Although I love being able to support amazing entrepreneurs in minority, under-served and under-represented communities, I believe it would be awesome to integrate them more fully into the mainstream business community.

The more integration we have in celebrating each other’s differences, the more results we will have as businesses and communities at large.

Celebrating differences can sometimes be difficult.

But know that diversity in the business community can also cause excitement, and bring new flavor so the community continues to prosper.

It begins by seeing more minority faces in the spaces and places that the minority, under-served and under-represented people are seeking out. Applying for a loan, for example. If this organization they are working with to obtain funds is diverse in its staffing, a lot of barriers will come down.

We could begin to integrate entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses into the mainstream, creating a pathway that allows them to talk to and support each other.

I’ve been fortunate to work in the economic development space supporting such activities, and to work with so many people that love this work. What we need to do next is figure out how we can take these diverse systems and integrate it into one.

BEFORE YOU GO:

We see our blogs as opportunities for dialogue. Please share your thoughts as comments.

To support the integration of entrepreneurs, small business, and startups into the mainstream business community, ask yourself these questions:

1. What are you doing to ensure there is representation from different groups interacting with each other in the community?

2. What programs are you able to provide to support collaborations between the different communities?

3. What ideas do you have to integrate minority businesses with the majority in your community?

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