Business
Spotlight: The Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce — A Legacy of Leadership and Advocacy Since 1926
(DALLAS, TX – July 24, 2025) – The Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce (DBCC) holds a distinct place in American history as the first Black chamber of commerce in the nation. Founded in 1926, the DBCC has spent nearly a century advancing the economic interests of Black-owned businesses and organizations throughout the North Texas region. More than a business network, the Chamber stands as a legacy institution, rooted in advocacy, community development, and economic empowerment.
A Mission with Momentum
From its inception, the DBCC’s mission has remained clear and unwavering: to advocate for the creation, growth, and general welfare of Black-owned businesses. Through a robust offering of referrals, technical assistance, strategic partnerships, seminars, and marketing support, the Chamber equips entrepreneurs and Black-led organizations with the tools and connections needed to thrive.
In focusing on four key areas—economic development, education, tourism/conventions, and special projects—the DBCC serves not only its members, but the broader regional economy. Its enduring commitment is to foster a vibrant ecosystem where Black enterprise can flourish.
Our Impact
The DBCC is not just about advocacy—it delivers measurable results. Over the years, the Chamber has made a tangible difference in the lives of entrepreneurs across the state:
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💵 $5,000,000 in Emergency Funds Awarded
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chamber helped issue $5 million in emergency funding to 300 Black-owned businesses, providing critical relief when it was needed most. -
🚀 2,000+ Black Businesses Served
Through innovative programs like the Black Business Bootcamps, the DBCC has supported the development and success of more than 2,000 Black-owned businesses throughout Texas. -
💼 $171,000+ in Micro Grants Awarded
The Chamber’s Micro Grant program has distributed over $171,000 to Black-owned businesses in North Texas and Houston, helping fuel entrepreneurship and sustainability.
People-Powered Progress
At the heart of the Chamber’s success is its membership. The DBCC acknowledges that its true strength lies in the collective voice and vision of its business owners, innovators, and community leaders. By elevating these voices and advocating for policies that create an inclusive business environment, the Chamber helps drive structural change and sustainable opportunity.
Leading the Charge: Harrison Blair, President/CEO
A native son of Dallas, Harrison Blair embodies a multi-generational commitment to service. His family legacy—shaped by his grandfather, Bill Blair, and his father, Jordan Blair—has long been tied to civic advancement in Dallas. With degrees in Political Science from Prairie View A&M University and Texas State University, Harrison brings both academic rigor and grassroots passion to his role as President and CEO of the Chamber.
As the chief advocate for Black-owned and supported businesses in North Texas, Blair leads with both vision and action. His involvement with the North Texas Commission and the Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce (TAAACC) reflects a commitment to statewide and regional collaboration. Additionally, his civic service as the District 4 Park & Recreation board member for the City of Dallas, and past service on the Mayor’s Star Council, demonstrate his deep-rooted investment in the city’s future.
When he’s not at the forefront of economic advocacy, Blair supports his wife’s creative pursuits at the Dallas Theater Center—underscoring a personal belief in community and culture as essential components of growth.
A Future Built on Legacy
For nearly 100 years, the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce has stood as a beacon of Black economic progress. As it approaches its centennial, the DBCC continues to evolve—adapting to modern challenges while holding fast to its founding values. Under the leadership of Chairwoman Shenna Thomas and President Harrison Blair, the Chamber is positioning Black businesses to not only compete but lead in a rapidly changing economy.
In Dallas and beyond, the DBCC remains a powerful testament to what’s possible when advocacy, entrepreneurship, and community come together with purpose.
📍 Learn more or get involved: https://www.dallasblackchamber.org
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Business
Deadline Aug. 5: Center for Black Entrepreneurship Opens Paid Internship Program for AUC Students
(ATLANTA — August 3, 2026) — The Center for Black Entrepreneurship is accepting applications for its 2026–2027 Paid Internship Program, offering students across the Atlanta University Center an opportunity to gain hands-on professional experience while supporting programs designed to empower entrepreneurs.
The internship program is open to eligible students attending Spelman College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Morris Brown College.
Available internship opportunities include:
- Marketing and social media
- Photography and videography
- Administrative operations
Selected interns will work alongside Center for Black Entrepreneurship staff and industry partners while gaining real-world experience in entrepreneurship, marketing, event management, operations and program administration. Interns will also have opportunities to strengthen their professional skills, expand their networks and contribute to events and initiatives serving the AUC community.
Who Is Eligible?
Applicants must:
- Be a sophomore, junior or senior
- Be currently enrolled at Spelman College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University or Morris Brown College
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
- Attend mandatory team meetings on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Thursdays beginning at 5 p.m.
- Be available for occasional evening and weekend events
- Commit approximately 10 to 15 hours per week throughout the academic year
Required Application Materials
Students should be prepared to submit:
- A résumé
- A professional biography of at least 200 words
- An official or unofficial transcript
- One letter of recommendation
- A portfolio or work samples for photography and videography or marketing and social media positions
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 5 p.m.
With the deadline quickly approaching, interested and eligible students are encouraged to gather their materials and submit their applications as soon as possible.
The Center for Black Entrepreneurship is a collaborative initiative serving the Atlanta University Center and working to strengthen the pipeline of Black entrepreneurs through education, mentorship, professional development and access to entrepreneurial resources.
APPLY
(RICHMOND – February 23, 2026) – Black-owned newspapers are disappearing before our eyes.
Historic institutions that once carried our stories, defended our dignity, and documented our victories are folding across the country. Newsrooms that anchored neighborhoods for generations are going quiet. Seniors who relied on the printed word are now being forced into a digital world that did not wait for them.
This is not just a Black problem. It is not even just an American problem. It is global.
Technology disrupted everything.
We once used pagers. Then cell phones replaced them. House phones became optional. Now news lives in the palm of your hand. A single influencer with a smartphone can reach more people in seconds than a newsroom once could in a week.
The game changed.
Years ago, The Baltimore Sun recruited me to blog for them. Soon after, their reporters were required to shoot video on their phones. The thing is — I had already been doing that. Innovation wasn’t new to us. We were early.
But disruption leaves casualties.
When a Black newspaper closes, something more than a business disappears. Institutional memory vanishes. Accountability weakens. Community narrative shifts into someone else’s hands.
That void is dangerous.
That is why we built BlackUSA.News.
Not as nostalgia.
Not as resistance to change.
But as adaptation with intention.
I have worked in the Black Press since 1994. I have seen what happens when we control our story — and what happens when we don’t.
BlackUSA.News is our answer to this moment.
We are not watching the Black Press die.
We are rebuilding it — digitally, nationally, unapologetically.
And we welcome all who are ready to build with us.
Deadline Aug. 5: Center for Black Entrepreneurship Opens Paid Internship Program for AUC Students
N.C. A&T to Host 100th Greatest Homecoming on Earth Virtual News Conference on Friday
BlackUSA.News Unveils New National Platform Connecting Readers to America’s Leading Black Media
Gospel Legend Calvin Bridges Celebrates 50 Years of ‘I Can Go to God in Prayer,’ a Song That Helped Shape Black Gospel Music
Crawford Family Donates $2 Million to Spelman and Morehouse to Expand Opportunity for HBCU Students
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