# Spring Garden: Mayor's Office Of Black Male Engagement Hosts Community Conversation

On Thursday, Nov. 29, the Mayor’s [Office of Black Male Engagement](https://www.phila.gov/departments/mayors-office-of-black-male-engagement/) (OBME) hosted its My Brother’s Keeper event which featured a conversation on[ Economic, Empowerment, and Entrepreneurship.](https://mayorsofficeofblackmaleengagement.wordpress.com/community-conversations/) The event was a part of the City's Community Conversations Initiative, in partnership with Community College of Philadelphia’s [Center for Male Engagement](https://www.ccp.edu/student-support/center-male-engagement), as a platform designed to engage residents and leaders. For this installment of the monthly series, panelists Quadir Flippen, [Nasiar Smith](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIJkazLZSlU) and [Jordan Parisse Farrine](https://www.instagram.com/j.p.ferrarini/) discussed their experience with entrepreneurship. Attendees also had an opportunity to ask questions about what it takes to start and build their own businesses.![](https://phillyn-media.s3.amazonaws.com/2018/12/27160727/IMG_6146-577x433.jpg) Smith, 23-year-old CEO of [People’s Innovation Movement](https://tpimovement.org/), a nonprofit that teaches financial literacy, said opportunities like these aren’t usually accessible. Many times, he said, blacks and browns have difficulty gaining knowledge outside of traditional education. “\[However\], this offers them an opportunity to have a voice.” Smith said.  The panel was organized by [Jack Drummond](https://www.phila.gov/posts/mayors-office-of-public-engagement/2016-02-29-qa-director-of-black-male-engagement-jack-drummond/), the director of the Mayor’s Office of Black Male Engagement, who was [appointed by Kenney](https://generocity.org/philly/2016/02/25/jack-drummond-director-black-male-engagement/) in February of 2016. Throughout the night, he encouraged questions from the audience in order to help foster the objective of reducing economic and social disparity, a goal for OBME. Michael Morrow, a West Philadelphia native, said conversations like these are important for the African-American community.  “At the end of the day, these (types) of panels are giving young black men other options.” Morrow said.  *- Text and images by Hadiyah Weaver.*