Friday, September 12, 2014

Connecting Communities and Celebrating Progress & Diversity


Rhode Island Latino Professional Business Network
And
Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce

Mission
To Bridge social and economic boundaries by fostering connections and creating new opportunities among the members of these two statewide business organizations.

Objectives
Increase network connections between minority Rhode Islanders and Knowledge Economy employers and professionals.

Engage the underserved community in rebuilding the City of Providence’s economy related to workforce and minority business development.

Cultivate and promote the importance of equitable and inclusive growth, challenges and opportunities in distressed neighborhoods.

Bring the narrative of the Knowledge Economy to urban and minority youth and adults.

Develop a collaborative network contributing to economic development goals.

Work to Generate Paid Internships for Minority Students.

Create a new leadership ladder to integrate start-ups and entrepreneurs with traditional businesses and create a new social contract among government, business and academia to create success in the commercialization of the knowledge economy.  

Launch intensive campaign to gain employer participation and raise awareness of the importance of economic opportunity and workforce diversity.

To unleash and commercialize the entrepreneurial spirit and talent in underserved, boosting productivity, creating jobs and wealth, and increasing the tax base of Providence and the region.

Networking Highlights

Networking Highlights

Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics? Hot: RI Latino Professionals and Business Leaders Network- The local network of Latino leaders recently hosted Providence School Superintendent Susan Lusi to present the district's strategic plan and discuss education as "the pillar of Latino economic and work force development." The goal throughout the year is to help incubate relationships through events and informal conversations. http://www.golocalprov.com/politics/side-of-the-rhode-whos-hot-and-whos-not-in-ri-politics153/ , December 20, 2013

The relatively small size of Providence and its role as a cultural hub and state capital appear to have supported the development of a cohort of professional Latino leaders who hold networking events that bring the community together. Business owners and technical-assistance providers continued to attend the monthly networking events after the class ended. 

The networking has been critical to developing my business,” the participant adds. He liked “the opportunity … to know what’s out in the marketplace. You can see globally what’s happening not only in the area in which you have your business but other related areas as well.” 

The Growth of Latino Small Businesses in Providence, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Communities and Banking, Spring 2012, https://www.bostonfed.org/commdev/c&b/2012/spring/growth-of-latino-small-businesses-in-providence.htm

Why the need for the RILPBN?

Why the need for the RILPBN?
Consider the following statistics compiled by the US Census Bureau:
There are nearly 3 million Latino-owned businesses throughout the United States generating nearly $350 billion in annual revenue.[1]

Latinos constitute 53 million population of the United States as of July 1, 2012, making it the nation's largest ethnic or racial minority, and 17 percent of the nation's total population[2].

132 million Latinos, the projected Hispanic population of the United States in 2060. According to this projection, the Hispanic population will constitute 31 percent of the nation's population by that date.[3]

2nd Ranking of the size of the U.S. Hispanic population worldwide, as of 2010. Only Mexico (112 million) had a larger Hispanic population than the United States (53 million).[4]

Rhode Island Latino-owned business jumped from 3,415 in 2002 to 5,764 in 2007, an increase of 68.8 percent. Over the same time period, revenues increased by 115.4 percent, from 213.7 million in 2002 to $460.4 million in 2007.[5]

$2.4 billion Latino purchasing power in Rhode Island totaled[6]

138,500 Latino population of Rhode Island, or 13.2% of the state population[7]

Over the past decade (2000-2010), Rhode Island’s Latino population grew 44 percent, adding almost 40,000 residents.[8]

There is untapped Latino business potential in Rhode Island that could help business owners more while boosting economic growth.[9]

Clearly, the Latino community is an emerging, increasingly powerful force. Yet, Latino businesses have traditionally been, and continue to be, under-served and represented.
Recognizing this, the RILPBN is committed to helping Latino and Minority-owned businesses thrive by focusing on advocacy, providing business development and training and promoting business opportunities across industries.

Through its array of innovative programs, services and events that create growth and enhance empowerment, the RILPBN contributes to the advancement of the Latino community, and the prosperity of Rhode Island and the nation.


[1] Source for statements in this section: Statistics for All U.S. Firms by Industry, Gender, Ethnicity, and Race for the U.S., States, Metro Areas, Counties, and Places: 2007, Table SB0700CSA01
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http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=SBO_2007_00CSA01&prodType=table>
[5] U.S. Census Bureau 2007 Survey of Business Owners, Rhode Island Latino-owned business
[6] The Multicultural Economy 2010 (Athens, GA: Selig Center for Economic Growth, University of Georgia, 2010)
[7] U.S. Census Bureau’s 2012 American Community Survey
[8] PolicyLink and PERE analysis of equity in Rhode Island
[9] The Growth of Latino Small Businesses in Providence, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, https://www.bostonfed.org/commdev/c&b/2012/spring/growth-of-latino-small-businesses-in-providence.htmin-providence.htm

The RI Latino Professional Business Network (RILPBN)

The RI Latino Professional Business Network (RILPBN)

February 2009 – February 2014

Founded in 2009, the Rhode Island Latino Professional Business Network, (RILPBN) is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organized to help Latino owned business and Professional advance in areas as financing, procurement and technology usage. The Network has garnered support and membership from both micro and small Latino-Owned businesses.

The RILPBN serves as the unifying voice for Latino-Owned businesses and professionals, advocating for opportunities that set business owners at a higher class of competitiveness. It is committed to the success of its members, partners and supporters by providing high-quality events, innovative programs and services and useful and tangible resources that enhance business growth.

Mission Statement
The RILPBN mission is Building Economic Wealth and Opportunity for Latino Professionals and Entrepreneurs by providing innovative programs and services that enhance the success, growth and advancement of Latino businesses, and the community at large.

Mission
To Bridge social and economic boundaries by fostering connections and creating new opportunities among the members of these two statewide business organizations.

Vision
To Leverage Rhode Island new long-term economic development Vision and Policy focus and prioritization that the outcomes of the strategy be equitable for all Rhode Islanders

Commit to making sure the growth and competitiveness of the Latino business community capable of employing the growing diverse population, is included in the Knowledge Economy and continues to be a Rhode Island priority.

The Rhode Island Latino Professionals Business Network (RILPBN) comprised of Latino businesses, Latino Professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders, and creates career, educational and social opportunities for Latino professionals by connecting professionals and college students with each other, and with employers seeking to identify, retain and develop Latino talent.

RILPBN is committed to serving the Latino small business community by striving towards the promotion, the advancement and development of Latino-owned businesses, provide the exchange of information and business opportunities for the benefit of our Membership and establish and encourage opportunities for RILPBN Members to do business with one another.
RILPBN fosters an environment for personal and professional growth for Latinos through monthly networking sessions hosted at El Macuto Restaurant, 1137 Broad St. Providence, RI 02905.

Our Commitment
RILBN is committed to promoting the growth of Latino and Minority-owned companies through business development, education and advocacy. By working in conjunction and partnership with its sister-organization the Milenio Latino Institute, Inc., the RILBN functions as a learning and resource association that is able to develop, implement and modify its programs and services to best meet the needs of its membership.

The RILPBN fulfills its commitment of serving the needs of Latino business owners and professionals by:

Constantly seeking to establish and build relations at every level- locally, statewide, nationally and internationally- in order to generate new business opportunities;

Working closely with government agencies, top corporations and organizations to create viable partnerships that provide valuable benefits;
Advocating on behalf of business, by assessing and addressing the issues and needs of business owners, and consistently and effectively communicating them to our elected and appointed officials, as well as other legislative bodies.

Goals and Objectives

Promote the advancement and development of Latino and Minority-owned businesses and provide the exchange of information and business opportunities for the benefit of our Membership

Cultivate and promote the importance of Rhode Island equitable and inclusive growth, challenges and opportunities in the emerging Latino and Minority community.

Provide networking events to advance the development of business opportunities for our Membership, and inform non-Latino/Minority businesses of the advantages and benefits of doing business with RILPBN Members

Create a new leadership ladder to integrate start-ups and entrepreneurs with traditional businesses and create a new social contract among government, business and academia to create success in the commercialization of the knowledge economy.

Increase network connections between Latino/Minority Rhode Islanders and the Knowledge Economy employers and professionals.

Engage the Latino/Minority community in rebuilding the Rhode Island’s economy related to workforce and minority business development.

Bring the narrative of the Knowledge Economy to urban and minority youth and adults by developing a collaborative network contributing to economic development goals.

To unleash and commercialize the entrepreneurial spirit and talent in the Latino/Minority community, boosting productivity, creating jobs and wealth, and increasing the tax base of Rhode Island and the region.


Launch intensive campaign to gain employer participation and raise awareness of the importance of economic opportunity and workforce diversity.