Dear Black Chamber Members and Members of the Palm Beach County Community, 

Since its inception in 2004, the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County (the “Black Chamber”) has always stood firm in its vision to uplift, support, and advocate for Black-owned businesses. In this present season, the time to highlight that commitment is more critical than ever.

While we witness a troubling shift – organizations backtracking on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and specific businesses announcing the termination of such programs – we remain resolute in our commitment to our mission and guiding principles. We cannot – and will not – allow these challenges to deter us. Instead, we commit to leaning in and continuing to champion the economic empowerment of Black businesses and consumers.

As the acronym “DEI” continues to be transformed into an epithet, the Black Chamber reminds our members that DEI means much more in this moment than a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplaces and businesses. In this season, it means:

• Directing our Energies Intentionally, by using our resources to support Black-owned businesses and connect them with consumers.
• Develop, Empower, and Invest in members of our community who are starting new and growing Black-owned businesses to ensure access to resources for efficient manufacturing processes, operations, creative marketing partnerships, and effective customer acquisition and distribution systems.
• Driving Economic Independence by choosing to make conscious choices to support and patronize Black-owned businesses across all industries.
• Designing Opportunities for Entrepreneurial Innovation by holding space for Black entrepreneurs and business owners to share ideas and partner together, which leads to both individual and collective economic growth in our community.

 With an annual spending power of over $1.6 trillion in the U.S. economy, our dollars are a force that can drive change, create opportunities, and build wealth within our communities. As such, supporting Black businesses is not a trend; it is a necessity. Let us be intentional about where we spend, who we partner with, and how we invest in each other to ensure that our dollars are working as hard for us as we have worked to earn them.

For this reason, the Black Chamber is launching a campaign and a call to action to Buy Black 365.   Working together, we can create a future where Palm Beach County’s Black businesses thrive and our communities prosper, as our collective strength is truly an indispensable part of the U.S. economy, as we’ve seen throughout this nation’s history. Let us now move forward collectively with positivity, determination, and an unwavering commitment to our longstanding mission.

Thank you for your continued dedication to the Black Chamber and to the economic empowerment of our community.

In solidarity and strength,