I would like to give all of the members of The San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce a round of applause, because without your membership and your passion the organization could not advocate on your behalf. National Black Business Month was a very active month for the SFAACC. In an effort to draw attention to the needs of black entrepreneurs, Chairman of the Board, Frederick Jordan, in 2004 teamed with John William Templeton to have August recognized as National Black Business Month. Thank you both for your vision and congratulations. The nation now celebrates Black Business Month. 

We kicked off the month with AT&T hosting a mixer and post-concert event at San Francisco Jazz with six-time Grammy trumpeter Terance Blanchard. We hosted zoom calls that featured 3 women who are experts in their field from Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Rwanda. We shared the space with The International Film Festival and Professional Model, Instructor Change Agent. We held a session with SFPUC and SFO where black entrepreneurs expressed their challenges with doing business in The City and County of San Francisco and an entrepreneur spoke out and cried her way through the explanation of how her company was mistreated and bullied on a contract the company won. Myles Stevens held a successful virtual construction meeting with invaluable contract information. This will now become a monthly Zoom meeting.

The purpose of this announcement publication is to engage our members, business community, and sponsors on what we are doing and tell the world that we are active in our organization while not ignoring our mission statement around advocacy. The members had a great time with the SF Giants family and I personally want to thank Jen San Juan and Roscoe Mapps. I love it when a plan comes together. I would be remised if I did not acknowledge Evita Thornton, the hardest working woman in the San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce organization. She worked on Juneteenth, Black Business Month activities, and then the Regional Black Business Conference with passion, knowledge, experience, and patience. Thank you, Evita.

I would like to welcome, Linda Parker-Pennington, Kenneth Johnson, and Adoubou Traore, to the SFAACC Board. Kudos to the team who planned the Business Conference in less than 3 weeks. SFAACC members and friends, please take the time to review these announcements and plan accordingly.

It has been nine months since I have been in this leadership position, and the encouragement I received from my family, the members of the chamber, my mentors, the business community, the clergy, the youth, and my folks in District 10 helps me stay focused on being a voice for the Black Business Community. We are in this together. Fred Jordan, thank you for the opportunity to continue to serve in this capacity your mentorship will never be forgotten.  

In closing, “September is your season to SHIFT & SHINE in every area of your life”.

– Dr. Zina Pierre

“If you worry about who is going to get the credit, you don’t get much work done”

– Dorothy Height

On behalf of the San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce we send our condolences to the family of Robert Brackins, a former member of the SFAACC Board, and a Bay Area mover and shaker.