IBSA Newswire...: May 2007

Introducing Jade Sewing

Jade Sewing began in 1984 as a family business and is located in Topeka, KS.

We can make all kinds of formal gowns, wedding gowns with lace embroidered right on the fabric. We can make men's suits and children ware. I also make casual ware and work with special needs for people with handicaps or other special needs.

We can create one of a kind window treatments, and pillows. Whatever the person's imagination can come up with we can work it out. We just need a picture, some measurements and instructions.

We can embroider pictures of faces and lots of other custom art projects such as drawings. I do ten inch lettering and smaller to fit on a half-inch space.

Pamela Vinson
Jade Sewing - http://jadesewing.com/

TELEPHONE NUMBER

(785) 266-4577

EMAIL ADDRESS

jadesewing@sbcglobal.net

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Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com ¶ 5/28/2007 03:21:00 AM 0 comments

Ephren Taylor Entrepreneur Acadamy

Ephren Taylor Entrepreneur Acadamy @ Cheyney University Applications Now Online

This year Ephren had the opportunity to be blessed enough financially to establish an entrepreneurial institute at Cheyney University the oldest historically black college in the country. This institute was established to provide entrepreneurial training to high school and college students in the Philadelphia, PA metro area. In 2007 over 50 scholarships to the two week intensive summer camp will be available to high school students.

For more information or to apply for a high school or college scholarship to the institute please use the following links:

Summer Academy Website

High School Application

College Application

The Entrepreneurial Leadership Camp is a branch of the
Ephren W. Taylor II Entrepreneurial Academy (ETEA) hosted in
collaboration with Cheyney University. The camp provides an
in-depth overview of entrepreneurship and wealth-building in
an intense, 10-day curriculum that shows students the process
of how to start and operate a business. Students will learn
about the impact small businesses have on the global economy
and society, and how entrepreneurship is a viable and
rewarding career choice. Facilitators will include Cheyney
University faculty, popular media personalities and successful
business owners. Ultimately, students will leave the camp with
the tools necessary to launch their journey toward
entrepreneurship. The administrative team will maintain
contact with participants for follow up throughout the year.

http://ephren.typepad.com/nine_figure_wealth/2007/05/ephren_taylor_e.html

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Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com ¶ 5/26/2007 09:16:00 PM 0 comments

Help Us Showcase a Brotha

Recommend A Successful Black Man

All submissions will be reviewed and considered for inclusioin. After review, MyBrotha.com will contact you in reference to your request.

In many cities we have Black men quietly doing work others consider 'the heavy lifting.' Help us find them and give them the recognition they deserve. Who knows, their recognition could be an inspiration to some young brotha due to their life experiences or accomplishment and set them off to achieve greatness?

http://www.mybrotha.com/spt/recommend.asp

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Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com ¶ 5/25/2007 09:11:00 PM 0 comments

Obituary of the Late Mr. Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has
been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his
birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm;
Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more
than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in
charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but
overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy
charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from
school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding
an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job
that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.
It declined even further when schools were required to get parental
consent to administer Tylenol, sun lotion or a band-aid to a student; but
could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have
an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became
contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better
treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar
in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to
realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her
lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; His
wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is
survived by his 3 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else
Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

NBBTA, if you still remember him, do your part as a Black Business Advocate.

If not, join the majority and do nothing ...

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Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com ¶ 5/23/2007 04:46:00 PM 0 comments

Military Base Construction Contacts

Please share with other construction firm you know. Many of these companies have work outside the scope of military housing and outside Kansas.

Ft. Riley Military Housing Expansion:

Picerne Military Housing

Terri Paquette, Business Manager

785-717-2224

tpaquette@picernemh.com

http://www.rileypicerne.com/index.php?pid=28 Contractor info

Robert Estep

Rehab/Renovation,

785-717-2266

restep@picernemh.com

Steve Olson

Labor/Porter, light admin

785-717-2203

solson@picernemh.com

Other areas of contracting: painting, new home, building, roofing,

Ft. Leavenworth Military Housing Expansion:

Michaels Military Housing

Bill Kass, Small Business

bkass@mmhusa.com

Once Construction

913-685-2454

Ask for Jim or Russ

Email business information on your areas of expertise to onceconstruction@sbcglobal.net

All areas associated with home building

Cosmos Siding & Exteriors

Dennis Letarde

Email inquiries to: dletarde@gmail.com

Roofing and siding new home construction

Join our email list for construction firms at ibsa@myway.com

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Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com ¶ 5/22/2007 02:45:00 PM 0 comments

Doing business with government

Doing Business With The Government

Join us for a Webinar on May 22nd

Space is limited to 1000.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www.gotomeeting.com/register/789611388

Thank you for your interest in our FREE webinar.

You have taken the first step to success in the Federal Government marketplace. This webinar will teach you the basics of selling to the largest customer you will ever do business with. You will learn about the various contracting vehicles available to use.

Focus is on GSA contracts and why they are the preferred buying vehicle. Do you want to know who the small business representatives are and their contact information? Are you a Veteran owned small business? Are you a woman owned small business? We will show you where to find these invaluable contacts - FREE!

Title:		Doing Business With The Government

Date:		Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Time:		12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows� 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server

Macintosh�-based attendees
Required: Mac OS� X 10.3.9 (Panther�) or newer

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Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com ¶ 5/17/2007 06:10:00 PM 0 comments

VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program

http://www1.va.gov/homeless/page.cfm?pg=3

Grant and Per Diem Program

Capital Grant Notice of Fund Availibility (NOFA)
Capital Grant Application
A Notice of Fund Availibility was published on May 4, 2007 annoucing the availability of Capital Grant funds. When you click on the Capital Grant Application link above you will be forwarded to a page where you will need to fill out some brief contact information. Once you click submit you will be forwarded to the page where you can download the Capital Grant Application.

Grant/Per Diem Regulations (38 CFR 61.0 - 61.82)
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Rule for Religious Organizations

Program Description:

VA's Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program is offered annually (as funding permits) by the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Programs to fund community agencies providing services to homeless veterans. The purpose is to promote the development and provision of supportive housing and/or supportive services with the goal of helping homeless veterans achieve residential stability, increase their skill levels and/or income, and obtain greater self-determination.

Only programs with supportive housing (up to 24 months) or service centers (offering services such as case management, education, crisis intervention, counseling, etc.) are eligible for these funds. The program has two levels of funding: the Grant Component and the Per Diem Component.

Grants: Limit is 65% of the costs of construction, renovation, or acquisition of a building for use as service centers or transitional housing for homeless vets. Renovation of VA properties is allowed, acquiring VA properties is not. Recipients must obtain the matching 35% share from other sources. Grants may not be used for operational costs, including salaries.

Per Diem: Priority in awarding the Per Diem funds goes to the recipients of Grants. Non-Grant programs may apply for Per Diem under a separate announcement, when published in the Federal Register, announcing the funding for �Per Diem Only.�

Operational costs, including salaries, may be funded by the Per Diem Component. For supportive housing, the maximum amount payable under the per diem is $31.30. Veterans in supportive housing may be asked to pay rent if it does not exceed 30% of the veteran's monthly-adjusted income. In addition, "reasonable" fees may be charged for services not paid with Per Diem funds. The maximum hourly per diem rate for a service center not connected with supportive housing is 1/8 of the daily cost of care, not to exceed the current VA State Home rate for domiciliary care. Payment for a veteran in a service center will not exceed 8 hours in any day.

Applications are not accepted for Capital Grants or �Per Diem Only� funding until the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is published in the Federal Register. Funds will be awarded to programs determined to be the most qualified. The contact person for the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program is Roger Casey. Mr. Casey's address is VA Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, Mental Health Strategic Healthcare Group (116E), VAHQ, 810 Vermont Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20420; telephone (toll-free): 1-877-332-0334; E-mail: roger.casey@mail.va.gov . The HCHV programs are administered nationally by Paul Smits, Associate Chief Consultant, Homeless and Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Programs, VA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

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Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com ¶ 5/16/2007 09:29:00 AM 0 comments

No Limits Media Group No Limits Media Group strives to captivate audiences by producing media products that are full of life and emotion. Every aspect of your project is carefully planned out. Our creative design staff are dedicated to creating applicable, eye-catching graphics using professional sophistication and elegance to capture the mood of any event. Whether it's a wedding, special event, corporate training, or website development project, we offer top-quality work, excellent service, minimal production time and affordable rates! Professional Videography * Graphic Design * Web Development * Conference Support We offer professional videography, digital video editing, and graphic design services. We use state-of-the-art, broadcast-quality, professional grade cameras and non-linear digital editing equipment for superior quality and stunning effects. http://www.nlmg.tv Call today and reserve your date! (785) 226-2654 or (913) 775-3573 ¶ 5/09/2007 11:21:00 PM 0 comments

Introducing: No Limits Media Group

logo

No Limits Media Group is a full service professional multimedia production company that can help guide a client's media objectives from conception to completion.

Our staff members have over 25 years of professional video production experience. We believe that video production is an art and a craft, a skill that requires the proper tools and the proper experience.

Let us help you develop integrated media solutions for your business !

http://www.nlmg.tv/

Call today and reserve your date!
(785) 226-2654 or (913) 775-3573

Covering areas in Kansas and Missouri

Salina * Junction City * Manhattan * Lawrence * Topeka Greater Kansas City Metro

Sent to you by IBSA, Inc.

¶ 5/09/2007 11:15:00 PM 0 comments

Black Empowerment Starts at Home

There must come a time when we hear more about successes; rather than the same old complaints. We all know the complaints and issues Black folks face:

*high unemeployment
*disproportionate incarceration, welfare and poverty rates
*low achievement of our youth in failing public schools
*high than average out-of-wedlock birthrates
*crime and drug ridden neighborhoods
*dilapidated housing conditions
*inequities in public funded contracting
*silence by Blacks, Whites, and others on issues most pressing in the area of Black lives

I know there are some I missed but these show identified areas that need to be addressed if we are to turn the tide and move toward being more self sufficient and reliant.

To move beyond the complaints and into action, we must first acknowledge that there is a problem so important to us that we will do whatever is necessary to form a strategy of action. The means in which we need to address them won't be conventional, because the problems are so out of control that it now demands extraordinary efforts just to bring stability to our situation. Piece meal won't do.

We can continue to point fingers and blame someone else for our situation and we can even make demands that the very people who created or added to the problems figure out a way to resolve the elements that keep the above problem areas status quo. We can also begin real dialogue and discussion on forming teams that will go down in history as 'those that fulfilled the dream." There is a demand on our generation to lead by example; just as those who came before us. Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, Martin King, just to name a few led by example and we are all better off for it to this day. The attorneys and families that took on school desegregation did so without the thought of pay, but for the sake of equity, justice and a better life for those that will come in our ranks. Beyond dead leadership mentioned, there are also examples of living leadership, but without knowing what it looks like, it is at best, passed by without a thought. Like a slight-of-hand trick, 'some acts of leadership won't be televised.'

For the next ten years Black folks need to commit to leadership development among themselves and work to tranfer those skills on down to those younger. Within this new era of Black leadership must come a strategic force that can think, walk and talk at the same time; on a variety of levels, at any given moment; from whatever position we are in. When we are not thinking, walking or talking we need to be about action!

Currently in Topeka there is a turning in the tide to take better control of a destiny. From a small act of confrontation, comes an opportunity that never before existed. In 2000 there was a small band of folks that pressed government for equity in spending its sales tax dollars which led to the allocation of money on an annual basis to assist in the growth and development of small business; including those Black-owned. It didn't happen by chance or without struggle and legal battles, but nevertheless, when the smoke cleared we definitaly came away from the table with a vantage point. How we deal with the opportunity is now the next form of action we need to take. The economic development needs of Black businesses is not the same as it is for Latino, Asian or Indo-American. The support services needed to assist businesses owned by Black women is not the same as it is for White females. We must be clear about what's round and what's square, as even though they may have the same cubic diminsions, they are not the same.

With financial backing of our tax dollars there is no reason to not take advantage of the situation and do those things that will have a lasting affect on our economic livelyhood. We have more than enough MBAs, Ph.Ds, entrepreneurs, activist, mobilizers and organizers to get the job done, what we lack is organized leadership. As a people, we lead so well for other folks companies and organizations; don't you think it's high time we utilize those talents for ourselves and to ensure a better future for children that look like you?

In Kansas City Kansas, local Black leadership are pressing local government to address a disparity study that shows only $70,000 of $54M in public funded construction contracts going the Black construction firms and unemployment of Black men and women at rates off the charts. After meeting with the Mayor and other people of influence to hammer home the facts, ground has been broken to bring forth a plan they can review, accept and adopt to promote and finance development programs that will increase Black employment and contract earnings; or suffer the same legal consequences Topeka/Shawnee County government had to go through on the sales tax issue; and lost. This isn't rocket science.

Since communication is so important, we need to ensure we have a concrete way to connect so we can share, review, and act off of information in a quick, efficient and effective manner. One way is registering on listserv's that have the mission and capablity of reaching a large arena of Black intellect online. The Kansas African American Affairs Commission (www.KAAAC.org) is a good place to start if living in Kansas. By signing up you will definately be in line to receive information you can either use or share. You can also join the IBSA email list at (ibsa@myway.com). We scan the net to retrieve and send out useful information daily. In the end, it is up to us as individuals to seek out and find the information that can help us, our families, friends and businesses. It is also up to us as individuals to act off of the information received. As far as I am concerned, every state should have at least one Black organization that focuses solely on being the email disseminator. And, Black business, agencies, dept. heads and company officials should be proactive in feeding them policy, employment and contracting information to share via our networks.

Before we were born it was stated by Black leadership that 'Black folks problem is their failure to organize'. Well, we can either accept this or make an active effort to do just the opposite. The cards are in our hands.

So, the next move belongs to you. We not only need Back contractors but also grantwriters. We need folks who can do research. We need people that are willing to create the programs needed in neighborhoods whereas Black youth and adults are disadvantaged to empowering information and services. We need those knowledgeable in public policy, organizational management, advocacy and the visioning process that leads to change. We need agents of change.

Click Here to Find Black Kansas Organizations

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Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com ¶ 5/09/2007 09:12:00 PM 0 comments

Ephren Taylor Entrepreneur Acadamy @ Cheyney University Applications Now Online

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