BLACK ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT (BE³)
BE³, an auxiliary of the Center of Hope Community Development Corporation (COHCDC), is a program designated towards helping members of the community develop their skills and resources in the areas of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship so that they can create successful ventures as financial vehicles in building wealth and legacy.
Hair Concoction
Currently, the market is selecting products with chemicals that are harmful to themselves. Hair Concoction is destined to affect change by presenting plant-based solutions that will be of benefit to all and educational to everyone on the natural ways to be clean and healthy through natural based hair care solutions.
BE³ Pilot Partners
Laurie Ann’s Sweetie Pies and Treats
Sweetie Pies & Treats is dedicated to creating irresistible, homemade cakes and desserts that bring comfort, joy, and a taste of nostalgia to every customer. We combine time-honored recipes with a commitment to quality, creativity, and community—serving as a source of sweetness that connects people and uplifts our neighborhood.
“My experience with BE³ . I started The program a couple months ago, my main coach is Alan Frelix and my other coaches are Kevin and Katrina. It has been an amazing experience so far. They are very hands-on, I can call them with questions anytime I have them they help me to sort things out, Kevin and Katrina even found a personal mentor who met with me for a couple of hours to talk about my business and how she could help me out with my journey. The team has helped get us prepared for our next moves and have grown very dear to me. Their belief in me gives me courage and belief in myself. Thank you coaches.” ~ Laurie Ann Parker, founder
Equity Digital
Equity Digital will be the digital marketing agency solution for community small businesses that need growth as measured by customer acquisition but lack the budget required by major marketing agencies and marketing consultants.
OUR PROGRAM
Services of the BE³ Program address the challenge of scalability and sustainability that has plagued communities of color relative to entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship. As a solution, the team has designed a three-tier program which also outline the program’s phases of implementation: Business services, The Shepherd’s Program, and Business Incubation.
The Shepherds Program is designed to address the needs of entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs at various stages of their development. To that end, BE³ has created a program to develop, support and incubate participants’ business ventures to reach their full potential. Small business owners are paired with seasoned business leaders that are from similar industries. The pairing allows for a new business owner to learn how to navigate specific areas where they need help getting their business to the next level.
Each Tier of Service is designed to address the needs of entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs at their particular stage of development, incorporating training, coaching, technical assistance, grant writing assistance, pitch preparation, and other services as needed is assessed.
The Business Incubator, specifically, will provide a range of services for participating businesses, including management consulting, access to private placement investments, and preparation for pitches to venture capital and private equity firms.
The Business Service acts as an information hub allowing participants to mix their business acumen with their faith. The service has a worship component that is followed by various business guests speaking on topics on business strategy and development. The communication provided serves as soft training for business owners to glean some of the best practices though presentations and Q&As. At the end, there is a mixer-style environment where business minded individuals can speak with presenters up close, dialogue with other business owners, and network.
Our Mission
BE³ aims to empower communities of color to achieve economic success through business and corporate efforts with a focus on stewardship and kingdom impact.
By doing so, we aim to help entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs gain access to financial resources and knowledge in a way that is consistent with biblical principles to achieve financial success and produce a positive impact on the world around them and generations to come.
Our Goal
The objective of BE³ is to provide services that will instill an economic foundation poised to sustain culture and create legacy for communities of color.
Our Objective
BE³ provides spaces for entrepreneurs- business visionaries- and intrapreneurs- innovative working professionals- to collaborate, commune, acquire knowledge, and connect with opportunities that can advance their career, business vision, and community.