Cosponsored with the Tompkins County Office of Human Rights

Friday June 5, 2020  11 AM-Noon in Eastern Standard Time (US and Canada)

Register HERE: https://ithaca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lF6mC2mISny4OpgW0RRoIg

Speakers:

Dr. Christopher House, Associate Professor, Department of Communication Studies

Mr. Travis Brooks, Deputy Director, Greater Ithaca Activities Center

Dr. Nicole Horsley, Assistant Professor, Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity

Dr. Kenneth I. Clarke, Director, Tompkins County Office of Human Rights

Moderated by Yolanda Clarke, Center for Academic Advancement and Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education

In partnership with the Ithaca College Honors program and the Tompkins County Office of Human Rights, join City of Ithaca community leaders and Ithaca College faculty in our latest Rapid Response Salon conversation that focuses on Black people, racist rhetoric, and violence in the context of the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police and subsequent protests across the United States and the world. Hear their insights in an engaging live format meant to offer considered commentary and community dialogue.

Bios

Dr. Christopher A. House is Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Ithaca College. He researches black pentecostal rhetoric/social action, rhetorical theology, critical media and digital studies, difference/diversity and inclusion, Black church studies, African American rhetoric, rhetorical theory/criticism. The Journal of Communication and Religion, Southern Journal of Communication, Journal of Contemporary Rhetoric, International Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods, Journal of Race & Public Policy, International Journal of Communication, and Memphis Theological Seminary Journal have published his essays. His book, Touch Your Neighbor and Say, “Black Lives Matter!”: Rhetoric, Race & Religion in the Age of #BLACKLIVESMATTER will be published late 2020.

Mr. Travis Brooks has served Ithaca community youth and families for the past twenty-six years. As the Deputy Director at the Great Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC), he serves as The MBK Ithaca Director for The City of Ithaca. The MBK Ithaca program has flourished under his leadership with over 200 young men and women of color participating in its ongoing programs over the past two years. Over sixteen community organizations have collaborated with MBK Ithaca. He received the 2008 Tompkins County 40 Under 40 Award, the 2018 Distinguished Alumni Award from Tompkins Cortland Community College, and several other leadership awards.

Dr. M. Nicole Horsley is a Black radical femme teacher and scholar of African American and African Diaspora Studies. She is Assistant Professor in the Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity (CSCRE) and affiliated faculty in Women’s and Gender Studies at Ithaca College. Her current project argues for a Black sexual liberation theory as a framework that works in the apertures between pleasure and political demands, between utopian longings and the everyday failures of anti-blackness. The project unapologetically advocates for a collective response to anti-Black violence and killings across the globe in order to imagine Black liberation.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth I. Clarke, Sr. is the Director of the Tompkins County Office of Human Rights in Ithaca, NY. He was Director of Cornell United Religious Work at Cornell University from 2001-2017. Previously he served as Director of the Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs and as an Instructor in African/African American Studies at The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Clarke was also co-pastor of the Albright Bethune United Methodist Church in State College, PA. He worked at Third Baptist Church of San Francisco (1987-1990), initially as Director of Development for the church’s Ethiopian Refugee Resettlement Project and later as Assistant Pastor.

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Their first goal is to help the state identify and recruit a robust Contact Tracing team to be a part of this ambitious and urgent effort. To be considered, candidates must be a New York State resident 18 years of age or older; meet the position description requirement; go through an interview process; and complete a training and certification program.
New York State is looking to immediately fill the following roles:

Contact Tracers: reach out to the contacts of anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 to assess symptoms, ensure compliance with quarantine and determine social support needs.

Team Supervisors: lead a team of 20 Contact Tracers, and one Community Support Specialist who are working remotely using digital tools.
Community Support Specialists: work with the team and the local health departments to address the physical/mental health, and social/human service needs of those contacted, especially those who are under isolation or quarantine.

Click here if you or someone you know in New York State is interested in applying to be a part of the Contact Tracing team.
https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/get-involved-how-you-can-…
This is a moment of crisis and New York needs our help as soon as possible.

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Our loan fund is designed to help individuals, businesses, and nonprofits like yours (and the folks you know) in our region fill the gaps due to lost or reduced income and increased expenses due to the hardships faced during COVID-19.

Consumer Loan applications go live on our website at 12 noon Wed May 6

Business and Nonprofit Loan applications go live 9 am on Mon May 11Info will be found here once we go live, so bookmark this link: https://bit.ly/AFCU-COVID19-Toolkit so you can come back to it! We’re offering a 0% loan (yep, there’s really no interest!) to bring some much-needed stability to your life as you face unexpected expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Personal loans up to $3,000      Business and non-profit loans up to $8,000

Both members and non-members are encouraged to apply. Our Financial Counselors, Business Counselors, and Lending Officers will work collaboratively to help you explore all your options. Alternatives Federal Credit Union is an Equal Credit Opportunity lender and encourages applications by women, people of color, and WBE and MWBE business enterprises, among others.

We’re in this together. 

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Alternatives Federal Credit Union (AFCU) will manage the intake and application process and disburse approved loans within three days of the execution of agreements. A loan review committee composed of local economic development professionals will review applications for eligibility and select applications that best meet program criteria and priorities. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis in batches beginning on April 15 with initial weekly loan approvals by April 21 and initial loan closings by April 25, 2020. Applications will be reviewed and processed until the funds are exhausted.

Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick, speaking about the fund, said: “Local small businesses have been hit hard, and we all need to do what we can to support them and give them a fighting chance to withstand the COVID-19 crisis. Fortunately, we have an incredibly creative, collaborative and resilient community. This fund is just one more example of how we are coming together to support our local small businesses and I’m proud that the City has been able to play a role in pulling this together with our partners on behalf of businesses throughout Tompkins County.”

Cornell University is contributing $100,000 to the Small Business Resilience Fund. “Ithaca is one of the best small cities in America, in part because of its beauty, diversity, and strong community spirit,” said Cornell University President Martha E. Pollack. “Our small businesses are the backbone of our local life, drawing people to Ithaca from around the region, and serving as employers and economic drivers, as well as contributors to the common good. “Cornell University is pleased to support the Small Business Resilience Fund and we stand united with all who are working to help to address our community’s pressing needs in this challenging time.”

About the SBRF

The Tompkins County/City of Ithaca COVID-19 Small Business Resilience Fund (SBRF) will provide forgivable loans up to $5,000 for working capital to microenterprises and small businesses experiencing hardship related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Loans will carry a zero-interest rate, an 18-month term, and will be forgiven for businesses open and in operation on December 1, 2020 that have complied with the program rules.

The primary goal of the fund is to provide emergency relief to help business owners retain their businesses and their employees. The fund seeks to be a bridge of support before additional state and federal resources become available and mandated social distancing is relaxed. Among other priorities, the fund aims to support ground floor storefront businesses open to the general public and businesses located in established commercial districts.

Eligibility Requirements

• Principal place of business must be located within Tompkins County.
• Business must have been in operation on or prior to February 15, 2020.
• Businesses must have 25 or fewer employees.
• Business must have $2.5 million or less in annual gross revenues.
• Business must meet one of the following criteria:
• Business is public-facing (e.g. retail, coffee shop, food service) and is directly impacted by new public health requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Business has experienced 25% or more decline in revenues since March 1, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fund is open to businesses throughout Tompkins County. Interested businesses can visit the City of Ithaca’s Website for COVID-19 Business Resources or bit.ly.coicovid to download the full program guidelines and information about how to apply. For general inquiries, contact Kathleen Clark, Business Development Manager, Alternatives Federal Credit Union, (607) 216-3423 or kclark@alternatives.org.    

Kathleen Clark
Business Development Manager
t: (607) 216-3423  e:  kclark@alternatives.org  

alternatives.org
125 N. Fulton Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
t: (607) 273-4611  toll free: (877) 273-AFCU  f: (607) 277-6391

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Join us and connect with other business owners.

We understand the struggles and pressures small business owners are working through during this challenging time. In partnership with Business Leaders of Colors and Civil Advocacy Project, we invite you to join us in reoccurring discussion group sessions to connect with other business owners to: share resources, strategize, and support one another.

Facilitation to be provided by:

• Kathleen Clark Director of Business Development, Alternatives Federal Credit Union
• Gladys Brangman Founder and Managing Partner, Business Leaders of Colors
• Veronica Johnson, Attorney and Co-Founder, Civil Advocacy Project

These sessions are free and open to the public.

Please register for the sessions you would like to attend. Questions can be submitted in advance to CENTS@alternatives.org

REGISTRATION:

Thursday April 16th, 12:00pm – 1:00pm Please register here.

and/or

Monday April 20th, 10:00am – 11:00am. Please register here.

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Free – Online – 45 min

Friday, April 10th @ 4pm

Join the conversation: https://join.me/talia.watson

The CARES Act and SBA funding requirements are a moving target.

Business Leaders of Colors is hosting an online roundtable to discuss applying for Disaster Funding through the CARES Stimulus Act with Talia Watson, Biz Dev and Financial Consultant. She will give the inside scoop on each program, who is eligible, how best to apply, and tips & trick she has obtained from SBA officials. Additionally, we’ll look at long term implications of these programs and what else other businesses are doing to weather the storm and come out thriving.

The presentation will be followed by a roundtable Q&A where attendees can voice their questions and concerns.

Agenda:

• The different loan programs: EIDL or PPP? explained.
• Who qualifies for which programs: Yes,1099s can apply.
• What you need for your application: Making it a stress free process.
• Tax, capitalization, and cash flow implications: Taking a 60,000 ft view.
• What are other businesses doing? Can we make the right decisions for both worst and best case scenarios in mind?
• Questions: ask me anything.

*If you are a pre-revenue company, non-profit, a freelancer, independent contractor, or simply self-employed, you CAN and SHOULD apply, and your concerns will be addressed at this presentation.

If you can’t make any of the above times, feel free to call Talia on her cell: 641.451.1023 or home: 607.252.6510

IF THIS DOESN’T APPLY TO YOU PERSONALLY, YOU CAN STILL PASS THIS ON. ALL ARE WELCOME. Go ahead, pass it on. Share the love by sharing some knowledge.
-Talia R Watson

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When it comes to vehicle loans, we know finances are uncertain today.

When looking at your reoccurring bills this month take a look at what a State Farm Bank® vehicle loan offers:

• 90 Day loan deferment
• No application fees
• Simple application process

Every State Farm Bank vehicle loan also includes Payoff Protector ®.1

This helps protect you in case your vehicle is stolen or determined to be a total loss before the loan is paid off and you owe more than it is worth. Payoff Protector also saves you from having to purchase a separate Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) policy from a third party.

Start the application by calling or texting our office at 607-256-2886. In most cases, you’ll receive a decision within an hour. I’ll answer your questions and help you apply for a new loan or refinance your existing one. The process is quick and easy from start to finish.

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I hope you’re all doing okay! I’m writing to share. 

COV-19 is literally impacting everyone, so I’m making sure all my family, friends and various other connections have access to real time information they can use NOW! 

The link below accesses relevant info our company, Legal Shield) has made available.  It is being updated daily, therefore, can be a helpful ongoing resource for you and others you know! 

Simply scroll through and click links of interest so you can be much more informed . . . and much better prepared!

https://ls-info.com/d/HFzXmM

Please let me know if you have questions or would like additional information

Cal

607.227.8725

—————————————————————————————————

PS:

Here’s an informative Video done by one of my Legal Shield business colleagues last week:

Small Business Overview: COVID-19 Concerns  https://ls-info.com/d/zTvPkv

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April 2 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Ithaca, NY 14850 United States

Join us for a Business Leaders of Colors meetup! You can meet other small business owners, share the work you’re passionate about make connections that matter.

Equitable Financial Advisor Talia Watson will help us understand the specifics of the SBA’s disaster relief loans. And if you need help applying she will help you with that too!

We will also give BLOC members an opportunity to share how their businesses can help support your business during this challenging time.  See you online!

https://zoom.us/j/6152407658

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