, Rev. Jackson turned his attention to private sector hiring and investment, stating it is time to rethink or reimagine our approach to finances and progress.  "Historically the Black middle class has grown as the result of government initiatives, government jobs, government contracts and sometimes government mandates, thereby letting the private sector off the hook.  A recent Survey on Consumer Finances on the wealth and income of African American is stark, according to Rev. Jackson.  One in three Blacks has less than $1,000 in wealth; for whites the number is one in nine.  Median wealth levels are $11,000 for Blacks and $134,000 for whites.  

Per Rev. Jackson, while much has been written about a race gap - but there is no race gap - there is an investment gap; an historical legal gap, and an imbalance of trade gap.  These gaps have limited growth and development, but there is no job we cannot perform, no goods and services we cannot provide, if given the opportunity to compete on a level playing field.  Stating "There is no job we cannot perform," he called for the private sector to make the marketplace more inclusive.  

Day Two will get underway with "Money Where it Matters: Managing Corporate Endowment and Foundation Funds;" "Access to Capital Part II - Securing the Money Minority Businesses Need to Grow;"  "The Business of HipHop and Examining Next Steps;"  "Building It Together - Why Strategic Partnerships Work: "After The Cheering Stops: The Next Generation of Athlete DealMakers."       

If today's session is anything like yesterday's events, there will definitely be something for every one.  The Wall Street Project Initiative conference will  also, provides you an opportunity to expand and grow and be a part of the economic solution that moves our individual and collective agendas forward.

The Rev. Jackson and is team of researchers and experts have empaneled some of the foremost experts in their various fields to bring you first hand knowledge, methodologies and solutions. Make it your business to take care of business and avail yourself of this unique opportunity.

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson

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