SCORE Williamsburg - Business Community Collaboration

Last Spring Dean Risseeuw, SCORE Williamsburg Chapter Chair, had a conversation with a minority business owner in the Community.  His intention was to find a new mentor for the chapter, but it quickly became apparent that as a pharmacist during COVID there was no time to take on mentoring.

But the discussion surfaced some aspects of starting and maintaining a business that were unique to the minority communities.  Dean then envisioned a panel where three or four minority business owners discussed their individual journeys in a forum advertised across the region’s demographics.

Dean then introduced himself to the local branch of the NAACP and discussed the concept; and with the Chamber leadership as well.  

Together they agreed that the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce, the local NAACP, and SCORE would co-host an event in October and advertise through their respective marketing channels (and to the Hispanic community as well). They have held periodic coordinating meetings and other activities, including SCORE conducting two workshops at a special NAACP event in August. 

The conversation (flyer attached) was held at 3pm Wednesday, October 20, at the Williamsburg Regional Library Auditorium with somewhat reduced seating due to COVID. The event was be live-streamed and later posted on organizational websites as appropriate. 

They are discussing a follow-on event in January.