Coalition of Black professionals launches new networking, service organization

By Globe Staff

Representatives from a variety of Bay Area businesses recently gathered at the Linen Life Gallery in Emeryville to launch the new Coalition of Black Professional Organizations.
    Brondon Reems, senior pastor at Oakland’s Center of Hope Community Church, led the group in prayer before former Congressman Ronald Dellums, an Oakland mayoral candidate, delivered the keynote address.

From far left, Michelle Rider, president of the Black MBA Association; members of professional organizations; keynote speaker, mayoral candidate and former Congressman Ronald Dellums; and Dr. Diane Howell.

   “You are the trained and educated,” Dellums told the group. “Join the grassroots and help to mobilize for change.”
   “It was important for us all to come together and share our expertise and resources,” said Michelle Rider, president of the Black MBA Association. Rider, one of the founders of the new coalition, said the group will work to reduce homicides in Oakland by offering mentoring to young people, raising $1 million for scholarships and “[being] a voice” for black professionals.
   “We have to do this,” said Dr. Diane Howell, publisher of Black Business Listings and founding producer of Black Expo. “I’m proud to be a part of it.”
   “This will help us plan one calendar [of events] so there are no conflicts,” said Jennifer Jones, who does marketing for Linen Life.
    Among the dozens of attendees were: Kasheica McKinney, a law student who works for the San Francisco Housing Authority; Lashawn Austin of IRW Doss and Associates Consulting; Sarah White of Joyful Occasions, a San Leandro-based event planning service; Larry Lionel Young of Century 21 in Pinole; attorney Robin Terrell Tucker; Nora Haron, president of Norah Enterprises; Sandra Davis, an auditor for Chevron; Bridget Cain of Fidelity National Title; Lynell Bevels of Washington Mutual; Cheryl Kyle Sharrief of Roast de Gourmet of Hayward; Rabboni Selah of the Black Professional Speakers Association of Oakland; importexport executive Maria Larsson; Oakland real estate broker Colette Luckie; and Globe Editor Eleanor Boswell-Raine.
    For more information contact Howell at (510) 839-0690.