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  • Politics Is Like Hiring A Hitman
    by Scott Woods inPolitical on2020-08-13

    For me, politics is like hiring a hitman. I have values and things I care about. I care enough about them to at least bother voting for 5 minutes every year for one issue or another. And because I care at least that much, I vote for people who align with the ability to realize the things I care about.

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  • Punching Above Our Weight
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-07-24

    I believe our vote is the punctuation of our voice. Without that resounding exclamation mark, I believe our voices are just incoherent noise.

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  • BLACK PROGRESS AMIDST SOCIAL CHAOS
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-06-16

    Recent events have raised the profile of historical injustice and inequities here in the USA. The entire world has taken note of the fact that BLACK LIVES MATTER.   We invite all of our friends to engage in actions that result in the greatest movement for change in our history. It is imperative that we take advantage of this opportunity to affect a positive change by ACTING IN OUR SELF-INTERESTS.

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  • Living in a Black No-Man's Land
    by Roger Madison Jr. inOur Community on2019-10-28

    There are many narratives that define the Black experience in America in this 2nd decade of the 21st century. Our striving over the centuries of our sojourn in this nation is a tapestry of every human experience -- oppression, enslavement, forced assimilation, dehumanization, exclusion, segregation, isolation, struggle, perseverance, achievement, excellence, celebration, mourning, despair, progress, setbacks, lynching, assassination, genocide, terror, self-hatred, low esteem, pride,...

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  • Fighting Racism
    by Scott Woods inOur Community on2018-10-25

    I had a boss who was racist. Not an outright bigot, of course; her toolbox was more subtle than most. We bumped heads a lot over inconsequential things. She frequently couldn’t keep my name out her mouth. Lot of gaslighting. You know…2018 style. I tried a lot of ways to combat or navigate her issues. None of them worked, and that’s saying a lot because I’m really good at fighting racism. But at the end of the day – every day – she was my boss, I had to deal with her, and that was that. Finally I...

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OIC Press Conference & National Self-Help Initiative Launch

OIC Historical MarkerOIC of America will make a historic announcement regarding a new initiative to spark economic, business, and entrepreneurial development within the African American community. The “Entrepreneurial Mindset Initiative” seeks to motivate over 1 million people to become self employed.

The announcement will take place on Tuesday, March 15 · 11:00am - 12:00pm at Progress Plaza in North Philadelphia. Details regarding this new, bold and ambitious effort by OIC of America to spark entrepreneurial growth will be unveiled during the Press Conference.

Founded by Reverend Leon Sullivan, OIC of America has a rich legacy of grassroots funding initiatives including the historic 10/36 plan which led to the successful development of Progress Plaza in 1968. The North Philadelphia shopping center was the first Black owned in America. A broad-based group of guests including current business, religious, community, education and political leaders from government, professional and faith based organizations will be in attendance.

The event marks the historic launch of a multifaceted strategy to engage African Americans and the community at large in the effort to reduce unemployment and underemployment through increased development of entrepreneurship.

Details regarding the community based effort to generate funds for the Entrepreneurial Mindset Initiative will also be discussed at this event. In addition, OIC of America's new website will be unveiled at www.oicofamerica.org and information will be available online to allow site visitors to directly participate in the funding effort for this community centered self-help initiative.

Guests at the Press Conference will also have an opportunity to receive a guided tour of Progress Plaza.