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Here's a rare story you don't hear talked about enough. There are a million lessons a mother can teach her offspring, the most valuable lesson of all is to love unconditionally. Unconditional love extends beyond the bloodline. This type of love in some families is known as Agape Love. This is a universal love, a Godly love where care is extended to human life simply for being human. You do not need to be labeled or have a status to deserve love, you deserve it because simply, you are. This month I wanted something special and unique to offer our subscribers. I'll advise watching or listening to this with your family or if you are alone, in a space you can really hear God. I watched this interview with my mom who've I've been estranged from throughout my life leaving me to be raised by my maternal grand parents.. Because of LOVE she and I are in a good place and this has struck cords and conversations beyond my wildest and most hopeful dreams as we watched together. 

The 3 generations of women from Syracuse, NY in this story open up and share this valuable lesson they learned that extends all the way back to their ancestors. This is not surprising, if you knew them you would know their journey of service is a given. So much of a given the youngest of the 3 has a vision that leads all the way back to the Mother Land. 

Samaia Goodrich is 13 years old and a walking inspiration. She has been giving back and empowering her peers since the gentle age of nine and it doesn't look like she plans on stopping anytime soon. In fact one might say she was born for this. At the young age of four, Samaia could be found watching My 600 pound life and getting excited about  people who are striving to change their lives achieve their goals. As she got older she became more civic minded.  Samaia began organizing young volunteers from her peer group to clean up neighborhoods to creating a "Love Project" where she and 30 girls sent handwritten postcards to hundreds of senior citizens in nursing homes in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, Samaia and 15 girls from the Syracuse, NY community will virtually meet with girls from Africa, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico to participate in a girls empowerment initiative socused on self awareness, self love, civic engagement and community service. All made possible through her emerging non for profit G.L.O.W- Girls Loving Ourselves Worldwide with the support of family and friends.  

She is not alone in this passion, her grandmother Ntsoaki Cappa born Mary-Kathleen and mom Akua Goodrich are direct influencers in her life. Her grandmother recently took a trip to Africa and in the process she dropped off materials and t-shirts to the young girls who are participating in G.L.O.W's first initiative.  Akua has been appointed the volunteer role by Samaia of being G.L.O.W's Chief Operations officer. 

This year is a year of healing for many of us across the nation. Particularly black families. Something surreal is taking place in our community. Though there has been so much loss, there is also much more gain. Perspective is everything when I say this. Let's think about what the black woman represents to the black community alone. The hoods across America. There is always that one family on the block, that one household we all flocked too. When I hear these women. That's what I see. 

Please enjoy and commune if you will, also we'd love to hear from you and what your thoughts are from this beautiful interview that shares a LEGACY of Love.

The Upstate NY Black Chamber of Commerce is an affiliate branch of a national organization called the U.S Black Chamber of Commerce. The objective of the Black Chamber of Commerce is to empower African Americans and minority business owners through economic and political growth. The Upstate NY Black Chamber of Commerce carries this same message and objective to reach the Capital Region. 

Anthony Gaddy is the Founder and President of the local chapter of Upstate NY Black Chamber of Commerce. Anthony is a business owner and entrepreneur who is a member of different Chambers of Commerce. He would find himself reflecting on the needs of his own business, driven by success. As a member of those other chapters,  attending networking events became the norm. He was able to build relationships with other business owners and identify a common discourse. In 2017, in Albany, a group of local business owners began to meet informally on a biweekly basis to discuss problems they all face. As the group became more prominent and more structured, they soon developed to be a regional force.  In February of 2019, Anthony launched the provincial chapter to address the many issues African American entrepreneurs and minority business owners face. Such barriers range from racism, lack of capital, limited funding, inadequate leadership, and limited resources. Anthony emphasizes that the organization is solution-driven and reiterates the importance of policy and how significant of an impact “having a seat at the table at a national level allows us to balance the playing field.” Although these barriers exist, the purpose of such organizations is to create a pool of resources to beget success. 

Anthony also stresses the importance of business owners having a basic understanding of business and not limiting themselves and their target audience. Since exposure equals expansion, the significant takeaway from his message is there can be no passion without purpose and no purpose without drive. He understands the driving force of success and believes in empowering those around him to form a collective and united front. Anthony turned his problem into a purpose. The purpose is to cultivate a collaborative foundation for the success of minority-owned businesses. With this in mind, business development is essential to build, manage, and sustain a profitable business. “Black businesses need non-black customers and non-black resources,” he says. It is imperative to overcome obstacles and embrace consumers that don’t look like you. “We can not become the exact thing that we are fighting against,” he says. Perpetuating a self-limiting narrative will impede growth and success. We have to be the change and show others how to do it.

As the president, Anthony feels his role is to establish relationships, identify opportunities, and engage with members on how to serve them. The organization is membership-based. There are different tiers offered to its members depending on the status and scale of their business. The services provided to its members are a voice and advocacy on large-scale issues. The benefits of memberships are networking, business promotion, mentorship, and collaboration in the success of the black business.

The pandemic has slowed the process but not impeded the progress. It has delayed some events and programs but has improved the advocacy aspects of the chapter and procurement of funds. There are hopes that the events will reconvene in the fall. If you would like more information or to become a member, please visit the website https://www.usnybcc.org.