MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2018
By Shaheewa Jarrett Gelin
AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE SUN SENTINEL
BB15
Broward County Black Chamber of Commerce Goes
on Tour to Empower Community
Broward County is uniquely
positioned for development and as a
minority-majority county, it is time that
our black businesses organize to fully take
advantage of the opportunities. First, we
have important issues that we have to
tackle in our community. Thirty-eight
percent of our children live in poverty in
Broward County. We have the highest
unemployment rate, and our businesses
struggle to survive beyond the two year
mark. Instead of thriving because of our
trillion dollar spending power, we have a
wealth gap. This is no surprise since we
only spend two cents of every dollar with
a black-owned business and our dollar
circulates in our community for six
hours. We cannot expect to survive
collectively if we neglect our own
businesses.
Second, we also have to contend
with discrimination in distribution of
capital, employment, and wages and an
information gap with regard to
opportunities, as noted in the Broward
County Government report “The State of
Minority- and Women- Owned Business
Enterprise: Evidence from Broward
County” from November 22, 2010. We
have to engage the public and private
sectors collectively to advocate for
change.
The newly-minted Broward County
Black Chamber of Commerce will be
that strong entity to advocate for our
businesses on the municipal, county,
state, and federal levels. It is 2018. It is
time for us to collaborate and progress.
The time for rhetoric is over.
In order to add value and create
opportunities for your business, the
Chamber will focus on the following:
Access to Capital - facilitate access to
credit, loans, and other financial
instruments.
Advocate - lobby for laws and
policies that promote small business
growth and address the challenges faced
by black business owners.
Capacity Building - aid and support
the process of developing and
strengthening the skills, abilities, and
resources for black businesses to enable
them to grow beyond a small business.
Community Service - facilitate and
host events that will provide training,
internships, and employment to our
community, especially our youth.
Connect - provide access to business
opportunities by connecting business
owners with decision makers in the
private and public sectors.
Educate - provide entrepreneurship
and business management training.
Promote - actively encourage the use
of member companies throughout the
region and nation.
Instead of thriving
because of our trillion
dollar spending power,
we have a wealth gap.
This is no surprise since
we only spend two
cents of every dollar
with a black-owned
business and our dollar
circulates in our com-
munity for six hours.
We cannot expect to
survive collectively if
we neglect our own
businesses.
Although there is a vision and a set of
priorities, we want to ensure that we
create a chamber that will meet your
needs. Therefore, we are hosting a series
entitled “Listening Tour: Your Business
Matters” because we want to hear from
you. Together, we will build a chamber
that creates opportunities, expands our
businesses, and provides a space for us to
collaborate.
We look forward to welcoming you
as a new member.
Tour Dates Host: Roderick Harvey
Business: HCT Certified Public
Accountants & Consultants
Location: 3816 Hollywood Blvd., Suite
203, Hollywood, FL 33021
Date: April 30, 2018
Time: 6-8pm
Host: Jahra McLawrence
Business: The McLawrence Law Firm
Location: 7101 West Commercial Blvd.,
Tamarac, FL 33319 Facebook - Broward County Black
Chamber of Commerce
Twitter - BCFLBlkChamber
Instagram - Broward Black Chamber
Email info@BrowardCountyBlackCham-
berofCommerce.com
Website - www.BrowardCountyBlack-
ChamberofCommerce.com
Date: May 14, 2018
Time: 6-8pm
Date: May 21, 2018
Time: 6-8pm
Host: Garrie Harris
Business: Alpha1 Staffing & Search
Firm, LLC
Location: 3350 SW 148 Avenue, Suite
110, Miramar, FL 33027
I’m Shanequa Fleming!
I work with leaders who are powerful, successful, have already made significant
impact and want to leave a legacy that will go beyond their greatest achievement.
My clients are visionaries, thought leaders, change agents, and risk-takers who are
poised to “break the box” of status quo. Together we tap into their desires
and personal power that shifts insights to actions that expand their impact in
organizations and communities.
I'm the Founder and CEO of Perfect Solutions Consulting Group, a boutique
consulting firm with a focus in organizational strategy, leadership and human
resource development.
I have a deep passion for maximizing potential and inspiring possibilities.
I’d love to connect with you.
www.bit.ly/igniteandinspire2018
[email protected]
(954)406-7724