The Office of the Director Howard University Armour J. Blackburn Center and Black America Saves are hosting a reception commemorating America Saves Week 2009:
When: February 26, 2009
Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Armour J. Blackburn University Center Gallery
Admission: Free
RSVP: via email to rmcleod-reeves@howard.edu or via phone at 202-806-5689
Today more than ever students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities are faced with mounting students loans and future years of turbulent economic times. The aftermath of the bailout requires that students, faculty and universities face this problem with action and vigor. The problem is overwhelming, but with a financial action plan that includes careful planning, systemic financial advice and sacrifice from all parties involved, our students can pull themselves out of years of debt and increase their wealth, despite mounting student loans.
A simple action plan is needed. Students with mounting student loans should be required at the collegiate level to participate in service programs and projects that provide three (3) basic tenants:
Service provides for leaders the foundation that equips them with the overall knowledge to answer to a higher calling. Every leader who balances work, family and commitment will say that the success that they attain is tied to a higher calling on their life. That calling is why they become successful allowing them to reach out and do what they were born to do rather than to just make money. Their success and accomplishments are often the result of enjoying the work and thus creating a place in the marketplace that is designed by them in their service, while working. If we can train the next leaders at HBCUs to move from making a living to providing a service, we will compete the global marketplace with sincere, educated leaders who have passion, vision and wealth. Their wealth will be measured far more than in dollars but by their commitment.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have reached out to have a National Call for Service modeling the movement of Former Secretary Colin Powell with America’s Promise in the late 1990s. This call for service gives HBUCs and opportunity to bridge the gap between higher education and our failing communities that are devastated by drugs, unemployment and lack of resources. A common bond with HBCUs, community leaders and clergy can foster a new beginning by using Spring Break and Intersession between school semesters and summer sessions to foster this new National Call For Service. Each student will be required each academic year to use a break to provide service to the community at large while fostering a need to give back. For one week of service each student will receive 1 hour credit for at least 40 hours of work during the break and 10% reduction in their student loans for each break that they participate in. With this plan, freshman student could reduce their student loans by 80%- 90% iif they so choose to participate for the entire four years while in college on average. The amount would on-going and monitored and recorded by the Department of Education and the student’s academic institution. If a student decides after graduation to come into the federal sector or state government as a public servant, the amount should be altered to be reduced to a 1% interest rate for this student.
This model is being used a few institutions of higher education currently but needs to piloted at HBCUs in 2009-2010. It is proposed that this would increase public private partnership opportunities and broaden the pool of public servants in the federal sector.
Dr. Cornell West has stated, “In order to serve the people, you must love the people.” If we are to truly develop global leaders for our changing world, we must use service as the tenant for African-American leaders who are ready to serve the people.
The future looks dim now with our turbulent economic times, but the future is bright for our youth and those who sit in the seats of our Historically Black Colleges must not be burdened with debt that will keep them from reaching their goals in life and providing the service of which they are preparing for each day in our institutions of higher education. Our forefathers fought for the day when we would see brighter days….well they are here and we all must continue to fight for our students and youth as they go about the business of preparing the world that awaits them, We must not strapped them with the national debt, soaring student loans and mounting social problems. We must prepare them to the leaders they all are striving so hard each day to be each of HBCUs.
In celebration of America Saves Week, Feb. 26- March 2, 2009, we are challenging all African Americans to join us in starting a savings or adding to your existing savings or investments accounts this week. You don’t have to be rich, you just have to have a plan. Join thousands of persons across America in helping our families build wealth,
NOT Debt!.
The savings tip for the day is: Save all your loose change. Each family member this month should put extra change aside during this tough economic times. We know how to make it rough times, but we can make it if all just focus on responsible spending and savings in 2009.
For more information, go to www.americasaves.org.
James Butler and Suzanne Mayo
Mr. James Butler is a war veteran, former Head of the Kansas Human Rights Commission, a graduate of Kansas State University and and 95 years old community activist celebrating on 9/19/08. Mynette Management Co. celebrates and salutes Mr. James Butler for his service to the state of Kansas and the United States of America for always standing up for others.
“Mr. Butler has been a father, an author, a mentor and a true role model to so many throughout his life. We salute you today for standing up for others and for always keeping human rights at the forefront in America, said Suzanne Mayo-Theus, CEO of Mynette Management Co.
“You Don’t Have to be Rich, Just Have a Plan”
“When my money got low, the number of friends I had did too,” said Actor and Activist Clyde Jones, who recently starred in A Good Man is Hard to Find. Jones shared his personal story, an amazing adventure, where he went from living a life of luxury to being “flat broke.” He captivated the audience of 75 high schoolers, college students, and adults, describing low points and his remarkable awakening to the importance of saving, at an educational forum held at Antioch Baptist Church during the Democratic National Convention in Denver. The forum, held on August 26, 2008, marked the official recognition of the establishment of Black America Saves, a national coalition within America Saves.
The forum dovetailed “The Issues That Unite Us,” a town hall meeting sponsored by the Black Caucus Institute, where students listened to prominent members of the US Congress including, Charles Rangel (D-NY), chairperson of the Ways and Means Committee, Maxine Walters (D-CA), James Clyburn (D-SC) and Shelia Jackson Lee (D-TX). Students posed with movies stars who also attended the town hall meeting. Later, students were joined by George Barany, from America Saves, as he outlined important steps to building wealth. The all-day event was supported by America Saves, ColoradoSaves, and TCF Bank. Students were given an overview of banking services and received important tips on how to save while still in school, purchase an automobile, and use credit wisely.
Mable Banks, 72 year old member of ColoradoSaves, advised students to “start early and stick to it.” Following are excerpts from Banks’ moving speech.
“It has always been a dream for me to be financially free. When ColoradoSaves gave me the opportunity to work with a financial planner, it was a dream come true. I want to thank Susan O’Grady, my financial planner, for helping me get my financial affairs in order. I have become more disciplined with my spending. Now, I only buy what I need and what I can afford.
“Susan helped me to create a budget and learn how to live within it. That is the most difficult part of any financial plan. The actual creation of the budget is easy, but staying within it, is a challenge. Susan kept me on track and headed to the right direction. She says budgeting is about making the right choices. When the urge to spend pops into my mind, I pull out my ColoradoSaves membership card and ask myself:
- Do you need it or just want it?
- Is it in my spending plan?
- And will I later regret making this purchase later?
“It is very important to develop the saving habit early, even as early as a high school or college student, and to carry the habit throughout our lives. When you travel the path of saving early, you accumulate more wealth, and open possibilities that otherwise would never be available.”
After sharing her personal financial goals and discussing the $25 gift certificate ColoradoSaves had awarded her, Mable asked students to recite the pledge with her.
I pledge:
- To spend less than I earn;
- To avoid long-term, high-interest debt;
- To invest in a home, college education, or another appreciating assets; and
- To prepare for retirement.
The afternoon concluded by awarding Tori Flores, of Manuel High School and Mercedes Dowell, of Montbella High School with iPods, complements of TCF Bank. Musu Sirleaf, of Hinckley High School won a $500 college scholarship, compliments of College Invest, another key partner of ColoradoSaves.
Suzanne Mayo has been appointed the National Coordinator for Black America Saves. Over the course of her tenure, Ms. Mayo plans to re-energize the Black America Saves campaign and transform the face of saving for African-Americans.
To start saving, Ms. Mayo is please to provide the following 14 suggestions for saving:
MANHATTAN — Suzanne Mayo-Theus, an advocate for under-represented populations and a tireless leader of such civic undertakings as the rebuilding of post-Katrina New Orleans, has won the 2008 Michael C. Holen Outstanding Leadership Award, presented by the Kansas State University leadership studies program.
Mayo-Theus will receive her award at the leadership studies recognition ceremony at 7 p.m. Monday, April 21, in the K-State Student Union Ballroom.
Mayo-Theus, a K-State doctoral student in family studies and human services, Manhattan, is CEO of Mynette Management Co. and a professional speaker. She also is the mother of a 14-year-old son, Destin Theus.
“Suzanne epitomizes positive passion,” said Candi Hironaka, associate director of the leadership studies program. “She has an optimistic and hopeful attitude and always displays this no matter what is going on in her life. She embodies a spirit that connects with people across all boundaries.”
The Holen Award was established in 1999 to honor those who embody the leadership studies mission of developing knowledgeable, ethical, caring and inclusive leaders for a diverse and changing world. previous recipients include Buck O’Neil, Page and Nancy Twiss, Deb Patterson, Linda Thurston, James Coffman, Grace Hwang, Ruth Ann Wefald, Carol Gould and Atina Hanna.
Mayo-Theus has traveled internationally as a speaker and consultant for colleges as well as government agencies. She addresses such topics as motivation, college success, leadership, organizational effectiveness, racial identity, student life and fundraising. She has helped raise more than $50 million for not-for-profit organizations and institutions of higher education.
A native of Louisiana, Mayo-Theus has organized student groups and corporate executives to support the people displaced by Hurricane Katrina. As part of that effort she helped K-State students organize an “alternative spring break” trip to help with the clean-up. She continues to advocate for restoring New Orleans.
Her most recent work has been with Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, the inspiration for “The Great Debaters” movie starring Denzel Washington. Mayo-Theus coordinated the world premiere and asked Washington to help this historically black college. The actor contributed $1 million to re-establish the school’s debate team.
Source: Robert Shoop, 785-532-6085, rshoop@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Andy Badeker, 785-532-6415,
abadeker@k-state.edu
[via]
Mynette Management Co. is happy to provide information on our recent presentations on America Saves and Louisiana Saves:
Talk Your Walk - The Inspired Leaders Network
The Inspired Leaders Network was founded over 6 years ago to bring the best of the UK’s inspired leaders to a hungry and expectant audience. With a straightforward and compelling formula, the Inspired Leaders Network has succeeded in bringing the likes of Greg Dyke, Martha Lane Fox, Charles Dunstone and Anita Roddick to share their undoubted qualities and thoughts with our membership. We have brought the best from the public sector, from huge multinationals to exciting start-ups, from chairmen to frontline operators, from the media shy to the self-publicists but the one common thread has been and will continue to be, they are Inspired Leaders.
Get connected to an amazing online magazine by René Carayol at the Inspired Leadership Network. His information and powerful workshops are transforming the United Kingdom and beyond.
Betti O, longtime friend and client was apart of making history in Iowa for the primary caucus campaign gala on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2007. Senator Clinton told Betti O, “From One Diva To Another Diva…Thank You for a great performance tonight.” Betti O was also featured on the ABC Nightly News and the New York Times Blog on January 2, 2008. A true spiritual sister, Betti O is pure example of Success = Preparation + Opportunity. CONGRATULATIONS BETTI O!