Nonprofit Information: Highlights of IBSA, Inc.

Organizational Timeline

1991

Started International Black Student Alliance as a student group on Washburn University

Challenged student government on equity in distributing student service fees to other minority campus organizations

Challenged campus administration on the lack of Black professors; especially in regards to tenure

1992

Produced campus newsletter 'The Black Eye' as a means to keep the Black student body informed of different events, opportunities and as an outlet for creative expression (poetry, artwork)

1993

Formally incorporated as a not-for-profit Kansas corporation

Began contracting with the state welfare agency to provide work experience onsite for single-parents receiving cash assistance

1995

Received IRS Tax-exempt status - FEIN Number: 48-1137236

Represented Kansas on the National Organizing Committee of Million Man March

1996

Began formally contracting with the state welfare agency in Kansas to provide comprehensive job coaching, job development, retention and case management services to those required by Welfare Reform legislation to participate in employment & training services in order to keep receiving cash assistance and other public aid or assistance.

Began formally contracting with the former quasi-governmental Private Industry Council SDA II, now Heartland Works, Inc. as a training provider of workforce development services, case management and other services allowable under the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) legislation for low-income youth and adults with barriers to employment.

1997

Represented Kansas and the Midwest in the Leon H. Sullivan African/African American Summit

1998

Hosted a Black Business Banquet in Topeka, Kansas. "For a mere $25, attendees at the fifth annual Black Business Banquet got roughly a billion dollars worth of information."

http://cjonline.com/stories/062598/bus_banquet.shtml

Represented Kansas on the Local Organizing Committee of Million Youth Movement - Atlanta, GA

1999

Developed a toll-free voice mail system for parents impacted by Welfare Reform and required to seek employment in lieu of receiving cash assistance and public assistance. Research of state records found that 32% of all TANF job seekers did not have traditional phone service. The voice mail system provided a local number to be used on resumes, with counselors, doctors, etc... IBSA secured agreements with 7 of 11 regional state offices to provide service to approx. 2/3 of the states TANF job seeking population

http://www.cjonline.com/stories/032199/opi_isba.shtml

Represented Kansas on the Local Organizing Committee of Million Youth Movement - Denver, CO

Successfully engaged local elected officials from the Topeka City Council and Shawnee County Board of Commissioners to dedicate 10% of a local sales-tax for economic development towards the economic development of minority-owned businesses, individuals and neighborhoods

2000

Agency recognized by Missouri Governor for Innovations in Workforce Development at regional Workforce Development Summit Tan Tara Resorts, MO

2001

Provided public policy advocacy at the local level regarding contracting improprieties between the City of Topeka & Shawnee County (Joint Economic Development Organization - JEDO)

2002

Sued the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) in 2002 to make sure a portion of the sales tax revenue supported the development of minority businesses, persons and neighborhoods in a fair, open and competitive manner.

Filed lawsuit to challenge a no-bid contract provided by the local government agencies; City of Topeka and Shawnee County Kansas sitting as a legally formed entity called the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO). JEDO was responsible to receive and administer a voter-passed sales-tax for the purposes of 'economic development'. As public funds, the agency believed that public funds should conform to open competition as all governmental procurement's are required by law. At stake was $5M annually, for 4-years, from sales-taxes captured on purchases across the city; and across ethnicities. The lawsuit challenged the equity in equal access to opportunity as authorized under public laws and statutes.

Hosted a Black Business Banquet with Ms. Reta Lewis, a Vice President with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as guest speaker. Ms. Lewis spoke to the importance of African Americans getting involved in International Trade and the need for traditional Chambers of Commerce to increase their diversity, outreach to the small minority and women business community and promote partnerships and supplier diversity programs that increase the amounts spent by larger corporations and governments with the same.

Provided public policy advocacy at the local level on the disproportionately high rate of unemployment for Black men and women, disparities in public-funded procurement - City of Topeka, Shawnee County (Joint Economic Development Organization - JEDO)

2003

Hosted city-wide entry-level job fair - Topeka Kansas. Several hundred job-seekers perused the offerings of more than a dozen area employers at an entry-level job fair at the Topeka Workforce Center.

Provided public policy advocacy at the local level on the disproportionately high rate of unemployment for Black men and women - City of Topeka, Shawnee County (Joint Economic Development Organization - JEDO)

2004

In the lawsuit filed in Shawnee County District Court by the International Black Student Alliance against the city, the county and the Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO)

Judge Franklin Theis ruled on July 14 that the "court would have to conclude that plaintiff's assertion of a public competitive bid requirement for the JEDO/Go Topeka tax-funded economic development services is, at least, facially correct on present facts." http://cjonline.com/stories/080404/loc_taxpasses.shtml

JEDO-Go Topeka Contract Ruled Illegal

Brought the honorable Jack Kemp to Topeka, Kansas to attend and participate in the recognition of the the formerly segregated Monroe Elementary as a national historic site Jack was chosen by President Ronald Reagan as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and was the Vice-Presidential Nominee along with then Senator Bob Dole (R)

2005

2006

"The programs for disadvantaged business enterprises may not exist today if it weren't for the visionary work of the chamber and outspoken advocates like Lazone Grays, who pleaded for the services five years ago."

2007

2008

Provided public policy advocacy at the local level on the disproportionately high rate of unemployment for Black men and women, and for appropriation of public funds to establish a youth employment program - City of Topeka, Shawnee County (Joint Economic Development Organization - JEDO)

2009

Agency starts Clunkers for Charity

http://cjonline.com/news/local/2009-09-16/clunkers_for_charity_seeking_vehicles

http://cjonline.com/news/local/2009-08-30/clunkers_accepted_for_charity

2010

http://cjonline.com/news/local/2010-02-09/minority_owners_not_reaping_benefits

2011

Agency links up with Google, Inc. to provide local phone numbers for the homeless and unemployed to use as voice mail for job search and to stay connected.

http://cjonline.com/news/2011-03-20/google-topeka-agency-work-help-people-land-jobs

http://cjonline.com/news/local/2011-12-08/clerk-2004-jedo-resolution-was-published

http://cjonline.com/news/2011-12-05/jedo-votes-approve-contract-go-topeka

Officials discuss Go Topeka transparency

2012

http://cjonline.com/news/2012-12-11/two-businesses-vie-jedo-funds-challenge-bidding-process

2013

Played a key role in NE Wyandotte County meeting its 'fiberhood' goals to be eligible to receive Google Fiber for their schools, public community centers and libraries. Area of interest focused on the Banneker 'fiberhood' inclusive to Juniper Gardens public housing development. Juniper Gardens is the oldest and largest public housing development in the state of Kansas. This part of Northeast Wyandotte County is among the poorest counties in the state and has some of the highest rates of unemployment, poverty, and crime; although it is encased by relative wealth

Initiated and completed a Wi-Fi network for families residing in the Juniper Gardens public housing developments in NE Wyandotte County, Kansas City Kansas, through a collaborative effort between the Kansas City Kansas Housing Authority and Connecting for Good .

Hosted city-wide entry-level job fair - Topeka Kansas. Several hundred job-seekers perused the offerings of more than a dozen area employers at an entry-level job fair at the Ramada Inn (Downtown)

2014

Advocacy efforts led to an allocation of $150,000 towards workforce training for low-income person and transitional jobs training. Up from $36,000.

IBSA, Inc.

629 SE Quincy, Suite 102,

Topeka, KS 66603-3921

785.422.0761 (Topeka)

913.735.4272 (KC Metro)

Internet Websites

www.ibsa-inc.org

www.clunkersforcharity.org

www.streetsuniversity.org

www.ussmallbizdirectory.org