MEMPHIS, February 18, 2021 – Mayor Jim Strickland and the City of Memphis joins forces with Operation HOPE in support of its 1 Million Black Business and Entrepreneur Initiative (1MBB) aimed at launching 1 Million Black Owned Businesses nationwide by 2030. Mayor Strickland announced his commitment to the initiative at the Virtual HOPE Global Forum in November, and is now taking it one step further by committing to engaging through outreach 500 Black small businesses and entrepreneurs to the 1MBB program over the remaining three years of his term. Operation HOPE will be hosting a virtual event on Friday, February 19th at 1pm CST to celebrate the commitment, and educate the community on how they can get involved. Speakers include John Hope Bryant, Founder and CEO of Operation HOPE, Mayor Jim Strickland, Beverly Robertson, CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber, Joann Massey, City of Memphis’ Director of Business Diversity & Compliance, Lance Triggs, President of HOPE Program Operations, and more.
