During Black History Month, each of the Black Wall Street Forward communities held events to share the details of their strategic visions and uplift Black entrepreneurship in their communities. We asked our Ecosystem Builders-In-Residence (EBIRs) to reflect on the events and share their vision for the future of Black Wall Street Forward in each of their communities. Last month, we heard from our Charlotte, Fayetteville, and Winston-Salem EBIRs. In this blog, we’ll hear from our EBIRs in Durham and Raleigh.
Justin Minott
Durham Ecosystem Builder-In-Residence
On February 29th, the Black Wall Street Forward Durham team hosted an immersive futuristic experience to collectively help chart the path forward for Black entrepreneurship in Durham. The evening consisted of networking, inspiration, entertainment, and ended with an entrepreneur pitch contest to put resources directly in the hands of local Black entrepreneurs.
Q: What were you most inspired by during your event?
A: I'm still feeling inspired by the creative and generative energy that was in the room. The people who joined us at Black to the Future were more than just event attendees, they were co-conspirators and architects of a thriving new future for Black business in Durham. I feel so energized to know that I get to keep my sleeves rolled up and continue this work moving shoulder-to-shoulder with people who are really about this life.
Q: What is your personal vision for BWSF in your community?
A: To me, Black Wall Street Forward is about celebrating the achievements of those who have come before, and choosing to pick up a hammer and keep building. Black Wall Street Forward is a concept, a seed that no one owns but that everyone is responsible for nurturing if we are going to have a thriving ecosystem for black business here in Durham. My vision is to see an egoless, interconnected ecosystem where we put the true hero at the center of the story, which is this community and the entrepreneurs who build it, and we give everything we have to help them advance.
Q: What do you think needs to happen next to move towards that vision?
A: For this to happen, there's a lot of healing that has to take place. There's an African proverb that says, “When elephants fight, it's the grass that gets trampled”. I believe there is a lot of relationship building and reconciliation that needs to take place, because ultimately, when we have a fragmented support network it's the entrepreneurs who suffer the most.
"To me, Black Wall Street Forward is about celebrating the achievements of those who have come before, and choosing to pick up a hammer and keep building."
Justin Minott, Durham EBIR
Mel Wright
Raleigh Ecosystem Builder-In-Residence
The Black Wall Street Forward Raleigh Council introduced the initiative, the work, and the Small Business Success Academy Pilot on February 10th, during the SmallBiz Midday Soiree - a semi-formal affair with a twist. Featuring a day of business development insights, an inspiring panel, and a delicious brunch, the event was a celebration of the entrepreneurial journey.
Q: What were you most inspired by during your event?
A: I was mostly inspired by the speakers and the panel. It was great to hear real-life experiences and to hear the different challenges they went through to get them where they are today. I also loved seeing everyone dressed up and celebrating themselves and making genuine connections.
Q: What is your personal vision for BWSF in your community?
A: My vision for BWSF in our community is a Village of Black businesses supporting each other, sharing customers and continuing to circulate the dollars within our village.
Q: What do you think needs to happen next to move towards that vision?
A: We need to continue to work together and collaborate to create a greater good. We can start by having small villages all over and then eventually connecting them all and having some type of passport to use within the villages to continue to circulate the dollars.
Q: Can you share what it means to you to engage council members in upcoming pilots? How is this impacting the community?
A: It means a lot to me to be able to continue working with a team that believes in the mission and wants to see our business community collectively grow. Although times have changed where we've had to support and buy from each other, there are many choices now and we need to find a way to bring the Black Wall Street mentality back in a new and improved way. Just like the mission of the village is to foster, culture, inspire and empower, encourage innovation, and accelerate development through the collaboration of entrepreneurs. We will be able to fulfill this mission and we will start to see the dollar circulate more within the Black community.
As we reflect on the insights and aspirations shared by our Durham and Raleigh Ecosystem Builders-In-Residence (EBIRs), it's clear that the journey ahead for Black Wall Street Forward is filled with promise and potential. But the momentum doesn't stop here! We've also selected five council member-led projects in both Durham and Raleigh, specifically designed to support and strengthen their local entrepreneurial ecosystems. These initiatives, set to kick off this month, represent a pivotal step towards realizing their city’s strategic vision. Stay tuned as we prepare to unveil their upcoming projects!
The Black Wall Street Forward initiative aims to reshape narratives, engage community leaders and entrepreneurs, and foster sustainable, equitably invested, Black-centric entrepreneurial communities.
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