2021 Evening in Harlem

Recent data shows vast disparities between Black and white communities in Utah. The Black population ranks the lowest in income, homeownership, and business ownership, and the highest percentage in poverty. 

To add to these challenges, Utah struggles to retain and grow diversity. The Black population has remained stagnant the last several years. Black professionals who migrate to Utah feel disconnected and struggle to find and feel a community for them. The heightened intensity in race conversations have illuminated a lack of awareness and education of systemic racism. 

Since its inception in 2009, the Utah Black Chamber has made significant strides for its community and continues to elevate its impact by curating a visible, accessible, and safe space for everyone. Our goal is to build an environment that welcomes all and builds a sense of trust and community while establishing a bridge to Utah’s non-Black population through partnership, collaboration, education, and awareness. 

That’s why we created the Black Success Center. 

The Black Success Center is poised to become the economic development hub for Utah’s Black community. Not only does it provide a space for the Black community to connect, but it helps grow Black businesses and professionals. With your help, the Center will provide the community with coworking space, incubator offices, conference rooms, training rooms, and an event hall for programming and training. The Black Success Center also has partnered The Leonardo in downtown Salt Lake City to curate a Black Museum and host larger events to connect and educate the broader community. 

Over the last year, the UBC has formed a partnership with The Leonardo to respond to the critical community need to create a space for education about Utah’s Black community, and a space for conversation and dialogue with the non-Black community. The Black Museum will be the only permanent exhibition space dedicated to sharing the stories of Utah’s Black community, Black history, and the impact and contributions of Black community members.

We envision the Black Success Center to serve as the foundation to establish a Black ecosystem with a talent pipeline for the best opportunities Utah has to offer. Combining this with understanding and awareness will accelerate the progress of closing the racial income gap and lowering the barriers for Black success.

The Utah Black Chamber is seeking your support to make this vision happen. Sponsoring our cause, gives you eligibility for naming rights to the spaces in the center and museum, engagement in the Center’s several programming, tickets to our Evening in Harlem gala, and participation in the Utah Black Chamber book. The book will be published in February with a focus to change the Utah narrative of diversity and drive recruiting.