1. Justice For All Tour:  On October 3, 10:00AM – 1:00PM, at The Power Center, 12401 South Post Oak Road, Houston, TX, we will join with our affiliate chapter, the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce, and our corporate member, Pre-Paid Legal Services, for an event that will recognize entrepreneurship in the Houston community and promote business development and wealth building.  If you are in the Houston area come and join us.  You will be inspired.

2. Fall Summit in San Diego, Nov. 5&6:  California will no longer take African American businesses for granted.  The hotel deadline is near.  You can make your reservations at the beautiful US Grant by calling (866) 837-4270 and ask for the NBCC rate of $189.00.  If you would like to meet the board members we will convene a board meeting Saturday, November 7.  More info can be found here or at www.nationalbcc.org.

3. State Rep. Jake Wheatley Releases his Report:  We want to congratulate Pennsylvania State Representative Jake Wheatley for his leadership in compiling and releasing his select committee report on “Small Business, Diversity in State Contracts, Purchasing”.  The report will reorganize the state’s approach to procurement so that it can become more inclusive of minority owned firms within the state of Pennsylvania.  This can be a model for those states that are deficient in this area. Download this report and send it to your applicable state representative or senator. (here)

4. Rocking in Buffalo:  Congratulations go to the Western New York Black Chamber of Commerce who just celebrated its 16^th Anniversary.  This affiliated chapter, based in Buffalo, was one of the original 14 chapters of the NBCC.  Harry C. Alford, NBCC President/CEO, enjoyed keynoting the well attended event.  The chamber uses the video of a speech Harry Alford gave in Cleveland, OH, in March, 2009, as a tutorial of how a local chamber should advocate.  We suggest that all chambers do that (here).

5. Worldwide Black Business Directory:  We will be launching an interactive directory of Black owned businesses this autumn.  All chambers should begin compiling a list of their business owners for free submission to our website.  This is going to be big!  Anyone traveling to a destination can refer to the site and do local business with chamber members. This will be a great benefit for members of local chapters and a membership builder for our affiliates. We are partnering with the Empowerment Experiment Foundation on this project. For more information please contact Charles DeBow at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Only affiliated chapters and direct members can participate.

6.  Throwing Down on Section 3 and Title VI:  The NBCC gave Congressional Testimony on September 23 before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Chaired by Congressman Ed Towns and Ranking Member Darrell Issa).  We zeroed in on the deplorable discrimination at the Federal Highway Administration (Title VI) and the missed opportunities on HUD funded projects via Section 3 enforcement.  It’s on now and we will hammer this until vast improvement is made.  It’s very ironic when the issue of Civil Rights has the Republican side cheering us on and the Democratic side in defense mode.  Whatever!  (Testimony)