Our Public Commitment to Fighting Systemic Racism
Earlier this week, JumpStart released this public statement amidst the ongoing unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd: JumpStart stands with all Black and Brown Americans, for whom systemic racism has been an ever-present barrier to individual and collective progress. Our mission is to unlock the full potential of diverse and ambitious entrepreneurs to
JumpStart’s Core City: Cleveland and Northwest Ohio Impact Programs Will Split Prize Money Equally and Eliminate Upcoming Showcase Events
In February 2020 JumpStart kicked off its third Northwest Ohio Impact Program and its ninth Core City: Cleveland Impact Program. Then COVID-19 hit our communities and we were forced to pivot our approach for these two cohorts, continuing to teach virtual class sessions while altering curriculum to meet the rapidly evolving needs of all the
Pride & Knowledge: A Conversation About Black History Month With JumpStart’s Lamont Mackley
Each February, the U.S. celebrates Black History Month, highlighting the rich heritage, extraordinary achievements and unique culture of African Americans throughout our nation’s history. As our 2020 celebration comes to its conclusion, we sat down with JumpStart’s Chief Inclusion and Outreach Officer Lamont Mackley for a conversation about life before Black History Month, how the celebration
A Step Toward A More Inclusive Innovation Economy
At JumpStart, we strive to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve in the work we do. That’s because diversity is a powerful thing. A recent study from the Boston Consulting Group found companies with diverse teams produced 19 percent more revenue due to increased innovation. Another famous study from McKinsey found companies in
Daron Henderson Takes $10K Grand Prize At Core City: Cleveland Entrepreneur Showcase
On Wednesday, December 4, Core City: Cleveland Impact Program participant Daron Henderson delivered the winning pitch for his business, Lo-Key Entertainment during the program’s culminating entrepreneur showcase—taking home the top prize of $10,000. Lo-Key Entertainment offers a variety of premium entertainment services including DJing, uplighting, photo booths and promotional printing. DJs from Lo-Key have performed all over the
Lamont Mackley Joins Fellow Community Leaders for WVIZ/PBS Discussion on Diversity and Inclusion
On October 15, JumpStart’s Chief Inclusion and Outreach Officer Lamont Mackley sat down with Brian Hall from Greater Cleveland Partnership and Vanessa Whiting, Board Chair of MetroHealth and President of A.E.S Management for “An Inclusive Economy: What Does That Mean?” part of the Cleveland Connects series. Sponsored by PNC Bank and produced by cleveland.com, The
Hispanic Heritage Month 2019: Talking Culture, Community and Curiosity with Marcia Moreno
Each year from September 15 to October 15, the U.S. celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month. The celebration spans two months because Sept.15 marks the anniversary of independence for five Latin American nations (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua). Mexico and Chile also celebrate their independence later in the month while Columbus Day—also known as
Accelerate success by promoting open exchange of ideas
Last summer, I attended the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s annual Diversity Professionals Conference, where I had the opportunity to participate in a series of interactive sessions that put a spotlight on how cultural orientations shape an individual’s perception of the world and how these orientations can play out in a workplace setting. One of my key
JumpStart Celebrates Black History Month
Each February, the U.S. celebrates Black History Month, highlighting the rich heritage, extraordinary achievements and unique culture of African Americans throughout our nation’s history. The precursor to Black History Month began in 1926, when noted historian and journalist Dr. Carter G. Woodson launched “Negro History Week” in an effort to bring African American history front and
Consult 2 Code Takes Home The $10,000 Prize At Core City: Cleveland Fall Entrepreneur Showcase
On Wednesday, December 5, Core City: Cleveland Impact Program participant Angel Washington delivered the winning pitch for her business, Consult 2 Code, during the program’s culminating entrepreneur showcase—taking home the top prize of $10,000 to grow her business. Inspired to start her own company after working for years in the medical coding and billing field, Angel
Five Questions With Jose Melendez, Executive Chef Of Melendez Catering Services, LLC
Melendez Catering Services was founded by the Melendez brothers, Omar and Jose, in 2010. Over the past eight years, Chef Jose has expanded his menu to feature more elaborate Caribbean-style modern cuisine by taking American classic dishes and reinventing them with a Latin touch. Jose is also a part of JumpStart’s Core City: Cleveland Impact Program, an
Five Questions with Immaculate Cleaning Co. Founder, James Barnes
Founded in 2011, Immaculate Cleaning offers premier janitorial cleaning services designed for commercial buildings, government facilities, healthcare facilities, places of worship, schools and universities, retail locations and sports and entertainment venues. The company specializes in day porter services, general daily cleaning, floor and upholstery care, post-construction clean-up and event setup and takedown and takes pride