When Nicole Triplett of Black Wall Street Kalamazoo and Nicole Parker of Sisters in Business joined forces during the COVID-19 pandemic, it marked the beginning of a powerful collaboration rooted in advocacy, access, and action.
Both women were already leading efforts to support Black entrepreneurs in their hometown of Kalamazoo. But as they watched systemic gaps widen for Black-owned businesses during the crisis, they knew they could do more together and regionally.
“We launched Black Wall Street Kalamazoo in 2018 with one goal: to develop and resource local entrepreneurs,” says Triplett. “Our community didn’t just need motivation, we needed structure, education, and capital.”…