As part of what’s called The Oakland Disparity Study, Mason Tillman Associates held a poorly publicized meeting to interested members of the Oakland Minority Business Community on October 24th at Oakland City Hall, that featured a speech by Oakland Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney. Here’s the link and embed of her talk, but click on the link here, because the embed will not play her speech from the start of her talk due to Periscope’s crappy coding.
.@MasonTillmanHQ Councilwoman Lynette Gibson McElhaney – District 3 #oaklanddisparitystudy #sup… https://t.co/Q21yt6eKSO
— Zennie Abraham (@zennie62) October 31, 2017
Now, what is the “Oakland Disparity Study”? Well, according to Mason Tillman Associates it…
was commissioned in June 2017. The Study will determine how many contracts and contract dollars the City and its prime contractors have awarded to businesses that are owned by people of color and women. In the Study process, input will be solicited from business owners who have contracted with the City or who have tried to contract with the City. Policy and administrative recommendations based on the Study’s findings will be provided to the City.
The Study will be conducted by Oakland-based firm, Mason Tillman Associates, Ltd. Mason Tillman is a nationally recognized disparity study expert. Mason Tillman will analyze construction, professional services, and goods and services contracts and grants that were awarded from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2016. As a key component of the Study, Mason Tillman will identify ready, willing and able local businesses, including businesses owned by people of color and women, in the City’s market area.
The success of the Study requires the involvement of the local business community. You are invited to participate in the Study by:
Attending a business outreach meeting and providing public comment
Submitting a business information survey to affirm your willingness and ability to contract with the City: Oakland Disparity Study Business Survey
Agreeing to be interviewed regarding your contracting experiences
Providing membership lists and directories from local business and professional organizations
They did a crappy job of letting people know about these meetings in Oakland – the social media outreach was laughable at best. Heck, they could have contracted with me to do this! I’m a local black small business in Zennie62Media with a huge reach.
Right?
But, I digress.
Here’s the website: http://oaklanddisparitystudy.com/
Stay tuned.