BECMA

Kanessa Alexander has put up a Juneteenth flag celebrating her business, Perfect 10 Salon, for years. But this year, her father is nervous for her to display the symbol of support for Black-owned businesses outside of her West Roxbury salon’s door, believing it might make her a target.

Ahead of its 10th anniversary in November 2025, the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts announced “BECMA@10,” a fundraising campaign during which the organization aims to raise $25 million.

The crowd roared in applause and cheers as Pinky Cole Hayes came out to greet the audience, dancing to “Back That Thang Up,” by hip-hop artist Juvenile, as the keynote speaker for the 2024 Mass Black Expo conference, “Building Black Wealth, Empowering Black Voices,” held last weekend.

Since its first installment back in 2019, the Mass Black Expo has provided a space for Black business owners and entrepreneurs to network and showcase their work.

The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts issued twice as many grants in 2023 than the year before, according to the organization’s most recent annual report.

Last week, the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts hosted the Mass Black Expo, a three-day event that showcased hundreds of Black businesses, organizations and allies committed to fostering an equitable economy, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

Meet Boston, formerly known as the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, has launched the Workforce Development and Supplier Diversity Initiative in partnership with Conan Harris & Associates.

New grants from the Massachusetts state government aim to lower barriers for underserved and underrepresented populations entering clean energy careers and businesses.

Following the 2015 Boston Federal Reserve report, “The Color of Wealth,” which identified major racial wealth gaps in Boston, several Black businesses owners in Massachusetts joined together to create the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts.

Mayor Michelle Wu announced the appointment of Segun Idowu, currently president and CEO of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, as Boston’s new Chief of Economic Opportunity & Inclusion.

With both the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the state Senate having passed their spending plans for federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds, advocates are left disappointed in the lack of investment into Black-owned and other minority-owned businesses in the wake of coronavirus economic fallout.

A coalition of minority business advocates filed a complaint against the city of Boston Monday, alleging that the city discriminates against Black and Latino-owned businesses in its $2.1 billion in annual contracting.