University of Georgia Small Business Development Center’s Post

It often happens that I get so caught up in my daily life (and head) but I am so thankful for having joined Latinos for Education as a 2024 Latino Board Fellow. Connecting with people who have a shared vision of Latino representation, education, and advancement is invigorating and powerful! - 40% of Fortune 1000 companies are inclusive of Latinos on their corporate boards, reflecting a 5 percentage point increase from 2022 – the second most notable increase since 2019.  - With most of the progress occurring outside of the Fortune 100, minimal progress continues in the Fortune 100, shifting from 53% to 54% in Latino representation. - While slow, Latino board representation continues to rise. The numbers have increased to 5.4% of Fortune 500 seats held by a Latino and 4.9% among Fortune 1000, a 1% and .8% respectively, one of the most notable increases for both segments since 2020. Please take a look at Latinos for Education and their amazing programs that support communities across the United States

To my LinkedIn friends and colleagues,   Some of you are aware of my passion for documentaries covering topics such as industry, government, public figures, and transportation. It's my privilege to share with you a documentary (see YouTube link below) about my hometown of Jefferson City, MO, which captures the oral history of residents from a black neighborhood known as "The Foot". This area was a vibrant mixed-use community, boasting everything from hotels to grocery stores. When it came to entertainment, The Foot was a hotspot where talented musical acts like Ike and Tina Turner often performed. I'm sharing this video not just because it's about my hometown, where many of my family members still reside, but because it provides a broader insight into the issue of Urban Renewal. We all know that Urban Renewal initiatives were largely destructive practices that disproportionately affected low-income and minority neighborhoods. However, too often, I think people associate Urban Renewal as an issue that only impacted large urban areas like Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, NYC, and St. Louis.    Small cities, like the one I grew up in, also suffered from this same negative approach to planning, and the impacts it had on small communities were just as devastating for those who lived there as they were for residents of big cities.   Many of you are involved in industries that support and lead projects with the potential to profoundly influence both infrastructure and the social fabric of the communities they serve. This documentary, along with other examples, serves as a reminder that what we do truly matters and can have a lasting and deep impact. We must never lose sight of this as we advise and lead such developments.     Happy Black History Month! https://lnkd.in/gtXy9tfC

Dive into our most recent issue of Heritage and discover how planned giving can create your legacy at Texas A&M.

Memorial Day in Orange County is more than just barbecues and parades. It's a time to honor our heroes and come together as a community. 🇺🇸 I remember last year, helping a retired couple downsize to a home that perfectly fit their new lifestyle. During our conversation, they shared their excitement about the local Memorial Day celebrations. It reminded me how deeply we are all connected by our history and our shared values. For many of us, especially baby boomers and retirees, moving can feel like a daunting task. But it's also an opportunity to create new traditions and embrace the vibrant culture of Orange County. Here are a few ways you can make the most of Memorial Day while transitioning to a new home: ✅ Attend local parades and events: Join the community in honoring our veterans. It's a great way to meet neighbors and feel a sense of belonging. ✅ Organize a barbecue: Invite your new neighbors over. Nothing breaks the ice like sharing stories over good food. ✅ Visit local landmarks: Explore Orange County's historical sites. It’s a perfect way to appreciate our rich heritage. ✅ Give Back: Participate in community service events. It’s a fulfilling way to honor the spirit of Memorial Day. As you celebrate, remember that every home we help find is a step towards building strong, connected communities. How are you celebrating Memorial Day in your community this year? Share your plans below and let’s honor this special day together. #MemorialDay #Community #RealEstate #BabyBoomers #OrangeCounty

If you're a white supervisor interested in deepening your anti-racist approach in a supportive peer space, register for our next offering of Liberatory Principles & Practices for White Supervisors on Tuesday, July 30th! https://lnkd.in/gu6z9wps We often think of our healing and liberation as a garden that blossoms and thrives because we tend to it. Now, what happens when the pesky invasive species of white supremacy culture are set on destroying it? In our Liberatory Principles & Practices for White Supervisors training, we invite white social justice and nonprofit leaders to engage in this metaphor as a way to unpack and uproot how the characteristics of saviorism and defensiveness might be showing up in their supervision practices.

Typically, the volunteer journey at PMI begins while preparing for the PMP certification or some other PMI certifications. It’s there that you discover volunteering and how you can make a difference by supporting others while enhancing your project management skills. The next step is becoming a chapter leader, where you’re tasked with managing an organization – an incredible experience, especially if you’re not yet part of a board at your workplace! It’s a journey filled with challenges and learning that I highly recommend undertaking, as it impacts the lives of others whom you can put names and faces to, as well as your own life. Once you embark on this journey of serving others, there’s no turning back. PMI-Central Illinois Chapter

Back when I (Sam) was running the Armed Services Arts Partnership (ASAP), I never knew how to talk about Memorial Day. Should I be solemn and reflective to honor the dead, or celebratory to honor the fact we’re still alive? In reality, there was no right answer. Memorial Day Weekend can be a time of solemn remembrance for some, a time to celebrate the unofficial start of summer for others, or a time of solemn remembrance and summer celebration for others still. For this week’s newsletter, we fall squarely in that last camp. We start by sharing a moving reflection on Memorial Day, and then explore three features on the intersection of summer, community, and connection: - Memorial Day: What do we owe those who have perished in our generation’s mismanaged wars? - Summer Violence Interruption: How can communities create social outlets to prevent spikes in violence during the summer months?   - Neighborhood Heat Islands: Why are some neighborhoods up to 20 degrees hotter during the summer compared to others just blocks away? - American Exchange Project: Is a summertime domestic exchange program for high school students the key to facilitating connection across geographic difference? This was admittedly a broad theme, so we’re curious: when you think of summer and community, what comes to mind?  Feel free to respond with links in the comments or email us: [email protected]. https://lnkd.in/gvFwd8ju

📣Appropriations Update 📣 We want to thank everyone who took action this week to protect funding for @AmeriCorps & @AmeriCorpsNCCC, and the vital resources they provide community-based organizations all over the country. This week, the House Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would jeopardize more than 71,000 AmeriCorps positions, risking the loss of vital resources for community-based organizations all over the country in 2026. Congress still has opportunities to protect and strengthen this funding, and we’ll need advocates like you to voice your support in the months ahead. ➡️️ TAKE ACTION: Urge Congress to reconsider this decision and protect funding for AmeriCorps by filling out this form, bit.ly/CCFY25, or share this and tag your representative, asking them to #Stand4Service [Image description: 1 graphic a black background saying, ‘Congress just jeaprodized 71,000 AmeriCorps positions, including vital roles at FoodCorps' and all capitalized text saying, ‘take action.’]

Leaders from many different sectors, including government, arts, and philanthropy, come together on Jan. 30 to explore how the arts and humanities can strengthen individuals and communities. Tune in at arts.gov.

As you advance, consider what should be preserved.