This post was written by Eric Westbrook, Director for the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement.
In honor of Black History Month, the My Brother’s Keeper Action Academy will take the form of a four-part series: The Black Generational Wealth Series. The goal is to empower Black men and help them transform their communities by learning what is needed to make generational wealth a reality for Black Philadelphians.
Four events will take place throughout February covering topics such as financial literacy, utilizing City resources and initiatives, entrepreneurship, and transferring wealth. Each features professional panelists with relevant experience and unique insight.
My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Action Academy is an initiative of the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement (OBME) with a focus on improving the quality of life amongst Black men in Philadelphia. The Academy hosts bi-monthly neighborhood-based community engagement workshops designed to provide the tools and resources necessary to close the opportunity gap for men and boys of color. Past events have included:
- A town hall on gun violence with State Representative Morgan Cephas (August 2019).
- An opportunity forum with panelists from PowerCorps PHL and Philadelphia Future Track (October 2019).
- The “We See You, Brother” dinner for homeless and unsheltered men (December 2019).
Read on to learn more about what is planned for each of the February events that are part of The Black Generational Wealth Series.
Money Moves: A Workshop on Personal Financial Literacy
Date: Tuesday, February 4
Location: Community College of Philadelphia, West Regional Campus,4725 Chestnut Street
Are you looking to create wealth, but need more tools and information? Register to join this personal financial literacy panel that covers tips on personal banking, credit management, investments, taxes, home ownership vs. renting, retirement, savings, budgeting, loans, insurance, and more.
Building Blocks: Opportunities to Rebuild with the City of Philadelphia
Date: Tuesday, February 11
Location: Philadelphia City Archives, 548 Spring Garden Street
Are you looking to learn a skills-based trade? Are you a contractor looking to grow or build your business? Sign up to learn more about the opportunities available with Rebuild—Mayor Kenney’s investment of hundreds of millions of dollars to revitalize parks, recreation centers and libraries—as well as other City construction projects. The workshop will also be a chance for participants to connect, share best practices, and get questions answered about finding and securing City contracts.
Grand Opening, Grand Closing: Building a Business that Lasts
Date: Tuesday, February 18
Location: Quorum at University City Science Center, 3675 Market Street
Do you want to start a business? Are you looking to sustain and grow your existing one? Check out this informational workshop featuring Black business owners sharing their advice on building a sustainable business and turning a hustle into an enterprise. Speakers will discuss marketing, financial health, customer service, building a strong team, and more.
Planting the Seeds of Wealth: Transferring Knowledge to the Next Generation
Date: Tuesday, February 25
Location: Muriel Dobbins CTE High School, 2150 W. Lehigh Avenue
How prepared are you to pass your home or business on to your children? What kind of financial habits or principles are you sharing with them? Attend this workshop featuring stories from some of the city’s civic leaders and entrepreneurs about building and transferring wealth to the next generation. The event will also include practical information and resources about estate planning, insurance, tangled titles, and other financial tools to support these efforts.
