“Moving people of color from marginalism to mainstream” is the mission of New Capitalist™, a socially responsible business conglomerate led by Founder and CEO Melissa Bradley-Burns. A serial entrepreneur since 1991, Bradley-Burns has devoted her career to “working with entrepreneurs who are excited about what they are doing” to economically empower themselves and their communities.

Bradley-Burns is Founder and President of the country’s leading investment advisory firm, New Capitalist, which focuses specifically on entrepreneurs of color. The firm provides business development, strategy, and capitalization assistance to emerging and social entrepreneurs, and investment services to institutions that are interested in investing in minority firms. “There are only twelve venture funds for entrepreneurs of color and/or women,” says Bradley-Burns. “We’re a one-stop shop for investors with greater returns on investments.” Warm Spirit Inc., Inner City Enterprises – GTM Marketing, and rapper, producer Kanye West who is launching his own clothing line in the Fall are among its clients. Good Water, an eco-friendly water system in St. Mary’s County in Maryland, is owned by West’s father, and also is a client of New Capitalist.

Bradley-Burns is also Managing Director of Positive Impact™ — a collaborative initiative that seeks to promote ethnic and cultural diversity within independent media through communication, capacity building and capital. Introduction to Media Investing for the Creative and Investment Communities by Bradley-Burns is a practical step-by-step “how-to” guide designed to give media makers and investors detailed instructions on prospecting, receiving, managing and returning an investment.

In 2005, Bradley-Burns created Reentry Strategies Institute (RSI), the only national criminal justice intermediary explicitly focused on reentry. “We implement market-based strategies — sustainability, case management, and skill-based training — to reentry incarcerated persons. We also talk to philanthropists about helping with reentry, not just incarceration,” says Bradley-Burns. RSI has supported over 100 organizations and several state agencies to help them increase their capital and capacity to take in people.

Bradley-Burns’ entry into entrepreneurship began with the youth market. In 1991, she founded The Entrepreneurial Development Institute (TEDI), an international, non-governmental organization, serving youth, ages 7 to 21, and their families. The mission of TEDI is to serve as a catalyst for permanent social change, economic development and community empowerment. Selected as an Outstanding National Youth Entrepreneurship Program by the Kauffman Foundation, the organization is based in Washington, DC and has grown to 16 satellite offices throughout the United States and three international locations.

Bradley-Burns, a White House honoree as one of “Tomorrow’s Leaders Today” and recipient of the JC Penney Golden Rule Award for Community Service, believes “every business should be socially responsible. People often automatically think philanthropic. But, it’s also about profit. In fact, you have to be profitable with a sound business before you can start applying socially responsible practices externally. Take a pause and think about what you want to be responsible for. Do you want to offer an employee plan? How do you treat people? What do you want to do for your community? Employ socially responsible practices internally, then think about the community.”

Asked about her plans for the future, Bradley-Burns says, “In 2007, we’re expanding our expertise into new industries, increasing our client base, and launching a new capital venture fund.” Smart investors might also want to keep an eye on New Capitalist.

Bradley-Burns is currently Chair of Social Venture Network (www.svn.org).

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