National Black MBA Association Launches COVID-19 Relief Fund for Students and Small Businesses

The National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) announced the launch of its COVID-19 Relief Fund.

According to a press release, the NBMBAA, is making a push to help Black Americans, who have been severely and disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic and its wide-ranging repercussions.

The fund will support emergency student funding, including for basic needs, educational expenses, and technology requirements necessitated by virtual learning. The fund will also provide small business support, including training and assistance in gaining access to funding and resources to aid business reopenings, employment, and stabilization and the fund will provide skill development for displaced members and students.

The NBMBAA will also help community-based organizations that face increasing demands in meeting basic human needs due to the COVID-19 crisis.

“In the midst of a global pandemic which disproportionately impacts communities of color in America, it is imperative to provide tangible support to the Black community,” said Bruce Thompson, NBMBAA interim president & CEO. “The related economic collapse has left our already-at-risk student and professional population even more vulnerable. NBMBAA is activating its 39-chapter nationwide network and scaling its resources to help address these urgent challenges.”

The fund is currently looking for contributions from corporations, foundations, and individuals for its COVID-19 Relief Fund.

The NBMBAA is also working toward its first virtual Conference & Career Fair: A Virtual Experience. The conference will take place Sept. 23–25 and will feature programming focused on students, professionals, and entrepreneurs.

The member-based organization’s three-day schedule includes keynote speeches, panels, and interactive workshops on a wide variety of highly relevant topics by leaders in business, public affairs, and media. It also includes the nation’s largest diversity Career Fair with exciting opportunities offered by hundreds of corporate, academic, and not-for-profit partners.

In 2018, the NBMBAA celebrated its 40 anniversary with its conference theme, “One Voice, One Mission.”

“We are continuously building upon a legacy of excellence at each national conference. From career advancement to professional development opportunities, the ROI [Return On Investment] for every conference yields promises of learning the best practices in business, career strategies, and building lasting relationships with the best and brightest business professionals in North America,” said Amelia Jackson, president of NBMBAA’s Chicago Chapter.