On a blustery Chicago night, 15 Black men stepped out of the safe confines of their homes, and came together at the downtown offices of Quant16 at the special invitation of business leader Robert Blackwell, Jr.
Chicago, the same city that for decades was lauded as the global Black business capital of the world, that evening fittingly hosted the genesis of TESC.Love, an acronym for The Entrepreneurial Saving Cities. Now officially launched, TESC.Love is a burgeoning movement of people of good will dedicated to one laudatory premise: Proving that the free enterprise system works for all Americans and can yield success for anyone willing to excel in an area where they possess world-class potential, if given the opportunity.
The brainchild of Blackwell, who for over 25 years has led Quant16 (formerly EKI-Digital), the premier and innovative digital transformation provider specializing in cutting-edge digital solutions tailored to the needs of public and private sector organizations, the ask that he’s making is a simple one. “We ask that everyone takes action by partnering with Black and Brown Businesses,” Blackwell states. “We also require that those businesses impacted through the TESC.Love, tangibly reach back and pull other individuals and businesses from their communities forward.”
The organization’s target is to foster direct entrepreneurial participation by Black businesses in the modern sectors of the economy, totaling $40 billion by 2028. TESC.Love’s strategy entails persuading both major governmental entities and Fortune 1000 companies to actively engage in business transactions through its’ Lead Partner Program, encouraging each to “Just Do Business” with Black companies and entrepreneurs capable of delivering value.
As an outcome of these opportunities, these companies will logically collaborate with younger and smaller entrepreneurs as subcontractors—an approach that will build a pipeline of talent and capacity creating greater opportunities, while cultivating the entrepreneurial aspirations of coming generations. “We have the power in our hands to realize our mission,” Blackwell relates further. “But, this can’t happen without each and every one of us dedicated, and working collectively toward the goal.”
TESC.Love’s outreach thus far has been to Black and non-Black business communities locally and nationally, as well as to suppliers and state and local governments. The ambitious initiative is also leveraging strategic partnerships with higher education institutions, impact-driven community organizations and is mobilizing alignment with technical and non-technical professional services, micro-developers and housing advocates.
Concludes Blackwell: “Part of the goal of The Entrepreneurial Saving Cities is to create modern versions of thriving Black economic hubs, akin to the historic ‘Black Wall Streets’ of our nation’s past.”
“We strongly advocate for the principle of equal opportunity for every individual, and firmly believe that when the Black community is fully engaged in the economy commensurate with their talents, it will lead to widespread prosperity across the nation.”
ABOUT QUANT16
For more than 25 years, EKI-Digital has been a leading digital transformation provider headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. With a commitment to innovation and client success, the newly re-branded Quant16 specializes in delivering cutting-edge digital solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of organizations in the public and private sectors. To learn more, visit quant16.com. For more information about TESC.Love, connect with us at the link provided.
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