DULUTH — More than 100 minority-owned businesses are listed in the brand new Northland BIPOC Business Directory. The initiative of the City of Duluth, Duluth 1200 Fund, Entrepreneur Fund and Nomadic Black serves as a guide for businesses owned by Black, Indigenous and people of color.
A brief program followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday at The Culture: Pop-up Co Lab, 317 W. Superior St.
The directory is for BIPOC owned and operated businesses in Northland to provide resources, connections and awareness.
Brielle Bredsten/Duluth News Tribune
Chris Davila of Davila Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Consulting spoke to attendees about his work to support first-generation students of color at the University of Minnesota Duluth and College of St. Scholastica who often lack social capital.
“Having that social capital gives people an edge. It gives them something to lean on when they’re going through tough times, but if you don’t have those connections and those networks in place, it’s very difficult” , Davila said. “So that applies in this situation here with entrepreneurs of color. It’s a small group and sometimes we don’t know each other and we don’t know who to go to for help, and so the lack social capital can be really difficult.”
LISC Duluth Executive Director Sumair Sheikh called the directory “a mechanism to show collective power, not only in a way to amplify the activities of BIPOC, but also how we can bring power to the rest of the community.” .
Duluth Community Relations Manager Alicia Kozlowski encouraged others to support her diverse business community.
“Go out there, promote, support and elevate these businesses,” she said. “Get them into your grant systems and the grant opportunities that arise. Where there are vendors and supply systems, connect with them. That’s how we’re going to keep pushing forward.” this needle on empowering inclusive economy.”
Cultural events can also be added to the Northland BIPOC business directory at northlandbipoc.com.
Comments are closed.