First Message to Founding 100 Members on July 27, 2020

I envision a day when someone moves to Boston and within their first month they have access to a thriving & connected Black student & professional community. They will be able to attend a workshop to meet their Black elected leaders. They will attend one of our quarterly welcome dinners where they will be greeted by current residents. They will be able to connect with others in our online community who they can partner with to try a new church, explore the best restaurants, or find a great job opportunity. They will get discounts to events & local businesses around the city. Our members who have grown up in Boston will find new ways to be connected as they grow in their careers or explore new interests. I also hope they serve as ambassadors to the many transplants that move here each year, but don’t feel connected and choose not to stay.

I wanted them to know that this was not only the launch of a new company, but a movement to create a city where Black people feel they can thrive. 

In just 2 years, we have shown through our events, our digital space, our thought leadership, and the relationships built between our members how we are executing on our mission to shape a city where Black people want to live and work because they have the spaces, tools, and relationships to find their tribe, grow their network, navigate the city, and have fun. 

BWB Successes and Impact Over the Past Year

• Growing our community of members to over 850 Black professionals, students, & entrepreneurs
• Hosting a Mayoral forum where we asked the candidates how they would lift up Boston’s Black experiences, community, and culture
• Hiring our first Director of Community & Culture, Director of Strategic Partnerships, and Director of Marketing
• Hosting our inaugural How to Boston While Black Summit for over 400 attendees & 90 speakers
• Reaching 17 corporate partners, including our first life sciences company
• Investing over $200K of our own dollars back into Black-owned businesses
• Hosting our 2nd annual BWB Family Reunion for almost 8,000 people

This is what we have been able to accomplish in just 2 years! Thank you for all of the ways you have supported the growth of Boston While Black. I look forward to continuing to work alongside our team, our members, our partners, and the residents of Boston to create the city we want to live in.

Sincerely,

Sheena Collier, Founder and CEO, Boston While Black