WS Chronicle

The next episode of “Triad Today” will highlight a program offered by Truliant Federal Credit Union that is designed to strengthen minority-owned businesses.

This week’s episode of the locally-produced public affairs program, hosted and produced by Jim Longworth, will air on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 a.m. on ABC 45 and Sunday, Feb. 24 at 11 a.m. on My48. Truliant President and CEO Marc Schaefer will make introductory remarks on economic empowerment, while Marjorie Rorie, director of community services, will discuss the unique curriculum developed by North Carolina REAL Enterprises, Inc.

“REAL Entrepreneurship is a curriculum dedicated to increasing entrepreneurship and small business creation in North Carolina,” said Rorie. “We use the REAL curriculum to provide interactive, experiential entrepreneurship training that gives aspiring small-business owners and entrepreneurs a thorough education in financial and business literacy.”

The program will also feature REAL student Lindsay Upson, whose media company, Indigo Pride, focuses on providing a broader image of the African-American community; and Michelle Serrano-Mills, a REAL class instructor for Truliant.

In 2012, Truliant received a grant from the National Credit Union Foundation to implement the REAL Entrepreneurship training program at six locations. More than 50 people in four counties have graduated from the program since it launched.

Truliant will hold another five-week class series on Tuesdays, from March 26 – April 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Augsburg Center at 502 Broad St.

For more information about entrepreneurship training, email Marjorie Rorie at roriem@truliantfcu.org.