Veleska DeSouza (347-524-3676)
SPONSORED BY: The Federation of Black & Minority Businesses & Meals America
REVEREND MICHAEL SLOAN, SR. in an entrepreneur and brings with him a minimum of 29 years of Marketing experience, with a high concentration within the Healthcare Industry and Church Development.
Earlier in his career, Reverend Sloan witnessed the daily struggles, barriers, and ailments afflicting the black community, which grieved his spirit. He turned to the Lord for insight and answers. After seeking God’s guidance, he moved to develop a car buying system structured to aide Black businesses and consumers with the negotiating and purchasing / leasing of vehicle(s), which included payment structures and maintenance agreements.
This car buying service transcended into one of the first buying services for Black Americans called A.B.S, Automotive Buying Services, which was endorsed by the Philadelphia Black Clergy, and known for getting the best price and service. A.B.S leveled the playing field for the black consumer by removing the discriminatory barriers which often lead to the black consumer paying far more for their automotive purchase than any other race.
Years later, applying the same understanding of the black community and the disparity in which they obtain healthcare services, Reverend started a physician outreach organization tasked with community outreach to educate the black community on targeted diseases states which have historically ravaged this community.
Through this initiative, the physician outreach organization, incorporated onsite health screenings targeting people at risk for specific disease states in an effort to either effectively manage their disease state or eliminate their risk through the introduction of alternative remedies (i.e. exercise, nutrition). The physician outreach organization eventually morphed into Divine Sources, which, today, reaches thousands of people.
Reverend Sloan is passionate about positively impacting lives and have accepted the call to be a vessel of change. He has consistently affected change through education and awareness, mentoring & coaching, and serving as an advocate to the underserved.
Reverend Sloan was educated by the Philadelphia School District and continued his education at The Community College of Philadelphia. It was at The Community College of Philadelphia he developed a mentee/mentor relationship with his professor who was also a professor at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania Wharton School.
This professor considered Reverend Sloan to be his “brightest student…ever.” Through this relationship Reverend Sloan was encouraged to be bold, fearless, and a critical thinker. He was encouraged to think “outside of the box” in pursuit of his passion and innovative ideas to empower, educate and engage the Black community, Black consumer, and Black business owner.
MICCARA SLOAN is the co-host of “The Federation of Black & Minority Businesses Power Hour” and serves on the board for The Federation of Black and Minority Businesses. In 2019, Miccara graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with a Bachelors’s degree in Mass Communications; she is thrilled for the opportunity to broaden her skillset and hopes to have a positive impact on the world.