Education & Business Converge at 12th Annual Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce

OAKLAND, Calif. - Oct. 16, 2014 - PRLog -- Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce
Historic Tribune Tower Bldg.
409 13^th Street, 17^th Floor
Oakland, CA  94612
510 268-1600

Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce Hosted Successful Luncheon Highlighting the Partnersihp of Education and Business

Newly appointed President and CEO of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, Spencer Gillette and the Board of Directors were joined for its 12 Annual Luncheon by U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee, CA Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, Oakland Deputy Mayor Sandré R. Swanson, Oakland City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan, Senator Dianne Feinstein's Field Representative Robyn Levinson, and former Oakland Mayor Elihu Harris at The Ascension Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Oakland in the beautiful Oakland hills with views of Downtown Oakland and San Francisco.  With special guest Oakland Unified School District Superintendent, Antwan Wilson and keynote speaker, CEO of University Now, Gene Wade, the luncheon focused on the importance of collaborating with education leaders.

Corporate and community leaders joined us as we highlighted the productivity of Oakland’s multi-cultural business community,” said Spencer Gillette, President and CEO.  OAACC, is ‘Your Partner in Prosperity.’  As our Board of Directors continues to position the chamber for future growth, partnering with education leaders is an essential part of the chamber and Oakland’s growth because an educated workforce is fundamental to prosperity.”

In recent news, Germany has announced that it is abolishing tuition for college.  The chamber’s keynote speaker, Gene Wade’s work with University Now is similar to the German education model as he is focused on building a university system that gives everyone access to higher education and takes student debt out of the equation.  “For the first time in a century, the US is faced with the first generation of young adults that have less education than the prior generation.  This is being driven by demographic shifts whereby the fastest growing groups are the least prepared.  Ironically, college educated adults have more opportunity than ever before in the labor market.  We can solve this education and economic crisis by making a paradigm shift and leveraging new education model,” said Gene Wade, President and CEO of University Now, parent company of Patten University in Oakland.

Wade, an education entrepreneur and former attorney, continued, “The fastest growing segments of our society will be two times more likely to be unemployed and eight times more likely to be in prison causing a $345 billion impact annually that is more than the GDP of most countries in the world.  To capitalize on this untapped potential and ensure our standing in the world, we must leverage new ideas in our education delivery models.  Making education accessible and affordable to everyone is a paradigm shift that empowers people and drives prosperity.”

CA State Assemblymember Nancy Skinner presented to Dorothy Everett-King of  “Everett and Jones” with the annual Business Leader Award.

The Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce Annual Luncheon with sponsors: Comerica Bank, AEG Live, Chevron, Clorox, Horizon Beverage, NID Housing Counseling Agency, PGE, UPS, Port of Oakland, Turner Group Construction, Waste Management, Contractors Resource Center for Diversity & Inclusion, Kaiser Permanente, AEG, Living Jazz, AC Transit, Alameda County GSA, George Holland/NAACP, Chapel of the Chimes, Beebe Memorial, C.P Bannon Mortuary, Mason Tillman Associates, Tri-Valley Bank, Bank of America, Safeway, East Bay Municipal Utility District, PepsiCo, Peralta Foundation, Life Mark Group, 100 Black Men, Torrey Pines Bank, Robert Harris, Valerie Lewis, Total 360/Shonda Scott, Will Hardee, Ray Carlisle/NID, and Wright Enterprises,  annually draws over 400 supporters.  In addition to the network opportunities, the legendary Terence Brewer Trio provided entertainment. Ces Butner served as emcee.

The Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce Board Members are Bishop Robert Jackson, Chairman Emeritus, Ray Carlisle, Chairman, Spencer Gillette, President and CEO, Robert Harris, Merlin Edwards, Victoria Jones, Valerie Lewis, Eleanor Ramsey, Ces Butner, George Holland, Dr. Charley Hames, Melanie Shelby, Shonda Scott, Fred MacKay, Harwell Lang, Willie Nat, and Will Hardee.

For more information about ongoing partnerships and sponsorship of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, contact OAACC President and CEO, Spencer Gillette at 510 268-1600. Visit www.OAACC.org for more information.

Photo Highlights:

http://youtu.be/C3XAi4AmqqA



-30-

About the Oakland African American Chamber

The OAACC, “Your Partner in Prosperity,” serves the needs of urban business communities that are more diverse today than ever before. The OAACC is multi-ethnic and multi-racial.  OAACC is made up of businesses, and non-profits and is the gateway to success in business, diversity and expertise in Oakland, helping individuals and businesses; truly a “partner in prosperity” connecting emerging and established businesses improve the commerce of Oakland and the Bay Area.  As one of Oakland’s foremost business organizations, OAACC is committed to helping promote, sustain, and grow
business.