00:00Last year, I became the first woman and African-American
00:03to serve as the president and CEO of One Detroit
00:05in its 90-year history.
00:06I do still have some of my own companies.
00:09I have a real estate portfolio that I manage and oversee
00:12and have done that for 12 years now.
00:16I owned a very popular bar and restaurant on the east side
00:20that was called Good Vibes.
00:21I sold Good Vibes last year when I was announced
00:24as president and CEO.
00:25And then my other organization, the Wealth Investor Network,
00:28which is an incubator for women helping
00:30to increase our financial capacity.
00:32We're a partner with Michigan Black Business Alliance,
00:34but we serve about 100 women in Metro Detroit,
00:38helping them elevate financially right now.
00:40We're headquartered in Easter Market.
00:41Find resources.
00:42There's so many resources, such as those
00:45that Michigan Black Business Alliance that offers services,
00:48and many people don't take advantage of it.
00:50We need more and more people to get engaged, to tune in,
00:53and most importantly, bank where your money will serve you.
00:57Many small businesses are banking with larger institutions
01:00that will never be able to lend to them.
01:03One Detroit creates products and services
01:04specifically for our members.
01:06And because we're member-owned, we get to dictate
01:09what those products and services look like.
01:11We get to determine who we lend to.
01:13We can lend deeper.
01:14We can create specialized products.
01:15Right now, we work with MBBA and their partners
01:18to help create products specifically for their members.
01:22And we have some new products that'll be coming online
01:24specifically for smart businesses by the fall.
01:27Just want to put out a couple of reminders
01:29with the Michigan Black Business Alliance.
01:30Make sure you are following us on all platforms,
01:33blackbizalliance.com, social media, Black Biz Alliance.
01:36We have reopened our Up Next application.
01:39So what that program is, is where we actually pair
01:41youth between the ages of 16 to 24
01:44with our actual premium member businesses, right?
01:46So during the summertime for six weeks,
01:48they'll work on site with someone specific
01:50who has a brick and mortar and that they're interested in.
01:52And whether that's a restaurant, whether that's
01:54a marketing agency, whatever that looks like,
01:56we'll pair them.
01:57So we reopened our application.
01:58So if you know anybody between the ages of 16 to 24,
02:01please, please apply.
02:02And all of our members that are listening,
02:04please make sure you guys are submitting
02:05your application as well.
02:06We also have our Golf Culture Classic
02:09that is on the 15th.
02:10So it's our annual fundraising event.
02:12So we're asking people to come out to support that.
02:14We'll be at Chandler Park.
02:15So that information is on the line as well.
02:17So please, please, please sign up, register,
02:19and come golf with us.
02:20All right, closing thoughts.
02:23I want to say she is a powerhouse.
02:26So whatever information you guys need,
02:28however we can support businesses that are out there,
02:30please do not hesitate to reach out.
02:32We've had a lot of meetings.
02:33We've had a lot of new members sign up.
02:35We are 2,000 plus members across Michigan, right?
02:40So we're everywhere.
02:41But I just want to make sure that people know that we exist,
02:44these opportunities that we're providing,
02:45the people that we're bringing to the table,
02:47the businesses that are growing,
02:48just making sure you're a part of it.
02:50That way, all your questions are being answered
02:52right there on the spot.
02:52We had somebody come in yesterday.
02:54He needed help with his Detroit business certification.
02:56So he's like, I have all the things together,
02:57but I just can't get through this process.
02:59And we know how that process works
03:00for procuring with the city of Detroit.
03:02So just being able to,
03:03someone to be able to come into office
03:04and get whatever they need right on the spot.
03:06So just making sure everybody kind of comes out,
03:07know what we do, search our website,
03:09follow us on social media,
03:10and just come visit us at The Hub.
03:12And your website is?
03:13That's www.blackbizalliance.com.
03:16All right.
03:17And closing thoughts from you.
03:19The last thing that I will add is,
03:20I urge the community to really find
03:23community relationships in banking.
03:24We're in a time where community banks are going away
03:27and we're becoming mega banks in our city.
03:30We have to bank with who's serving our community
03:32and making sure we're supporting those organizations
03:35or organizations will continue to fade away.
03:37We see banks and credit unions consolidating every day.
03:40It is critical that we are supporting,
03:43putting our dollars with financial institutions
03:45that actually serve and lend in the communities we serve.
03:49Realistically for business owners,
03:50it's best that you have your money
03:52with the financial institution
03:53that's going to serve that community
03:54because that community is who serves your business.
03:56We're the ones lending to your customers.
03:58We're the ones lending to the residents
04:00of the city of Detroit.
04:01Without access to capital,
04:02that's why businesses go away.
04:04Right now, everyone is financially struggling.
04:06Things are tight.
04:07We have to make sure that we're supporting
04:08the organizations and the financial institutions
04:10that's really doing the hard work.
04:12And that's One Detroit.
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