State-Of-Black-Oregon-2015

Stephen Green at theOregon Public House, theNE Portland non-profit pubhe co-founded in 2014.market private sector must embrace meritocracy,invest in new infrastructure and establish greateraccess to capital resources. It must redesign theK-12 and higher education landscape to develop,not undermine, all potential talent. It mustengage in the process of economic gardeningto grow local innovators, entrepreneurs andqualified workers who enrich the area that, inturn, enriches their lives.Additionally, we need to look at older adults as avaluable resource for the Black community andfor all of Oregon. One in four individuals ages 44to 70 is interested in becoming an entrepreneur,and 63 percent of Americans plan to work duringretirement, according to the website www.encore.org. Small business ownership is a good optionfor many baby boomers. Small business ownerswho get long-term counseling may see biggersales, hire more workers and have more longevity.The Small Business Administration and AARP Inc.provide training and mentoring services to olderentrepreneurs to help them successfully start andgrow businesses and create jobs.We can envision the economic landscape forBlack Oregonians over the next five, 10 or even20 years. We can join Greater Portland Inc.as it develops the Comprehensive EconomicDevelopment Strategies plan for the Portland-Vancouver Metropolitan Statistical Area. We cangather the data that will help us transform Blackcommunities into investment-worthy areas. Wecan overhaul education in the public schoolsthat serve low-income communities so that theircurricula develop entrepreneurial skills and atech-based workforce.We can come together and establish an economicvision to create jobs and wealth for BlackOregonians. The only question is whether we will.The health and wealthof Black and Hispaniccommunities dependon their own ability toproduce jobs115