As we represent the Diversity Councils of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce on a daily basis, it hurts to see a more than deserving community in pain. The Black community needs our support, now more than ever.\u00a0 Too many lives have been lost at the hands of injustice, and we give our deepest sympathies to George Floyd\u2019s loved ones and to all the other lives taken before him. \u201cInjustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.\u201d \u2013Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.<\/p>\n
We are on the brink of change and everyone is paying attention. Foundational change is not immediate; it takes time, persistence and resilience.\u00a0 It takes numbers and a never-ending stream of support. Rosa Park’s refusal to give up her seat in 1955, began the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which took 381 days of focused engagement to result in a desegregated bus system. We cannot stop now.<\/p>\n
To this end and in support of the Black Business Community, we are calling for a Lehigh Valley Black Business Directory.\u00a0 During this time, we want to support the Black Business Community of the Lehigh Valley as much as possible.\u00a0 \u201cStrategic change is created through economic commitment – a commitment to be on the right side of an issue you are passionate about.\u00a0 Support Black Owned Businesses,\u201d said Joanne Leasure, CEO of Day One Accounting and Financial Services LLC.<\/p>\n
As a \u201cCall to Action,\u201d the African American Business Leaders Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce has launched #SUPPORTBLACKBUSINESS Black Business Directory.\u00a0 The open call for businesses to sign up starts now via the Business and Diversity Councils\u2019 webpage: https:\/\/www.lehighvalleychamber.org\/submit-supportblackbusinesslv.html<\/a><\/p>\n The business directory will facilitate supporting black owned businesses by having direct links to their websites and the contact information all in one place and organized into categories.\u00a0 The directory is open to all African American owned businesses in the Chamber footprint.<\/p>\n \u201cThe goal is to have a positive economic impact. We also want to create opportunities to exchange beneficial knowledge and expertise that support the success of the business community,\u201d said Qiana Cressman co-chair of the Chamber\u2019s African American Business Leaders Council and Executive Director, Donor Operations at Miller-Keystone Blood Center.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s our responsibility to promote and help direct as much business as possible to this underserved segment of our business community,\u201d adds Dan Bosket, co-chair of the Chamber\u2019s African American Business Leaders Council and Director at Community Action Development Corporation of Allentown.<\/p>\n In Solidarity,<\/p>\n The Diversity Councils of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce<\/p>\n The dynamic list of Black owned businesses can by accessed here:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.lehighvalleychamber.org\/list-supportblackbusinesslv.html<\/a><\/p>\n Businesses that would like to sign up can do so at:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.lehighvalleychamber.org\/submit-supportblackbusinesslv.html<\/a><\/p>\n For more information on the Black Owned Business Directory and the African American Business Leaders Council, please visit<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.lehighvalleychamber.org\/businessanddiversity.html<\/a><\/p>\n About the African American Business Leaders Council:<\/em>\u00a0 The Mission\u00a0of the African American Business Leaders Council is to lead economic empowerment, foster and recognize excellence in the African American Business Community.\u00a0 The vision of the\u00a0\u00a0African American Business Leaders Council is a\u00a0Lehigh Valley community in which the quality of life is enriched by diversity, inclusion and engagement.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n About the Chamber:<\/em> The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce\u2019s mission is to serve as the voice for business by continuously improving the economic climate and creating growth opportunities for the Greater Lehigh Valley region. We accomplish this through business-to-business networking events and marketing products, affinity programs and exclusive, money saving member benefits, training programs, government affairs initiatives and public policy advocacy, and community development enterprises.\u00a0 With nearly 5,000 members who employ more than 200,000 individuals, The Chamber is the largest in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and in the top ten nationwide.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nInformation provided to TVL by:
\nDanielle Joseph
\nExecutive Vice President, Diversity Councils
\nhttps:\/\/www.lehighvalleychamber.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n
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