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Massachusetts becomes first state to include LGBTBEs in supplier diversity initiative

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker In November, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to issue an executive order including certified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender business enterprises in contracting and procurement opportunities alongside women- and minority-owned businesses. For LGBT citizens in Massachusetts, this policy provides fair and
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By Affinity Staff|December 31st, 2015|Government, Public Sector|0 Comments

SBA’s Inclusionary Efforts – Open to “All” Entrepreneurs

By Melissa Lowery When President Obama charged the federal government with establishing a coordinated government-wide initiative to promote diversity and inclusion in the federal workforce in 2011, the U.S. Small Business Administration responded with action and practical application. Under the leadership of Eugene Cornelius Jr., deputy associate administrator for field operations, the SBA developed
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By Affinity Staff|November 25th, 2015|Feature Story, Government, Public Sector|0 Comments

Q & A Commissioner of the California Department of Insurance touts diversity

When Dave Jones was elected as Commissioner of the California Department of Insurance in 2011, he brought with him a history of advocacy and a commitment to equality. He began his career as a legal aid attorney with Legal Services of Northern California from 1988 to 1995, providing free legal assistance to low-income, disadvantaged and
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By Affinity Staff|November 9th, 2015|Government, Public Sector|0 Comments

City Spotlight – Many Faces. One Dream. program lands in Columbus

Understanding that a city with a high number of LGBT individuals might need a specialized business development program, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the National Black Justice Coalition took its Many Faces. One Dream. program to the city of Columbus, Ohio, in September. MFOD is an economic empowerment tour for LGBT communities of color.
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By Affinity Staff|November 9th, 2015|Featured Posts, Government, Public Sector|0 Comments

HRC hails historic EEOC ruling on employment discrimination

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, praised the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for its July 16 ruling affirming that it considers employment discrimination based on sexual orientation to be prohibited under the sex discrimination provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. “Discrimination has
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By Affinity Staff|August 31st, 2015|Business Equality, Featured Posts, Government, LGBT Diversity & Inclusion In The Workplace, Public Sector|0 Comments

HomeStreet Bank makes first SBA loan through NGLCC/SBA’s LGBT Business Builder initiative

By Brenda Matamoros Mark Mason, chairman, president and CEO of HomeStreet Bank, along with his wife Tracy and daughter Chloe, joined more than 90 HomeStreet employees who marched in the recent Seattle Pride parade to show their support of the LGBT community. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has had much to
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By Affinity Staff|August 23rd, 2015|Business Equality, Chambers/ Chapters/ Network Affiliates, Equality News, Government, News Around The Network, Nonprofit, Public Sector, Top Stories|0 Comments

SBA and NGLCC unite to foster LGBTBE growth and opportunities

Recognizing the business imperative to embrace diversity, the U.S. Small Business Administration and National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce launched the first initiative of its kind focused on LGBT business owners. LGBT Business Builder will bring together expertise and resources from staff at SBA district and regional offices, NGLCC’s 38 U.S.-based affiliate chambers and
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By Affinity Staff|June 12th, 2015|Business Equality, Chambers/ Chapters/ Network Affiliates, Equality News, Government, LGBT Business in the Corporate Supply Chain, News Around The Network, Nonprofit, Public Sector|0 Comments

New SBA administrator reframes mission, easing access to funding and markets

Maria Contreras-Sweet, SBA Administrator COVER STORY By Melissa Lowery The U.S. Small Business Administration is on a mission to modernize the organization and let small business owners know that they are standing by to provide support at every stage, from startup to expansion to globalization. Recently appointed Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet is leading the
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By Affinity Staff|January 21st, 2015|Chambers/ Chapters/ Network Affiliates, Feature Story, Government, Nonprofit, Public Sector|0 Comments

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT – Forty to None Project and True Colors Fund aim to end LGBT youth homelessness

By Jama Shelton, LMSW, Ph.D., Forty To None project director @PagingDrJama Jama Shelton In America, it is estimated that up to 1.6 million youth are homeless each year, and up to 40 percent of them identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Yet, only up to 7 percent of the general youth population does the same. The Forty to None Project is working both proactively and reactively to address the issue and, ultimately, reduce the disproportionate percentage from 40 percent to none. It is asking the business sector to join the effort.
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By Affinity Staff|October 18th, 2014|Feature Stories, Nonprofit, Public Sector|2 Comments

ENTREPRENEURS EXTRAORDINAIRE – Thankful for help from community and SBA, Savannah entrepreneurs return the favor

By Suzanne Squyres TailsSpin’s Jeff Manley and Jusak Yang Bernhard with Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet of SBA.jpg Against many odds, Jusak Bernhard and Jeff Manley have a successful business. Leaving behind award-winning careers in the entertainment industry and their home in Los Angeles, they moved to Savannah, Ga., where they opened TailsSpin Pet Food & Accessories. On the first day of business, the store tallied a single sale of 89 cents. Now in its seventh year, it employs 26 people and has three locations, one of which sparked the renaissance of a once-derelict strip shopping center.
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By Affinity Staff|October 18th, 2014|Business Equality, Feature Stories, Featured Posts, Government, Philatrophy and LGBT Community Involvement, Public Sector|0 Comments

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