Welcome to iZania, a Black business community created to facilitate the growth of Black-owned businesses and to be an advocate for social issues in the Black community.
| iZania.com Online Community reaches new milestone -- 2 million views |
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| Written by Roger Madison Jr. | |
| Thursday, 17 May 2012 | |
 The iZania Online Community has grown steadily in the face of constant change. With the advent of new social media platforms, we have seen a shift of focus in recent years. However, we have evolved with the implementation of Facebook, Twitter, and now an eCommerce group buying initiative at iZania Market Deals.
We want to pause at this milestone and say "Thank You" to 695,000 visitors, our 8,930 members and subscribers, and 2,700 entrepreneurs who have listed their businesses in our Black-owned Business Directory.
What does this mean going forward? We have observed a continuing interest in the economic empowerment of the virtual Black community. There is increased access to the Internet, and explosive growth in the use of mobile platforms to collaborate and conduct business online. Our goal is to be a major facilitator of that growth, and a key repository of ideas and information for Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and consumers.
You are the key to our continued growth. We welcome your input and feedback. Please share your comments below.
Here are 3 actions you can take now to help us reach new milestones:
This is our perspective on the future:
NEVER QUIT When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest, if you must, but do not quit.
-- Anonymous
More Than Networking... We make the 'Net Work for You!
Roger Madison, CEO iZania, LLC Trackback(0)
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Brother Hudson,
Votes: +0
Thank you for your comments. The observations you make are clearly visible to anyone who will look at the activity right before our eyes. There is still a gap to be filled. My observation is that the Black community is losing its collective identity. So, the natural tendency of other ethnic and national groups to gain strength through helping one another is fading from the virtual Black community. Our goal here at iZania is to make every effort to develop a visible and growing critical ma*s of thought leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals and consumers. The common thread among all of these is that we all are consumers. So, WE can have an economic impact on the outcomes for many entrepreneurs -- including the creation of jobs and competitive participation in the overall economy. As you suggest at the end of your comment, we must spread the news about the impact of Black economic success. We must become relentless in sharing information, and walking the walk of Black economic empowerment. I welcome you to our community. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. Please invite others to join us here, and let us know about ways we can help support activities in your community. Roger Madison report abuse
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For to many years the Leadership and the citizenry of cities have discounted the overall importance of the Black Business Community. It?s now time for us to revisit that view and to recognize that ?things have changed?.
The Black business now located and growing in each city is far different than those of the past. And, according to the Distinguished Professor Dr. Ed Davis Dean of the Business School at Clark Atlanta University, these businesses provide a significant Economic Impact on the city on a daily basis.
Using Atlanta, GA as an example with the only data available (2002), Dr. Davis suggests that the Black business community in Metro Atlanta?s? economic impact caused by their sales is nearly $5 Billion, they employ well over 26,000 people and cause economic activity of almost $9 Billion and stimulate as additional 56,000 jobs. When you really examine these numbers you realize that according to Dr. Thomas Boston of GA Tech that Black for every $1 million spent with Black businesses 10 jobs are added to the businesses and 7 of these jobs will go to Black people. Also, according to Dr. Boston, ?Over the last five years Black businesses out grew those of all other ethnic groups?. Then you can easily recognize the overall impact that the Black business has on a given community as they provide jobs and cause other economic activity resulting in jobs at a distinctively fast rate. Thus, an investment through increasing our spending or contracting with Black business brings about a positive result within the Black and general community a view not commonly held!
Accordingly, if these businesses didn?t exist would their employees be out of work? Would the philanthropy within the Black community be affected? What about the overall taxes (business, payroll etc) paid into the City, County and State Treasuries?
The economic support these businesses provide is only an example of their leadership. Their leadership is what makes them successful and why the community gains from their existence. These business owners are as much the Black Communities leaders and the White Business owners are the de facto leaders of the city. When equally considered as an a*set they need to be invited to the table of opportunity as a valuable contributor to your city?s overall success as a city.
The point is that the Black business community of today needs to be recognized as an a*set of the entire Community and treated as such. We should be investing in these businesses through tax incentives such as wage or real estate tax breaks, contract support and financial resources to a*sist them in producing an even greater economic affect. They bring about a Black community ROI (Return on Investment) and have a dramatic affect on the economics of the entire city. A return composed of jobs, wages paid and community support. While they may be special emphasis programs within a given community these efforts should be seen as an investment and the city should expect a return for the a*sistance.
The Black business community within any city can cause that city to have a sustainable competitive advantage over other cities when it comes to competing for resources. If we are to continue to make our cities the place for business to locate and grow we must invest in ALL our communities businesses especially the Black businesses. Again according to Dr. Boston, ?Black businesses account for a growing percentage of US final demand and jobs and locate in underserved communities?.
It is clearly a new day when it comes to Black business when we talk about what they bring to the table everyday and not their needs. Think about this and talk it up!