African-American chamber fills vital need in Frederick

Thursday, May 31, 2007

African-American chamber fills vital need in Frederick

In her own words | Moyo Edun

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African-American institutions, whether it is the black church, black colleges or the black theater, have always served as a springboard for African-American advancement because of the support and the mentoring, formal or informal, that they provide to the people. The Frederick County African-American Chamber of Commerce is a part of that tradition of support.

Our objectives are to enhance the economic base, have better capitalized businesses and equitable participation for all minorities. Collectively, the African-American chambers promote access, business opportunities through networking, advocacy, referrals, government procurement initiatives, economic empowerment and facilitate access to resources for the betterment of the total community.

This can be seen in the work that the Frederick County African-American Chamber of Commerce, in advancing African-American businesses in the county and its environs, has done and continues to do, in the areas of education, networking and advocacy.

The chamber holds speakers’ series, with featured speakers including Frederick County Circuit Court Judge Theresa Adams, who shared her background and judicial record with members and guests, and representatives from Fort Detrick and city government.

The chamber organizes workshops featuring diverse presenters in areas such as public relations, business promotion, business funding, and business insurance coverage. It also directs people to institutions and people that could help them with the various aspects of their businesses.

Its networking luncheons provide opportunities for its members and those in the community to meet and share information. For those who spend most of their time at a home-based business, it serves as a time to relax and enjoy an afternoon lunch with business-minded people.

Mentoring is another key function of the Frederick County chamber. Some members came in with one business and through being informally mentored by others, have branched out and become successful in other businesses. Members provide information in areas such as law, real estate and painting.

These areas of skills and expertise can be seen in the make-up of the Frederick County African-American Chamber of Commerce membership. For example, board chairman Willie Mahone has a law office in downtown Frederick, member Keith Patterson owns a real estate brokerage company and construction company, and member Debbie Addison has a baking company in Middletown. The chamber also has members in the building trades as well as in the technology and construction industries.

Having an African-American Chamber of Commerce in Frederick brings to the forefront, at the very least, the face of the diverse businesses in the county. And, to borrow the words of one of our members, diversity is good for business.

Membership in the chamber is open to all who are willing to support African-American businesses.

Moyo Edun is the president and CEO of the Frederick County African-American Chamber of Commerce. A Frederick resident, Edun is a real estate referral associate and investor. She has been the chamber’s president since its inception in 2003.