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Equitable business support and training in BIPOC, ethnic, and immigrant communities.
Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), ethnic, and immigrant business owners face increased barriers and challenges accessing the business support and training they need to sustain their businesses. If your legacy business program includes these communities, consider tailoring your business support and training to address their specific needs. Outreach within these communities is the first step. Given the current climate around immigration, you need to determine how best to support these communities by engaging with local community and nonprofit leaders. These conversations will help you provide the right support and services while also helping you overcome any mistrust or reluctance from legacy business owners in those communities. This will create a more equitable program that supports all owners, especially those who have previously been underserved or under-resourced. Here are a few of their needs for you to consider.
The Digital Divide & Support Gap
First, BIPOC and immigrant business owners tend to lack access to business support programs and can struggle with the digital skills needed to remain competitive. A report from Rutgers University and the Main Street Alliance found that marginalized and immigrant business owners are less connected to mainstream business assistance programs and often fall behind in digital literacy, leaving them less prepared for technological changes and digital marketing. To address this, you should examine existing programs in your area or consider partnering with an organization that already serves these communities.
The Digital Divide Response Project | Portland, Oregon
The city of Portland launched a Digital Divide Response Project to distribute free technology and provide digital skills training to meet the needs of BIPOC and immigrant communities (along with several other marginalized communities) who faced barriers to digital access, adoption, or literacy. Their long-term goal is to empower local community groups to continue the work.
Case in point.
Language
Language is also a key factor to consider, especially in immigrant communities. Many of the legacy business owners in these neighborhoods are first- and second-generation immigrants who may not be fully fluent in English. Research from the American Immigrant Council found that 23 percent of immigrant business owners nationwide have limited English proficiency. Including content and services in multiple languages to serve the immigrant communities is essential to creating a more equitable and inclusive program. This will help to increase enrollment and qualification in your program and build trust in the community.
Accessibility
Finally, accessibility to the program must be considered for BIPOC and immigrant communities. This can include everything from paper-based applications and forms, rather than just digital, approachable and straightforward content, flexible scheduling for in-person training and workshops, and culturally tailored outreach and communication to the community. When participants in BIPOC and immigrant communities feel more a part of your program through accessible outreach, participation will likely increase. These steps will help ensure that culturally significant legacy businesses remain sustainable and continue to anchor their communities' cultural heritage.