1.  Wake up Chicago! Congressman Bobby Rush (Illinois – 1^st District) has entered into a partnership with the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC Construction Committee).  This partnership is to monitor and ensure that every major infrastructure project within the greater Chicago Region involves significant procurement activity from the database of Black architects, engineers, construction managers, general contractors and subcontractors.  We are in the process of developing a Clearinghouse that will actively hold the database of qualified, bona fide and certified Black businesses in the aforementioned disciplines.  NO FRONTS NEED APPLY! There will be a summit for those applicable firms in late July.  Stand by for the formal notice.   Any congressperson, senator, governor or mayor who wishes to emulate this Chicago Model should formally request such to Charles DeBow at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

2.  Uniting the African Diaspora Entrepreneurs: 2012 will be known as the Year of Organization.  We will be participating in a series of summits and conventions that will organize our entrepreneurs and put them on the “Same Page”.  The following are the events we are scheduling:

National Black Chamber of Commerce 20^th Annual Convention, Four Seasons Hotel, Atlanta, GA July 19 – 21, 2012. The theme is “Good Policies Lead to a Great Economy”. This event will be packed full of content including a matchmaker for our members and over 100 entrepreneurs from Africa (mainly Botswana).  DON’T MISS THIS! www.nbccconvention.org.

Trans-Atlantic International Trade and Investment Symposium, August 1, 2012, Hilton Trinidad, Trinidad-Tobago. This event will gather entrepreneurs from North America, South America (inclusive of the Caribbean) and Africa.  The theme is “Reinventing the Triangle” (revolving interaction amongst the three continents).  NBCC President/CEO Harry C. Alford will give the Keynote Address at this historical event.  More details to follow shortly.

Leon H. Sullivan Summit IX, August 20 – 24, 2012, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The NBCC aims to populate this summit with our members with the intent of learning the business environment of each sub-Saharan African nation as they will be represented at this very popular event.  Standard charter delegate packages start at $2,012 (which includes coach airfare, hotel double occupancy, official Summit meals, and Summit events). Why Equatorial Guinea? There you will experience the natural wonders of The Gulf of Guinea courtesy of the Equatorial Guinean Government and the Equatorial Guinean Tourist Board. Renowned for its many exotic beaches and forests, Equatorial Guinea offers something new and exciting to discover for both the new and the most seasoned explorers.  www.sullivansummit.org.

NBCC Trade Mission to Ethiopia, mid – September, 2012. This nation with the second largest population in Africa is opening up its economy and is becoming a true free market.  It is rich in resources and is cultivating a new entrepreneurial class.  Let’s go and meet them.  Fly with us on the classy Ethiopian Air Lines and visit the historical city of Addis Ababa.  The history of the nation is noted in the Bible and dates back to the pharaohs of Egypt.  Exact details will follow soon.

The First PanAfrican Entrepreneurs Conference, November 15 – 17, 2012, Four Seasons Hotel, Houston, TX. Our sister organization will make its debut with a bang.  The intent is to organize PanAfrican entrepreneurs and set policy, issue positions and initiatives that relate to trade, business development and wealth building where African Diaspora populations exist.  Delegates will meet via online at regular occasions.  The November conferences will assess our progress and reset our agenda for the following year.  www.panafricanec.org.

Post Conference Trade Mission to Zambia, Nov. 21 – 26, 2012, Lusaka, Zambia. This event will take the momentum from the above conference and begin applying it to one of the most stable nations on the continent of Africa.  The English speaking nation has a dynamic American Chamber of Commerce and we are working with this office to ensure a viable, serious business experience with results.  More details to follow.

3.  Victory in Court: Last Saturday, a federal judge in Washington, DC gutted the main portion of the Gainful Employment Rule.  This will relieve for-profit colleges and universities of the wrath of the US Department of Education which was trying to regulate to the point of a serious decrease in financial aid to students who matriculate there.  This also would have had a negative effect on many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s).  For profit colleges and universities lead the way in graduating Black and Hispanic students.  We have been very active in fighting this rule (including letters, Hill visits, Op-Eds and Congressional testimony, etc.). Justice has been served!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!