31 Ways 31 Days for Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia
Aug. 1 -- Buy products of black food manufacturers in grocery stores such as Sylvia's, Glory and Home-Style; if you don't see a section of such products, ask the manager why not. Purchase the wines of African-American vintners. See the list at africanamericanvintner.org. Eat at an African-American restaurant. We will feature one local restaurant each day of August. Find detailed information in Say Grace and Wipe Yo' Hands: BlackRestaurant.NET Guide to America's Black Restaurants. Many people eat out at least once per day. Let that be your way to generate jobs. Today's featured eatery is Ben's Next Door, 1211 U St. Washington, D.C. Phone 202-667-8880.
Aug. 2 -- Invest in African-American owned businesses to reduce the capital access gap they face. Fast growing companies like 510Nano, creating high-efficiency solar panels and developing solar farms across the country need capital. Radio One grew from WOL in D.C. to a national chain with TV One television network and Interactive One because going public gave it access to equity markets. Alfred Liggins is CEO. The National Association of Investment Companies at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. is the trade association of private equity and venture capital firms focusing on emerging businesses. The number is 202-204-3001 New laws allow even small amounts to be invested with startups through "crowdfunding." Angel investing, often through investment clubs, is another source of business capital. Today's featured eatery is Dukem Restaurant, 1114-18 U Street in Washington. Phone 202-667-8735.
Aug. 4 - Subscribe to the seasons or attend performances of African-American theatre companies like African Continuum Theater, Phone 202-529-5763; the DC Drama Department, producer of the inaugural DC Black Theater Festival which featured 125 performances and the Baltimore Black Theater Alliance. Today's featured eatery is Ghana Cafe, 1336 14th St., 202-387-8890.
Aug. 5 - Attend, volunteer and contribute to the work of African-American churches like 15th Street Presbyterian, once pastored by Rev. Henry Highland Garnet, first black to speak before Congress at a memorial for the passage of the 13th Amendment, Metropolitan A.M.E. at 15th and M Streets. Today's featured eatery is Oohs and Aahs, 1005 U St. Phone 202-667-7142.
Aug. 6 - Contracting Accountability Day. D.C's Dept. of Transportation spent just $5.9 million with black-owned businesses in 2011, according to semi-annual reports filed with the U.S. Dept. of Transportation obtained by blackmoney.com through a Freedom of Information Act request. Maryland spent $24 million and Virginia spent $15.4 million Call, e-mail or write your councilmember or state assemblymember or senator to insist that projects financed with federal funds comply with federal business equity regulations and laws. Today's featured eatery is Florida Ave. Grill, 1100 Florida Ave. in Washington, D.C. 202-285-1586.
Aug. 8 - Higher Education and Health Focus. The National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, led by Lezli Baskerville; and United Negro College Fund are both headquartered in Washington. More funding for campuses like Howard University, University of D.C., Bowie State, Morgan State and Virginia State is at the top of their agenda. Today's featured eatery is Sankofa Bookstore, 2714 Georgia Ave. in Washington. Phone 202-234-4755.
Aug. 9 - Utility and Energy Focus. The Maryland Public Service Commission requires its regulated utilities to file annual supplier diversity plans, which are posted at the commission website. For Dominion Resources, the supplier diversity contact is Ronnette Anderson at 804-771-4063. Today's featured eatery is the Howard Theater Cafe, designed by master chef Marcus Samuelsson, who opened National Black Business Month with his take on how black food is reviving Harlem.
Aug. 10 - School the Administrators. Raising the achievement of African-American students is a national priority, thanks to an executive order by President Obama. The National Black Education Agenda also meets in Chicago in October. Attend school board meetings to ask how contracts are awarded; ask for small business utilization plans on major federal grants like School Improvement Grants, Title 1, and IDEA. Insist that local firms be used for professional development. Seek use of the new African-American educational channel ReUNION: Education-Arts-Heritage. Today's featured eatery is Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery, 40 West Shopping Center, Catonsville. Phone (410) 719-2788.
Aug. 14 - Utilize an African-American contractor, architect or construction manager r. Visit the National Association of Minority Contractors for listings. Today's featured eatery is Night of the Cookers, 885 Howard St. Baltimore 410-383-2095.
Aug. 15 - Book a stay or an event with a member hotel of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners Operators and Developers (NABHOOD). RLJ Development in Bethesda has become one of the largest black hotel owners Norman Jenkins' Capstone Development is building the Marriott Marquis at the Walter Washington Convention Center. Today's featured eatery is Saint's Paradise Cafeteria, 601 M St. Washington. Phone 202-789-2289.
Aug. 16 - African-American doctors and dentists have been community leaders, entrepreneurs as well as healers. The National Medical Assocation has a gallery of its physician members. National Dental Association is also based in Washington Today's featured eatery is Soul Vegetarian, 2606 Georgia Ave. 202-328-7685.
Aug. 17 - The lack of information about property has led to such events as the shrinkage of black farm land and the predatory lending epidemic of the past ten years. Members of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers live in our communities and are part of an organization which has sought to make black consumers aware of their rights as consumers. Today's featured eatery is Mr. P's mobile restaurant in northeast Washington.
Aug. 18 - The 65th anniversary of beauty products manufacturer Bronner Bros is a continuing sign of the presence of black businesses in the sector. Look for the Proud Lady symbol of the American Health and Beauty Aids Institute, the trade association of black beauty products manufacturers, when shopping. The Black Owned Beauty Supply Association promotes the development of black retailers for the $9 billion industry. Today's featured eatery is B. Smith, 50 Massachusetts Ave. Washington 202-289-6188.
Aug. 19 - The environmentally conscious Bay Area is a good launch pad for African-American environmentally-friendly manufacturers like Encap Systems Inc.,which makes cementitious remediation materials for asbestos. When doing remodeling or repair work in old buildings, one can ask for Encap brand. San Diego-based ChloroFill is making biodegradable building panels to meet the EPA's new standard for removing carcinogenic materials. Auto battery maker Dr. Lonnie Johnson of Excellatron Solid State presented his scientific findings at PARC, a Xerox company in Palo Alto. Today's featured venue is Secrets of Nature Health Foods, 3923 S. Capitol St. SW in Washington. Phone 202-562-0041.
Aug. 20 - Think about what you drink. Pioneering African-American beverage makers such as United Beverage are making such products as NuSouth flavored lemonades, available in Big Lots and other retailers. Heritage Link Brands is importing wines from South Africa and elsewhere on the continent. Today's featured venue is Ben's Chili Bowl in National's Park bringing flavor to major league baseball.
Aug. 21 - Utilize African-American software and technology companies like Silver Spring-based DB Consulting and Lux Technology; Baltimore's Right Direction Technology Solutions; Rockville's Powertek Corp. Today's featured eatery is Soul Vegetarian, 9185 Central Ave. in Capitol Heights, MD. Phone 301-324-6900.
Aug. 22 - Visit Howard University Bookstore for some of the top black authors or Sankofa Book Store just up Georgia Ave. Today's featured eatery is Brown's Caribbean Bakery, 3301 Georgia Ave. Washington. Phone 202-882-1626.
Aug. 23 - WHMM-TV, Channel 32, is one of only two black-controlled public television stations, providing diverse programming like the Evening Exchange and training opportunities to the School of Communications. WHUR-FM is also Howard-owned at 96.3 fm. WEAA-FM is Morgan State's radio station. Radio One's flagship WOL and WOLD serve Washington and Baltimore listening areas. Today's featured eatery is Kendejah, 5828 Georgia Ave. Phone 202-291-7541.
Aug. 24 -- The black press is the authoritative record of our legacy. Subscribe to a black newspaper like the Washington Informer, Baltimore AFRO-AMERICAN or Washington AFRO-AMERICAN for the stories you'll never see in the daily press. Black Money Baltimore and Washington, D.C. adds a new spark to business news coverage. Today's featured eatery is Flavors Soul Food, 3420 Carlyn Hill Dr. Falls Church, VA. Phone 703-379-4411.
Aug. 25 - Purchase a video or buy a seat for a black filmmakers work. Today's featured eatery is Anacostia Restaurant, 1918 Martin Luther King Blvd. SE in Washington. Phone 202-889-889-9588.
Aug. 26 - Support black musicians such as the late Chuck Brown, the father of "go-go." Buy music produced by African-American companies. Help musicians by hiring them to train young people. Today's featured eatery is Soul Source, 2101 Edmonson Ave. in Baltimore. Phone 410-233-3663.
Aug. 28 - Purchase back to school items such as clothes and paper goods from African-American retailers like Pan African City Alive, 108 S. Sunnyvale Ave., Sunnyvale. Phone 408-830-9427. Form buying clubs through churches or organizations to purchase goods in bulk directly from wholesalers or manufacturers. Today's featured eatery is The Roost Lake Trout, 5281 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore. Phone 410-578-0232.
Aug. 30 - Utlilze African-American lawyers. The National Bar Association has a directory of lawyers. Donald Temple started the Charles Hamilton Houston Summer Law Program 33 years ago and it has helped more than 500 new law students become lawyers. Today's featured eatery is Twins Jazz Club, 1344 U St. Washington. Phone 202-234-0072.
Aug. 31 - Make a political contribution to the African-American candidate of your choice. It should be obvious that there is an African-American candidate running for President for the second election in a row. However, that should not be a reason for complacency. The history of black political achievement is that such milestones can be followed by backlashes if vigilance is not maintained. By reading Job Creation and Innovation: State of Black Business, 9th edition, one will see the critical role of public policy at all levels of government to the success of black businesses. One of the objectives of National Black Business Month is that the entire African-American community be considered in economic decision-making. Today's featured eateries are the Mitchellville and Clinton locations of Levi's Restaurant at 10252 Lake Arbor Way Mitchellville, MD Phone : (301) 336-5000 and 6410 Coventry Way Clinton, MD 20735.
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