Organizations
From market research and trade leads from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service to export finance information from Export-Import Bank and the Small Business Administration to agricultural export assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Export.gov helps American exporters navigate the international sales process and avoid pitfalls such as non-payment and intellectual property misappropriation.
the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is supporting the African Union Expo and Martin Ezemma, MBDA Business Development Specialist, the Agency’s expert in the African Diaspora will be leading the Q&A discussions and his extended team will be delivering several of the sessions related to Exports/Imports, Trade and Investment.
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), a job-creating agency, leads Federal efforts to promote the growth and global competitiveness of America’s minority business community. This summary includes a small portion of our overall accomplishments during the first three years of the Obama Administration.
The African Union Expo 2015 has been formally chosen to host one of the Innovate HER business Challenge events.
About the InnovateHER Business challenge:
Building on the success of the SBA’s inaugural 2015 InnovateHER Business Challenge, which we piloted in early 2015, Administrator Contreras-Sweet and the Office of Women’s Business Ownership are pleased to announce the launch of the SBA’s InnovateHER 2016: Innovating for Women Business Challenge and Summit. The InnovateHER Challenge is a national prize competition aimed at unearthing products and services that impact and empower the lives of women and families through local business competitions that culminate in a live pitch Final Round.
We are pleased to announce the support of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) for the African Union Expo 2015. the SBA SDBCs they are as follows:
- Columbia University Business School, Harlem
- CUNY, York College
- CUNY, City Tech
- CUNY, Lehman College
U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) will be delivering the sessions related to export finance, and export strategy, Business planning, Marketing and e-commerce.
Individuals
- Gale A. Brewer is the 27th Manhattan Borough President, responsible for advising the Mayor and City Council on borough concerns, commenting on all land-use matters in the borough, advocating for the borough in the municipal budget process, and appointing members of Manhattan’s 12 Community Boards.
- The Borough President also chairs the Borough Board, made up of City Council Members and Chairs from the Community Boards, and the Borough Services Cabinet, composed of senior officials from City agencies delivering services in the borough.
Ms. Brewer previously served on the City Council for 12 years, from 2002 through 2013, representing the 6th Council District which includes most of the Upper West Side and northern Clinton.
Ruben Diaz Jr. first entered public office as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1997, and is currently serving his second full term as Bronx Borough President, having been reelected in November 2013 with more than 89 percent of the vote.
As borough president, Ruben Diaz Jr. has led the implementation of a robust agenda—on economic development, housing, education, and public safety—in every corner of the borough. The Bronx has seen over $7 billion in new development of all kinds since Borough President Diaz took office in 2009. This includes more than $600 million in housing, building nearly 13,000 new units, and the creation of more than 15,000 new jobs.
A lifelong resident of the 9th Council District that includes Central Harlem, Morningside Heights, parts of the Upper West Side and part of East Harlem, Inez Dickens is highly respected as a tireless fighter for basic civil and human rights, justice, equity, inclusion and diversity. She is committed to improving the quality of life for everyone in her community and in the City of New York. Moreover, for over 30 years beginning as a student activist at the side of her father and mentor, the late Harlem businessman and NYS Assemblyman, Lloyd E. Dickens, Council Member Inez E. Dickens has taken an active role in economic development, small business with a focus on minority and women owned business enterprise, and political landscape of New York’s celebrated village of Harlem.
The Honorable Professor Michael John Downie is an Education Consultant specializing in performance improvement and growth strategy through curriculum development and global educational programs. He served as Assistant Professor of English at Stevens Institute of Technology, where he instituted CAL 103, “The Freshmen Experience”, and was Assistant Professor of English & African American Literature at SUNY Westchester Community College.
In 2003, Prof. Downie founded Renaissance in Motion, a non-profit cultural organization that provides access to Harlem’s diverse artistic and intellectual scene through salons, lectures and concerts held in Harlem.
State Senator Adriano Espaillat’s career in public service has been marked by historic accomplishments and an unwavering commitment to integrity, justice, and equal representation for all.
Following a successful tenure in the New York State Assembly, Espaillat was elected to the Senate in November 2010, where he represents the 31st district. This uniquely diverse and dynamic district stretches from Manhattan’s Upper West Side through Washington Heights and includes Riverdale, Marble Hill, and Hamilton Heights.
A trailblazing community activist, Senator Espaillat made history in 1996 when he became the first Dominican-American elected to a state legislature.
Martin provides business consulting services for minority businesses on Doing Business In Africa.He serves as a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business In Africa. Martin represents MBDA to coordinate the Africa Diaspora business community engagement through the office of Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC)-International Trade Administration (ITA).
Assembly represents the 77th Assembly District, which includes Claremont, Concourse, Highbridge, Mount Eden and Morris Heights sections of the Bronx.A prior member of Community Board 4 and the Neighborhood Advisory Board, Latoya is a Bronx resident. She is also a proud product of the public educational system. Latoya is a graduate of Richard R. Green High School for Teaching and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She participated in Stony Brook’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and benefited from its dedication to grooming African-American and Latino students.
The program focuses on providing students with the necessary tools to succeed in competitive college academic environments. Striving to take the greatest possible advantage of the opportunities EOP made available, Latoya studied abroad in Ghana and participated in various internships.
- Ms. Athena B. Moore’s office manages a broad portfolio which includes the work of the MBPO African Immigrant Task Force.
- Ms. Athena Moore brings a wealth of expertise in policy advocacy, health and human services, and strategic planning – as well as a deep commitment to public service and broad experience working collaboratively – and I’m very pleased that she is joining our team,” Brewer said. “Our goal is to strengthen our community partnerships, ramp up constituent services, and do all we can to improve the quality of life in Northern Manhattan.”
- Ms. Moore brings over 18 years experience to her position. Before joining the Borough President’s Office, Moore was Director of Public Policy at the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS Inc.
Senator Bill Perkins, a Democrat was Elected to the New York State Senate in November 2006. Senator Perkins dealer to the 30th Senate District Which is part of New York County and encompasses Harlem, the Upper West Side and Washington Heights. A life long resident of Harlem, Bill Perkins His political career started as a community activist and is Known For His commitment to serving the community. The young, elderly and The most vulnerable New Yorkers Have Always Been Bill’s legislative Priorities. Prior to the election, Senator Perkins served on the New York City Council. During His eight year tenure, I was the third highest ranking member of the Council serving as the Deputy Majority Leader.
- Mr. Touré previously has held several high-ranking positions within the United Nations. Such as:
- the Permanent Representative of Guinea to the United Nations;
- Senior Political Affairs Officer in charge of the Horn of Africa Team in the Department of Political Affairs;
- Chief of Staff at the United Nations Operations in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI);
- Senior Political Adviser to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa;
- Acting Chief of Staff at the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa.
- Rev. Walrond, who is also affectionately known by the congregation as Pastor Mike, serves as the leader, pastor and teacher to the “ever evolving community of visionaries & dreamers” at First Corinthian Baptist Church.
- Within two years of his leadership at FCBC, the church experienced a tremendous amount of growth, inevitably necessitating the addition of a second service. Over the past eight years, membership at FCBC has grown from three hundred and fifty disciples to over seven thousand, and has led to the creation of several new ministries and initiatives.
- In 1992, Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright, a lifelong resident of Harlem, was elected to represent the 70th Assembly District. Since then, he has earned a reputation for getting results for his constituents and for improving the quality of life for new Yorkers all across the state.
- Over the years, he has chaired several standing committees in the Assembly among them, election law, social services, labor and his current chairmanship, of the housing committee. He has proven himself to be a true champion for civil rights and social justice having also sponsored key legislation including bills to: create affordable housing; raise the minimum wage and to strengthen the state’s wage and hour laws to provide essential protections for the hardworking men and women of New York.
