Black Enterprise Magazine Gives Detroit a Vote of Confidence
Local Residents Connected to Magazine’s National Entrepreneurs Conference
In a city that has been downcast locally and nationally, there are those who still love their hometown—Detroit. Two such women are Mrs. Stephanie L. Jones and Minister Mary Edwards. Recently, these two women demonstrated their love in a very special way.
When Jones, who has a bestselling autobiography titled, The Enemy Between My Legs,” learned that Black Enterprise magazine was searching for a place to hold their 2009 Entrepreneurs Conference, she contacted a staff member at their headquarters in New York and encouraged them to seriously consider doing so in Detroit. In her message, she stated that Detroit was ready to host the conference and its residents are eagerly anticipating business opportunities to replace auto industry jobs. She then sent photographs of the new and beautiful Riverfront boardwalk and Renaissance Marriott hotel, setting the scene for a perfect location. They listened and on May 17-20, 2009, Detroit will host the conference and once again all eyes will be on us. It will pump millions of dollars into the city’s economy. On February 5th the Detroit City Council presented Jones with the Spirit of Detroit Award for her initiative.
“Our decision to bring the Entrepreneurs Conference to Detroit is both a vote of confidence in the future of the city and consistent with Black Enterprise’s role as a catalyst for generating business opportunities for African Americans who aspire to wealth and success,” says Founder and Publisher, Earl G. Graves, Sr., in the February 2009 issue of Black Enterprise magazine.
Minister Mary Edwards, a community activist for over 30 years in Detroit, is now the widow of Rev. Eddie K. Edwards, founder of Joy of Jesus Ministries. Immediately following her husband’s death in 2004, she started a ministry for widows. Widows With Wisdom,
www.widowswithwisdom.org, was established for the purpose of educating, encouraging, and enhancing the lives of women who must learn how to live without their spouses. Since their inception, WWW has impacted the lives of widows all over the country and Canada. In 2008, Edwards published a resource handbook for widows titled, Transition: From Widowhood to Womanhood. She also has published her autobiography, Born Grown, wherein she shares intimate details of her life and ministry in the city of Detroit. Edwards is the recipient of the 107th Point of Light Award from former President George W. Bush, Sr. for her community service in the Ravendale Community on the eastside of Detroit. Currently, she is being considered for the 2008 Michigan Governor’s Award for Senior Volunteer of the Year. She was recently tapped by Black Enterprise for a special series titled Women & Money and is featured in the March issue. In her story, she speaks of the many challenges she and others have had to face as a widow in today’s economy.
A Canadian, who migrated to the United States at an early
age, Edwards often quotes Canadian billionaire Michael Lee-Chin who points out the Chinese symbol for crisis is also the symbol for opportunity. Graves makes this same connection in his article Why We’re Stepping Up for Detroit (February 2009). According to Graves, the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference represents a chance for thousands of black entrepreneurs and businesses to have an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the rebirth of Detroit. Both Jones and Edwards aspires to be among them with their companies, Stephanie L. Jones, LLC and Leaves of Gold Consulting, LLC, respectively.
Can any good thing come out of Detroit? Indeed, it can. Can any good thing come to Detroit? Yes, it can. And it will. Don’t forget to pick up a copy of the March issue of Black Enterprise magazine. There you will learn more about Minister Mary Edwards, the organization Widows With Wisdom, and find information about how to register for the 2009 B.E. Conference happening right here in Detroit! You may also visit
www.blackenterprise.com/events. ###
Posted By: Mary Edwards
Wednesday, February 25th 2009 at 12:09AM
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