Our Non-Discrimination Statement: The Economic Development Centers Unlimited, Inc. excludes No-One. The EDCUinc unapologetically and without reservation pro-actively seek the enrollment and full participation of *the people made in america", (pmia) from: nova scotia, to the caribbean, south america, australia,, asia ,,the piacific basin, and our afrika! kin's men!  Who are the people made in america, pmia?  We are the direct descendants of those captured and enslaved prisoners of war’s they call slaves .... who survived and suffered over 250 years in the Torture-Breeding, and Forced Labor Camps they euphemistically call “Plantations”!

 9 DOTS - THE EXERCISE THAT CHANGES LIVES!
TAKE A FULL SIZE SHEET OF PAPER...
DRAW 3 ROWS WITH 3 DOTS ON EACH ROW (9 DOTS) DOTS SHOULD BE SPACED 2 INCHES A PART. THE TASK IS TO CONNECT ALL 9 DOTS, USING 4 STRAIGHT CONNECTING LINES... WITH OUT LIFTING THE PEN UP OFF THE PAPER. THE LINES CANNOT CURVE ANY BIT AT ALL.

Note: how you feel, as you attempt to solve the problem. For max benefit try many times (6x with real effort — should do the trick.) Don't rush! Don't rob yourself of "thinking"!

 
           A Solution to the Dilemma of the Afro-American Community
 
There is a wonderful paradox at work on the American economic scene: the
same dynamic that is displacing thousands of "obsolete" workers and
dismembering whole industries is fueling the emergence of an industry that
responds to and nurtures ambition and productivity!
 
That industry, network marketing, is possibly that last bastion of free
enterprise for the masses, an industry which offers those who participate a
chance to escape the cramped, shrinking community and corporate economic
environments and move into a new worlds of unlimited financial opportunity
and potential.
 
WHAT NETWORK MARKETING IS NOT:
 
Network Marketing is not a pyramid scheme, rip off get-rich-quick, or
lose-your-friends and hurt-other-people activity. When it is understood and
properly done, network marketing is an innovative approach to the
distribution of goods and services; and for those willing to pay the price,
a real shot at financial freedom!
 
Pyramids are illegal in every state in the union. Pyramid scams are designed
to generate money through selling distributorships and inventory for big
bucks. There is little emphasis on quality products or distribution to the
end-line consumers. Unlike a good marketing plan, a Pyramid won't offer a
90% inventory buy-back guarantee, for the first year.
		           
WHAT NETWORK MARKETING IS:


Network Marketing is the opposite of traditional concepts of how capitalism, 
business and product distribution operate. Simply put, network marketing 
is a system which organizes and pays people in a geometric manner as they 
distribute useful products and services, direct form the provider to the 
consumer.
Major corporations, however, such as Gillette, Colgate-Palmolive, and Rexall 
have entered the network marketing arena, recognizing the explosive profit 
potential inherent in delivering products and services in a more direct and 
efficient way. What these successful business giants are acknowledging is 
that word-of-mouth recommendations by people we know and trust is the most 
powerful marketing vehicle known!
Individuals involved in the product or service distribution aspect of this 
industry become independent representatives or distributors, and through the 
use of the company’s sales and marketing plan can develop independent 
distribution networks, sometimes very large ones. Those who choose to become 
involved with service companies have a company sales and marketing plan also 
but no hard products to purchase, or inventory to sell. Incomes derived from 
network marketing range from $6 or less to $30,000 a month and more, 
dependent upon individual effort, compensation plan, timing and the 
long-term marketability of the products or services. Even nominal success in 
this traditionally part-time industry can sometimes equal what is considered 
a “middle class” income.
No sign-up fee just to “Get Started”, is a growing industry standard since 
1993. Capital investment often is low, with many opportunities requiring 
less than $500 to qualify. Most network marketing organizations provide 
free, often-times one-to-one support and training in the development of 
skills necessary to succeed. The network marketing philosophy is egalitarian 
there are no bosses, only individuals working together as a team toward the 
common goal of personal economic and time freedom!
Since its inception over 50 years ago, network marketing has gained the 
respect of economists, and business persons the world-over and it is taught 
in respected institutions of higher learning. 
NETWORK MARKETING AS A WAY OUT
Network Marketing offers a viable solution to the institutionalized scarcity 
of economic opportunity that has been crippling our communities and continues 
to stunt the aspirations of our people. Members of the Afro-American 
community have historically been limited in using their talents, and 
abilities to allow them to share in the bounty that is waved in front of 
their noses every day. Network marketing is also an option for those who have 
done what society has told them to do, completing their formal education and 
training even to the point of advanced degrees, only to find that the doors 
of real opportunity remains closed, as evidenced by the number of degreed 
and “prepared” individuals who are unemployed, under-employed or subsisting 
in dead-end, glass-ceiling occupations.
The very nature of network marketing insulates those who participated from 
the limitations imposed by prejudice or discrimination due to age, race, 
class, education, gender, physical challenges, or personal history. 
THE PLAN
Afro-Americans have been kept at the bottom of the economic pyramid of 
America from Day One. There is no real hope for this institutionalized 
condition to change (for the benefit of the Black Masses) by efforts 
initiated from the top primarily because there is no incentive for truly 
doing so. That’s just the way it is, folks!!
Our economic position was assigned to us, and it is maintained by the 
many imagined and real benefits of this arrangement to the dominate 
society. This 
is the real reason our condition has remained unchanged for hundreds of 
years. Working for positive change from the bottom of the pyramid has been 
comparatively fruitless, and the frustration of our efforts leaves us with 
the powerful negative feelings of impotence, inadequacy, ineptness, and 
rage.
Individually and in community we must build the seven principles of 
empowerment:
1.	Umoja – unity
2.	Kujichaguila – self-determination
3.	Ujima – collective work and responsibility
4.	Ujima – family hood and responsibility
5.	Nia – purpose
6.	Kuuumba – Creativity
7.	Imani – Faith
These principles only come alive with meaning and power when they are 
coupled with viable economic vehicles.
Strong societies are not built or maintained on jobs or degrees, but on 
entrepreneurial excellence and principled leadership which is prepared 
and willing to take full advantage of timing and opportunities for the 
collective greater good.
The Afro-American community is positioned in time and circumstances to 
capture the opportunity called network marketing! Network marketing is the 
industry of tomorrow and the opportunity of the day. To date, network 
marketing companies have produced more millionaires than any other corporate 
industrial mechanism in modern history. The Amway Corporation alone has the 
distinction of creating more millionaires than any other corporation in 
America and is now the number one exporter of American products to Japan. 
Those millionaires, and their colleges in other network – Multi-level – 
direct marketing endeavors, have simply taken advantage of the basic nature 
of the industry, working to achieve personal, residual wealth by assisting 
hundreds of others to experience the realization of their goals and dreams. 
It is impossible to achieve success in this industry without helping a lot 
of people succeed too.
The secular and spiritual leadership of the community must be educated to 
focus their vast energies and resources to create economic development 
centers (EDC’s) in every progressive church, organization and Black 
institution in America.
With each one recruiting and building from its own membership and supporter 
base, THE PLAN will not fail!
The EDC’s will learn, teach, lead and preach this new empowering economic 
“GOOD NEWS” … “I’M AN EDC, HOW ‘BOUT YOU?”
Industry leaders will be eager to lend their time and talents to insure the 
success of their selected program because, it’s in their interest to do so. 
FOUNDING DISTRIBUTORS	
Those given the honor of being invited to become “Founding Distributors” 
should be drawn from a list of the brightest and the best. The list should 
include business persons, local Multi Level Marketing (MLM) leaders and 
those with a history of economic and or personal achievements.
The Founding Distributors Become the EDC. They will invest, learn, teach, 
lead and profit. The success of the Founding Distributors will produce 
revenues for the sponsoring organization of the EDC, which will provide 
substantial seed moneys for further economic development, investments and 
projects. 
FUNDING
We have long held ourselves impotent, waiting on those who are unaffected 
by our problems to fund, approve, or provide solutions to them. The 
Afro-American community has all the resources needed to implement THE PLAN 
now! No Federal funds or grants are needed, desired, or beneficial to this 
endeavor.
The challenge before us is to move beyond pride and limited self-interest 
and put into action the true principles of community and brotherhood, 
seizing this moment in time, and making the impossible American dream real!
What if..? What if..? What if….?
Let the word go forth – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CENTERS IS The ANSWER! and, 
We Don’t Hafta Be Po’ and Dependent (as a people) No Mo’!For once, Let’s… 
Just… Do… It! “I’M AN EDC, HOW ‘BOUT YOU?”
IN THE PROCESS OF EVALUATING THIS CONCEPT, BE CREATIVE AND OPEN IN 
DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS AND OR PRODUCTS; BUT STAY FOCUSED ON 
THE EDC AS A CONCEPT,  BECAUSE IT WILL WORK! 
 
© 1993 Emmett Abati Doe