Inclusive Community Economics

Firstly, BrownPagesOnline.com, like its parent company, the 501 (c) (3) non-profit; The Kinte Center for the Study of Urban Commerce, Inc. define community as everyone, everything and every dollar within given borders; in this case it is our targeted community in East Oakland bordered by 55th Avenue east to the Oakland-San Leandro border, which we refer to as Oakland’s “CityEast” community.

While the “CityEast” community’s population is largely Black, the community, like most of Oakland is diverse in population. Though most of the businesses in the “CityEast” community are Black owned, business ownership in the “CityEast” community is also diverse with a significant number of Latino owned businesses.

Due to the aforementioned diversities, it is critical that a concept referred to as “Inclusive Community Economics” is practiced in the “CityEast” community in order to “Keep the Dollar in the Community”, grow community wealth and create jobs in the community. Under the Inclusive Community Economics concept businesses in the “CityEast” community would collectively offer a diverse line of goods and services as required by a diverse consumer population and each business in the community would commit to depositing daily cash receipts in a community serving financial institution for recirculation and wealth building. In addition businesses would commit to hiring proportionately from within the community.

In light of the fact that the Black unemployment in the “CityEast” community plus those located throughout Oakland must step up, take charge and work with all businesses in the community in the spirit of “Inclusive Community Economics” and lead the community to economic prosperity.

Research statistics show that there is a serious deficit when it comes to Average Annual Sales and Receipts for and hiring by Oakland’s Black owned businesses compared to other merchant groups in Oakland. Therefore, some degree of “Devoted Assistance” to strengthen the community’s Black business group would be justifiable short of isolating other business groups in the community. Thusly, BrownPagesOnline.com parent company, the 501 (c) (3) The Kinte Center for the Study of Urban Commerce, Inc. promotes Black ownership of job creating major retail businesses in the “CityEast” community, search as supermarkets, auto service centers, appliance stores and entertainment venues, etc.

In summary, there is likely no single-race community in America today. Thus, community for “CityEast” community must be defined as everyone, everything and every dollar within the community’s border. Considering the level of diversity among residents and business owners in the “CityEast” community it would be virtually impossible to realize successful community economic improvement in the community unless the concept called “Inclusive Community Economics” is practiced in every aspect and throughout the community. It is the philosophy of BrownPagesOnline.com’s parent company to practice “Inclusive Community Economics”.