Exclusive: U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies says Russell Center’s model could be replicated nationwide

On Tuesday, Jan. 2, U.S. Congresswoman Nikema Williams told the Russell Center she’d be hosting a guest here in Atlanta and would like to visit the campus. Her guest would be the U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Two days later, Jeffries and Williams would visit the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs. They were joined by Georgia State Representative Inga Willis, a Democrat from Atlanta. Leading the tour was the President and CEO of the Russell Center, Jay Bailey.  During the tour, Jeffries learned the Russell Center recently took their cadre of entrepreneurs based in their incubation center to Colombia to drive economic development in Afro-Caribbean communities. He also discovered the ways which RICE has been able to leverage partnerships with companies such as Mastercard, Wells Fargo, Wal-Mart and more in order to drive more than $600 million in investment directed towards Black entrepreneurs under their stewardship. Georgia State Representative Inga Willis, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and U.S. Congresswoman Nikema Williams listen to a presentation during a tour at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs on January 4, 2024. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice) Jeffries came away impressed with the high and comprehensive level of providing services...