Dear Friends,
We hope you’re easing into summer in the best way possible!
We kicked off June by celebrating seven amazing businesses who received pass-through funding from the Business Oregon Economic Equity Investment Program. This funding helps them grow and sustain their operations, and we couldn’t be more proud. Join us in shouting out:
Whole Lotta Enterprises LLC, House of Beauty, Not Just Fundraising, The Way Cleaning LLC, Kelly-Field Lawncare LLC, Fierce Kingdom Apparel, and Tender, Love and Childcare—keep up the great work!
We also had a blast at this year’s Juneteenth Celebration! It was a meaningful day of connection, joy, and visibility. Community Engagement Chair Celine Coleman was outstanding in making sure we had a full team engaged and present. We’re always grateful for opportunities to share who we are, what we’re building, and to partner with like-minded organizations. Thank you to the Salem-Keizer N.A.A.C.P for hosting such a powerful event.
We also hosted Salem Emerging Leaders Coffee Social, where I shared my journey through entrepreneurship and the founding of the BE-BLAC Foundation. Some event previews include:
- Black Student Success initiatives and expanded mentoring/tutoring for the fall.
- Upcoming Family Nights.
- Our Hairspray Fundraiser (right around the corner—grab your tickets if you haven’t already!)
- The launch of our Summer Business Series, starting July 14th—RSVP below!
- And of course, continued community outreach from our dedicated staff and board.
We’re energized and grateful as we head into this next season of growth. Stay tuned—and stay connected!
Warmly,
Greggery Peterson
Executive Director
