Comma Joins the Utah Black Chamber
Comma is committed to being an inclusive company for our team, partners, and vendors. As part of our commitment, this year we’ve joined the Utah Black Chamber — here’s why.
Comma Joins the Utah Black Chamber
Crystalee Beck, founder and president of Comma Copywriters, learned about the Utah Black Chamber when founder and executive director, James Jackson III, spoke at a virtual event for entrepreneurs. At this event, Crystalee found his efforts to serve the community to be especially inspiring.
Utah Black Chamber welcomed Comma as a new member in the beginning of April 2021. The application process to join Utah Black Chamber was simple and straightforward. After filling out the online application on their website, Utah Black Chamber reached out to within a week to approve our application and invoice for membership fees. As part of the onboarding, James Jackson III reached out personally to Crystalee Beck for a 30-minute conversation.
Utah Black Chamber hosted a First Fridays in-person monthly event in May 2021 (the first since the pandemic started!) that Crystalee attended. In Comma’s short time of being a part of the organization, our experience has been an overwhelmingly welcome one. Already two different UBC members have reached out with new opportunities to either collaborate or work with them.
Benefits of Utah Black Chamber
Founded 11 years ago in 2009, the UBC was originally called the ACCEL (African Americans Advancing in Commerce, Community, Education, and Leadership). Since their founding, over 200 members have joined the chamber, ranging from individuals to corporations.
Between 2000 and 2010, Utah’s African American population experienced a 77% growth rate, from 24,382 to 43,209, according to the state of Utah, and there is an increasing need for representation and support for the Black and African American community. That’s where the Utah Black Chamber steps up, with the following pillars:
Our goal is also to provide insight into the black experience for the benefit of the corporate community seeking diverse candidates while offering diverse implants the resources and knowledge base to experience a more fulfilling life in Utah. We execute this mission by servicing the community through the 4 Es; Education, Enrichment, Equity, and Enterprise.
Utah Black Chamber offers many valuable resources to members and the community:
Business directory
Monthly events
Webinars
Networking
Job listings
Ways to Support Black-Owned Companies
On the whole, companies that are owned by minorities have been hit harder during the pandemic. As part of the effort to support Black-owned businesses, Utah Black Chamber is a leader in the state. UBC membership has doubled since George Floyd’s death and the #BlackLivesMatter movement re-ignited in summer 2020.
Here are some ways you can assist Utah Black Chamber, or black-owned businesses in other parts of the world:
Join a Black chamber near you. Get involved in that national, or state/local level.
Join the Utah Black Chamber leadership teams. They are looking for support and professionals to join their board.
Intentionally purchase from businesses owned by minorities, found in Utah Black Pages.
Donate your company's services. Find ways your business can work with and donate to black-owned businesses benefit those in need.
Take the 15 Percent Pledge. Join brands like Yelp, Crate&Barrel, and Bloomingdales in pledging 15% of your shelf space to black-owned businesses.
Another idea close to our hearts (see our Comma Cares program), is helping to sponsor education for girls in Mozambique through our non-profit partner, Kurandza.
Become a member of the Utah Black Chamber now and join us and other leading organizations in creating a more equitable business community.
We welcome all talented B2B writers, and particularly BIPOC, to apply to join our team. We’re currently hiring talented writers. Apply here.