Futureland: A Promise for Cleveland

By Nicole D. Miller

This October, the east bank of the flats in Cleveland was swarmed with innovators, creatives, leaders, and tech gurus donning their best business attire and genius mindsets. But what made this picture of dynamite entrepreneurs even more unique was that it was comprised of almost 100% minorities. What brought such a vast number of Black and Brown folks together? Cleveland’s first annual Futureland Conference.

In partnership with Jumpstart Inc., Futureland was spearheaded by six local entrepreneurs: Alysha Ellis, director of education, Camille Genise, director of events, Aaron Marks, director of finance, Charron Leeper, creative director, Kumar Arora, director of marketing, and Musa Hakim Jr., director of web 3 & internet technology.

The purpose of Futureland was to create a tech/innovation ecosystem to support and showcase the diverse talent of Cleveland and to cast a vision for the city’s future. The conference was a bundle of workshops, concerts, speakers, business pitches, fashion shows, panel discussions, and much more!

The need for a tech conference geared explicitly toward minorities is great. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), this field is dominated by 83% whites in comparison to 2% Blacks (at minimum), 3% Hispanics (at minimum), and up to 20% Asians (at most).

Maestro Stevens, owner of The Iconic Expressions, led the Brand Startup 101 workshop at Futureland and can attest to these numbers. “There is a lack of education, features, and opportunities in my community for the tech industry,” he said when interviewed. “There is also a lack of representation of Black Americans within the tech space.”

Futureland is a solution to that lack by providing knowledge, guidance, and resources to improve successful small business rates—and the best part was that it was curated by and for the minority community.

Alysha Ellis, a serial entrepreneur, shares what she took from her experience hosting Futureland “…we must be a part of the decision-making process. We can’t continue to build things without people and expect them to show up. In order for us to have sustainable growth, we must co-create together!”

It is that mindset and energy that is vibrantly shaking this community’s business sector, and organizations such as Jumpstart Inc. recognize it. Jumpstart’s mission “to unlock the full potential of entrepreneurs in the Northeast Ohio region by delivering capital services and connections” perfectly aligned with the need to assist minorities in the tech industry.

Camille Genise, the Entrepreneur in Residence at Jumpstart, shared that one of the major goals of Futureland was to reach the right people. Often, conferences and workshops can be missed by the people who need them most, but that was not the case this time.

Mayor Bibb with sports agent Rich Paul

Although planning started in August, which is late for most conferences, the event did not appear rushed, featuring celebrities such as Rich Paul and Cleveland’s own Mayor Justin Bibb. Many workshops were even held at global accounting powerhouse Ernst & Young.

The encouragement to Cleveland’s innovators has been long-awaited and eagerly received. “We need to see that it’s possible,” says Jay R. Fogle, a member of Futureland’s planning committee. “We need to see there are movers and shakers moving to know it can happen.” And “it” IS happening.

So, what can the community expect from the next Futureland? Camille, also the owner of FELOH, a marketplace for beauty lovers, advises that there will be less emphasis on small businesses and more on futurism. Get ready for topics of e-com businesses, loan-based capital, and emerging industries. Get ready for Cleveland to be positioned as a power player in the current Black Renaissance.

The good news is that Cleveland will not have to wait a whole year for the next conference. There will be a mix of networking events and panel discussions starting in early 2023 leading up to the major conference next October. Be on the lookout for announcements regarding these mixers. They just might be the opportunity for scaling, prosperity, and creating generational wealth. Additional information can be found at futurelandcle.com.

Nicole D. Miller is a self-published author, tenured blogger, and serial entrepreneur in Cleveland. Owner of ND Miller Publishing, where she provides aspiring authors with affordable resources to manifest quality content. Learn more at nicoledmiller.com.

Strengthening Your Small Business Enterprise With An Eye On Safety

By Sheila Ferguson

Being a member of a third-generation family of entrepreneurs has given me perspective on the importance of safety in running a small business enterprise. Helping today’s up-and-coming entrepreneurs integrate safety practices can help save their facilities, inventory, and intellectual property as well as keep their staff and customers safe.

In 2019, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) logged 33,393 inspections and 42,063 State Plan inspections (via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Sadly, there were 5,333 workers fatalities in 2019—or about fifteen deaths every day. Safety in the workplace is important to consider. OSHA’s partnerships with the community, employers, unions, and safety and health professionals have positively impacted workplace safety over the last half-century. OSHA also reports that worker injuries and illnesses were down-from 10.9 incidents per one hundred workers in 1972 to 2.8 per 100 in 2019.

Risk & The Small Business

It is easy for small businesses to avoid health and safety training as unnecessary expenses when you are just starting out or only have a few employees, but safety rules and standards change from year to year. As the business shifts and grows, it will need to provide updated safety information and protocols to protect its employees and the company.

All small businesses have some element of risk. Even if workers are not in hazardous conditions, they can still be affected by faulty electrical wiring, a poorly installed lighting fixture, a scaffolding collapse, or a slip and fall accident. Even administrative workers seated at a computer desk are prone to the ergonomic design of their workstations and the potential of trips and falls from a tangle of wires or a file drawer left open. Something as small as a cleaning product can prompt an allergic reaction or skin irritation and become an OSHA hazardous substance concern. According to OSHA (2021), the top ten areas of workplace safety violations include:

Fall Protection
Respiratory Protection
Ladders, construction
Hazard Communication
Scaffolding
Fall Protection Training
Control of Hazardous Energy
Eye and Face Protection
Powered Industrial Trucks
Machinery and Machine Guarding
Safety on the Work Premises

Safety in the workplace is everybody’s business. Workplace accidents and emergencies happen every day. OSHA is a small agency; with approximately 1,850 inspectors responsible for the health and safety of 130 million workers employed at more than eight million worksites around the nation. This translates to about one compliance officer for every 70,000 American workers. Across the country, OSHA has ten regional offices and eighty-five local area offices. Overall attention to safety can improve a small business enterprise as well as working conditions for employees.

A Boost in Productivity

Like good human relations, worker safety goes a long way in boosting morale and helping employees feel appreciated. They will generally also be more productive. Safety training helps keep your employees safe and shows that you care about their wellbeing. Employees who can safely go about their jobs are likely to get more done in less time. Health and safety training does matter for small businesses. All employees matter, but the smaller your business the more likely you will feel the pinch when a team member is absent. Though workers’ compensation claims may seem like the most detrimental outcome of an incident, the loss of team confidence and morale can damage a business even more. Safety training can be held as an all-day or half-day workshop, or as bulleted informational highlights presented at regular staff meetings. It does not need to be expensive or extravagant. Training saves small businesses money, creates more productive employees, and helps ensure you comply with OSHA regulations.

Prevents Worker’s Compensation Claims

Your workplace is a vital asset to your team. Every small business should have a health and safety training plan to protect themselves from expensive workers’ compensation claims. Putting Health and Safety Training in place can help to keep your employees safe. Without it, you could face a hefty workers’ compensation claim to force you to close your doors. Protect your company from expensive lawsuits by implementing the safety training your employees need to perform their jobs efficiently and safely.

Fosters OSHA compliance

OSHA’s number one requirement is that all businesses have safe workplaces. The work of safety starts with 1) educating employees about safety and hazards, regardless of your company’s size, 2) labeling cleaning products to alert employees to their dangers, 3) using safety signage to indicate danger when mopping, closing, or painting; and 4) creating a safety manual detailing policies and procedures specific to your business. Remember that when you put safety at the forefront, you, your employees, and your customers are better protected. Being proactive about safety will also show OSHA that you are committed to fostering a safe work environment.

Save Your Money

Even if you have never had an accident at your workplace, developing a safety training program is still essential. It is well documented that safety training can save companies money overall. Finally, it prevents paid time off, traumatic experiences, hospital bills, and even higher insurance costs.

References

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm