Urban Specialists has announced the launch of a new initiative in partnership with Rising Tide Capital Network.
Rising Tide Capital is a “non-profit organization working to eliminate violence in urban culture,” whose mission is to “transform lives and communities through entrepreneurship.”
The two organizations have joined forces to create the Bishop Omar School of Entrepreneurship.
According to a press release, the goal of the school is to supply “business development services” and to interrupt “generational poverty” by doing so. The school will guide individuals in creating a business that can succeed and grow over time.
The business school is named after Urban Specialist’s founder, Bishop Omar Jahwar. Jahwar was seventeen years old when he began his mission of “promoting strong families, helping to strengthen communities, and advocating for peace,” according to the Urban Specialists website.
He became a gang specialist in Texas more than twenty years ago, successfully brokering the first gang truce in Dallas between the “Crips” and the “Bloods.”
Jahwar has been quoted as saying, “By changing Urban Culture, the values and behavior of the members therein will change; and so, the world will change.”
Bishop Jahwar passed away earlier this year, reportedly from complications from COVID-19 and other underlying health issues. The opening of the new business school is one way to honor Jahwar’s legacy.
According to the press release, “The idea of entrepreneurship within Urban Specialists was the vision of Bishop Omar Jahwar to provide an alternative to our urban communities to build sustainable businesses and inspire generations.”
National Executive Director of Urban Specialists Laura Hayes stated, “As a 30-year veteran educator, I have seen firsthand what happens to families when they lose hope and the effect that it has on future generations. I came to Urban Specialists seeking to make a greater impact on the root cause of some of the concerns families face.”
She continued, “For that reason and so many more, I could not be more excited about our partnership with Rising Tide Capital where we are going to assist budding entrepreneurs to launch their dreams. This opportunity is going to provide options for the entrepreneurs themselves, their families, and the entire community. This is a change in action!”
The President of Urban Specialists is Antong “Bruse Wane” Lucky.
He stated, “I am excited about our new partnership with Rising Tide Capital. We are embarking on capitalizing on the entrepreneurial spirit that is alive and well within our communities. Our customers, oftentimes marginalized within communities all over Dallas, soon will become entrepreneurs, and we believe that once that happens, they will hire those close in proximity to them, ultimately providing a pathway out of poverty.”
The Bishop Omar School of Entrepreneurship (BOSOE) will offer two programs: Community Business Academy, followed by Business Acceleration Services.
The Community Business Academy (CBA) will be a twelve-week course to learn budgeting, bookkeeping, operations, and hands-on training. The Business Acceleration Services program will provide a coaching and action plan specific to the individual.
The first session of the Community Business Academy will start in March of 2022, with classes scheduled for weekday evenings and Saturday mornings.
The course is “valued at $3,000 per student,” explains the website, but donors and supporters of the school have made it possible for tuition to be waived “for every student who is accepted into the program.” The only cost for the student will be for the registration fee and materials. The total amount will be calculated on a sliding scale, based on the student’s household income, and will range from $150 to $375.
Interested individuals can reserve a free spot for an informational meeting. The meeting will be held on four different dates: December 2, January 13, January 27, and February 10.
