During my years at Morehouse College, I was given an assignment by Dr. William Sheftal, then head of the Business Department, and instructor of Urban Economics Public Policyclass, to seek economic solutions for the African American community.

Around this time, I had read the book, Up From Slavery, written by Booker T. Washington, which not only inspired me to seek solutions for economic development in our community, but to also strive to make these economic improvements a reality.

I thought, if Booker T. Washington could start a school to teach people right out of slavery, then we could also educate our community right out of integration. If students from Tuskegee, right out of slavery, could build forty buildings from their own bricks, then today, with all of our skills and technology,we could also rebuild our poor communities throughout this land.

The plan to make these thoughts a reality are illustrated within this Familyhood Connection’s Healthy Economics Campaign document.

When I started teaching at Castlemont High School in East Oakland, and later at McClymonds High School in West Oakland, I gained a better understanding of the role high schools play in the lives of our children. I realized, the choices students make to either enter college, the military, or the job market, is largely based on information they gather at their high school.

In most under served communities, there are very few actual businesses that exist. And very few, if any, would enable youth from the neighborhood to train or work there.

I also realized, the majority of students attending these schools, upon graduation, sought to leave their community as soon as the opportunity would arise.

Which led me to view this issue from a communities perspective that education was not seen as the passport to the future of building a better community, but a way out of the community for those educated within it.

In formulating the Healthy Economics Plan, I felt a major role of our campaign is to inspire the educated ones to stay in their community to inspire others to further their education.

I believe that in order to entice them to stay, they have to feel and be apart of the communities future developments.

Since every community has a high school, and high school students are just at the age when they should begin attaining work experience, The Healthy Economics Model defines the high school as the nucleus for community organizing and community development.

Mo’ Better Food has since 1998 has been working to preserve and expand the connection between African American farmers and predominately African American communities. Currently, African American farmers make up less than 1% of all farmers in the state of California.

Along with developing the business skills of the students, the market enabled local residents to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at affordable prices.

Since founding the Familyhood Connection, Inc, I have tried to reach our mission and goals without focusing on acquiring resources to make them a reality. Instead of focusing on resources, I wanted to create a clear plan of action, that if funded, would manage the acquired resources efficiently and effectively in the communities we serve.

I believe, The Familyhood Connection’s Healthy Economic’s Campaign is this plan. To further illustrate the Healthy Economics Plan please see the master plan diagram attached, followed by the “3 steps of Hotep.

Your servant,

David N. Roach