Dr. James Gatling will be the keynote speaker at the Black Economic Summit in Waterbury.

   The Board of Directors of Waterbury Industrialization Opportunities Center, Inc. (WOIC) and its Clergy Support Committee, under the leadership of Board Member Reverend Dr. Leroy Perry, are sponsoring their first Black Economic Summit on Saturday, June 23, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mount Olive A.M.E. Zion Church, 82 – 100 Pearl Street in Waterbury.

   “This Summit will start a dialogue that’s long over-due in our community”, states Terryl Mitchell Smith, WOIC board chairperson. “However, this is about more than talk, it’s about taking action and that is the intent of this initial event.”

   Board Member and Attorney Adrienne Parkmond says, “Assessment of community needs and the development of benchmarks for future success will be an objective of the Summit.”
Reverend Perry, pastor of the church hosting the event asserts:  “We will bring clergy, business, community leaders and the community at large to wrestle with issues of our black community’s continuing need for economic and social development.”

   Participants on the roster include keynote speaker Dr. James Gatling, CEO of New Opportunities, Inc. and President of The Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce, Ron Pugliese, Waterbury Economic Development Director, and many other community stakeholders.

Waterbury Economic Development Director Ron Pugliese will participate in he summit.

   The Summit is free and open to the public.  For more information, contact WOIC at:
203.756.7987 or opportunity.indus@snet.net