photo by steed media service

It was a little over 10 years ago that the Reverend Jesse Jackson noticed a shortage of small minority vendors conducting business in corporate America. With that in mind, it wouldn’t be long until Rev. Jackson took matters into his own hands. Through his Rainbow/PUSH coalition, the outspoken advocate launched the Wall Street Project (WSP), which was designed to help tip the scales in favor of minority vendors, consumers and employees.

For the past six years, William Dickerson has been helping Rev. Jackson bring his goal to fruition, as the chairman of the Rainbow/PUSH’s Citizenship Education Fund (CEF). Although CEF was founded long before Rev. Jackson launched the WSP, it has played an integral role in the planning and implementation process of the initiative’s annual conference.

Dickerson explains that the conference’s goal is to connect the dots between minority businesses and corporate America. “The only thing we do is recommend firms to corporate America,” he says. “Our greatest asset is being able to put these businesses in a room with decision makers so that they can catapult themselves to another level.”

While the WSP brings both sides together, it’s up to the businesses to do the rest. “We feel that we can help open the door, but it’s going to be the company’s talents and their skills that will keep them in the door,” Dickerson says. - ivory m. jones

The 11th Annual 2008 Wall Street Economic Summit takes place Jan. 6–9, 2008 in New York City. For more information, visit www.wallstreetproject.org.

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