An Empowered Black Community

Restoration and the sustainability of an empowered black community is at the forefront of so many of our minds especially as the forces that be become more powerful and outright intentional with the demise of our people. Today we speak with Michael Garner the President of One Hundred Black Men NYC, Chief Diversity Officer of MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) and relative of the late Eric Garner who's life was taken by NYPD in 2014. We examine the successful elements of Harlem "the Mecca of Black Culture" and explore what can be generalized and duplicated in many other black communities that need to thrive.

Michael Garner, MBA

Chief Diversity Officer for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Michael Garner is a champion of the diversity market, making it his personal and professional mission to create a more diverse construction industry, by empowering small businesses across New York State through educational programming and access to increased opportunities.

Garner has gained national notoriety for creating and implementing the MTA’s Small Business Development Program. As the first of its kind in the nation, the program consists of the MTA Small Business Mentoring Program, MTA Small Business Federal Program and Small Business Loan, Surety Bonding Assistance and Construction and Information Technology Training Programs. Through this strategic, innovative approach, record breaking prime and subcontracts have been awarded to NYS certified Minority, Women-Owned and MTA certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprises.

Before the MTA, Garner previously served as Senior Director of Business Development at the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA), where he was responsible for the short and long term business development of qualified emerging Minority, Women-Owned and Locally Based Business Enterprises (MWLBEs). Under his direction, the SCA created one of the most comprehensive small business development and inclusion programs in the nation including implementation of a Graduate Mentor Program.

During Mr. Garner's career, he has been responsible for the awarding of $10 billion in contracts to certified Minority, Women-owned and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. Garner is an active member of the Canaan Baptist Church in Harlem, serves as President of One Hundred Black Men Inc. of New York, is the current Treasurer of the New York/New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council, serves on the board of Harlem Hospital and advises numerous U.S. cities and states on their minority business development and inclusion programs. In addition, Garner was appointed to the New York State Small Business Advisory Board and more recently appointed to Governor Cuomo’s MWBE Team as chaired by former NYC Comptroller, William C. Thompson, Jr.