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  • Writer's pictureLatonia Jones

Now What?

Brian Breen, deputy program manager for NASA prime contractor KBRwyle, discusses contracting opportunities for HBCUs while JoAnn Belt from Jacobs Technology listens.

In February’s blog, I mentioned that I would be following the 2018 NASA HBCU Technology Infusion Road Tour. The tour was designed to assist NASA and large prime contractors meet and/or exceed the agency mandated goal of Historically Black Colleges and Universities receiving one percent of NASA’s federal contracting dollars.


This tour is to include an open dialogue among agencies, primes and HBCUs discussing issues, concerns, and strategies for how to meet this goal. I attended the NASA Road Tour at Clark Atlanta University March 27-29, and after much thought and reflection, I think the grade I would give it is a C.


Johnathan Holifield, executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, was the luncheon speaker for the first day of the Clark Atlanta event.

The tour was by the far the best one I had attended, mainly because I think all the key players attended. Various agencies participated, as well as representatives from prime contractors, HBCUs and they added a session for small businesses as well.


Additionally, the speakers were dynamic and I believe the messages were very appropriate to ignite the HBCUs to move towards pursuing opportunities outside of their normal comfort zone. The speakers included Jonathan Holifield, who is now the head of the White House Initiative for HBCUs. “It’s the pursuit of a thing beyond what we are doing,” Holifield said.


WOW, love it! Mr. Holifield suggested that we create an HBCU development community that will impact our communities and increase economic empowerment.


I had the pleasure of introducing Ambassador Andrew Young, who is a civil

Former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young entertained and inspired during his keynote luncheon remarks.

rights legend and an absolute joy to sit down and talk to. He is comical yet profound. He said HBCUs need to get back to playing bid whist on campus. It sounds funny, but what he was truly saying was we need to embrace who we are and enjoy it while pursuing our cause and mission.


Dennis Kimbro was the luncheon speaker for the small business day. He is the author of Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice. One of the things that resonated with me that he said was, “problems become opportunities.”


AMEN brother. This is exactly why our company, PMP, decided to create a platform to bridge the gap between the government agencies, primes and HBCUs. We recognized there was a problem and we believe we are offering a PHENOMENAL solution.


You may think, “All that sounds great. So why did you rate it a ‘C’?” Here’s why: Because after all the fanfare is over with, what happens next? The true success of the NASA Road Tour will be reflected in the upcoming contract awards and an increase in revenue. Too many times we have had great conferences. It’s almost like “black churches.” We have great services, and we believe the Lord showed up; but we continue to live defeated lives.


I believe in order to improve that grade, I would like to hear at the next road tour that X amount of HBCUs have received new contracts, follow-on contracts, or mentor protégé agreements. And that number should be significantly higher than ever before.


We cannot continue to become educated on what needs to be done and remain ignorant on how to move forward. So my question is: “What’s Next?”


Stay tuned.


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