Through The Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) initiative “The Shark” Daymond John, With U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker & Other PAGE Leaders Engage More Than 30 Exhibitors At The White House For Demo Day To Showcase Their Innovations
“The Shark” Daymond John Continues His Work To End Poverty, Unemployment, Gun & Gang Violence In Poor Communities By Partnering with PAGE & Working With The My Brother’s Keeper Alliance
POVERTY & ILLITERACY/GUN & GANG VIOLENCE
According to the Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council “Poverty & Illiteracy” are the Root Causes behind Gun & Gang Violence, as well as a host of other social ills that effect the safety and well being of our youth and young adults. If we could figure out a way to address unemployment and academic failure we could improve public safety and make this a better country. This year’s Hip-Hop Against Gun & Gang Violence Week Campaign (May 15-21, 2015) was very special thanks to a Presidential Message from Barack Obama in recognition of the project’s outstanding work to end Gun & Gang Violence. The 7-day campaign kicks off 105 events over 105 days with Power 105.1 Radio and the 7 E’s 4 Power Tour. To further support the Presidential Message the initiative received Proclamations/Resolutions from NYS Governor Cuomo, the NYS Senate and Assembly, NYC Mayor de Blasio, Nassau CE Edward Mangano and Suffolk CE Steve Bellone.
“THE SHARK” DAYMOND JOHN SUPPORTS THE HIP-HOP SUMMIT YOUTH COUNCIL
The project’s mission is to teach students and young adults how to be proactive towards reducing gun and gang violence with a focus this year on Black on Black Crime and Police/Community Relations. To further support this “Call to Action” youth, parents, celebrities, business and community leaders are being asked to step up to the plate. None have been more vocal and supportive since the inception of the campaign than “The Shark” Daymond John, star of the ABC Emmy Award Winning TV show, “Shark Tank.” As a successful businessman and entrepreneur Daymond understands what it takes to improve public safety and empower those living in poor and disadvantaged communities who lack the resources and opportunities to succeed. His overwhelming support for the Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council over the last 14 years, as well as the Hip-Hop Against Gun & Gang Violence Project, has allowed us to save and/or have a positive impact on millions of youth and young adults. As we focus on the many issues experienced by Black and Latino males it is our hope that Daymond and the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance organization, created by President Obama, will play a key role towards the economic empowerment of young citizens of color who are filling up the jails, prisons, as well as committing most of the shootings and murders in our inner cities because they lack the contacts, skills, education and training to succeed.
PAGE WORKS TO EVEN THE PLAYING THE FIELD
Now Mr. John has been called on by President Omaha and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker to help end poverty and provide citizens with the tools to achieve economic freedom through the Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship initiative (PAGE). We applaud Daymond and the other PAGE appointees for all the work they are doing to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. It is important for celebrities and successful entrepreneurs to use their influence, skills and talent to even the playing filed and give hope and opportunities to the less fortunate. We will keep you posted on the progress of PAGE and all the work Daymond and the other Ambassadors are doing to make this a safer and better world.
Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship Announce New Commitments as Part of First-Ever White House Demo Day
August 4, 2015
As part of the first-ever White House Demo Day focused on inclusive entrepreneurship, Presidential Ambassadors for Global Entrepreneurship (PAGE) Steve Case, Brian Chesky, Antonio Gracias, Daphne Koller, and Daniel Lubetzky have committed to investing nearly $4 million to support diverse innovators across the country. In addition, Entrepreneurship Ambassadors Daymond John from ABC-TV’s Shark Tank and Ali Rosenthal, VP, Strategic Partnerships at Wealth Front, are in Washington today to engage with the more than 30 exhibitors at the White House Demo Day.
White House Demo Day is focused on inclusive entrepreneurship, and will welcome startup founders from diverse walks of life and from across the country to showcase their innovations. According to the White House, just three percent of America’s venture capital-backed startups are led by women, and only around one percent are led by African-Americans. Currently, only about four percent of U.S.-based venture capital investors are women. And, capital for innovative startups is predominantly available in just a few places, making high-growth business creation a challenge outside of a handful of metro hubs.
“I am proud to serve as the Administration’s point person on entrepreneurship and chair of the PAGE initiative, which brings together some of America’s most talented innovators,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. “Our PAGE members are dedicating their time and expertise to help develop the next generation of entrepreneurs, which is critical to our economic growth at home and to creating opportunity, prosperity, and stability abroad. Our entire Administration is grateful that these private sector leaders are working as our partners on efforts to expand entrepreneurship and support innovation.”
Commitment from PAGE members include:
Revolution’s “Rise of the Rest” initiative is a nationwide effort led by Steve Case to showcase – and invest in – entrepreneurs in emerging startup ecosystems across the United States. Through the effort, $1.5 million has been invested in startup businesses across a diverse set of 14 cities, including Charleston, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Richmond. Today, Case is committing to visit 10 additional “Rise of the Rest” cities, starting with Baltimore, Maryland; Buffalo, New York; Manchester, New Hampshire; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Portland, Maine. During day-long visits to these “rising” startup ecosystems, Case and the Revolution team, supported by partners including Google for Entrepreneurs and Salesforce for Startups, will meet with local entrepreneurs, businesses, non-profits, universities, and public officials to discuss the opportunities and challenges of fostering startup growth. At a pitch competition open to the public in each city, a local startup will receive a $100,000 investment.
Brian Chesky’s Airbnb will expand unconscious-bias awareness. Airbnb will offer awareness resources and discussions on unconscious bias to hosts from around the world at its fall 2015 global convening of 6,000 hosts. This will be followed by updated educational modules around diversity and inclusion for members of the Airbnb community.
Antonio Gracias, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Valor Equity Partners, and his colleagues, commit to invest $100,000 in diverse early stage entrepreneurs over the next year. Through this commitment, selected entrepreneurs will receive advice as well as opportunities to pitch in front of other investors.
In partnership with the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Daphne Koller’s Coursera will offer every Veteran one free course certificate in a career-relevant course, such as data science or cybersecurity. These courses can be accessed online, or at any one of the 27 in-person VA Learning Hubs that will launch this year in partnership with the American Red Cross and The Mission Continues.
Daniel Lubetzky, Founder and CEO of KIND Healthy Snacks is committing $3 million to invest in women entrepreneurs. Lubetzky will invest in three women leading emerging health-conscious food startups. Beyond financial support, Lubetzky will provide ongoing strategic guidance and direct access to a network of mentors who helped build KIND from a start-up into the fastest-growing U.S. snack company.
ABOUT PAGE:
Launched in April 2014, PAGE is chaired by Secretary Pritzker and was created to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs both at home and abroad. The initiative formed as a partnership among celebrated entrepreneurs, the White House, the Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. In the initiative’s first year, PAGE members utilized their knowledge, ideas, and talent to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs both at home and around the world to promote the program’s mission. As PAGE kicks off its second year, each ambassador has agreed to take the lead on his or her own signature initiative to address the global growing demand for engagement with America’s most respected and celebrated business creators.
ABOUT THE U.S. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION (www.eda.gov)
