Uplifting Black Woman-Owned Businesses

Feb 3

Black History Month is often treated by businesses as a moment. A post. A spotlight. But real support is not seasonal, and it is not symbolic. If the goal is to uplift Black women owned businesses in a way that creates impact, it requires consistency, intention, and a willingness to move beyond surface level gestures.

At Vested, we believe community is found in action. It’s about showing up in ways that matter, even when no one is watching. We are certainly not perfect, and are constantly striving to learn and grow as a community organization. Supporting underrepresented business owners is one of those places where values have to turn into behavior.

Here are a few ways to think about support that is rooted in respect rather than performance.

Start with access, not awareness

Most people do not struggle to care. They struggle to know where to start. One of the most meaningful things you can do is use and share existing infrastructure that is already doing the work of connecting, advocating, and resourcing Black owned businesses.

In Spokane and the Inland Northwest, there are organizations and directories doing exactly this.

The Carl Maxey Center Black Business Directory is a foundational resource for discovering Black owned businesses across industries while also supporting an organization committed to equity, advocacy, and economic empowerment.
The Black Lens amplifies Black voices, stories, and businesses through journalism and community storytelling, helping ensure visibility is accurate, respectful, and community led.
Trybe creates connection and belonging for Black professionals and entrepreneurs, offering networking, events, and opportunities that strengthen long term economic mobility.
Trybe’s PNW & Spokane Black Directory makes it easier to intentionally support Black owned businesses locally and regionally.
SIMBA and Live Local INW both play important roles in advocacy, visibility, and support for Black entrepreneurs and local businesses. You can search their directory by demographics like BIPOC-owned, Veteran-owned, woman-owned, and much more.
Startup Spokane and Business Source Complete provide education, funding resources, and business development tools that many Black women owned businesses rely on to grow and sustain.

Using these resources regularly, not just in February, is one of the simplest and most effective ways to support without centering yourself in the process.

Make support part of your systems

One time actions feel good. Systems create change.

If you are a business owner, ask yourself where you can build support for Black women owned businesses into the way you already operate.

Who do you hire for services like photography, legal support, branding, catering, wellness, or consulting?
Who do you refer when someone asks for a recommendation?
Who do you invite into rooms where opportunities are being shared?

Support becomes performative when it is treated as an exception. It becomes meaningful when it is embedded into your defaults.

If you manage budgets or make purchasing decisions, consider intentionally sourcing from Black women owned businesses as part of your standard process, not as a special initiative.

Commit to financial support that is ongoing

One of the most overlooked ways to show up is through consistent financial contribution.

Many of the organizations listed above rely on donations, sponsorships, and community funding to continue their work. A monthly contribution, even a modest one, helps create stability and sustainability far more than a single annual gift.

Think about it the same way you would a subscription or membership. If an organization is providing value to the community you care about, supporting them financially is an investment, not charity.

Monthly giving also removes the performative element. It is quiet. It is consistent. It is not tied to optics or announcements. It simply allows the work to continue.

If you are able, consider choosing one organization to support year round rather than spreading yourself thin for the sake of appearance.

Share opportunities, not just praise

Visibility matters, but access changes lives.

If you hear about a grant, a contract, a collaboration, or a paid opportunity, ask yourself who is missing from the conversation. Make introductions. Pass along information. Advocate in rooms where decisions are being made.

This is especially important for Black women owned businesses, who often face compounded barriers to funding, visibility, and professional networks.

Uplifting does not require being the loudest voice. It requires being thoughtful about how you use your influence, however big or small it may feel.

Let listening be part of the work

Supporting without being performative also means resisting the urge to lead every conversation.

Follow Black women. Read their work. Listen to what they say they need rather than assuming. Allow feedback without defensiveness. Growth often happens in discomfort, and allyship is not about being perfect.

It is about being willing to learn and adjust.

This month and beyond

Black History Month can be a starting point, but it should not be the finish line.

If you are looking for ways to support Black women owned businesses locally, use the resources shared here. Save them. Return to them. Share them when the moment is no longer trending.

At Vested, we believe community is built through action that lasts. Supporting Black women owned businesses is not a gesture. It is a practice. One that strengthens our local economy, deepens our relationships, and moves us closer to the kind of business ecosystem we want to be part of.

Mercedes Leahy