Brooklyn Public Library’s Post

It matters who you do business with.

What do you get when you do business with HJI? It’s not just providing extraordinary customer experiences through innovation, performance and value. Being a customer of HJI provides intentional impact and investment in our most vulnerable communities and intentionality to hitting our bold goal of 30% spend with other mbe’s, wbe’s and disadvantaged enterprises. The ecosystem of people, community and customers to be ambassadors and fulfill purpose. 🫶🏽💪🏽👏🏽👏🏽

"Our actions speak louder than our words. And people are watching and learning," says Tricia Warrick, Co-founder BEAM Collaborative. Great things can happen when people come together to inspire real change. This month we celebrate #blackhistorymonth and those who are working to make a more equitable future for all through learning from the past. #collaborationsuccess #visionaryleaders #equitablefuture #vistage https://lnkd.in/eMxw3Ebe

Black History Month offers a profound opportunity to reflect upon the past and forge pathways for future prosperity and equity. Naquana Borrero, CFRE, the 2023 ATHENA Young Professional Award recipient, shares her unique perspective on the indispensable need for access to capital, corporate philanthropy's transformative impact, and local organizations' pivotal role in nurturing an inclusive business ecosystem. Read more >> https://ow.ly/pYTq50QCi54

🌟 Motivational Monday: Celebrating Black-Owned Business Month 🌟 At Purple Sheep Consulting, we believe in the power of diversity, equity, and inclusion. August is Black-Owned Business Month, a perfect time to recognize and uplift the achievements of Black entrepreneurs. Did you know that Black-owned businesses employ over 1.4 million people and generated $206.1 billion in revenue in 2021? Yet, only 4% of Black-owned businesses survive past the startup phase. Dr. Rashonda Harris, CEO of Purple Sheep Consulting, shares: "Supporting Black-owned businesses isn't just about economics—it's about equity, empowerment, and building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive." This month, let's make a dedicated effort to support and invest in Black-owned businesses. Together, we can foster an inclusive economy where everyone has the chance to succeed. #SupportBlackBusinesses #EconomicEmpowerment #Equity #Inclusion #PurpleSheepConsulting #BlackBusinessMonth Join us in celebrating and supporting Black-owned businesses this month and every month! 🚀

📣 Calling all Black women and Non-Binary founders 📣 A few spots are left for The Well Work's Build Wellth Founder Academy (BWFA)'s Fall Cohort! 👉🏽 Why Join Us? In just 4 transformative weeks, you'll become adept and confident in navigating the unique challenges that Black women and non-binary founders often face in securing capital. What sets us apart is our approach—leading with love for and commitment to the community ✊🏽 . We don't just teach the fundamentals of funding; we immerse you in an environment that strengthens your connection to your business and purpose. 🤎 APPLY HERE: https://lnkd.in/gfmrdPyN Our alumni gained more than just knowledge; they gained: → Mentors who provide invaluable guidance and support during and after the program. → Grant and investment wins that have propelled their businesses forward. → New friendships with fellow founders that feel like family, creating a supportive community in an often lonely journey. → A deeper understanding of their brands, the communities they serve, and effective strategies to engage with audiences—whether they are customers or venture capitalists. Brittney Dimes Bickham, Founder of Puzle and BWFA Alum, shared: “Our opening session was incredible and SO needed. I wept afterward because I knew this was going to be powerful.” Dr. Rebecca Cesar, DHSc, MS-MHA, Founder of Tinted Health and BWFA Alum, said: "The program was great. It was well-paced, well-diversified, the speakers were excellent, and the material was relevant. Thank you!" Casey Ariel Thobias, Founder of Blaze Group and BWFA Alum, commented: "I was dealing with a lot of transition and pruning during this time, but the program integrated well into my life and helped me to keep my mind and spirit focused on the main task at hand - which was refining an executable funding strategy." 👉🏽 What You Can Expect: BWFA is designed for Black founders aiming to secure funding and grow their businesses sustainably. Beyond funding, we're committed to strengthening the Black entrepreneurial ecosystem. Our sessions are designed to foster a sense of belonging, safety, and resilience to tackle business and personal challenges. We believe collective advocacy, strategic networking, and community are the most impactful ways to grow your business, especially in light of recent challenges facing Black-owned businesses. 🤎 APPLY HERE: https://lnkd.in/gfmrdPyN Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gKWTs4nr Fall 2023 Cohort's Impact Report: https://lnkd.in/gPSxE9zX -- The Well Work - is on a mission to teach Black Founders how to get funding. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/emFQU-N Join our mailing list: https://lnkd.in/g_S9Qe_B Follow The Well Work for more grants and funding resources @thewellworkco on IG

August marks National Black Business Month and Black women-owned businesses have been celebrating with a rise in presence, revenue, and development opportunities amidst ongoing infrastructure challenges, research shows. Black female entrepreneurs have dominated the business climate, representing roughly 2.1 million businesses and 52.1% of all Black-owned enterprises, according to a 2024 Wells Fargo Study. As the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, Black women have worked to shape culture and create spaces for diversity to prosper, with business methods rooted in increasing representation, access to capital, education and reducing the racial wealth gap. #JanitriInternational #WomenLeadership https://lnkd.in/d39YVuF9

SBTDC Celebrates Black History Month! ✨ Highlighting: Mel Wright, The Wright Village Mel Wright is the owner of The Wright Village, a co-incubator and coworking space (1 of only 70 Black-owned in the US) that serves as a hub for cultivating a culture of growth, collaboration, and success for underrepresented entrepreneurs. In addition to a safe space, The Wright Village lowers overhead costs by providing Villagers under-market rate office access, affordable memberships, access to a full suite of services, technical assistance, consultation, equipment, and other essentials. These resources, typically unavailable to overlooked populations, are the foundation of their evolution. The Wright Village’s unique approach is built on purposeful success. While passion for one's business is important, it's crucial to have a clear purpose or mission to clarify and support that passion. This approach ensures that each Villager’s success is not only personally fulfilling but also contributes positively to the world around them. "In essence, we are more than just a workspace; we are a thriving ecosystem dedicated to propelling the success of underrepresented entrepreneurs, fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and growth within a supportive and secure environment." SBTDC's Adriana Lanzas has been working with Mel since 2020 when Mel established her co-working business. Adriana and the SBTDC helped Mel build her business from the ground up, specifically providing financial reviews, grant proposal reviews, and business structure advice. Recently, the SBTDC co-hosted an event with Mel and The Wright Village on Small Business Finance for the second year in a row. Way to go, Mel! Read more about The Wright Village at their website: https://lnkd.in/dWcipWUd #SBTDC #YourBusinessBetter #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackOwnedBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #CoWorkingSpace #UnderrepresentedEntrepreneurs #BusinessDevelopment #CommunitySupport #TheWrightVillage

Rather than highlight an agent this week in our #AgentSpotlight section, we would be giving deserved recognition to a body. The Women's Council of Realtors in Maryland is a part of a larger body that offers members timely educational opportunities and cutting-edge programming. The Maryland chapter @marylandwc consists of seven local networks, working to advance women in the real estate profession. Established in May 2022, the Maryland State Chapter empowers women in real estate, emphasizing entrepreneurship and leadership. For the work done to advance women in the real estate profession, we believe they are well worthy of being recognized as our #RealEstateHero for the week. https://bit.ly/4bFiyhX #MarylandRealEstate #VirginiaRealEstate #MarylandRealtor #RealEstateMaryland #RealEstateVirginia #MarylandHomes #VirginiaHomes #MarylandProperty #VirginiaProperty #MarylandLiving #VirginiaLiving #MarylandHomebuyers #VirginiaHomebuyers #MarylandInvestment #VirginiaInvestment #MarylandDreamHome #VirginiaDreamHome #MarylandRealty #VirginiaRealty #MarylandHousing #VirginiaHousing

First public talk on #Neurodiversity and #NeuroInclusion, wish me luck!