Recap: AALW Weekend 2012

AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP WEEKEND DELIVERS MESSAGE ON

OBAMAS HEALTH CARE ACT TO SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Mayor Johnson Delivers Powerful Encouragement to Engage in Political Process

Directly after Mayor Kevin Johnson implored small business owners to stay involved in the political process, endure the recession and embrace President Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA), he met with the president’s economic advisor John Hope Bryant to discuss making Sacramento a national leader in small business participation in the contentious new healthcare system.

The African American Leadership Weekend (AALW), hosted by the California Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the California Black Healthcare Network, informed nearly a 1000 small business owners and political advocates, healthcare professionals and elected officials from throughout the state of California for a three-day conference at the Double Tree Hotel.

The mayor rallied the patrons to develop a new movement within the business and finance community focusing on financial literacy in the black community.

“We are going to be a global player,” he told the conference attendees, “but we cannot have rainbow without a good storm. People only change when they are uncomfortable.”

Addressing the conference attendees at the business luncheon, Bryant also encouraged the entrepreneurs to be resilient and forge ahead because he says, “This is not a recession, it’s a reset. Persistence is the number one game.  No one will deny you ever.”

He went on to discuss the many global business opportunities for the small business owners in Japan, India and other international markets.

AALW also featured expert healthcare professionals from various organizations including Ellen Wu, Anthony Wright, Alison Kelman-Lewis, and Carmella Castellano.  Dr. Robert Ross, a member of the Health Benefits Exchange also provided critical insight into the ACA and its effects on small businesses.

The weekend culminated with a faith-based session featuring pastors and faith leaders from throughout the state, combining their efforts to engage its flock to develop financial literacy, teach the children basic economics and encouraging overall health and wellness, including drug abuse prevention, exercise and healthy nutrition habits.

Dr. Bennie L. Toliver, Pastor at Progressive C.O.G.I.C., discussed health programs to educate his members about dietary and nutritional needs. He said, “The Church is the facility.  We cannot separate ourselves from the church and the community.  We must reach outside and go to the community.  Everybody is not going to the church but they have to live.  We have to affect them in such a way that their lives our positive.  Not only treat the symptom but (treat) the cause.

All breakout sessions were well attended throughout the three day conference.