BEC, The Black Economic Collective: Transforming Lives Through Financial Literacy

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

black, community, organization, podcast, year, youth, nonprofit, man, resources, city, program, portland, podcasting, bsu, support, bc, people, connecting, sponsor, financial

: 00:00

The bankruptcy gotta file bankruptcy you got the up?

00:05

Sell everything.

00:08

House. Got that? Yeah, those fake FHA loans

00:15

and those in Katy. And they're willing to keep it real with us when it comes to stuff about that, because we noticed surface level but them working on the inside, they really saw what's going on. I really know what's going on. It's been so bad, they had to create a position within the financial institutions to counter or combat all the discriminatory practices they started. It's called, What is the community relations manager or they have?

00:43

Yeah, you have different terms per bank, per institution, but it's basically the same thing. Let's make sure we don't like about a community. Yeah.

00:52

That's what you want to ask about the sponsors. I mean, and usually that you get that type of interaction with the community when it comes to credit unions.

: 01:03

Yeah, yeah. Cuz I seem to be a little bit more about the people.

01:07

But even still, like I've had conversations with Katie I still have issues with upstairs. He's off they want to do that they know benefits. The community is still a whole back from some of the people upstairs. Yeah. So it's kind of a process and they still got a profit or the bottom line is still you know, they gotta keep the lights on. Yeah.

01:29

Yeah, they still got it. They still have business. Exactly. We don't want to put them out of business. We are trying to help get robbed

01:39

Doggy Dog world. Take the rug from out on you. Yeah.

01:48

So yes, three segments

01:51

will have two breaks. I'm gonna play a different break when play my original breaks that I put in. But um, I ended up putting a rubber mark at the end. I just haven't gotten from yet. Gotcha.

02:03

And then

02:05

for him to get there and we get going. Okay.

02:11

Yeah, good for time. Yeah, you're the most important things about David but

: 02:21

you guys been on podcast before? No, no, this first one.

02:26

Very nice.

02:29

We did like he did a little interviews here and for for our organization, we did it through open signal. Well, you know, because I made a I made a video just to try to promo video videos. Yeah, organization. Two minutes long. Two minutes. That's long for promo video. Yeah, well, it was spliced up. It turned into 30 seconds. Okay.

02:54

That one was done was five minutes. No, you don't have to find it.

03:01

Legit was five minutes. Oh, man. Yeah, I was so happy. But it was very informative. I think it might be on YouTube somewhere. Yeah, yeah. So no, YouTube, we have a we have a YouTube channel. That only has one video.

03:17

Yeah, that's the start.

03:19

Closer over this way, because it's in your shot. Put it this way. No. Yeah, that way.

03:27

Just lightly.

03:30

Yeah. Thanks. So I gotta look at the monitor. Okay. And then my friend here. Yep. Make sure you're

: 03:39

getting closer. Yeah. I'm sorry, man. No, no.

03:44

See how he is hugging the mic. Yeah, you gotta be on it. To the left or right.

03:51

All right. I'm sure you talk a little quiet. Sorry. Yeah, we are actually rolling, rolling.

03:57

I think everybody's good. Yep.

04:00

Yeah, I'm gonna check one more time and then I'll come up with that. Okay.

04:09

That's the adult setup. Right. Oh, man. Appreciate it.

04:13

We stumbled on this place.

04:15

We actually came check that out twice.

04:19

Because he's into more production with original cause we do more. We do like to do documentary and other other productions. We did our music video. So we're looking at a production place but we was getting into podcasting. And this was this was almost perfect for PUC that that's really the perfect room but it's a little noisy. Because you closer to the bus stop over there in the street. Gotcha. So this one's a little better. So yeah. All right. Let's let's do it. Fellas.

: 04:49

Kwame, maybe quash enterprise you see, I was

04:57

I was bad.

04:59

No

05:00

Oh,

05:01

yes sir. Welcome to the thorn city syndicate spotlight show where we network and build connections through interviews and discussions. This episode is brought to you by river Mark Community Credit Union. I'm your hosts, the one city podcast guy. Make sure you visit Thorn city. syndicate.com Subscribe for updates behind the scenes content and join the conversation today.

05:22

Today I got a couple of special guests in the spotlight. We got more guy Terry Wiley and Chris Oldham with B EC the black economic collective. How you doing brothers? Doing pretty good brother doing? Well, very well. Yeah. Thanks for coming on, man. Yeah, that didn't happen. Yeah, man. So yeah, so like I said, it was sponsored by river Mark today. So shout out to Katie and Alyssa.

05:43

They helped me put it all together. And I can't forget about Khari. And the whole crew at the river Mark Hollywood branch on 47th. And Sandy. They take they took care of me over there on I had a spotlight, they did a spotlight on me in the bank for the whole month of February.

05:59

And so it was cool, man. A lot of people got to see the promo videos I was posting and

: 06:06

when you get

06:08

I guess, I guess their corporate. But when you get corporate people involved and stuff, what you do, and people kind of look at you different sometimes, you know, means by supermarket community, they consider you as actually doing some, you know,

06:20

get those people behind you. So yeah, shout out to the Oh, man. So you guys worked with the river Mark community credit, right? Yeah, yeah, we've been rocking with them for I want to say a little over a year now. So what do you guys do with them. So

06:37

n, I'm gonna take you back to: 2015

08:07

was it was the other one NAACP got plenty of resources out here, me not knowing that as a youngster, as I graduate, I'm like, I'm gonna do my due diligence on making sure when I get old enough, and I have the resources and capability that I'm gonna find these resources and I'm gonna put it all in the same room and make the most out of it. So graduated, you know, that life experience.

08:34

You know, so being really passionate about community work, I decided to formulate a, I'll call it

You know, so being really passionate about community work, I decided to formulate a, I'll call it

ve available. Um, that was in: 2015

10:00

things,

10:01

ix, etc. And I want to say in: 2022

11:36

it helps to have brothers like you out here, man, you know, giving back to the community. So can you share any success stories of any individuals or families that's benefited from the program? Most definitely. So as I like I say, we do a variety of things, a large range of things I want to say, some of the most, I want to say, what makes me smile, what feels my feels, my heart is the youth enrichment portion of our organization, we've helped multiple youth get their driver's permit driver's license, help connect them to job opportunities, help them write resumes, help them get into ita programs, which is individual development accounts, where they get a match savings so that they can purchase a vehicle.

: 12:22

And that's, that's kind of what we,

12:25

I would say, is the most impactful

12:29

resource that we offer is our mentorship. We're fairly small organization, but we're making a pretty big splash, especially within our first year, you know, connecting with nonprofits, like I'm hooked, taking kids camping, taking kids boat fishing, and I'm taking kids rafting at the Deschutes in the Deschutes. River, I was out last year. And it was it was a beautiful thing. We've had videos first off to hand it to the youngsters. And you know, when in a few weeks, we're going to be taking them out to the mountain, you know, in collaboration with snow days, a black letter organization that's gonna allow us to go out there for free. You know, we're just, we're just going out there chaperones, you know, why, yeah, so, I will say that, for me, that was probably the most impactful testimony that, um, that really sticks with me. Jerry, you want to contribute to that? Yeah, man.

13:27

The youth as

13:29

the youth enrichment program has been great. I've been

13:33

I think, you know, that that's really a testament of how how we're really trying to see the younger generation thrive when it comes to

13:47

what they're doing with financial wise and, you know, just,

13:53

you know, just as an individual, you know, seeing them grow.

: 13:59

Yeah, man, this, this has been quite a journey, when it comes to

14:06

financial, educate with our financial education series. There has been a lot of good feedback when it comes to, you know, what people want to learn, learn from it, and what they want to

14:25

start a verified session when it

14:28

when it comes to their aspirations are what they want to

14:35

basically what they want to get out of it, you know, you get out of it, what you put into it, you know, that's, that's where

14:42

we really want, you know, a black community that we work with our, you know, the community that we work with, in general, you know, to really, you know, see the purpose in

14:55

what we're doing, you know,

14:59

there

15:00

Financial, you know, just gaining the financial knowledge. So nice. Yes. Like you said, you gotta you get out what you put in. So that's one of the biggest things I've learned since starting this podcast myself is

podcast myself is

: 15:13

it's a lot of work. And a lot of people don't understand how much work goes into it and do it the right way. So when trying to teach people how to do it, and like we're a service here. So we do a lot of work for people, we do a lot of the work for people, but if they were to do it themselves first, I think they would get a more appreciation for how much work it takes we put in you know, so how does how does one get involved with the, with the BC programs? So right now, we got a financial literacy workshop series starting in April, and it's actually going to be at the woodland fish parent first building out there in Gresham, in collaboration with Ben Andrews, and a few other organizations. So that's going to be every Wednesday throughout the sesame academy that Ben Andrews host and throughout the event. Yeah, shout out to them. Solid do solid, two big things over there. Yeah, yes, yeah, yes. Um, so a little bit more

16:13

RDA program saved up a couple: 1000

encounter on a daily basis, we get distracted, we get taken off course because it's hard to stay focus to stay discipline. It takes a lot of mental fortitude. And sometimes it's a detriment you know, pulling your hair out losing losing your hair.

19:33

Get off track pretty Yeah, I mean, yeah, like you say, you just gotta, I gotta be gotta be consistent. Yeah, and everything you do, and that's a big thing for podcasting, too. We're gonna take a break here. We're gonna get a sponsorship at from river Mark Community Credit Union. We come back, we'll get more into the some of your partnerships and your use focus initiatives. All right.

19:57

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20:00

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20:44

I guess this welcome back to these words. Well, right welcome back words.

20:52

Yes, sir. Welcome back to the spotlight Show. I'm your host Doran city podcast guy. Got my guys, Terry and Chris in the building. appreciate y'all coming through. So man, yeah, you guys asked me earlier when we were just wrapping them in here about how long my podcast has been around. And while I started, like I said, I saw about the power of networking and forming strategic alliances. And I got to start really in management, my company's management or city syndicate management, and I started out by helping out my best friend who was a hip hop artist growing up and

21:29

I wanted he stopped doing music got caught in a fast life ended up being addicted to pills and

alcohol and

alcohol and

: 21:37

he was reaching out man who was the music really, and I personally I wanted some new music from him. So I decided to book some studio time until a man let's get back in the studio. Get you doing some music that I want or need some third to me to give up my third twin. So I'll pay for some studio time. We did some songs we traveled we did some shows. I needed a music video.

21:59

Somebody introduced me to my guy just on in the back back there pushing the buttons, making all the magic happen. And we did a video called honesty.

22:08

And we entered that video into some film festivals. We got to actually got accepted to a few won a few awards and travel to some film festivals. First trip to New York to the hip hop Film Festival out there.

22:21

And shortly after the

22:25

the music video while buddy one guy claim Yeah, so he's about seven years clean now engaged to be married the director of the healing heart people over at PMIC

22:35

and then COVID hit and the music stuff stopped. We couldn't do no shows all the venues close. And

22:44

uh, actually, my guys got pretty busy with work. So it kind of worked out. Got a documentary in production. That's coming up the whole process that was recorded everything.

22:53

But then my guy hit me up

: 22:56

about getting into podcasting. So yeah, man, let's do it.

23:01

He had a roommate, the healthy row guy. He sells health supplements and health coach and his business when doing good man in the podcast. They started his business has been booming ever since. Beautiful. So we got into the podcast found his space. After three years of helping people start podcasts, I'm sitting around how can I help our business? My business our business? Like Well, passion started podcast. They want to like sit on behind the scenes. And not a big talker. Everybody surprised to see me on here talking especially my family. They're like, man, I've never seen Sid

23:38

trying to come out man. So it's really been good for me.

23:44

I got the sponsorship from river mark, that was a big deal. That was something I haven't been able to do is show people how to get sponsorships. Because it's really about you going out and making connections and establishing relationships and, and that that's what it comes from. And so it was good man to get that. So shout out to remark Community Credit Union. I appreciate you guys. They made the connection here with us brothers. Yeah, so man, I appreciate it. So yeah, tell me a little bit about the bcgeu from Richmond program. So with the NBC youth enrichment program

24:19

where we're like mentors, you know, we, we do daily things with them.

24:28

With the youth.

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We either like Chris was Stan previously, we would help them get driver's license, driver's permit, or, you know, we sit down with them play games,

: 24:43

or have conversations serious conversations about you know, life, what's going on with their life.

24:49

What's happening, any major changes that, you know, we could help you out with because, you know, as as a mentor, you know, we're here for you. So I mean, that's

25:02

You know, that's, that's a big thing of what we're about. When we do youth engagement.

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You know, we have a youth engagement program that we, you know, we do partnerships with different organizations just to get the youth involved in the community. And really, you know, really give them an understanding of what it means to give back to the community and, you know, do two things within

25:29

where they live. So

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one, one partnership that we had previously, which was more shrewd,

25:43

we would

25:45

go to a farm. So first of all, let me let me give you a little bit of background. So, Kwame,

25:53

Kwame Bay,

: 25:55

is founder of more shrewd.

25:59

And

26:03

what he did is he bought some bought some farmland over there and Corbett, down Colgate, and he wanted to, you know, just

26:14

give back to the community when it comes to fresh produce. And, you know,

26:21

I'll just get back, right. So where we came in was, we would do a lot of the transport of the food, and we would go up there and either to the planting, have some of the youth come up there as well do do some of the planting, and, you know, just tending to the land. And also,

26:44

you know, just, they also get paid for, you know, their, their volunteer time there. No, no, it's just great. So, you know, that's a job opportunity. And then they're, they're also getting taught, you know, what, you know, how to grow, you know, certain vegetables throughout different seasons, which was great, you know, this, so learning experience, and it's something, you know, something that they can take with them, you know, for a long time, you know, he, it's the same concept, you

27:16

teach a man how to fish, you know,

27:19

he can, he can live for: 1000

: 27:23

But in that case, you know, we would really focus on

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reaching out to our, our community members

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through BC

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and delivering it to their front door, because we know the hardships of you know, what it means, you know, when it comes to transportation, you're trying to try to get places and

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you know, that that was a, that was a big thing, you know, gone straight to the day get fresh farm farm, fresh vegetables, produce, to straight to the door, and you know, that just seeing the expressions on the fruit stalls. Oh, I didn't even know he was coming. This is the greatest lesson, you know, it's like, yeah, yeah. You know, this is,

28:16

you know, thank you for

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you know, in our program there really, you know, like,

28:25

yeah, it was, it was a great experience in itself. That was

28:31

more shrews. Nice. I know.

: 28:35

28:35

Some of the other partnerships was with East County Libraries. So East County Libraries.

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With the youth, they, we

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so first of all, like East County Libraries, host host and East County Library, sorry, architecture firm. Yeah, architecture firm.

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There, they're building the new Gresham library.

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So, you know, doing construction over there. And they wanted to get the youth involved in the process. And, you know, whether it be their opinion on how the library should look and feel and you know, what, what all you know, basically what all should we put in there and it also involves like the team room, and you know that because they're gonna have a team room in there. You're gonna have a you know, a lot of other features as well.

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And

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on top of, you know, having so many resources in there, so, I think that was

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you know, we we got them together with the students you know, had had a little focus group

29:51

at their architecture firm you know, close to

: 29:57

like right next to the Burnside Bridge on the you

30:00

So,

30:02

but

30:03

yeah, they it was it was really good.

30:09

Their students responded well to, you know, what, what they wanted. And you can see that they really got into because I mean, you know, when you think of you think of library, you know,

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it

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traditionally,

30:26

libraries haven't been a very comfortable place from black folks. Or, you know, or I'll put in a different context it.

30:39

It is.

30:41

You don't

You don't

: 30:45

it's just mopping. I don't really see this. Yeah. It's not not one of those places to go. Yeah, I didn't go to the library. Oh, I did go. I had a library card. Library. Yeah. My mom

30:59

made you get a library card. But did you go to the library? So that's not free?

31:06

Yeah, so I mean, same thing, my mom

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and since

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law library to be a space to go, and, you know, for students to find the resources for people to

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be able to find, find jobs, learn learning new, you know, anything like a trade, you know, figure out, you know, what their careers are, you know, just be it be a spot to hang out. Because when you're hanging, when you're in a space, where you have a lot of resources, those resources are eventually going to come to you. Yeah. So I mean, and that's a it's the same with

31:49

you know, no, it's the same working.

31:54

You know, working doing the things that we do with BC, you know, we're, we're around so many resources to do, let's give back to

32:05

the youth and every everybody else around us know, make sure that,

: 32:11

you know, they they see these things, because, again,

32:16

go back to my buddy here, you know, you don't know what you don't know. So we try to get them in and know. Yeah, there you go. So I'll teach him. So that's also when it comes to financial education. And

32:31

yeah, so. So yeah, we is there any more? Yeah. If I could just championships, partnerships. Yeah. Well, if I could chime in a little bit about that. So I'm in a little bit more context, as far as a youth engagement last year, said fishing camp and hiking, connecting them to different opportunities in the outdoors, mentorship, helping them with a licensed criminal roster school, sponsoring them with clothes or shoes. Yeah, and connecting them to internships. This year, we collaborated with the National Society of Black Engineers, NSBE.

33:09

Yeah, and we conducted a stem workshop series over the span of 10 weeks. And then which led into a infrastructure fair that was held at East Portland Community Center, and then exposing them to a Afrofuturism event that was held by the deltas at the June key delta center. So our whole gym is networking, sharing resources that are already in existence, and fill in the void. You know, we want to share what's already out there, we want to be in the know, so that we could get them in the know, we took a group of you to third, our bookstore, black owned bookstore, dope is all get out at a great experience, gave them about $50 To spend there, each and talked a little bit about economics with Charles honto, the owner in his wife, Michelle

33:57

talked a lot about a bit about economics as a black business owner and what it takes for the community to ensure that that black business thrives not only is sustainable, but it thrives in a way that they could create another shot, you know, on the other side of town, and it'd be just as successful on the reputation. Yeah, so develop developing that system. And that's what's most crucial to our organization is to system. In the blueprint, we want to develop a blueprint for community development that can be used in multiple black cities, for black communities, you know, where you are supporting one another, the way that we engage with one another as far as resolving conflicts, being honest, transparent, truthful, been open minded, and being willing to go the extra mile to see to it that our collaboration is successful. We are as cohesive as insync as can be, you know, we know how to agree to disagree and still win

: 35:00

deal with one another, because it seems to be hard for our community to work with each other modest and uplift each other. You want to do less competition. Yes.

35:13

Yes enough room for everybody exactly because finding your niche. That's right and sticking with it. Well, we're gonna take one more break we'll get a message from our sponsor, GMP podcast group. Come back we'll wrap it up and we'll talk about the the future of BC.

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ast group studios, located at: 2406

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This syndicated lyricist exists. Don't wait one

36:13

minute to begin to make the making of this.

36:18

I guess this welcome back to these words. Well, like Welcome back words.

36:25

Yes, sir. Back in the spotlight IBC in the building. We're gonna wrap it up here.

36:32

But yeah, let's talk about a little bit about the future of BC you said you got a project you're working on? Yes. So we like I said earlier, we got our financial literacy workshop series going on in April followed up by financial coaching. But in the midst of that we're in collaboration with an

in April followed up by financial coaching. But in the midst of that we're in collaboration with an

s idea that's formulating. So: 2024

40:00

Since that they have so if I say, Yo, you got 10 Black Student Unions in your alliance, y'all all agree to conduct business in this manner, meaning you know, you're not calling each other in words be words, you respect one another, you go out of your way to resolve conflicts. And you're gonna get sponsorships from these major nonprofits or businesses, but it's one pot of money. So if I donate $5,000, to David Douglas, be a shoo Yeah, they received the funds, but that goes to the pot. Meaning if your BSU ain't got nothing, you know, us Centennial High School and y'all ain't got nothing, we're gonna hook y'all up. Either we all win. And none of us when and we want to help build this model to where all right, you got the seis, you got reap, you got Bing, you have plenty of successful black organizations, including peel yc. And a whole list of other ones, I guarantee that if they knew what BSU is needed, they will go out of their way to raise money for so we want to help them advocate for themselves, put systems and structures in place so that people will know that they're serious, they will take them serious, they have a business mind to where you know, we are a group or organization, we have the power to control our destiny, that self determination is what we want to empower them with that ideology. So throughout this year, we're going to be developing the framework in

ere it's not David Douglas as: 5000

43:15

when you when you look at the system, and how how you would envision instead of seems similar to college fraternities and sororities. Right. So and, you know, they, they do just that thing they going on in high schools and you know, preach about you know, what's going on? How do they empower their, you know, their brothers and sisters within you know, those fraternities and sororities and things like that. So, um, yeah, I really, just like Chris I really see this as an empowerment to black students and you know, the schools that we want to reach out to nice Well, man, we definitely need brothers like yellow hair, man. By nine to

44:03

y'all putting into work out here, man, it's really needed. And so I'm glad to have your own man. Any final words of encouragement for the listeners as they embark on their own journey? And how can individuals organizations contribute or collaborate with the BC

44:17

noon start?

44:19

So yes, as far as final words, it's like, again, thank you for your support. Thank you river Mark Clackamas County Bank, shout out to all the adult nonprofit, nonprofit organizations and businesses out here that's contributing to the community. Shout out to go heart fitness for the

boxing workouts that y'all helps us with in the past. There's a lot of great work being done. I would say if you're not able to support our organization, based on your region where you live at support, wanted to dope black organizations or businesses, promote them online frequent that business of volunteer if you can, as far as the black economic collective. Again, though

45:00

We are in our infancy we are more than willing to take on volunteers of you know, all backgrounds, all expertise, all wisdom, you know, we can learn from everyone in any one, including the youth, especially the youth. If you're interested in learning more about how you could contribute or how you could be a part and receive some of the resources and opportunities, check us out, hit us up my email, Chris O hat, black ece.us. So military W. Black ec.us. And also we're on Facebook and Instagram. And you see, Instagram BC, underscore PDX. And with Facebook, we got the black economic collective Facebook group.

45:47

Just add us on there and let's let's get some conversations going. And that's what it's about man. So like I said, thanks again for coming in on the cards and listeners to explore their passions, embrace innovation, and pursue entrepreneurship in your own unique ways. Shout out to river Mark Community Credit Union again for the sponsorship. I really appreciate it. Look forward to more more.

46:09

ategy session come on down to: 2406

47:01

All right. I was fun. man with the plan over here. Hey,