Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
We have an entrepreneurship initiative.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
where we provide services, free technical services to entrepreneurs.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
We serve about 10,000 of them in any given year.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
I mean, this is the work that we do and we've worked to expand that work.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
And it's the work that distinguishes us from other organizations.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
And so, you know, we're, you know, I like to use the term, I say we're sui generis.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
We're a unicorn in the space.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
And some people say, well, you think you can do all of the above.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
Actually, all of the above is really singular in that we are fighting on behalf of people to build the policy.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
And then we're involved in the execution of the very same policy.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
And that's the connective tissue between the work we do in public policy and advocacy and the work we do on the programmatic side.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
Well, I feel like, you know, one of the other things I've tried to do here at the league is, you know, work closely with other civil rights leaders.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
And, you know, work closely with Reverend Al.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
Derek Johnson, Melanie Campbell, the Legal Defense Fund, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, National Council of Negro Women, Leadership Conference with Civil Rights.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
And then we work with the Latino, Asian, and other communities as well.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
So one of the philosophies that I try to embrace is coalition building.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
And in a coalition building and mindset, everybody swims in their own lane, but we're swimming in the same direction.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
It doesn't mean that we agree on tactics and strategy for everything under the sun.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
It means... And I just felt like there was too much petty personality rivalries among African-American leaders.
Mick Unplugged
Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
And I just... To me, it makes nice talk, nice gossip, but it doesn't get you anywhere.