The Black Lives Matter movement has shed a bright light onto the disproportionate way African American’s are treated in the US. However, amongst all of the voices, how can we hear a solution..? Is it a top down solution? Is it up to individuals? And what do we do when disproportionate force by police is coupled with high unemployment rates and sky high incarceration percentages?

Well, the answer certainly isn’t simple and in all likelihood will take time to implement. However, in the meantime two ​businessmen in the mostly minority South LA, Karim Webb and Ed Barnett of PCF ​​Restaurant Management have taken it upon themselves to make a difference where they can. Even if it is one kid at a time.

“Part of our mission is to be a good community partner, provide job training and employment opportunities to the young people in the areas we serve.” – Ed Barnett

With only 33.1% of African American youths 16-24 graduating from high school and a (U-6) unemployment rate amongst 18-29 year old African American millennials at 15.2%, young African Americans are getting left behind or worse, ending up in jail. According to the NAACP African Americans now constitute nearly 1 million of the total 2.3 million incarcerated population.

​
​​Edward Barnett (L) and Karim Webb (R)
​Photo Credit: Greg Shappell​

Together Webb and Barnett have created a successful formula for ​developing diverse young workers in underserved areas where they teach young men and women how to be independent, work hard and keep hope. Using their 3 Buffalo Wild Wings franchise locations ​(with 3 additional in development) ​as a teaching ground they aim to impart real transferable skills that in turn will give them the necessary tools to succeed in life. Giving them a brighter future by keeping them out of jail and off of welfare, which will in turn save US citizen tax money. Ultimately a win, win.

​”​If we can connect to employees’ innate will to succeed, we can create something great. Show them you care about them succeeding as much as they do.” – Karim Webb.
​Yet what is even more impressive is that they are making a profit doing it. All three locations have consistently outpaced regional and national sales trends within the industry and have produced double-digit sales increases. The Baldwin Hills location was recognized for achieving the highest sales percentage increase of any Buffalo Wild Wings in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Karim and Ed aim to have their restaurants reflect the diverse areas that they are in. ​In an interview with Nation’s Restaurant News, Karim was quoted as saying, “If I go into a restaurant in a community that I know is diverse and I don’t see people that look like my kids, I take note of that.” An important fact both take to heart.