Senator James Sanders Jr. brought together a diverse group of entrepreneurs, community leaders, and government officials to participate in a business-focused event on Saturday, Nov. 23.
The ‘Business Comes to Queens’ event featured a strong panel of business leaders discussing the findings of the recent disparity study and exploring ways to empower Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) in Queens. It was held in the Rochdale Village Ballroom at the Rochdale Community Center in Jamaica. Sanders covers NY Senate District 10, which stretches from South Jamaica all the way down to Far Rockaway. This includes South Ozone Park, Rockaway Beach, Rockaway Park, Edgemere, Arverne, Belle Harbor, Neponsit, Breezy Point, Rosedale, and JFK Airport.
Sanders organized the event in partnership with the New York Christian Times and the reSURGEnce Conference to support MWBEs across the borough. The reSURGEnce movement hosts global business forums and conferences that bring together Black businesses, churches, and community not-for-profits and link them with resources, institutions, governments, and corporations that will facilitate funding, procurement, sales and marketing, trade, training, and a wide range of services and business exchange.
The reSURGEnce Conference parallels The New York Christian Times’ footprint which covers the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland counties, and the five northern counties of New Jersey.
Vernetta Mitchell, Director of MGT Consulting, gave a keynote address before a panel discussion moderated by Jamila Glean, Project Director of RF Wilkins Consultants.
The panel included Anthony Gaddy, Co-founder and President of Upstate NY Black Chamber of Commerce; Jason Clark, Executive Vice President of MWBD; Thomas Grech, President and CEO of Queens Chamber of Commerce; and Valerie White, Senior Executive Director of Local Initiatives Support Corp (LISC) NY.
Reverend Dennis Dillon of the New York Christian Times and Olalekan Omodunbi, Director of Special Projects and Economic Development at the New York State Senate were also featured at the event.
The discussion focused on key findings of the MGT Corporation MWBE Disparity Study, the economic development opportunities available to MWBEs, and strategies to promote equity and inclusivity in the business landscape.
“This event was a crucial step in empowering MWBEs in our borough,” said Sanders. “By bringing together key stakeholders, we can create a more inclusive and equitable business environment where all entrepreneurs have the opportunity to thrive.”
After the discussion, attendees engaged with panelists and gained valuable insights during a Q&A session. Sanders also expressed his gratitude to the Queens Chamber of Commerce and Valerie White, co-sponsors, for their invaluable support in making this event possible.
New York City’s ‘MWBE’ program is designed to promote government contracting opportunities for businesses owned by minorities and women. Firms owned by people in groups for which MBE or WBE goals have not been established may be able to qualify for certification as ‘emerging business enterprises.’
Certified firms will appear in an online directory maintained by the City’s Department of Small Business Services. City agencies will then use this directory and other outreach efforts to identify firms and encourage them to make bids and proposals for City businesses.
