Velma Trayham hasn’t been in charge very long, but already she’s one of Arizona’s most important business leaders.
Trayham is only a few months into her job as president and CEO of the Black Chamber of Arizona, putting her in charge of economic development for one of the fastest-growing populations in one of the fastest-growing states in the nation.
So, what’s the plan to help make sure the problems that have plagued Black communities in major cities across the U.S. don’t migrate to Phoenix?
“Within the next five years, my vision is to see an increase in employer firms,” Trayham said. “Black businesses being able to employ, adding impact to the GDP and adding economic impact to the dollar and to the economic buying power here in Arizona.”
To do it, she’s going to need to bridge lots of gaps: Established leaders and newcomers; have and have-nots; insiders and outsiders; plus racial divisions that don’t help anyone.
“It’s gonna take collaboration,” she said. “Collaboration is important. We can’t do anything alone.”
Trayham wants to help set up a business community where diverse leaders and groups lift one another by sharing resources and connections rather than hoarding and gatekeeping. And she thinks it can happen here, even if it hasn’t always happened elsewhere.
“If we work together and if we collectively (bring) our resources and our........