The Midlands African Chamber wants to attract, retain diverse talents in Nebraska by advancing racial and economic equity.

BY JOSEFINA LOZA

For all the difficulties and challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, most people are able to think of at least one silver lining. In Nebraska, that lining was the stitch to the Midlands African Chamber, Inc.

The Chamber was founded in 2020 out of a desire to help the new and growing businesses within its African and African American communities prosper. Nothing like the Chamber dedicated to those in such communities existed for a five-mile radius prior to its creation.

To carry out this mission, the Midlands African Chamber serves as the voice of business and involves the public and private sectors in community leadership. Three key issues the Chamber hopes to address are unemployment, poverty and pay equality.

UNEMPLOYMENT

While unemployment is low in the Omaha community, it’s almost two times higher for people of color. The Chamber’s goal is to reduce the following unemployment gaps: 8.3% in African Americans; 5.7% Latinos; and 3.1% Whites, non-Hispanics.

POVERTY

One in 10 Iowa and Nebraska residents work multiple jobs, in comparison to the 1 in 20 nationally. The Omaha Community Foundation (2021) released research data noting the large number of people who are working multiple jobs or underemployed, meaning they are working full-time but still living under the poverty line. In 2018, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that of the percentage of individuals in poverty, 26.1% were African Americans; 20.6% were Latinos; and 7.3% were Whites, Non-Hispanics.

PAY EQUALITY

People of color have a median income that is $13,000 less than their white counterparts. This difference has grown by 18% since 2015. A 2018 Regional Equity Profile completed by Heartland 2050 found that even when education levels are equal, people of color earn less than white residents.

So, what does all that mean?

“We understand that in order for our communities to cultivate a competitive and successful economic environment, we must create opportunities for mentorship, access to capital, education, and leadership training,” said Karine Sokpoh, president and founder of the Midlands African Chamber. “We share in the responsibility of helping one another achieve the American Dream. We firmly believe that economic success is an integral part of the pursuit of happiness.”

Racial equality is economic equity and the Midlands African Chamber is committed to promoting the same through entrepreneurship in diverse communities. The Chamber serves as a host of diverse business owners with varied racial backgrounds such as African and African Americans, Latinos, Caucasians, and Asians – be they American born or foreign.

In the past year or so, the Midlands African Chamber evolved out of the landscape shaped by the pandemic. It assembled a working board of a dozen professionals in varied background from business, finance, legal, marketing, communications, philanthropy, and community activism, who volunteer their time.

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The board members are diverse not only in profession but are also a mix of cultures, ethnicities, and American-born and foreign. Among them, they are multilingual and speak more than five languages.

“These personal experiences we feel enrich our understanding for creating wealth to a good life and great opportunities.” “The Good Life” is a phrase all Nebraskans embrace – as it is the state’s motto.

The Midlands African Chamber wants to attract and retain diverse talent in Nebraska by advancing racial and economic equity. Therefore, it offers in-person and online events, covering education, leadership development, business growth and networking. The Chamber offers a business lecture series held virtually for members to connect directly with working professionals in small business at various capacities from business owner, physicians, educators to finance and legal representatives.

To achieve its vision, the Midlands African Chamber created Pitch Black, which is designed to promote entrepreneurship in diverse communities in the Midwest. In August 2021, the business pitch competition had a first cohort of 20 applicants participate for an opportunity to win $10,000 in business funding. Tony Cannon Jr., owner of One Security Solutions, a private security and surveillance company, was attracted to the Chamber because it was “filled with people that look like and are doing business with people like me.”

“The Chamber was necessary for our business to grow and to develop different ways of doing business across the community,” Cannon said. “In my opinion, the Chamber is doing a lot for the community and for local business owners as well.”

An entrepreneur herself, Attorney Karine Sokpoh of 402 Legal, realized that there was a dearth of funding and capital opportunities for young immigrants or minorities in Nebraska. As a result, the Chamber aims to fill that gap by bringing together great minds, capital, and expertise in order to promote economic advancement in the community. Its most prestigious event to date: Pitch Black.

The Midlands African Chamber also hosts networking events for professionals to gather, promote, and share ideas while patronizing area black-owned businesses.

MORE ABOUT PITCH BLACK

Pitch Black, which is in its second year, opened its registration to for-profit businesses, in any industry. Individual entrants or 51% of owners of corporate applicants must be residents of the state of Nebraska and members of an ethnic minority group, including but not limited to the African Diaspora or the African America community. Registrations close on April 1, 2022.

Contestants participate in three preliminary rounds in May, June, and July. A different panel of judges (local business leaders) coached the contestants and selected five finalists for the main event.