The Black Women�s Task Force Forum uses an annual conference and workshops to equip African American women with the tools, resources and encouragement needed to move to their own highest level of achievement. As the name reinforces, the population being addressed is African American women and concomitantly, African American families and communities. The communities being served include Maryland, Washington, DC, Virginia, and beyond. The key tools for reaching these women include periodic workshops during the year and an annual conference; the first of which was held at the Baltimore Convention Center, May 19, 2006 and attended by African American women and girls of a wide variety of socioeconomic levels. The Black Women�s Task Force Forum began operating inOctober, 2005, and operates as a project of Merge Business Development Systems Inc., a 501(c) (3) organization. This would be a great way to recruit for your diversity program.

Program Description

The Black Women's Task Force Forum focuses on the needs of African American women and the environment in which they find themselves primarily as a result of the disparities that have been consistently documented. Specifically, the quality of life of disadvantaged African American women has been compromised by the widening disparity in economic viability within our communities, the on-going health gap, causing African American women to carry a heavier burden of death and illness and its debilitating impact on African American families, and the digital divide that marginalizes the productivity, employment, and educational opportunities ofAfrican American women and their families.

The Black Women�s Task Force Forum addresses the key areas in which African American women experience these disparities. These include: Financial Literacy, Health: Physical and Mental, The Political Process, Technology, Parenting, and Jobology: Entrepreneurship and Employment.

The second Black Women�s TaskForce Forum conference is scheduled for October 26, 27 and 28, 2007. The proposed location is the Kellogg Conference Center of Galludet University. The conference will offer workshops in the areas listed above, many of which will offer continuum education units (CEUs) for participants. The mandate of each course is to provide women with actionable information and next steps based on the workshop attended. Opportunities to follow-up will be presented during the year in the form of on-site workshops in communities as well as online webinars and one-on-one feedback.

The model for this program is simply: African American women providing information to African American women. This gives us the opportunity to enhance the credibility of the information by having those who look like us and share relevant experiences eliminate the need for the phrase �role model� because all of the presenters and most of the volunteers are African American women.

The conference will open with a reception for presenters, sponsors and participants to initiate opportunities for networking and an understanding of the workshops being offered. This supports our underlying theme of minimizing the feeling of �us and them� among African American women.

On October 27, 2007 the conference will feature a keynote luncheon speaker (TBD), one on one counseling and testing, and the following workshops:

Financial Literacy

Objective: To help participants create strategies to gain greater control over key aspects of their financial future.

� Understanding and Repairing Credit and Building Wealth

� Creating Financial Strategies

Health: Physical and Mental

Objective: To help participants to create a strategy to take greater charge of their health within and outside of the health care system.

Physical Health � Preventive, Holistic and Alternative Medicine � Disparities in Health Care: Strategies For Your Community � African American Women and STDs, HIV, HPV And More

Mental Health � Protecting Mental Health � Understanding The Roles Of Mental Health Care Providers

Politics

Objective: To ignite interest in the political process and how to use it to the advantage of the community.

� How to Get What You Vote For

� Preparing For Elective Office

� Getting Your Candidate Elected

Technology

Objective: To increase awareness of ways to use technology to improve personal effectiveness and productivity at home and at work.

� Bridging The Gap: You Build It You Own It

� How To Run A More Effective Small Business

Parenting

Objective: To strengthen the parenting skills and strategies necessary to assure the best possible outcome for our children

� Establishing Your Role

� Creating Connections, i.e., The Village Concept

� Father Mother Parenting Relationships

Jobology: Entrepreneurship and Employment.

Objective: To help participants maximize their economic viability in either their own business or in a working environment.

Entrepreneurship � Basics of Starting and Sustaining a Small Business � Understanding Franchises � Procurement and Certification Strategies � Contracting and Negotiating � Understanding Grants

Employment � Finding Your Niche � Self Marketing � Resumes and Interviews I/II (includes a videotape of interview role play) � Understanding Employment and How To Navigate The Corporate Structure

Young Entrepreneurs Series

Designed for African American females ages 13-21 to expose them to alternative approaches to economic viability.

The conference will close on Sunday, October 28, 2007 with an Inspirational Awards Breakfast. This will feature an African American female speaker and awards for individuals who have been recognized not only for their contribution to their communities but also to thesuccess of the conference.

Conference 2007 builds on the exposure and enthusiasm achieved with Conference 2006, for which BWTFF received a Proclamation from the City of Baltimore and letters of support from Congressman Elijah Cummings and Senator PaulSarbannes.

measurable objectives

The conference will market to African American women of all socio-economic levels with the intent of reaching ex-offenders, former welfare recipients, under-employed and those in transition from employment to business ownership, in addition to those just want to be a part of this exciting event. This effort is expected to meet the attendance goal of 300 on site. Segment goals will be established within the overall goal of 300.

total cost of project

The estimated cost of the Black Women�s Task Force Forum Conference is $65,000. This will cover the cost of the venue, expense reimbursements for fifteen speakers, the cost of ten computers for the You Build It You Own It workshop and anticipated fees for a keynote speaker. In terms of cost per direct person impacted those results in approximately $220 per person.

The directors and volunteers on this project have contributed their time and money to the success of this Conference with no reimbursement. Sponsors such as Sun Trust Bank, Southwest Airlines, Coalition of 100 Black Women, Marketing Resources International LLC, Trahan Corporation, and others contributed with in-kind contributions and financial support.

Conference 2007 will expand community partnerships and alliances and sponsorships required to make this event even more successful.

Sustainability

The growth of the BWTFF and its conference and workshops is the foundation for its sustainability. The use of Webinars and DVD recordings of the sessions as well as qualifying the workshops for CEUs are a part of the year-round sustainability strategy.

ContactInformation

Merge Business Development Systems Inc

410-255-5411

perry@mergebds.com

www.bwtff.com

www.mergebds.com