Published
March 18, 2024
Author
Block
Published
March 18, 2024
Author
Block
Partner Profiles is an interview series that spotlights Block’s community partners — both organizations and individuals — and the work they do to increase access to the economy.
In this installment of the series, Melvin Coleman, CEO of the Atlanta Black Chambers (ABC), talks to us about ABC’s work and how it overlaps with Block’s purpose of economic empowerment.
Block (formerly Square, Inc.) is a longtime partner of the Atlanta Black Chambers (ABC), a non-profit organization that supports economic development, business ownership, and wealth-building practices among Black entrepreneurs and individuals. Over the years, we’ve supported ABC events and initiatives that align with Block’s purpose of economic empowerment and the work of our businesses, including Square, Cash App, and TIDAL. We’ve partnered with ABC to offer learning sessions on tax season readiness, the business of being an artist, and how to accept all forms of payment, to name a few. In January, ABC honored Block as its partner of the year — but it’s ABC and its president and CEO Melvin Coleman that deserve attention.
Hailing from Savannah, GA, Melvin is a US Navy veteran, Savannah State University alum, and the founder and chief portfolio strategist of Essential Wealth Management. He began attending ABC meetings in 2006, became the organization’s executive director in 2017, and was named president and CEO in January 2023. We talked with Melvin about whom ABC serves, what they’re working toward, and why Black entrepreneurs need stronger advocates.
BLOCK: Tell us about Atlanta Black Chambers (ABC). What is the organization's mission?
Melvin Coleman: ABC, as it is known throughout the metropolitan area of Atlanta, is an organization of entrepreneurs first and foremost. Our focus is on the growth of competitive, profitable, and sustainable Black-owned entities because that's vitally important when we talk about all of the disparities that exist.
BLOCK: Why is advocating for Black entrepreneurs now more important than ever?
Melvin Coleman: The Black community, as consumers, we spend $1.5+ trillion annually. And 98% of that is spent everywhere outside of our community. And we know that we've got to increase the levels of entrepreneurship and ownership and give our community options to spend more of that within the community, but then also have people outside of our community spend money with Black-owned entities in order to impact the disparities that exist.
“We've got to increase entrepreneurship and give more options to spend within the community but also have people outside our community spend money with Black-owned entities.”
So we have our role to play. But then there's also beyond our community: how do we get the United States of America in general to say, “OK, we're spending more dollars with Black-owned businesses and this is going to help close the racial wealth gap over a very long extended period of time”?
But this is the long game and it's a very important thing to do to have a greater equality and opportunity for everybody and move our nation forward to a much better place that allows everybody to experience and know that, hey, these things can work if you do what you're supposed to.
BLOCK: How did ABC’s collaboration with Block come about and what are some of the programs you're most proud of from your partnership with Block?
Melvin Coleman: Pre-pandemic, Jack Dorsey wanted to come to Atlanta and speak to young Black entrepreneurs. And so we got the call. The Atlanta Black Chambers, we have a young entrepreneurs group within our organization. And this room of about 25 young Black entrepreneurs heard him talk about a program at Block that allowed them access to capital based on the business volume that they were doing with Square.
Your commitment to the community is evident and we're just really excited to say we have this partnership with Block. The way you work with us, it's the best relationship in terms of how you support us and the things that we've been able to do. Having Block as a partner has allowed us to create these experiences that otherwise we would not have been able.
BLOCK: At Block our purpose is economic empowerment. How does that overlap with the work you do with ABC?
Melvin Coleman: Our missions and objectives are so well aligned in that Block has a commitment to the community and entrepreneurs’ economic empowerment. Having a relationship with us really creates this opportunity for Block to show the community, yes, we're here because we have access to a lot of people. We have a pretty big audience. And so having Block on stage and talking with leadership shows our community that this is an organization that is making a difference and making things possible for us.
So that's how we want to continue to move forward — promoting and showing the community that Block is a real partner. There's commitment there and it's not just a hot trend thing right now, supporting Black businesses.
BLOCK: I see the “Go Navy” sign behind you. You're a Navy veteran. Does your Navy experience inform what you do day to day with ABC?
Melvin Coleman: I would say being from Savannah, Georgia, born and raised — shout out to my hometown, I love it, great place if you've never been there — but going into the Navy right after high school and then being exposed to the whole world, that helps you in ways that you don't even understand at the time. That has always had a real impact on how I see everything and how I interact with people because I've been around all types, all kinds of people from all over the country, and in some cases, all over the world.
BLOCK: I read in your bio that you're a fan of standup comedy. How does humor work its way into your daily work, your daily routine?
Melvin Coleman: [With ABC], I'm the guy on stage. I'm the lights, camera, action guy. Everybody expects me to be the one to emcee and run the room and give them that flavor that they need to keep everything going. So yeah, it's a big part of my personality and once I get into that mode, it's really a lot of fun. I enjoy it.
Published
March 18, 2024
Author
Block
Partner Profiles is an interview series that spotlights Block’s community partners — both organizations and individuals — and the work they do to increase access to the economy.
In this installment of the series, Melvin Coleman, CEO of the Atlanta Black Chambers (ABC), talks to us about ABC’s work and how it overlaps with Block’s purpose of economic empowerment.
Block (formerly Square, Inc.) is a longtime partner of the Atlanta Black Chambers (ABC), a non-profit organization that supports economic development, business ownership, and wealth-building practices among Black entrepreneurs and individuals. Over the years, we’ve supported ABC events and initiatives that align with Block’s purpose of economic empowerment and the work of our businesses, including Square, Cash App, and TIDAL. We’ve partnered with ABC to offer learning sessions on tax season readiness, the business of being an artist, and how to accept all forms of payment, to name a few. In January, ABC honored Block as its partner of the year — but it’s ABC and its president and CEO Melvin Coleman that deserve attention.
Hailing from Savannah, GA, Melvin is a US Navy veteran, Savannah State University alum, and the founder and chief portfolio strategist of Essential Wealth Management. He began attending ABC meetings in 2006, became the organization’s executive director in 2017, and was named president and CEO in January 2023. We talked with Melvin about whom ABC serves, what they’re working toward, and why Black entrepreneurs need stronger advocates.
BLOCK: Tell us about Atlanta Black Chambers (ABC). What is the organization's mission?
Melvin Coleman: ABC, as it is known throughout the metropolitan area of Atlanta, is an organization of entrepreneurs first and foremost. Our focus is on the growth of competitive, profitable, and sustainable Black-owned entities because that's vitally important when we talk about all of the disparities that exist.
BLOCK: Why is advocating for Black entrepreneurs now more important than ever?
Melvin Coleman: The Black community, as consumers, we spend $1.5+ trillion annually. And 98% of that is spent everywhere outside of our community. And we know that we've got to increase the levels of entrepreneurship and ownership and give our community options to spend more of that within the community, but then also have people outside of our community spend money with Black-owned entities in order to impact the disparities that exist.
“We've got to increase entrepreneurship and give more options to spend within the community but also have people outside our community spend money with Black-owned entities.”
So we have our role to play. But then there's also beyond our community: how do we get the United States of America in general to say, “OK, we're spending more dollars with Black-owned businesses and this is going to help close the racial wealth gap over a very long extended period of time”?
But this is the long game and it's a very important thing to do to have a greater equality and opportunity for everybody and move our nation forward to a much better place that allows everybody to experience and know that, hey, these things can work if you do what you're supposed to.
BLOCK: How did ABC’s collaboration with Block come about and what are some of the programs you're most proud of from your partnership with Block?
Melvin Coleman: Pre-pandemic, Jack Dorsey wanted to come to Atlanta and speak to young Black entrepreneurs. And so we got the call. The Atlanta Black Chambers, we have a young entrepreneurs group within our organization. And this room of about 25 young Black entrepreneurs heard him talk about a program at Block that allowed them access to capital based on the business volume that they were doing with Square.
Your commitment to the community is evident and we're just really excited to say we have this partnership with Block. The way you work with us, it's the best relationship in terms of how you support us and the things that we've been able to do. Having Block as a partner has allowed us to create these experiences that otherwise we would not have been able.
BLOCK: At Block our purpose is economic empowerment. How does that overlap with the work you do with ABC?
Melvin Coleman: Our missions and objectives are so well aligned in that Block has a commitment to the community and entrepreneurs’ economic empowerment. Having a relationship with us really creates this opportunity for Block to show the community, yes, we're here because we have access to a lot of people. We have a pretty big audience. And so having Block on stage and talking with leadership shows our community that this is an organization that is making a difference and making things possible for us.
So that's how we want to continue to move forward — promoting and showing the community that Block is a real partner. There's commitment there and it's not just a hot trend thing right now, supporting Black businesses.
BLOCK: I see the “Go Navy” sign behind you. You're a Navy veteran. Does your Navy experience inform what you do day to day with ABC?
Melvin Coleman: I would say being from Savannah, Georgia, born and raised — shout out to my hometown, I love it, great place if you've never been there — but going into the Navy right after high school and then being exposed to the whole world, that helps you in ways that you don't even understand at the time. That has always had a real impact on how I see everything and how I interact with people because I've been around all types, all kinds of people from all over the country, and in some cases, all over the world.
BLOCK: I read in your bio that you're a fan of standup comedy. How does humor work its way into your daily work, your daily routine?
Melvin Coleman: [With ABC], I'm the guy on stage. I'm the lights, camera, action guy. Everybody expects me to be the one to emcee and run the room and give them that flavor that they need to keep everything going. So yeah, it's a big part of my personality and once I get into that mode, it's really a lot of fun. I enjoy it.