In efforts to sharpen my assessment skills concerning the metric system I created regarding community development I will be selecting various non-profit organizations and community programs and examining them against the 5 P's. These first few entries will be pretty rough cut. Disclaimer: It is not my intention to expose, judge, or condemn, any organization or program. My objective is to open dialogue in the ways of building sustainable communities that benefit the persons that inhabit those low and moderate-income spaces. Now let's get on with it shall we...

Urban Zen Foundation, Est 2010

Soulful Promise:
To raise awareness and inspire change to the issues that touch all of our hearts...[C]reating integral connections on individual and global levels, bringing mind, bod, and spirit to preserving cultures, well-being and the education of children.

Headquartered in New York City, this post will examine the work that the organization does in Haiti. This includes the Haitian Artisan Project and The D.O.T (Design Organization and Training) Center. We will not be taking a look at the fashion collection, or the Urban Zen center located in NYC, nor the wellness training that takes place through the organization, as the latter do not directly affect a predominantly-Black space as the former two do.

General Assessment: 
When first looking into the Urban Zen Foundation, I searched solely through the org's site. Skimming through blog posts, (the most recent post is from April of 2015), and clicking through the various links on the site regarding the three initiatives, the Artisan Project, DOT and Empowering Children, I couldn't find much of what the organization was doing present day, past 2011/2012. After a little more digging it appears that the organization partners with the Clinton Foundation, where work in Haiti is still very much a priority.

The D.O.T. Center

Partnership(s): Parsons School for Design

Proximity: Located in Port-Au-Prince, the capital city with approximately 10.5 million residents and an unemployment rate of 40.6% (source), there is no real information as to the distance the Center's workers have to travel from their homes, nor whether or not the workers have access to ample transportation. As far as access to resources go, this is all the information available. With further research I would want to know whether or not their wages enabled them to afford more food, better living conditions, medical care, etc. Does them working in this facility give them access to the same or similar benefits that one would have working for a factory here in the States?

Political Engagement: Though Urban Zen as a whole may be working with the Clinton Foundation to bring Haitian economic development concerns to the forefront, the DOT specifically appears to play little to no part in ensuring that there is a Haitian voice at the table. It also doesn't appear to be their role or objective, which is fine.

Preservation: The 5,000 sqft facility was a new facility that was built, not refurbished, nor a building torn down and replaced with this facility. With further research I would want to know the condition of the area where the Center was built, and whether or not it was surrounded by other functioning factories.

Perpetuity: The Center's purpose is to a vocational training center for Haitian artisans, it appears that entrepreneurial abilities are being taught. In the event that the Center ceases to function there appears to be no sustainability to the lifestyle residents may have afforded through working at this facility.

Final Assessment:
I wanted to also examine the Haitian Artisan Project, however there isn't much information on the initiative as a separate entity. Its mission comes off as a catch-all for all the work that the Urban Zen Foundation seems to stand for in Haiti specifically. I make this distinction because the Foundation also has a wellness focus that is carried out in the US.

To make it highly simplistic it appears that a fashion executive built a facility in a country that has a great need for economic development and a culture that provides beautiful art that proves to be profitable. So here is where I find opportunity for either more information to be available, and/or the organization look into improving.

• Partnership: At present the scholarship for students is one-sided. Parsons students and professors can go to Haiti to study, but it is not a two-way street. All scholarships and grants for Haitians have been said to have been provided in-country, for example their relationship with PRODEV a not-for-profit that supports children's education. It also bugs me a bit that there was not one Black student from Parson's but since I don't know what the applicant demographics were, I have no real qualms here. In any event, it would be nice to see an exchange program of some sort that the Haitian artisans also have access to facilities in the States in the same way Parsons students and staff have access to Haiti. 
• Preservation: I really would like to know if the living conditions of the neighborhoods of the workers improved in any way at all? With the ability to build a showroom for their product, I wonder if the showroom that showcases the Haitian's work has better utility access than the homes of the workers themselves. 
• Perpetuity: The biggest frustration I have was the fact that I have now seen 3 collections (there may have been more, I am just referring to what I have witnessed through the web), of clothing and home goods under the Urban Zen label, and the prices can range from $50-1,700. If I am purchasing a $1,700 knit dress, with little to no detail, that I am positive cost $25-40 at most to produce, where is the rest of the $1,675 going? Granted, I don't know the companies costs nor expenses, however with the Haitian Gourde being 65 to $1 US, (source) and housing in a moderate area costing a little under the equivalent of $800/mo (source), which I am positive is still higher than the actual cost of living for the workers in the Center, I wonder how much economic and living conditions improved since the Center first began turning profit (even as a not for profit). As a merchandise planner I have been trained to look at the cost, wholesale, retail, and discounted price of an item. With that profit how those funds were allocated concerning expenses, I was not privy, as with this case. I don't know how funds are allocated across the Haitian initiative as provided by Urban Zen's website, so I can only guess. 
• Blog: Not one of the P's of Community Development, however it still communicates what organization is doing in Haiti. If they can take the time to ensure that the collection's site is up to date, ensuring that their children's initiative remains current is recommended. I could find no information about what they were doing with this area past it's inaugural year. It looks like it was the hot thing to do back in the early 20'teens and then it got old and the Foundation started to focus on the NYC facility, but kept the Artisan vocational facility because they both made, rather than required, money. It appears to benefit less Black faces, and more those who like to exploit them for good PR. It is a harsh assessment, however when entering Black spaces without continuity, and that continuity appears to occur in a place where Black faces are scarce is cause for call out. Even the Twitter post about work in Haiti wasn't about anything that Urban Zen Foundation is itself carrying out. 

With that said, I am appreciative of the way that this post has caused me to take a closer look at the way in which I utilize the 5 P's for assessments of organizations. There are places where a more defined scale would be needed in the categories in order to provided a quantitative measure of comparison. For example, in Proximity I ponder about the access to resources and the distance from the residences of the workers is the Center and the mode of transportation available to and from the facility. Is there a Distance to Transportation ratio? Concerning Perpetuity, am I measuring in this case, unemployment within the area, improved economic conditions of the workers (percentage of those who no longer need government assistance, disposable income, etc.)?

There is still much work to do on this metric system. If you made it down to this end...bravo! On to the next organizational assessment. Stick with me...I think once I get this it is going to be good!

Last week I attended the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. I was my first time attending the conference and I really am glad that I was talked into going. One, I learned a lot about diverse plights of Black people from all over the globe, as well as a few terms and organizations that I had never heard of before. Below I am going to give a quick recap of the workshops I attended and (where available) link them to their livestream. I am also going to link some of the new phrases and organizations that I learned about during the conference. Let's get started.

The ALC is structured in tracks that an attendee can follow, but it's not required. So if your interest is in Education then that track will highlight all the workshops surrounding that industry. Otherwise it's pretty much a free-for-all. I didn't follow any track and decided to attend whatever peaked my interest.


Last year it was reported that Black women were the fastest growing group of business owners in the U.S.,  and this workshop made sure that all those that are inspired to start their business or are already deep in the trenches know where and how to get the support (financial and otherwise) that they need in order to have a business that will last and flourish.

Here is what I learned I never knew from this workshop: 

• Minority Business Development Agency - an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce that work throughout the Nation to link minority-owned businesses with the capital, contracts, and markets they need to grow. 
• Women's Chamber of Commerce Certification -  One of the panelists discussed how the certification opened her business to a mentor/protegee program offered by the organization and how that helped to grow her business 

Here are the gems that I received from the panelists: 

• Not a hobby or a quick fix: It was stated that many women end up finding themselves outside of the workforce for one reason or another and decide that they then want to start their own business. The only problem is a good number of those businesses are lifestyle based and aren't built or maintained for perpetuity, which can make it hard for mentors or financial institutions to invest in. If you are building a business are you doing it because you have nothing else to do anyway? 
• All money ain't good money: The direct quote was "Think like a customer when you are borrowing" Just because someone is willing to give you what you are asking for make sure that you agree with all that comes with that money. You also have the option to say no. Remember, it is possible to build a profitable business with no debt. 

Quote to Remember: 

Panelist Janice Howroyd  quotes her father when she complained about having old school books with the pages missing:

"Read the pages, you're smart enough to figure out what's missing. Then, write what's missing and tape it in for the next student"

• Social Care- I keep trying to find something concrete on this term as it was used a lot by the panelists, however, it appears to mean working with community based organizations. If there is anyone out there that is more knowledgeable on the topic I invite them to comment. 
• Community Reinvestment Act- The Community Reinvestment Act is intended to encourage depository institutions to help meet the credit needs of the communities in which they operate, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound operations. 

 Here are the gems that I received from the panelists: 

• Laws of Attraction: The question was asked, "what attracts businesses to the underserved communities?" And I asked myself, what are the factors of that attraction? What are the laws in place that protect the people of that neighborhood of attraction? 
• Mental Detour: Veronica Smith of the City of Sacramento's SEED Corporation presented the challenge of redirecting our thought process on how we build policies and the policies of the entities that serve the basic needs of our communities. She made the point that subsidies with no opportunity to get our of that situation (that is causing them to need a subsidy in the first place) is not working. (She had me on the edge of my seat)

"When you think about development policy think about where people live" 

• Correspondent Banking -  When financial institutions provide services on behalf of another, equal or unequal, financial institution. 
• De-Risking - the phenomenon of financial institutions terminating or restricting business relationships with clients or categories of clients to avoid, rather than manage, risk.
• Trade Diversions - occurs when tariff agreements cause imports to shift from low cost countries to higher cost countries.
• Regional Advocate - helps to identify regulatory concerns of small business by monitoring the impact of federal and state policies at the grassroots level.
  

 Here are the gems that I received from the panelists: 

• Lend on Me: Approximately 3'700 banking groups depend on correspondent banking
• You're Money's No Good Here: A country is kept in a state of poverty when they can only use their currency inside their own country. Imagine if you could only spend the dollar from California to Maine. 
• I'm the Captain Now: Understanding how trade diversion helps growing economies willing to invest in smaller economies, that larger economies are not willing to invest in, gain global power and influence. Like building an economic brand loyalty is the way I make sense of it.

Quote to Remember:

"We don't have a penny in that dollar" 

• Agenda 2063 - Africa’s endogenous plan for structural transformation and a shared strategic framework for inclusive growth and sustainable development
• Sa-hel Region - semiarid region of western and north-central Africa extending from Senegal eastward to The Sudan.

 Here are the gems that I received from the panelists: 

• Jet Set: I had heard talk of this before of alleviating the issues of intra-continental travel. Think of it like with the European Union and easy travel among the member countries, but as simplistic. The idea of an African passport had been mentioned. 
• Implementation: When discussing the execution of select initiatives no matter the proposing organization, it was brought up that the two largest obstacles were lack of clarity, and a lack of financing. 

Quote to Remember:

"How do you reconcile this rich Africa with poor people?" 

• The 242 - The Blue Wall - The 18 states that have voted Democrat in the past 6 elections. These particular states combined equals 242 electoral votes.  
• IWillVote.Com - Where you can register, update your registration, and check your status as a registered voter

Here are the gems that I received from the panelists:

• Youth Matters: There was a young man on the panel that gave great gems for those of all generations. From dealing with the youths one-on-one to help dispel generational fear, to the necessities of partnership to feel as if they have a cause, stating that their fight in the Obama campaign made them feel as if they had a cause. 
• Poll Taxes: Knowing the ways in which states are making it difficult to vote is vital, and many of the questions dealt with specific issues around difficulties with voting. Even something like parking tickets on your record can keep you from the polls in some states. 
• Filling in the Gaps: There were questions about where to find comprehensive information on each candidate's stance on specific issues, especially a side-by-side comparison. Residents of non-battleground states were told that it would take extra effort and maybe even them creating the materials themselves to have more comprehensive information regarding the candidates, especially for national elections. 

 Quote to Remember:

"There is no more powerful person than a 24 yr old in Cleveland...that person in Cleveland determines who becomes president." 

So there we have it! Feel free to take a look at the videos, and any others on the CBCF Channel on YouTube that may be of interest to you. I truly enjoyed my experience and I anticipate attending again next year.

Happy Enlightenment!

Happy Monday Travelers,

Over the past few years I have noticed that more brands, networks, and publications have been providing more programs, shows, and panels/workshops on the business of fashion. It appears that as the fashion industry becomes more accessible to people they are not just interested in the glossy surface of fashion but the gritty business that makes it run.

I am actually pretty pleased to see this new interest as I have seen many a student come into FIDM thinking that all they need to do is dress great, smoke a ciggy, and have a jaded attitude with a camera and you're straight up fashion. That is so not true and every quarter there are tears and drop outs for the unprepared. But for those who understand that this will take so much more work than knowing the difference between Marc Jacobs and Marc Ecko, school plus the invaluable information provided by the various media outlets, can prove to be the foundation of a great and successful career in the industry.

Online zine Fashionista just recently had a panel discussion with select leaders in the industry about what it takes to build and maintain their retail businesses. Here is the article. I am interested to watch the live stream they will provide next year as I as not too impressed with the recording of the minutes of this meeting I feel there might have been some vital information and quotes that were left out of the notes or summarized which could minimize the points the panelist where trying to make.

One of my favorite sites The Business of Fashion as a great series on FashionStake and a detailed look on building their company. This is for the hardcore business minded but the terminology is priceless for being successful on the other side of the runway. Let me know what you think!

Happy Reading and Happy Travels,
"One Step Forward, Just Glance Back! No Fear, Just DIVA"
{source}

Just one day after I post the WSJ video with Russell Simmons and him speaking on how teamwork and delegation contributed to the growth of his empire, I read this article talking about how some of the top names in Fashion are now 70+ and have yet to even mention a successor. I don’t mess with politics here on No Fear, Just DIVA but it just really reminds me of McCain for some reason… Anywhoo, the truth stated in the article is that no one lives forever, at one point a designer must succumb to the inevitable and another must take their place to continue the brand. But is the fear that no successor can give the house the immortality that cannot be achieved by the designer himself or is it just a matter of control and not wanting to let go?

I am still learning much about the business of fashion but I think that with anything a good leader knows when to let go and pass the baton to their subordinates. When properly trained an employee/apprentice/intern should be able to successfully promote to a higher position and maintain the core values of the company.

Just once I tweeted “I’d rather them assume I know nothing and teach me everything than think I know everything and teach me nothing” When accepting my position my boss made it very clear that they were looking for someone teachable which let me know right away I was walking into a trusting environment that is about growth and promotion.

What are your thoughts and experiences Travelers? Review past post about the Secret Truths of the Fashion Industry. There is a “truth” in there about the insecurities of co-workers and employees that are used to hold each other down. I will do a separate post about that soon, but I think it may tie in pretty nicely with this theme. On that note Bravo! to employers and business persons like Russell Simmons who is more than ready and willing to pass on the baton to his readily trained subordinates.

I know I sure can’t wait until my boss says to me “Stick!” (track term for those of you not familiar)

Happy Travels! [source]

I ran across an interesting blog Spandex + Chaos searching a pic for an upcoming post and came across this video of Russell Simmons talking business and passion for creativity while finding your niche. A quote that I will take with me is

"[We're] fearful. [We] think that [we]have to accomplish something immediately and that [we're] gonna be secure somehow, but [we] have to know that our securities are already in [us] and to operate from that abundance that is inside of [us]"

If you follow "UncleRush" on Twitter then you know that his all about empowering the passion and power within...and no matter how you feel about his spirituals you have to give it to him he is one of the top business men of our time. Feel free to leave a Diva Stamp to share your thoughts and stop by Spandex + Chaos to read their thoughts on the video, it's well worth it.




Happy Travels!

"One Step Forward, Just Glance Back. No Fear, Just DIVA!"

Happy Monday Travelers! Over the weekend I came across this article via the Business of Fashion originally posted at Retail Week. The article touches on how more Fashion Design students are seeking out formal education of the business side of the industry to make themselves better prepared for the market and more competitive against their classmates.

A heavy promotion for the English program Fashion Fringe at Covent Garden, students of this program are mentored by industry professionals in the ways of launching a successful line to the market.

For those of you on this side of the pond I would recommend FIDM's International Manufacturing and Product Development* (IMPD) program or the Bachelors of Science in Business Management*. I am a very biased fan of our Merchandise Product Development major because I do feel as if it and the Apparel Manufacturing Management major give both the creative as well as the business sides of the industry. I both sew and create 6-Month Financial Plans for major retailers.

I kinda equate it to being your own mechanic, (you have no idea how bad I wish I could change my own brakes!). Our business must be a well oiled machine and for it to run properly everything must be in order. Unfortunately it is so hard to find a good mechanic especially when you are new to a destination or area. Knowing how to do it yourself saves time and money. It can also keep you from being cheated by those that don't have your best interest at heart.

No matter where you are on your Freeway it's a good idea to become familiar with the business of the fashion industry. Be the mechanic of your own career vehicle!

Happy Travels!

"One Step Forward, Just Glance Back. No Fear, Just DIVA!"

(source) Now if this pic doesn't motivate you to get your money up nothing will! Travelers I don't know about you but I am ready for this economy to do something other than fall faster than a JC Penny stock and get better so that in 6 months when I graduate I can find a job! But until then I have started taking a financial class to better manage and save the money that I do have.

Travelers being a broke DIVA is one thing but to be fiscally irresponsible is another matter altogether!

Currently the 6 week course is using the "Total Money Makeover Workbook" by David Ramsey. It has only been the first class so I don't have much to report, however updates will be necessary. I am a strong believer that good financial habits can change your life and getting a handle on them at any age is commendable; getting a handle on your financial habits in your twenties puts you ahead of the curve. There are many choices out there that will personally work for you, and you specifically. Once you find it discipline yourself and get to work!

Another source that I follow (but still have yet to actually read) is Suze Orman, financial expert who has been featured on Oprah and her site sooooooo many times. For more options check out this selection of Personal Finance books at Barnes and Noble, and find the book/system that is right for you.

Any fellow Tweets out there???? Well then you must follow EcommerceDiva. She has a wonderful site, calls in some fellow financial experts to discuss a wide variety of relevant and easy to understand financial advise.

Note: for all you emerging Fashionproneurs out there, EcommerceDiva is a necessity when it comes to small business advice. You know I am all about filling in the cracks and that is what her site will do for you. Hit the Road with this one Travelers!

"If you will live like one else NOW...LATER you can live like no one else" -David Ramsey

I read this article in WWD* giving very sound advice on how to keep your business afloat during this recession the US had found itself in. I know that a good number of my readers are business owners and are still building their brand so I recommend reading this article in its entirety. It is 11 pages but it is totally worth it. I am not going to recap all 10 of their Business Health Plan points, but some of the highlights of the article are listed below for Business Owners and Job Seekers/Employees.

When I was a little girl one thing I knew that I did not want to do was start my own business. I just was never one of those people who wanted to build from scratch. I thought that it would be just enough to work my way up the corporate ladder in 3 inch stilettos.

But there are some of you who know that you want a business of your own in the fashion industry and if so I suggest you make
The Business of Fashion a bookmark now. They have a wonderful series Setting Up Your Own Fashion Business and it is a must read BEFORE you take your first step towards entrepreneurship.

Part 1 in an 8 part series, author Imran Amed takes his pupils through an extensive questioning that boarders existentialism. Geared more towards a designer than another profession in the industry, Amed is honest about the hardships one faces when starting and failing the first business building efforts. Part 1 also discusses:

• Building a team to "Fill in the gaps"

• Truly understanding your customer and what your brand brings to the industry that is not currently made available by other brands

• Thinking of yourself as "a CEO first"
  

All of which appeal to those who are looking to work in any industry. I personally started to think about whether or not I am a "Forward Planner" and how sharp are my "Troubleshooting Skills?"


Also for the self starters out there check out The Fashion Business, Inc. They provide great resources and seminars for start up companies that want to succeed in the industry.

Membership fees vary depending on your status in the business (students $35 annual fee up to 2 years after graduation), but the site boasts great exposure for your label and website as well as discounts on classes and seminars. Once again this is more geared towards designers, and in this case manufactures, but I think that it's worth a click.

One of the things that I have learned especially from starting this blog is that You Never Know What Information is Out There Until You Hit the Road and Put Yourself Out There. (yes the caps were necessary) Email them, (whoever) and ask questions. Be willing to fail. When you're okay with failing at something you love you will ultimately succeed.

Pretty late in the post the reason why I call this a Construction Zone is because when starting anything from scratch there is a lot of mapping out, tearing down. breaking, building, starting over, and waiting, all the while causing a traffic jam. Sometimes what can look like a whole lot of mess in the beginning can turn into something really amazing when it's completed.

Here's to the amazing...