On this the fourth and middle day of Kwanzaa, we celebrate Ujamaa, Cooperative Economics. Let us strengthen our determination to build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together....
When you purchase at locally owned businesses rather than nationally owned, more money is kept in the community because locally-owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms. Purchasing local helps grow other businesses as well as the local tax base. These businesses add to the character of the community and contribute more than just goods and services. They offer personalized attention, add diversity to our shopping options, And they pay their employees—and local taxes—with the income they receive. Each time you choose to spend your dollars at a local, independent business, you are voting for the continued strength and vitality of our community.
We can Make a difference with a few simple steps:
• Make a decision to find and patronize a locally owned business, wherever possible.
• Dine at a local, independent restaurant and treat yourself to a unique and personal dining experience.
• When you shop online with out-of-state companies, it doesn't contribute a dime to the local economy. So check for members who offer the same products locally, and some even deliver.
• Look for the Local First Arizona logo when you shop and tell other independent businesses about Local First Arizona.
• Use our business directory to locate businesses offering specific goods or services, or you can view a complete list of Local First Arizona member businesses and the categories in which they are listed.
Entrepreneurship offers the best opportunity to maximize your profit potential and to achieve real wealth. Businesses not only need loyal customers but they often require services from other businesses to thrive and prosper. We can contribute to the community by becoming entrepeneurs as well as using local businesses.
Who we learned about...
Farrah Gray
Raised in the impoverished South side of Chicago, Dr. Gray defied the odds and became a self-made millionaire by the age of 14. At the age of 21, he became Dr. Farrah Gray, receiving an Honorary Doctorate degree of Humane Letters from Allen University. This was in recognition of his ingenious economic mind and distinguished commitment to the development of values such as leadership, integrity and scholarship. In his rise from poverty and in Between the ages of 12 and 16 years old, Dr. Gray founded and operated business ventures that included KIDZTEL pre-paid phone cards, the One Stop Mail Boxes & More franchise and The Teenscope "Youth AM/FM" interactive teen talk show, Gray was also Executive Producer of a comedy show on the Las Vegas Strip and owner of Farr-Out Foods, "Way-Out Food with a Twist," aimed at young people with the company's first Strawberry-Vanilla syrup product. Farr-Out Foods generated orders exceeding $1.5 million.
Dr. Gray began his entrepreneurial development at six years old selling home-made body lotion and his own hand-painted rocks as book-ends door-to-door. At age seven, he was carrying business cards reading "21st Century CEO." At eight, Gray became co-founder of Urban Neighborhood Enterprise Economic Club on Chicago's South side which enlisted, educated and engaged "at-risk" youth by creating and developing legal ways for them to acquire additional income.
What we did...
We practiced the principal of ujamaa by eating at a local restaurant to have Rion and my favorite - sushi! We discussed the principal of collective economics and ways Rion could be an entrepreneur if he chose. We talked about what it took to run the restaurant we were eating at and how it helped the people of the community. Tomorrow we learn about Nia - Purpose.
When you purchase at locally owned businesses rather than nationally owned, more money is kept in the community because locally-owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms. Purchasing local helps grow other businesses as well as the local tax base. These businesses add to the character of the community and contribute more than just goods and services. They offer personalized attention, add diversity to our shopping options, And they pay their employees—and local taxes—with the income they receive. Each time you choose to spend your dollars at a local, independent business, you are voting for the continued strength and vitality of our community.
We can Make a difference with a few simple steps:
• Make a decision to find and patronize a locally owned business, wherever possible.
• Dine at a local, independent restaurant and treat yourself to a unique and personal dining experience.
• When you shop online with out-of-state companies, it doesn't contribute a dime to the local economy. So check for members who offer the same products locally, and some even deliver.
• Look for the Local First Arizona logo when you shop and tell other independent businesses about Local First Arizona.
• Use our business directory to locate businesses offering specific goods or services, or you can view a complete list of Local First Arizona member businesses and the categories in which they are listed.
Entrepreneurship offers the best opportunity to maximize your profit potential and to achieve real wealth. Businesses not only need loyal customers but they often require services from other businesses to thrive and prosper. We can contribute to the community by becoming entrepeneurs as well as using local businesses.
Who we learned about...
Farrah Gray
Raised in the impoverished South side of Chicago, Dr. Gray defied the odds and became a self-made millionaire by the age of 14. At the age of 21, he became Dr. Farrah Gray, receiving an Honorary Doctorate degree of Humane Letters from Allen University. This was in recognition of his ingenious economic mind and distinguished commitment to the development of values such as leadership, integrity and scholarship. In his rise from poverty and in Between the ages of 12 and 16 years old, Dr. Gray founded and operated business ventures that included KIDZTEL pre-paid phone cards, the One Stop Mail Boxes & More franchise and The Teenscope "Youth AM/FM" interactive teen talk show, Gray was also Executive Producer of a comedy show on the Las Vegas Strip and owner of Farr-Out Foods, "Way-Out Food with a Twist," aimed at young people with the company's first Strawberry-Vanilla syrup product. Farr-Out Foods generated orders exceeding $1.5 million.
Dr. Gray began his entrepreneurial development at six years old selling home-made body lotion and his own hand-painted rocks as book-ends door-to-door. At age seven, he was carrying business cards reading "21st Century CEO." At eight, Gray became co-founder of Urban Neighborhood Enterprise Economic Club on Chicago's South side which enlisted, educated and engaged "at-risk" youth by creating and developing legal ways for them to acquire additional income.
What we did...
We practiced the principal of ujamaa by eating at a local restaurant to have Rion and my favorite - sushi! We discussed the principal of collective economics and ways Rion could be an entrepreneur if he chose. We talked about what it took to run the restaurant we were eating at and how it helped the people of the community. Tomorrow we learn about Nia - Purpose.
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