How MBDA is engaging with the community, following the Baltimore City Civil Unrest

This year several U.S. cities have experienced civil unrest in the aftermath of high-profile incidents involving police. Many believe that the unrest stems from a larger, more systemic problem — lack of economic opportunity. When it happened in Baltimore this spring, MBDA was invited to join the Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service (CRS) in meetings between Asian business owners and members of the African American community.

CRS is the U.S. Department of Justice's "peacemaker" for community conflicts and tensions arising from differences of race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and disability. MBDA was invited to share information about the services and assistance provided by the Baltimore MBDA Business Center, which is operated under cooperative agreement between the City of Baltimore and the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency. The Center provides personalized strategic business consulting and helps local businesses gain access to the technical resources needed to grow their businesses, create jobs, and advance the city’s economy. In FY 2014, the Center helped minority business owners secure over $90 million in contracts and capital.

MBDA will continue to be part of the ongoing dialogue between Baltimore’s minority business community, who felt their businesses were unfairly targeted and vandalized during periods of civil unrest. A task force will be convened to continue the Dialogue, and MBDA Business Development Specialist Martin Ezemma will be there to ensure that economic development remains part of the conversation.