If you’ve been a part of the Rework Work community for more than two minutes, you know I talk a lot about intentionality. When it comes to DEI (or anything, really) our words and actions must be deliberate and purposeful in order to be impactful. Intention empowers innovation. It’s how we set and accomplish goals. Intention also leads us into important conversations (hello, 100K Conversations Challenge). The bottom line? We know that healthy, inclusive communities don’t just happen on their own.

For example, August is National Black Business Month. This observance was intentionally established to garner support for Black-owned businesses at the local level and drive policies that empower more Black entrepreneurs to enter the marketplace. Like I said, intention is important, but without follow-through, even the best intentions will fall flat. DEI is not a situation in which, “it’s the thought that counts.”

Financially supporting Black-owned businesses is a great way to honor their contributions to our economic landscape, but what if we went further? What if we spoke out against financial and systemic barriers that make it harder for Black entrepreneurs to launch their businesses? What if we started conversations about the need for equitable access to capital and other supports that so many start-ups can’t live without?

Obviously, these actions require more than the 31 days allotted for National Black Business Month, as they should! The most important changes never happen overnight. So let’s turn our good intentions into perspective-shifting action, and be part of a transformational momentum that empowers Black business owners and entrepreneurs all year round.

Stacey Gordon, MBA
Rework Work CEO