Community-Led Economic Empowerment

Advocates for equitable access to government and corporate contracts, funding, and business development opportunities for Black-owned businesses, including support for MWBE certification and public policy change.

Organizes an annual back-to-school supply drive to support students in the Queens community.

Highlights one Black-owned or community-supported small business per month through a spotlight program and promotes member businesses via social media, newsletters, vendor spotlights, and community partnerships.

Hosts free and low-cost workshops, webinars, and educational events on business topics such as marketing, taxes, legal protections, financial literacy, and grant navigation to support Black entrepreneurs at all stages of development.

Supports minority-owned businesses through community improvement initiatives, business education, tools, and opportunities for growth, including mentorship and leadership development.

Connects Black faith institutions with Black-owned businesses to strengthen local economic networks and promote community self-reliance.

Promotes consumer support of local Black-owned businesses to strengthen the Queens economy, close racial wealth gaps, and circulate economic benefits within the community through public awareness campaigns.

Organizes job fairs and builds employment pipelines by partnering with community colleges and certification programs to connect job seekers with opportunities in Black-owned businesses.

Provides leadership development, equity initiatives, and empowerment programming for women-led businesses, including through the Wind Beneath My Wings Women’s Empowerment organization.

Hosts networking mixers, business expos, and community events to connect Black entrepreneurs with investors, community leaders, and employment pipelines through partnerships with community colleges and certification programs.

Operates a Resource Hub and maintains a vetted directory that connects Black entrepreneurs with qualified professionals in accounting, law, real estate, lending, marketing, and business consulting.

Organizes flash-mob-style group visits and community support events to drive immediate customer traffic, sales, and online reviews for struggling or newly launched Black-owned businesses.

Offers resources and programming focused on wealth building, real estate ownership, trusts, and generational planning to support long-term economic equity for Black families and business owners.

Adapted the organization’s website to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards, implementing features such as keyboard navigation, alternative text, color contrast compliance, and accessible multimedia.

Implements youth mentorship, teen entrepreneur initiatives, and the Young Hustlers Academy in partnership with high schools to teach entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and group economics to underserved youth.

Conducted advocacy efforts that contributed to the recognition of Juneteenth as an official New York state holiday, signed into law on October 14, 2020. Also conducts research, educational, and informational activities to increase public awareness of Juneteenth and its historical significance.

Hosts an annual Juneteenth Summit, including virtual components that engage digital audiences. The summit is part of a broader festival program and contributes to reaching over 6 million digital viewers annually.

Organizes and manages volunteer support for its community celebrations, with roles including set-up/breakdown, vendor and youth activity support, registrations, traffic control, performance management, food distribution, parade logistics, photography, and crowd counting.