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ATTENTION Pastors, Faith Leaders, & Executive Marketplace Ministers |
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Tuesday Talks Virtual Roundtable is a weekly ZOOM conference hosted by the ABC President & CEO, Melvin Coleman. Featuring: Weekly Special Guests sharing key information about current events Weekly Chamber member spotlights Important updates for ATL Black Entrepreneurs bit.ly/abctuesdaytalks. |
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Join the Conversation on Public Policy
Advancing Black Businesses, Inc. hosts Public Policy Talks, a weekly virtual meeting that explores the critical issues impacting our community. Hosted by Markee Tate, President of Advancing Black Businesses, this session is your chance to stay informed and engaged on policies that matter. Every Thursday 8:30 AM - 9:15 AM (Time has been extended) Zoom ID: 871 1392 7088 Scan the QR code to register and secure your spot. Let’s connect, learn, and strategize for progress. Visit advancingblackbiz.org for more information. |
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thank you for being among Our thousands of fellow kingdom disruptors! |
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Dr. Ursula D. Frederick-Brown, aka |
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What is an Ideation Session? It's a private, paid space where we slow things down long enough to: • Discern what an idea is really for • Decide whether to proceed, pause, or prepare • Translate vision into the right form—without rushing or diluting the assignment. This is not coaching. This is not motivation. It’s clarity and creative discernment before execution. If you’re carrying ideas that won’t leave you alone—but you don’t want to mishandle them—this room is for you. Enrollment is open now. Click the button above to get started. |
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**Headlines & Highlights** Faith-Driven Spotlight: Building Businesses from the Pew to the Marketplace Marcus Cosby — Senior Pastor, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Marcus Cosby, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in Houston has become more than a place of worship—it’s a hub for community advancement, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment. Through its outreach arms and strategic partnerships, the church has supported initiatives focused on job readiness, small business development, education, and community services. These programs are designed to help individuals move from economic instability to ownership, employment, and long-term sustainability. Wheeler Avenue has consistently demonstrated that the Black church can function as a platform for economic opportunity, not just spiritual encouragement. By aligning faith principles with practical resources—like financial literacy workshops, workforce programs, and entrepreneurial support—the church helps congregants and community members build lives of dignity, purpose, and provision. Recent impact highlights: Ongoing workforce development and job-readiness initiatives Community programs that connect members to employment and small business resources Partnerships supporting economic and educational advancement in underserved communities. Why this matters:
This is what it looks like when a church treats economic empowerment as part of its discipleship mandate—equipping people not only to believe, but to build. Takeaway for readers:
Faith-driven leadership doesn’t just preach transformation; it creates systems that make transformation possible in real economic terms. |
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Current Opportunities & Events CVAACC Winter 2026 Black Business Accelerator Program — Hybrid accelerator offering business training and support (Richmond, VA + virtual options). Boots to Business Reboot Webinar — SBA‑hosted 2‑day class (Feb 18‑19) for veteran entrepreneurs covering business fundamentals and launch prep. Pitch Black Conference — Midwest business expo & pitch competition (May 2, Omaha, NE), offers up to $15,000 prize and in‑kind business support. VIB National Conference — Veteran business conference (Nov 2‑3, Palm Springs, CA) with workshops, marketplace, and networking for veteran‑owned enterprises. Veterans Business Battle 2026 — Competition connecting veteran entrepreneurs with investors and business support. 2026 Kickoff! The Veteran Entrepreneurs Monthly Meet‑Up — Atlanta area meet‑up focused on veteran entrepreneurship (Feb 9). ICIC Veteran‑Owned Business Program — Executive education and capital access cohort for veteran business owners; applies rolling for 2026. WBENC Collegiate Accelerator 2026 — Accelerator for student & recent graduate founders (share, verify details). Business Beyond the Battlefield Conference A hands‑on learning and networking event for veteran entrepreneurs with expert keynotes, interactive sessions, and business growth strategies. Registrations and dates vary; check the conference page. Veteran Entrepreneur Program (PenFed Foundation) Multiple 2026 accelerator and incubator cohorts offering structured mentorship and virtual/in‑person programming for founders at different stages, from idea‑stage to scalable companies. Black American Startup Resource Events A growing list of startup events, hackathons, and knowledge exchanges specifically for African American founders, including meetups, #BLACKCOMPUTEHERS, and local chapters of broader entrepreneurship networks. Virginia Black Chamber Business Accelerator Provides members with an accelerator program offering capital access, mentoring, and networking — a strong push for Black small business growth and investor connection (members required). Veterans Business Battle (SBA – Houston) A multi‑day entrepreneurship event with panel discussions, small business expo, veteran pitches, and an awards ceremony — free and open to all interested in business growth. April 8–9, 2026 in Houston, TX. Veterans Business Outreach Webinars The Veterans Business Outreach Center offers educational webinars, workshops, and “Boots to Business” classes with practical training for veteran entrepreneurs — includes SCORE and SBA sessions. Black Entrepreneur Conferences & Networking A variety of annual networking and business growth events historically support Black founders — including Juneteenth Expo, ForbesBLK Summit, Black Entrepreneurs Day (Daymond John’s annual entrepreneurship celebration and grant connection), and the Black Professionals Summit. Locations and dates vary year to year — check event sites for updates and registration. MBDA Intellectual Property Webinars Free webinars from the Minority Business Development Agency covering IP basics for startups, commercialization strategies, and building diverse tech pipelines — useful for minority and Black entrepreneurs. NVBDC Networking & Certification Events The National Veteran Business Development Council hosts events focused on certification, procurement matchmaking, and veteran‑owned business networking, including June 22, 2026 sessions in Michigan for SD/VOB service‑disabled veteran businesses. Local Business Conferences The Unlocked 2026 Business Conference in Baltimore, MD is slated for April 18, 2026, offering opportunities for business growth, connection, and local marketplace engagement. |
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News & Resource Highlights 33 Grants for Black Entrepreneurs: A recent Forbes list highlights dozens of targeted grants that Black business owners can pursue — helpful for your curated newsletter links. Challenges in Public Funding: There are political shifts affecting how federal support flows to minority business programs — context worth noting for your audience. |
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Funding, Grants & Pitch Opportunities Veteran Woman Entrepreneur Grant — Noted on a February funding list as a resource supporting veteran‑owned small businesses; check specific criteria and deadlines via Gravity Grants or similar. Michigan’s Next Big Idea Pitch Competition — A $10K pitch contest tied to the Michigan Celebrates Small Business Summit (Apr 21‑22, East Lansing; eligible to small businesses ready to scale). Contests, Pitches & Grants Roundup — Curated list of funding, pitch and competition opportunities for innovators (includes minority options; verify deadlines/requirements). Curated Contests, Pitches & Grants for Innovators
A recent industry roundup offers a selection of contests, competitions, accelerators, and grant opportunities for entrepreneurs — useful for founders of all backgrounds to explore potential funding and recognition platforms. Grants and Funding Resources for Small Businesses
Guides to small‑business grants highlight federal and private funding options — including tools you can reference for Black and underserved business owners seeking non‑debt financing. Minority‑Focused Grant Lists & Opportunities
A curated list of 35 small‑business grants particularly relevant to minority entrepreneurs (including Black founders) is available, with details on eligibility and application basics. Black Business Support Funding Highlight (Atlanta)
The Advancing Black Businesses Foundation received a $725,000 revitalization grant to support small businesses across Georgia, spotlighting ongoing capital activity tied to Black economic empowerment. Powershift Entrepreneur Grant (Black Entrepreneurs) The NAACP Powershift Entrepreneur Grant provides up to $25,000 to Black entrepreneurs, plus tools and resources to grow business impact. Recent cycles have opened applications; check eligibility and deadlines on the NAACP site. Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Grant (Veteran & Military Spouse) Hiring Our Heroes awards $10,000–$25,000 grants to veteran‑ and military spouse–owned small businesses. This funding supports business growth and community impact. Applications open or closing soon depending on cycle. Federal Small Business Grants (SBA) The U.S. Small Business Administration funds grants that support community entrepreneurial programs, including those benefiting veteran‑owned and minority‑owned businesses and Small Business Development Centers that assist with funding navigation. Grants.gov Use Grants.gov to explore federal funding opportunities; while most listings target organizations, it’s a crucial hub to vet community development and small business programs that support entrepreneurs indirectly. Military Founders Lab (Veteran Entrepreneurs) A 10‑week virtual cohort giving veteran and military spouse founders access to business tools, mentorship, and a strong peer network — a support system for early and growth stages. Veteran‑Owned Small Business Accelerator (VOSBA) A 12‑week accelerator tailored for veteran business owners and spouses, offering workshops, mentorship, and practical business growth support — focused on translating service leadership into business success. |
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Operation Hope's 1MBB Next Gen As an extension of 1MBB, HOPE established the “1MBB Next Gen” program, which will leverage the reach and influence of HBCUs to establish a pipeline that develops, trains and empowers the next generation of small business owners. This includes creating an additional 5,000 aspiring entrepreneurs within the next five years. To date, 1MBB has engaged more than 360,000 Black businesses. “This 1MBB process has revealed that there’s an incredible entrepreneurial and aspirational energy being driven by young Black men and women throughout America, largely nurtured by the HBCU community,” said John Hope Bryant, Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO. For more information, click here. |
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AI INNOVATION in the COMMUNITY |
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**Help us in our goal to start the largest number of Kingdom Community Develop Corporations through Black Churches in 1 Year!!!** It’s a well known & historical fact that the black community is the most inventive and creative people on the planet and their influence, ideas, and inventions stand out like no other group in the global marketplace. “Black people are the original quantum thinkers…put us in any situation or circumstance and we make a way out of no way!” (Courtney Counts). We cannot wait another moment, asking for handouts and even for what rightfully belongs to us. We must be the change we want to see, collectively!
The black church, at a pivotal point in our community’s history for equality & justice, proved to be a very central organization in our collaborative pursuits of making things happen. Let’s revisit that past… Now. |
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more… Innovation is no longer a luxury for faith communities—it is becoming a necessary expression of stewardship. As technology reshapes how people work, learn, communicate, and build businesses, churches and faith-driven organizations are being invited into a new kind of discipleship—one that includes digital literacy, entrepreneurial thinking, and technological awareness. For generations, the Black church has been a center of cultural leadership and community coordination. Today, that same influence can extend into innovation and technology spaces. From AI-powered administrative tools to digital learning platforms, livestream infrastructure, and online marketplaces, technology is giving churches the opportunity to operate with greater reach, efficiency, and economic impact. Many congregations are already using tools like automated email systems, virtual meeting platforms, and online giving solutions. But the real opportunity lies beyond basic adoption. Churches can begin to explore technology as a ministry tool and an economic engine—offering digital skills training, hosting tech-focused business incubators, or supporting congregants who want to launch online businesses, creative studios, or AI-driven services. When faith spaces embrace innovation, they help close the digital divide that often impacts underserved communities. A church computer lab becomes a training center. A youth media ministry becomes a creative tech pipeline. A small-business workshop evolves into a startup incubator. In this way, technology is not just about devices or software—it becomes a pathway to dignity, opportunity, and ownership. The future of the church will not be defined only by what happens inside the sanctuary, but by how effectively it equips people to thrive in the world outside of it. Innovation and technology give faith communities the tools to extend their influence into education, business, media, and global collaboration. When faith meets innovation, the result isn’t just modernization—it’s multiplication. And that is a language the Kingdom has always understood. Dr. Ursula D. Frederick-Brown | Founder, EICC Network | www.eiccnetwork.com | info@eiccnetwork.com | @EICCNetwork |
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A.R.C. Department of Continuing Education Executive Certificate Rapid Publishing on Amazon From Idea to Bestseller in 24 Hours Beulah Heights University invites you to join a 2-Day Intensive Online Workshop designed to help aspiring and experienced writers move from concept to published author—quickly and strategically. Workshop Dates & Times Friday, February 20 | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM Saturday, February 21 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM Online Course Host: Rashad Richey Co-Host: Destiny Kingcannon Pricing: Standard Registration: $400 Early Bird Special: $199 (Register by February 14) What You’ll Learn: • Rapid content creation strategies • Amazon KDP publishing secrets • Effective book launch strategies • Marketing for bestseller status • Monetizing your content and building your author brand Limited seats available. |
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PO Box 777
Stonecrest, Georgia 30058, United States |
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