- Created on 24 May 2013
Small Businesses Learn How to 'Find the Money' at Workshop
Entrepreneurs can learn how to "find the money" at a free workshop on Tuesday, May 28. The workshop is sponsored by Wells Fargo with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta as part of a national partnership.
The seminar on lending and credit will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Atlanta Technical College's Dennard Conference Center at 1560 Metropolitan Parkway SW.
Register by phoning 404-659-1150, e-mailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or going online to www.ulgatl.org.
"We are so proud to sponsor this event with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta," said Pamela Cross, senior community development officer for Wells Fargo. "There are many resources available, such as the Urban League's Entrepreneurship Center to help small businesses start or grow their business, but business owners aren't always aware of what's out there."
Participants will hear from experts from several organizations, such as Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs and Invest Atlanta, and they will learn about the credit opportunities available for their businesses. In addition, participants will learn about financing options, crowd funding, small business loan programs and underwriting.
Wells Fargo bankers and Urban League Entrepreneurship Center coaches will be available to answer questions. Lunch will be provided and there will be time for networking.
"We are thankful that Wells Fargo is partnering with our Entrepreneurship Center to help reach the small business community by sponsoring this event," Nancy Flake Johnson, president of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, said.
"It's so important for financial institutions to play their part in educating small business owners and providing access to the capital they need to launch, grow and expand. Working together, we support small businesses to create jobs for our community."
Wells Fargo's sponsorship of this event is in conjunction with Small Business Appreciation Month. Wells Fargo gave $4,000 to fund the Atlanta event, which is one of five separate workshops that Wells Fargo is sponsoring with the National Urban League. Other events are taking place in Houston, Los Angeles, Jacksonville and Philadelphia.
- Created on 24 May 2013
Commerce Department Announce $6.3 Million Minority Business Grant Competition
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Commerce made an announcement that will change the fortunes of a number of minority business owners: Through a grant competition, minority business will get to run one of six Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) centers in major metropolitan hubs nationwide in order to grow their jobs and businesses.
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- Created on 23 May 2013
Nearly Half of Atlanta Homeowners are Underwater - Report
While the unemployment rate for Georgia and the Atlanta metro area continued to drop, a new housing survey finds that the Peach City’s housing market is still suffering. According to Zillow.com, an online real estate database, almost half of all Atlanta homeowners are underwater on their mortgages.
According to Zillow’s survey, 47.6 percent of Atlanta homeowners were underwater in the first quarter of 2013. The survey also found that many more homeowners wouldn’t be able to move out of their current homes if they wanted to. A reported 64.1 percent of Atlanta homeowners, while not technically underwater, likely do not have enough equity to afford to move, the report shows.
“Reaching positive equity, even barely, is an important milestone. But things like real estate agents’ fees and a down payment for the next home traditionally come out of the proceeds from the prior home’s sale,” said Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Stan Humphries. “Without enough equity, these costs will instead have to come out of a homeowner’s pocket, leaving many still stuck.”
Despite a recent growth trend in the real estate market, the website saw little hope of the situation improving in the near future. Zillow projects 46.2 percent of local homeowners will still be underwater in the first quarter of 2014.
The national negative equity rate fell in the first quarter to 25.4 percent of all homeowners with a mortgage.
Humphries argues that the high number of people around the country with a negative equity rate, i.e., underwater on their mortgage, is affecting the market right now, but could clear up soon.
“Looking at the effective negative equity rate could explain why recent, healthy declines in the number of underwater borrowers haven’t yet translated into more homes for sale,” he said. “The only cure is patience, as rising home values continue to build equity to the point where more homeowners can realistically sell.”
- Created on 24 May 2013
Walton Isaacson is Black Enterprise's Advertising Agency of the Year
Walton Isaacson has been named 2013 Advertising Agency of the Year by Black Enterprise magazine. Walton Isaacson (WI) leapt from eighth to second place in B.E.'s most recent ranking of the most successful Black-owned advertising agencies in the United States.
"We're honored to be receiving this award from Black Enterprise," says Aaron Walton, co-founder of WI. "BE has always been at the forefront of giving important attention to the tremendous contributions that Black entrepreneurs have made toward the building of wealth and prosperity in this country."
Walton Isaacson (WI) provides full-service advertising, digital and social capabilities, as well as cultural expertise across General Market, African-American, Hispanic, and LGBT consumer segments.
Its client list includes Hillshire, Lexus, Samsung, McDonald's, Verizon Wireless, Unilever's AXE, Dove, Degree, TRESemme, Suave and Clear brands, Jim Beam's Skinnygirl, Courvoisier, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden and Kilbeggan brands, One.org, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With an expressed mission to be the "Planet's Most Interesting Agency," WI has been responsible for an innovative range of campaigns that have wholly reinvented the traditional advertising agency model. WI's work now encompasses a broad range of digital and social-media platforms and the creation and client-furnished original programming.
Highlights of WI's recent work focused on appealing to African-American consumers include: - The creation and production of NAACP Image Award nominee, "Verses and Flow" TV series for Lexus.
"Verses and Flow" introduces a whole new generation of artists who are carrying on the rich African-American tradition of storytelling through music and spoken word
- Entertainer Kevin Hart's irreverent Verizon ads and his "Share Everything This Holiday Season" digital and social-media campaign, which won the 2013 Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Award for "Best Technology Online Campaign" and has amassed more than 1 million hits on YouTube
- Music superstar Kelly Rowland's ultra-successful, innovative "Courvoisiology" club tour for Courvoisier cognac, which played to overflow crowds and became a social-media interactive phenomenon
In July, WI will be producing the "McDonald's 365Black Awards" special, which honors individuals who have inspired, supported, and strengthened the Black community. The awards special celebrates its 10-year anniversary and will air on national television for the first time.
- Created on 23 May 2013
'Above All...Justice' is Credo of Chris Stewart's New Law Firm
The first time L. Chris Stewart stood in front of his peers in Southwest Atlanta prepared to speak, words stuck in his throat. He had a story to tell, but nothing came out. Not a stutter. Not a whisper. He was mortified. He was 10 years old. And, it was the last time that would happen.
He would grow up eventually to become one of Atlanta's most eloquent and successful African-American lawyers. And, he has recently reached a new height with the opening of his firm Stewart, Seay & Felton (www.ssfjustice.com) law offices in downtown Atlanta.
Stewart has achieved many accolades in his career including The Nation's Best Advocates "40 Under 40" and recognition from Super Lawyers for the years 2011 through 2013. But, in his youth, his was an unending battle to overcome shyness and cultivate a smooth and articulate social style.
He credits a transfer in high school to the The Lovett School for helping with that battle and leading him to his life's work. "This is where I learned how to interact with others not like me while cultivating my life skills."
He attended undergraduate school at Xavier University in Louisiana where he became determined to help communities through public service. Following graduation from Xavier, he attended grad school at Tulane University in pursuit of his dream job. During this time, Stewart was part of an EPA Taskforce that would go into local towns testing the contents of the sewage and look for the presence of air pollution, amongst other things. While working for the doing this work Stewart decided that he would best serve the community by becoming a lawyer.
This way he could not only recognize issues in the community, but he could get justice through the legal system. He had found his voice.
Stewart graduated from Howard University Law School and left his learning disabilities from youth far behind. At Howard University, he was part of a National Championship mock trial team. Shortly after that, he caught the eye of the comedian Bill Cosby and began travelling with him to speaking engagements. Along with Cosby, Stewart looks up to Florida attorney Willie Gary whom he credits with showing him what it's like to be a trial lawyer.
No other person may have had as big of an effect on Stewart's adult life as Attorney Keenan S. Nix. Nix, along with Chris Graddock offered Chris Stewart his first job after he passed the Bar Exam. Usually the firm of Nix & Graddock wouldn't hire such a young attorney but by then Stewart had developed the "gift of gab" and talked his way into a position.
Eventually Nix, Graddock & Stewart Florida based law firm, Morgan & Morgan (www.forthepeople.com) bought the firm of Nix & Graddock. There, he would become one of the most successful personal injury lawyers in Atlanta. In 2009, L. Chris Stewart became Partner in the Morgan & Morgan Atlanta law office.
Over the years Stewart has represented more 2500 individuals, taken 500 depositions and tried over 25 cases. In his new firm, Stewart specializes in premises liability, sexual assault, child abuse and catastrophic personal injuries. As the former President of The Gates City Bar Association, Stewart knows what it takes to lead.
(Photo: Pictured here, from left, are Stewart, Seay & Felton law firm members Cheryl Henderson, Katrena Herrin, Eugene Felton, L. Chris Stewart, Richionda Scales, Rochelle Jones, Quinton Seay, and Keisha Owens.)
