What are you doing to lead others and to help the community, and what have been the results of your actions?

Choose the project category or categories:
Brief summary of the community issue or opportunity the project will address:

FLASH was started by OIC of America in 1988. In response to recent negative attention by national news and concerns of Mayor Nutter in Philadelphia to violent youth flashmob in urban cities in America, Ebony Suns Enterprises LLC has inspired a positive movement via flashmob events and bridged the gap between elder and youth leaders by encouraging his high-school mentees Rashaun Williams and Anthony Torrence of Phresh Philadelphia, a block clean-up and community service project, partnership with OIC America (Phila) to redefine the message regarding youth in Philadelphia, and rebrand their image through a social media and community event campaigns. On Oct. 16, 2011, the birthday of Rev. Leon H. Sullivan, Ebony Suns partnered with Phresh Philadelphia, 100 Black Men and other community organizations to come together to bring FLASH back, and to show city officials, press, and community stakeholders that are examples of position youth entrepreneurs that care about our city just as much.

State how the project will work – the activities and timeline:

The FUTURE LEADERS ADVANCING SELF HELP via MIND OVER BODY (F.L.A.S.H. M.O.B.) program is a social-media training program that empowers youth, specifically young Black males between 16-25 of age, through social entrepreneurship by becoming brand ambassadors for business that need an online presence and looking to advertise via social media, i.e. Facebook and Twitter, to increase company sales. Participants will learn how to develop marketing and public relation campaigns for clients, manage the brand on social media sites, produce their own outlets through online media, create formal press releases, develop 21st Century sales and communication skills, plan community concerts and youth events, and engage with mainstream media as a source for community news. This program will also engage young Black men with male mentors related to similar career interest, background, and core values.The F.L.A.S.H. M.O.B program will focus on training an initial group of 25 young Black men to develop sales, communications, and management skills that they will apply as brand ambassadors in the local and global market by 1) qualifying client leads for social media & web development services through their market research, 2) vending on-site at the Black and Nobel Bookstore on Broad and Erie Ave in North Philadelphia, as will as online via the Revitalize Communities social media e-commerce site. Up to 25 brand ambassadors with the F.L.A.S.H. M.O.B program will meet monthly on 2nd Saturday between 2pm-4pm at Black and Nobel Bookstore for social media training and a social entrepreneurship case study assignment, which will be their homework until the next Saturday training. The F.L.A.S.H. M.O.B program will host 12 training session on 2nd Saturday throughout the year, starting January 14, 2012 and ending December 8, 2012.

State the results you wish to achieve:

By the graduation ceremony and marketplace event at The Enterprise Center on December 15, 2012, the brand ambassadors in the F.L.A.S.H. M.O.B program will have achieved the following: • A 15-page business plan with financial statements • A bank account or IDA account • A brand ambassador business profile on the social media and online training site from Revitalize Communities • An industry mentor • A peer mentor • # of hours vending retail at the F.L.A.S.H. M.O.B stand at Black and Nobel Bookstore • $ revenue from sales performance with social media clients and vending customers • Marketing materials for Flash Mob events • Three college applications completed which includes HBCUs • Resources for business formation and vending licenses through Up Start Legal • Access to capital through OIC America’s Entrepreneurial Mindset Initiative

Choose the project category or categories:

up to $50,000

Who is leading the project? State the name of the person or the project team:

Russell Hicks

How will the project engage others in this issue or opportunity affecting the community?

Program Partners The Enterprise Center (YES/PGP/CDC) - Space for Training and Graduation Ceremony OIC America in Philadelphia with Future Leaders (F.L.A.S.H. M.O.B.) - Recruitment and Social Media Training of Brand Ambassadors 100 Black Men Philadelphia - Mentoring Matches for Brand Ambassadors Black and Nobel Bookstore (www.blackandnobel.com) - Outlet for Brand Ambassadors online and in-store KingofSEO.com - Social Media Orientation and Supplier of Web Services for Brand Ambassadors Revitalize Communities - E-commerce Web site and Online Training Della Tee Solutions - Program Evaluation Strategic Partners MEE Productions - Engagement with Blue Print for a Safer Philadelphia Community College of Philadelphia - Recruitment into Certifications Programs at CCP Partners of the Americas (Pennsylvania/Bahia Brazil Charter) - Connections to youth entrepreneurs in college and related business industries in Salvador Bahia, Brazil to e-commerce and social media Classic Varsity and Girard College - Vending with mentors and participation in HBCU Expos and College Tours Radio One -Community Outreach and Internships