Coahoma Community College News March 29, 2019 New Competition Launches to Fuel Passions and Fund Dreams A major competition designed to engage, education and empower the next generation of leaders is launching across the Southeast this week. Thousands of dollars are on the line for soon to be college graduates as they compete against each other and connect with seasoned business leaders. "The THINK BIG! Innovation Challenge is a business seed and startup pitch competition investing in students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)," said Erskine "Chuck" Faush, of THE YARD. "It's open to HBCU college students throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi." The rules are of the competition are simple. The student leaders identify... The WHAT - a problem or an issue they want to solve and; The WHO - a target group they are aiming to help. The problem or issue must support on of the following industries * Oil and Gas * Transpiration * Hospitality/Food Service * Automotive * Healthcare * Energy * Construction * Maritime * Information and Technology * Agriculture Students will then pitch their BIG IDEA to a panel of judges. 1st place wins $5,000, 2nd place wins $2,500 and 3rd place wins $1,500. Winners can use the money for school, books or as seed money to help develop their BIG IDEA. Registration begins March 8th. Register Here!<https://eventdex.force.com/BLN_RegistrationDym?id=a190H000006uAkpQAE> The Southern Regional Minority Supplier Development Council (SRMDC), has partnered with THE YARD to produce the competition with virtual submissions promoted with campus visits to encourage participation. "This competition will fuel passions and fund dreams," said Al Williams, President, Southern Region Minority Supplier Development Council. "HBCU's are an untapped resource of tech talent and culture. I'm excited to see what the students come up with." The Southern Region Minority Supplier Development Council Established in 1973 as an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the mission of SRMSDC is to support minority-owned businesses through the engagement of our corporate members by providing business training and access to procurement opportunities. We are the largest advocate for minority businesses in the Gulf South region, serving the states of Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. SRMSDC is one of twenty-three regional affiliate councils with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). As a regional organization, we recognize that our region needs innovators that create new models that create new sustainable products and services for the economic engine of our economy - small businesses. Lead the charge and innovate with us to make our regional economy even greater by participating in the THINK BIG! Innovation Challenge 2019. THE YARD THE YARD is a national initiative empowering HBCU campuses and communities through tech, talent, and culture. The goal of the Yard is to take HBCU's across the country from surviving to thriving. THE YARD's strategy includes a series of events hosted on HBCU campuses to raise awareness of academics and the three I's - infrastructure, innovation and inclusion. Executive Director Erskine "Chuck" Faush said public private partnerships will help "create and sustain career pipelines, encourage entrepreneurial efforts and address infrastructure opportunities that grow local economies." THE YARD was announced by President of U.S. Conference of Mayors Steven Benjamin January 2019 prior to the opening of the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting in Washington D.C. President Benjamin stated, "as leaders it is our job to create a culture of inclusion and an environment that lifts everyone up. Together we will work to ensure everyone has the opportunity to take an active role in building our communities. THE U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted a program of Inclusion, Innovation Infrastructure and THEYARD gives us a platform to engage and empower." Reference Links: Introducing: Infrastructure, Innovation, and Inclusion: https://youtu.be/92HZLP_gCh4 THE YARD: https://bhamnow.com/2019/01/24/chuck-faush-launches-the-yard/ SRMSDC: https://www.srmsdc.org/ SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org/ sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org%3cmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/