Local Resources
The
Minority Business Development Agency:
http://www.mbda.gov/
The Minority
Business Development Agency
(MBDA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce is the only federal agency
dedicated
to advancing the establishment and growth of minority-owned firms in
the United
States. Through a network of minority business centers and strategic
partners,
MBDA works with minority entrepreneurs who wish to grow their
businesses in
size, scale and capacity. These firms are then better positioned to
create
jobs, impact local economies and expand into national and global
markets. MBDA
has spent more than four decades increasing the competitiveness of
minority
firms.
City
of Champaign-Minority Owned Businesses:
http://ci.champaign.il.us/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/2009-08-05-minority-business-directory.pdf
This
is the most recent list of minority owned businesses in Champaign
County. This list may not be completely up
to date,
but offers a great starting place to learn more about what businesses
and
services are offered from minority businesses in the area.
The
WorkNet Center:
http://www.illinoisworknet.com/vos_portal/?partner=
Illinois
WorkNet in Champaign provides training for people looking for work and
also has
resources for managing businesses.
Computer classes are also currently being offered in tandem with
Parkland College at the Worknet Center.
This excellent web resource also offers computer skills classes
ONLINE
that you can take from your own computer.
African
American Cultural Center at the University of Illinois:
http://www.odos.uiuc.edu/aacp/
The
AACC serves as a vehicle for self-expression and leadership enhancement
to
students of African descent through the vehicles of workshops,
seminars, and
performing groups. The ACC promots
campus-wide understanding of the unique contributions of
African-Americans to
the life and culture of the campus, the nation and indeed the world.
Parkland
College:
http://www.parkland.edu/
Take
advantage of all the unique services that a dynamic and responsive
community
college offers its district residents: personal growth workshops,
meeting
spaces, public speakers, and workforce training.
LOCAL
AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY IN CHAMPAIGN
Through
the Years: African American History in Champaign County
http://www.usd116.org/ProfDev/AHTC/lessons/ajones05/TTYS95.pdf
http://www.earlyamericanmuseum.org/TTYSummer1997.pdf
The
two articles listed above include important African American history in
Champaign
County. Both articles also make mention
of the history of black hair care in the area.
These articles also include photographs.