By Ronda Watson Barber
OhioMBE Publisher
As a business owner, have you thought about what you would do if the programs and people advocating for you suddenly disappeared?
Imagine this: the free or nearly free training programs you’ve relied on to grow your business are no longer available. The resources you’ve counted on to sharpen your skills, connect with opportunities, and scale your operations are gone. How would your business survive, let alone thrive?
Many of us take these resources for granted, assuming they’ll always be there. Online training, one-on-one counseling, and supplier diversity programs seem like they’re part of the landscape—but in reality, they’re not guaranteed. If the momentum around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programming continues to wane, what does that mean for the opportunities available to small and minority-owned businesses like yours?
Let’s get real: there is a growing assault on supplier diversity programs and Black people. Companies and organizations that once championed equitable procurement practices are now quietly pulling back. This affects all of us. It means fewer opportunities to bid on contracts and fewer pathways to build generational wealth.
So, I’ll ask again: what are you doing to protect the people and programs that advocate for you?
Black-owned businesses, in particular, rely heavily on supplier diversity and affirmative action programs to level the playing field. Yet, passionate Black-owned business advocates are few and far between. Many try to stifle or simply shut us down. As we approach 2025, the question isn’t just about what others will do for us—it’s about what we’re willing to do for ourselves.
Will you use your voice to demand that supplier diversity programs remain intact? Will you show up for DEI initiatives, attend training programs, and support organizations fighting for equity?
The responsibility to protect and support these efforts doesn’t just rest on the shoulders of advocates—it belongs to all of us. If we want to ensure these resources remain available, we must actively support the programs and the people who make them happen.
But here’s one important point I want to raise: support isn’t just about showing up—it’s also about investing in the cause. Advocacy and programming cost money. Your monetary support, whether through donations, sponsorships, or memberships, can make a significant difference. Advocacy groups and DEI organizations can’t run on passion alone—they need the resources to fight for you.
The fight for equity in business isn’t over—it’s evolving. Let’s make sure we’re evolving with it.
In this series, I’ll explore strategies to protect and support the programs and advocates who fight for us. We’ll discuss actionable steps you can take as a business owner to ensure the sustainability of these critical efforts.
2025 is fast approaching. What are you doing today to ensure your business—and others like yours—will continue to thrive tomorrow?
Let’s protect what we’ve built and work together to create new opportunities for the future.
just my thoughts…rwb
