The Ujima Collective Training and Grant Opportunity

Greetings Community,

• Are You an Indigenous/ Native or Black/African Owned Company?
• Do you have an interest in hiring ESL speakers from refugee communities?
• Are you interested in learning a new language?

Inspired by the third tenet of Kwanza, “Ujima” by definition means “collective work and responsibility,” this guiding principle for the 2024-25 Office of Black Community Engagement’s (OBCE) entrepreneurial initiative. The Ujima Collective is open to Black/African American and Native/Indigenous owned companies with a mission to incorporate Anti-Racist practices, and a culturally inclusive workplace for all team members.  We will introduce Swahili/Navajo/Keres languages as a component of education through cultural practices within businesses development, these inclusive practices will influence the larger Albuquerque business community. With an emphasis on hiring community members within the immigrant and refugee community we aim to foster an environment in which the traditions of collective work and responsibility lift and elevate Indigenous and African/Black American Communities. We strongly believe that the racial wealth gap must be closed through support to new and expanding companies within the Global Community of Albuquerque.

The Ujima Collective offers training for established companies and start-up’s interested in gaining the skills needed to support a growing team through employment opportunities.

• Application deadline is September 18^th 2024 5:00 pm.
• Training begins Tuesday October 9^th 2024. Classes are held every Tuesday & Wednesday Night 4:30 to 7:00pm October 9^th through December 11^th 2024.
• Thereafter, participants will commit to Bi-Weekly 45 min meetings with an assigned mentor and 1 Monthly Ujima Collective Meeting starting January 2025 through June 2025 (6 months.)
• Selected Applicants will be notified no later than Wednesday September 18^th.
• The committee will select 18 participants equally from the Indigenous and Black Community.
• Full in person program participation is required.

Upon successful completion of Ujima Graduates will receive:

• Graduation Ceremony
• 5k Grant to go towards their small business
• Mentorship for 6 months
• CABQ Business Registration (1) Year
• 1 Full Year Membership to NM Black Chamber Includes customized website
• Certificate of Completion
• 60 Second Recorded Promotional Video
• Professional Headshot (2)
• 1:1 Business Development Consultations
• Monthly Group Training Session Starting January 2025 (6 months)
• Language Instruction Swahili/ Keres/ Navajo
• Certificate of  Intro to Language Course
• Membership to OBCE Businesses Advisory Network
• CABQ Department Networking Fair

Apply Today https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RK9Y6R5

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