African American Partnerships

100 Black Men of America, Incorporated (the 100)
Web site: http://www.100blackmen.org

Background Information

The 100/State Farm® Dollars and $ense Investment Education Program is a program designed to provide high school students (9th-12th grades) with the opportunity to learn and apply “best practice” strategies for saving and investing.  The goal of this program is to help students understand basic savings/investment principles and to apply these standards in their day-to-day lives.  

The 12-week curriculum (Investing in Your Future) explores basic investment options and processes, reinforced through hands-on learning experience that allows students to analyze stocks, develop analysis reports and store analyst data.

Teams present a “mock” financial portfolio to a panel of judges who evaluate their understanding of investment concepts, strategies and products. Winning teams are awarded college scholarships from $3,000 to $1,000.

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF)
Web site: http://www.cbcfinc.org/

Background Information

The CBCF was established in 1976 as a nonpartisan, non-profit, public policy research and educational institute. Their mission is to assist the leaders of today while helping to prepare a new generation of leaders for the future.

SHOP for Wealth program is a series of credit and homeownership programs conducted on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and community colleges located in districts of Congressional Black Caucus members. The objectives are to educate young adults about the importance of:

• Managing money smartly
• Establishing good credit habits
• Recognizing the pitfalls of easy credit
• Building wealth through homeownership.

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ACT-SO (NAACP)
Web site: http://www.naacp.org

Background Information

The nation's oldest civil rights organization has changed America's history. Despite violence, intimidation and hostile government policies, the NAACP and its grass-roots membership persevered.

The Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) program is a yearlong enrichment program and competition in which high school students compete in 25 different categories.

For almost 30 years, it has worked to help students develop and enhance their academic and artistic abilities with the goal of raising the standard of excellence among today's high school youth. 

ACT-SO carries on the mission of its founder, noted and award winning author and columnist, Vernon Jarrett, that excellence on the field of learning and life is more sustaining than winning on the field of athletics. 

National Coalition on Black Participation – Civic Engagement
Web site: www.ncbcp.org

Background Information

Civic engagement is the cornerstone of economic empowerment.

The Coalition was formed in May of 1976 when 35 national organizations came together to start the National Coalition on Black Voter Participation. One of the first goals of the Coalition was to enfranchise more than seven million non-voting Black voters who had been locked out of the political process. Goals of the National Coalition’s program are:

• To train community leaders and grassroots activists in overcoming institutional barriers to electoral and civic participation
• Foster dialogue on women’s involvement in the political process
• Involve young adults as civic resources.

National African-American Women's Leadership Institute (NAAWLI)
Web site: http://www.naawli.org

Background Information

NAAWLI seeks emerging women leaders who will commit themselves and their leadership talents to constructive change in the black community. Launched in 1997, NAAWLI helps women discover their talents and understand how to apply opportunities for personal growth and professional development. In return, participants shape a vision of how they can improve their local communities and implement community projects that will lead to such benefits as economic revitalization, political empowerment, improved race relations and educational excellence. NAAWLI assists African-American women in discovering their talents and applying them to foster growth and development. The program requires a 24-month commitment and consists of:

• Three one-week sessions over six months. The topics of study include: Establishing a Personal Vision of Leadership; Understanding the Impact of Public Policy on Community Life; Community Mapping; Discovering Leadership Talents and Policy, Influence and Development and Implementation
• Each session is held in Dallas, Texas.

National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI)
Web site: http://www.nbcdi.org

Background Information

Since 1970, the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) has remained steadfast in its mission — “To improve and protect the quality of life for children of color and their families by giving every child a chance.”

With a focus on early childhood education, elementary and secondary education, child welfare and health, the Institute accomplishes this mission by:

• Serving as a vital information resource to all individuals who work directly with children including child care professionals, educators, parents, social workers and academicians. 
• Providing direct services at the local level through its nationwide affiliate network to improve child welfare services, provide access to universal early care and education, build family support services and provide vital information on children’s health.

Entering the College Zone is sponsored by State Farm. It is designed to substantially increase the number of disadvantaged students who enter college. The program equips parents and middle school children with the skills and resources needed to navigate the college preparation process. To date more than 35,000 children have participated in the ECZ program. It is conducted in 23 cities nationwide and is a collaborative effort between NBCDI, major public school systems, and colleges and universities.

National Association of Black County Officials/National Organization of Black County Officials (NABCO/NOBCO)
Web site: http://www.nobcoinc.org

Background Information

The National Organization of Black County Officials (NOBCO) is a 501(c)3 corporation, established in 1982, representing a coalition of black elected and appointed officials within county government in all 50 states.

As part of the Annual Economic Development Conference, State Farm sponsors Future Leaders Day, devoted youth leadership development.  Over 100 high school students spend a day with local county officials attending financial education and government workshops, an award luncheon and ending with a county government tour.

National Urban League (NUL)
Web site: http://www.nul.org

Background Information

Established in 1910, the National Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream.  Their mission is to enable African Americans to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.

The Urban League employs a five point strategy: 

• Education and Youth Empowerment
• Economic Empowerment
• Health and Quality of Life Empowerment
• Civic Engagement and Leadership Empowerment
• Civil Rights and Racial Justice Empowerment.

Since 1997, State Farm has partnered with the National Urban League to assist in the Achievement Matters Initiative.  This program is the vehicle for the “Campaign for African-American Achievement” to spread the message to youth that achievement does matter.