KISS Community Connection

Community information and upcoming events:

Strengthen your business with a U.S. DOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certification. With this certification, you can fairly compete for transportation-related projects and gain support with competing outside federal programs. Registration opens September 7th. Visit www.ulgatl.org to register. For more information, please contact Kimberly Irvin-Lee, klee@ulgatl.org.

Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) 40th Anniversary Tour kickoff, September 22nd

This event will be a true celebration of Black women and their achievements and contributions, as well as a reflection on the continued work needed to improve the health outcomes of Black women.

The Small Business Expo promises a day filled with food, music, networking, shopping, good vibes, and cultural enrichment. Attendees can look forward to a retail shopping experience, providing ample opportunities to explore a wide array of local vendors and their unique offerings, and free admission. This landmark collaboration between VIPsocio and the New Black Wall Street Market signifies a remarkable milestone for community-driven economic growth.

October is the most celebrated month in the fight against breast cancer, but awareness alone isn’t enough. The American Cancer Society is encouraging everyone to get involved in the movement by participating in a walk, making a donation, and getting screened. “This year we’re excited to bring our Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk back to downtown Atlanta,” says Lisa Obser, senior development manager for the American Cancer Society. “On October 14th, we will come together as a community to remember those we’ve lost to the disease and to celebrate our survivors, thrivers, and caregivers at our new location – The Home Depot Backyard.”

This event is an opportunity for small business owners to become familiar with and educated in all stages of working capital, including but not limited to bank products, venture capitalists, angel investors, grants, and loans. Any business owner or aspiring business that is seeking funding options to start or grow their business and wanting to know more about the funding types that are relevant to their business are eligible for this opportunity. Participants will hear from keynote speakers and be educated on funding types and how they relate to their individual businesses. Attendees will also have an opportunity to meet with funders at an intimate level. Lunch is provided. Registration opens September 18, 2023. Visit www.ulgatl.org to register. For more information, please contact Kimberly Irvin-Lee, klee@ulgatl.org.

The “ATL Has Something to Say HBCU All-Stars Challenge” will take place at Morehouse College Forbes Arena. The event will feature exciting matchups, including the MEAC vs. SWAC Challenge, SIAC vs. CIAA Challenge, and Atlanta Public Schools Challenge. The games promise intense competition and are poised to be a celebration of Black history, excellence, and cultural experiences.

YouthBuild Construction+ is a community-based pre-apprenticeship program that provides job training and educational opportunities for youth and young adults between the ages 16-24 years old. ULGA YouthBuild offers youth and young adults three career pathways: IT, Healthcare and Construction. Full-time employee opportunities and incentives for construction and IT are also perks of this program. YouthBuild includes significant support systems, such as mentoring, follow-up education, employment, and personal counseling services as well as participation in community service and civic engagement. For more information, please email youthbuildinfo@ulgatl.org.

S.E.E.D. (Skill Enhancement and Employment), Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30am-2:30pm

S.E.E.D. is a 6-week in-person workforce training program. Participants, aged 17-24, will discover career paths based on their interests. They are provided with data-driven information about occupations, career trends, and salaries available in today’s workforce. The programs’ focus areas include the following: career readiness, career planning, job coaching, job search assistance, and employer connections. Throughout the program participants will learn the importance of community engagement and options for employment and post-secondary education. The program kickoff is Monday, September 11th at the At-Promise West location, 740 Cameron Alexander Blvd, Atlanta, GA, 30318. SEED Training sessions will be hosted Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30am to 2:30pm. For more information, please contact Dr. Kia James, kjames@ulgatl.org.

Project Ready prepares students for high school and life after high school, exposing students to various post-secondary schools, guiding them through the college admissions process, and preparing them for collegiate success. Project Ready introduces students to different career options and helps them map out a plan to reach their career goals and ultimately achieve their dreams. Features of this program include middle school transition guidance, STEAM, service learning, historical and cultural literacy, mentorship and more. For more information, please contact Dr. Kia James, kjames@ulgatl.org.

Young CEOs 2.0 is a 12-week course broken down into three modules consisting of 23 valuable lessons. Our objective is to educate, empower and encourage the creation and development of small business through coaching, consulting, and cultivating individuals with business aspirations. The program is designed specifically for teens and young adults aged 16-24 and is held Mondays and Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm at Promise Center Southwest, 2220B Campbellton Rd, SW, Atlanta, GA 30311. For more information, please contact Rashidah Jones, rjones@ulgatl.org.

The Urban League of Greater Atlanta (ULGA) partners with employers across both the public and private sector to bridge the gap between talent and employers seeking talent. Through our Pathways to Empowerment Program (P2E), we offer adults 18 years and older virtual training spanning several areas including career readiness, career and small business exploration, resume development, interview training, financial empowerment, job placement assistance, case management, wrap around services, and 6-month follow-up/ retention services. For more information, please contact Leah Pulliam, lpulliam@ulgatl.org.

The adult reentry workforce platform of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta (ULGA), supported by the U.S. Department of Labor, is offered to the Georgia Division of Corrections, Division of Community Supervision, United States Probation Office and Federal Bureau of Prisons operating in the Greater Atlanta area. The purpose is to effectively provide access to vocational and post-secondary education, training, certifications, credentialing, and employment and career development services. If 18-24 years old, please contact Darius Baker, DBaker@ulgatla.org. For more general information, please contact Crystal Brown, cbrown@ulgatl.org.