THIS THAT NEW NEW BLACK CHAMBER

The African American Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce is now the Black Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico and if you ain’t heard it yet, it’s because they’re rebranding and expanding right now. The new new chamber is led by Karla Causey who, with Beverly Gaines, has been touring the entire state, making connections and reintroductions. There’s been Hobbs and Clovis, Las Cruces and Alamogordo. There’ve been meetings with state NAACP president Joseph Cotton and resource-sharing sessions with the Minority Business Development Agency.

Causey came out of retirement from 25 years at Sandia Labs after praying on the CEO position and says the biggest challenge is reminding people the chamber exists. Second biggest is reminding everyone of the outstanding array of services—mostly free—that the chamber provides.

Operating under the guidance of three pillars—advocacy, training, and networking—the chamber helps underserved Black businesses and entrepreneurs write grants, contracts, and business plans.

In the last few weeks, they walked folks through a trademarking and brand-protecting seminar and hosted a listening session with UNMH about Black healthcare needs.

Beverly Gaines, late of the MLK Commission and OAAA, is the nonprofit’s main consultant-contractor. She’s Causey’s right hand because “she’s so connected with our Black community, she’s able to [relate] with different people across the state,” which is helping the chamber gain trust with constituents.

Causey plans to partner with lots of city agencies on lots of projects and they’re a part of the Civic Plaza Juneteenth celebration this year.

Gaines is proud of what’s happened and what’s yet to come. “The work [the chamber is doing] is paramount. The resources and opportunities afforded to African American small businesses can help build sustainability and generational wealth within our communities and in our state.”