April 2011, Volume 15, Number 2

Features

H. Leigh Toney, Jane Gilbert, Dr. José A. Vicente, Leo Toca and Jeffrey B. Price
The Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation supported the UMI with a contribution. MDC and Wells Fargo Foundation leaders attending included, from left, H. Leigh Toney, Jane Gilbert, Dr. José A. Vicente, Leo Toca and Jeffrey B. Price.

Meek Center Keeps Building on MDC's Entrepreneurial Spirit

Dr. Julianne Malveaux
Dr. Julianne Malveaux signs her book at the launching of the Urban Microentrepreneurs Initiative (UMI) at North Campus’ Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center.

Miami Dade College’s continued commitment to supporting entrepreneurship reached new heights this spring with the launching of the Wells Fargo Urban Microentrepreneurs Initiative (UMI) at North Campus’ Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center.

Addressing a crowd of more than 250 people during UMI’s opening at the Meek Center, keynote speaker Dr. Julianne Malveaux offered insights on how businesses can excel. The Center, which was founded in 1989, is a major outreach center of MDC’s North Campus. And the new UMI program, supported by a contribution from the Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation, is designed to galvanize and support commerce throughtout Little Haiti, Liberty City and Brownsville-Gladeview.

Helping Businesses Grow

“The goal is to guide second-stage businesses into new market opportunities,” said North Campus President Dr. José A. Vicente.

Malveaux, who is president of Bennett College in North Carolina in addition to being an author and economist, offered entrepreneurial advice and discussed her most recent book, Surviving and Thriving: 365 Facts on Black Economic History.

“Dr. Malveaux’s message about black economic history was well-timed,” Vicente said. “Working to revitalize and support business, especially during challenging economic times, is what the Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center at Miami Dade College was created to do more than two decades ago.”

Students Thrive

The focus of the center is on economic and community development. Students can take part in a variety of college credit and noncredit courses, as well as seminars, conferences and workshops. They can also obtain the business skills needed to enter the labor market or become entrepreneurs.

“Dr. Malveaux’s book was the perfect jumping off point for the Urban Microentrepreneurs Initiative,” said H. Leigh Toney, executive director of the Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center. “This reminder of blacks’ strong legacy as entrepreneurs and innovators is just what’s needed to catalyze and inspire new and seasoned entrepreneurs. It also helps encourage them to be bold in the marketplace.”

For details about the Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center, visit www.mdc.edu/north/eec/ to learn more.

— PUR


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