Downtown Bend Internships for Blacks in the Bend Community
A DBBA & COBLA Partnership for the Downtown Bend Economic Improvement District
The Downtown Bend Business Association is a small nonprofit dedicated to increasing the vitality of Downtown Bend. We believe one of the keys to future vitality in Downtown Bend lies in building programs that intentionally include our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning (LBGTQ) community.
We are excited to announce a partnership with the Central Oregon Black Leaders Assembly (COBLA) to design and partner in programs that promote increased internships, jobs, business ownership and leadership positions in Downtown Bend for members of our black community.
We are excited to announce a partnership with the Central Oregon Black Leaders Assembly (COBLA) to design and partner in programs that promote increased internships, jobs, business ownership and leadership positions in Downtown Bend for members of our black community.
The Central Oregon Black Leaders Assembly (COBLA) is a small nonprofit with a 501c3 status. COBLA was founded by Riccardo Waites, a navel submarine veteran, single father, Central Oregon small business owner, and the Cultural Awareness and Social Diversity Coordinator for the DBBA, living in Bend, Oregon.
COBLA's mission is to unite every black person under one cause. That cause is equality. They intend to reach this long overdue reality by uniting not only blacks, but all other ethnicity who share the same goal. We believe only unity among the races will end racism itself. Their approach is simple yet challenging.
Unify all black below locally and nationally through their membership. Membership is open to all, but they strive for 100% black participation. COBLA goals and programs include:
COBLA's mission is to unite every black person under one cause. That cause is equality. They intend to reach this long overdue reality by uniting not only blacks, but all other ethnicity who share the same goal. We believe only unity among the races will end racism itself. Their approach is simple yet challenging.
Unify all black below locally and nationally through their membership. Membership is open to all, but they strive for 100% black participation. COBLA goals and programs include:
- Placing applicants in their 120-180 day paid internship program which places and support applicants with local and regional business providing an avenue to generational wealth
- Work with law enforcement to challenge and eliminate all unfair policing techniques, policies and procedures
- Register all people of color to vote and then use our power to elect more black and POC individual into local offices.
- Work with school districts to assist in the implementation of Oregon House Bill 2023 which allows schools to review and replace curriculum in schools to properly reflect the true history and contributions of people of color in curriculum
- Recruit black professionals to move to Central Oregon and join us in this great community!
- Provide community outreach programs to assist POC in obtaining basic needs.