Marva Smith Battle-Bey one of the leading community advocates for economic development within the African American Community has succumbed. Few details are available at this time, but Ms. Battle-Bey transitioned Wednesday Evening and more details will follow.
Ms. Battle-Bey has been the Executive Director of VSEDC for the past thirty years, spearheading the organization to accomplish over $60 million in economic development projects within the Vermont Slauson community. As a nationally recognized authority on economic development, Ms. Battle-Bey has also attained academic recognition from the University of Southern California, where she is a Ph.D. candidate and serves on the Advisory Council for the School of Policy, Planning and Development. Active in a variety of organizations, Ms. Battle-Bey is a member and/or serves on the Board of the National Congress for Community Economic Development, Association of Women Business Entrepreneurs, the Southern California Business Development Center, a multi-bank CDC representing 30 lenders and a loan fund of $35 million; the California Economic Development Lending Initiative (CEDLI), and the California Organized Investment Network (COIN), which was co-founded by VSEDC. Ms. Battle-Bey possesses a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Urban Planning and Regional Planning, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.
Additional details will be posted on our website lasentinel.net as information comes in.
