https://forms.gle/sigGVHoNRpgussy26

If there are residents of Long Beach that you know aren’t able to join us for these sessions, feel free to send this survey out to them!

-Amplify Black voices-Keep your phone or device muted if you’re not talking-If you’re able to, please turn your camera on-Step up, step back-One mic, one voice-Not a debate - we’re here to share and listen

Thums up!

I AGREE. jane

I agree! Jill Unze

Question – from a geographical standpoint, or Council District viewpoint – where are Black business' located by Zip Code, by Council District

I would like to share.

-Share your experiences - what has worked well for you and your business? What hasn’t?-What types of support or services do small businesses need to start, expand, and thrive in Long Beach?Examples: Access to capital, coaching and mentoring, SBA loans or grants, support to close digital divide, etc.-What are the barriers for businesses landing government contracts?-On the flip side, what opportunities could help businesses access contracts and provide their goods or services to government agencies like the City of Long Beach?

I’d like to share.

Speaker #1: Barbara Sullivan, Speaker #2 Tunua

I would like to share.

Speaker #2: Tunua, Speaker #3: Nathaniel Brown

Question – how many Black business' are participating in the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce? What is this number as a percentage?

Yes grants!

Yes, I am aiming to stay away from loans.

I agree with what Barbara has said about difficulty for SBE/DBE to win or be part of successful RFP bids.

Thank you for sharing Ms. Sullivan! I appreciate you so much!

And apprenticeships! Thank you for your voice in this process, Tunua!

Link to the Everyone In Implementation Plan

Latino businesses are not underserved in the city of Long Beach Tunua

http://longbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=7302220&GUID=35FE33F2-A6A7-4E13-9579-50A0B1699B2D

Tunua is a current candidate for D8

do not appreciate her hogging the mic

More info on ACA5 on the ballot in November: https://ballotpedia.org/California_Repeal_Proposition_209_Affirmative_Action_Amendment_(2020)

I'd like to share.

Thank you Alanah!

There is a reason council members are not sitting in this meeting

You can mute her

This is sounding like a self-plug

One of the biggest issues small business owners have are the numerous hoops they have to jump through to even open up a brick and mortar. To do so would require massive funds that Black and other POC business owners may not have access to for a number of reasons, not limited to a lack of generational wealth.

Next Speaker: Mariela Salgado

Link to the Economic Empowerment Zones http://longbeach.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=7296375&GUID=3EBC3FEE-4F3A-423B-B4DC-38CD91247490

There is a communication problem in the City. A part of that is the lack of universal and stable wifi access. The technology divide is huge.

Nathaniel, I echo all that you're saying. Great points you're bringing up. Pam, I agree with the numerous hoops we have to jump through. Most times, we're already at a deficit.

Another idea: A directory of Black-owned , LatinX-owned businesses specific to Long Beach. This could be in the form of an app, a website, etc.

Comment – Mr. Brown has a good point about access to mentorship, networking. There are existing orgs/associations in LB that are not welcoming for persons outside their groups. Their might be fee barriers to joining some of these associations.

Bill Sive is correct, some of these groups are not all that awesome in the “inclusiveness” area.

Mariela, I appreciate your comments. I completely agree. Great transparency and suggestions about how to network.

Comment/Questions - Are the speakers illuminating the fact that the SBA may have structural bias? This is worth looking into.

https://forms.gle/sigGVHoNRpgussy26

Bill, they also have no idea how to help in certain service-oriented industries.

I went to SBA and they admitted outright, they had no idea how to provide me any advise or help.

I agree completely with Mariela Salgado

Would you mind spelling out the acronym SBA? Perhaps not everybody is familiar with that term. Thank ou.

Small Business Administration (SBA)

SBA is the Federal Government Agency “Small Business Administration”

Thank you!

We also want to say that an investment in Black or Latinx businesses is a short-term solution that promotes teh idea that somehow black and brown capitalism is better for POC — it’s not. A better solution is to address ALL the issues of structural racism including police violence, gentrification, and environmental injustice. Defunding the police, finding a way to funnier that money to building education for POC, increasing minimum wage, providing better healthcare, a better, cleaner environment, will bring EVERYONE up — not just the few business owners. Emphasis in this “Framework” needs to be on addressing issues that affect the masses, which are (again) police violence, gentrification, environmental justice, lack of healthcare and welfare services, etc.

one of the things we must do is fix the crack in America’s slave foundation in America. failure to address the crack Long Beach or america will not be made whole

We need to create ownership opportunities for African Americans in the cannabis space. Our social equity program can be a good platform for that.

Steve Neal, I agree. I would love to invest in the cannibus industry.

Thank you, Chrysta

this is the issue African Americans are immigrants. the Ame Slave Culture must be properly vetted and put in the American economic pecking order.Peking or

we are still dealing with the aftereffects of American Slavery

great idea! we should look into “right sizing” contracts for smaller biz that are available specifically for small firms.

Metro has one of the most progressive programs get the % of regional $ to SBE/DBE/DVBE - not perfect, but a good model to get the % higher for city awarding work to support small businesses.

I agree with Tony. It would be helpful to have a center who can support you to become a SBE, DBE, DVBE...etc to contract with these agencies. I'd also like to share it's important we have business improvement associations in every business corridor. The Executive Directors and organizations like SBDC need actively engage the communities they serve. Outreach is key.

To expound on one of my previous comments, how realistic is it to have a Black-owned, LatinX-owned app or website supported by the city of Long Beach? As a new resident, I'm not as familiar with the systems in place.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

I think having a sub page on LB website would be so easy. To highlight and link to Black-owned businesses.

Long Beach does have a cannabis social equity program .

Bri- here is a privately run site:

https://blackownedlongbeach.com

There is a website blackownedlongbeach.com that profiles Black owned businesses.

WeBuyBlack.com is a huge database of blackowned businesses

We'e not lacking in that area

Thank you!!!!

I did not verify, but I heard that Yelp has a filter for black owned businesses. It could be helpful to look at the Yelp structure to mimic it.

the city is likely hampered by state law and can not provide targeted resources to black owned businesses. this will only be possible if we have a state constitutional change, this will be on the November ballot.

today LA County just launched a grant program visit: www.lacovidfund.org

the grants are for micro enterprises, small businesses and nonprofits

Is there any advocacy that the city can do to ensure that black-owned businesses or entrepreneur's are receiving equitable interest rates on bank backed business loans (not sure if this is even an inssue in LB).

I am 100% behind efforts to support students and graduates to connect them to apprenticeships, internships and more!

Id like to share quickly

Next speaker: Gerald

Citywide wifi access! People shouldn’t have to sit in the library parking lot to send in job applications.

I joined late so apologize if this was already discussed but what is the racial wage gap in Long Beach? Can the city champion an initiative to ensure Black Long Beach wage earners are receiving equitable salary and hourly pay?

As someone having taught high school, students must SEE who they can be. I agree!

Yes Bri

There’s NO banks on the WESTSIDE, why? @City of Long Beach

I believe the closest bank to WSLB residents is the Bank of America on Willow near Magnolia

Yup only big supermarket is El Super

Jazz MaGee, I am one of the board members to the up and coming, AACCLB. African American Cultural Center Long Beach

Closest hospital is probably Memorial but thats all the way near Wrigley and Signal Hill area on LB Blvd and Spring

Im confused. How is this relevant to the purpose of this call?

American Descendants of Slavery.

Shades of Afrika is a long time busniess in Long Beach where you may purchase Dr. Gerald Higgins book

Can Dr. Higginbotham list your event information in the chat?

Long Beach has a lot of small businesses and that makes it easier to connect to each other

www.slaves-usa.com

Can Dr. Higginbotham also provide a link to more in-depth explanation of what he’s doing.

Oops there we go.

Https://DAS.Today

www.slaves-usa.com

I don’t have the link yet for the Event on July 3.

Thank you Dr. Higginbotham. You can email to me at Gwendolyn.manning@longbeach.gov

www.captainsmillionaires.net

www.lacovidfund.org

Thanks, Tunua!

Thank you to everyone for great ideas and discussion. We can do so much better in Long Beach, and we must. Great facilitation!!!

Https://www.slaves-usa.com/books

The publication www.thenonprofittimes.com or .org talks a lot about grants. It's a great resource during COVID 19

Thanks Jazz!

Success is knowing your purpose in life you growing to reach your potential and sowing seeds to help benefit others..

Thank you Tunua

Thank you to everyone who attended today, the hosts and the participants. I appreciate everyone's time, comments, and dedication to improving long beach <3

And if we can't have black owned businesses, at least programs specific to the African American experience