WHAT IS The America21 Project?

Changing the Economic Narrative

America21 is a national nonprofit intermediary that connects 20th century communities to 21st century regional innovation clusters across the urban landscape, from the Pipeline of STEM Education to the Productivity of High-Growth Entrepreneurship.

Promoting Inclusive Competitiveness

Connecting the Disconnected

America21 seeks to infuse and inculcate the language and strategies of Inclusive Competitiveness among thought leadership, which ensures multi-generational investment that equips all of our nation’s human assets to contribute to the global economic competitiveness of America throughout the 21st century.

America21 seeks to catalyze a new economic movement by transforming 20th century economic narratives that pervade disconnected sectors of urban regions into awareness of, and engagement with, the 21st century global Innovation Economy and set the tone for new inclusive economic policies.

Who’s JOB is it to create more JOBS?

Since 1980, nearly all net new jobs are the result of fast-growing young companies — start-ups fueled by risk capital investments. Kauffman Foundation

In 2011, roughly 70,000 companies received more than $52B in funding from angels and venture capitalists. Center for Venture Research

Minorities comprise just 7% of entrepreneurs seeking funding and only 4% of angel investors, but represent 36% of the population … and growing.

How are most U.S. jobs

created in the 21st century?

Today’s economic paradigm is a fast-paced, knowledge-based, tech-driven global Innovation Economy comprised of three core components:

STEM Education & Workforce Development (science, technology, engineering & math)

Entrepreneurship, especially HIGH-GROWTH

Access to Capital & Capital Formation (angel investors, venture capital and public-private partnerships)

1.9 million Black-owned businesses produced LESS than 1% GDP in 2007. More than 1.8 million of those businesses were sole proprietors with ZERO employees.

Who will create jobs in the future? 64% of Hispanic and 63%

of Black Americans ages 18-34 want to start their own businesses.

Only 5% own a business. Kauffman Foundation

Unemployment among youth is 22%. For Black youth it’s 45%.

What is the America21 approach?

Changing the Narrative

Blogging, interviews and columns Articles in national publications Seminars & Workshops Conference programming at journalists conventions Development of minority media entrepreneur workshops Strategic relationships across media industry Development of STEM-focused programs Relationship with White House HBCU Initiative

Promoting Inclusive Competitiveness

Alliance with Nortech in Cleveland, OH Relationship with Jumpstart America Planning Committee member, SBIR conference, Portland, OR Relationships with SBA, NIH, NSF, EDA Relationships with regional, local governments (OH, OR, PA, D.C.)

Connecting the Disconnected

Development of STEM-focused programs, Philadelphia, PA Development of Urban Innovation Roundtable, Portland, OR Startup Funding Panel / Leadership Luncheon, Philadelphia, PA Leadership Discussion on Entrepreneurship, Univ of Portland, OR Seminars, speaking engagements (AL, D.C., PA, OR, OH, MI) Gathering of Angels Summit (Rutgers Univ. Newark, NJ) Partnership with Black Ivy Alumni League Partnership with NBDPA Partnership with Black professional STEM associations

Cultivating a culture of innovation

HBCU STARTUP INITIATIVE

Seminar Series

Innovators Workshop

Pitching Clinic

Funding Startups

From Pipeline to Productivity

An initiative of The America21 Project currently under development

What am I doing to

create more JOBS?

Contact America21: Blackinnovation.org

info@blackinnovation.org 541-730-2164

Johnathan Holifield, Esq. America21 Co-founder Chief Strategist & Evangelist

Chad Womack, Ph.D. America21 Co-founder Managing Director

Mike Green America21 Co-founder Communications Director