2019 May

LOUISVILLE BLACK BUSINESS
OWNERS COME TOGETHER!
NOIR Black Business Social Club, Inc. is
a new Louisville-based organization with
a mission to bring African and African-
American small business owners together to
network, collaborate, and strengthen their
businesses to give back to the community.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), entrepreneurship
within minority groups has increased, and data
from a 2016 SBA report indicates minorities own 29% of U.S.
businesses and that number more than doubled between 2002
and 2012. Unfortunately, minority-owned businesses still lack
access to financial and business resources as well as support.
NOIR was established in October of 2018 when Founder and
President, John Howard Shaw-Woo, realized there were no
existing organizations in Kentucky that specifically focus on
supporting small black businesses. Shaw-Woo is a self-proclaimed,
philantropreneur and has founded successful projects
in the nonprofit community including The West Louisville eco-
HUB Arts Community Inc. to support educational programming
for at-risk youth, and the Kentucky Poverty Initiative, Inc.
(formerly GFoundation, Inc.) with the mission of creating innovative
programs that uplift Kentuckians and break the cycle
of poverty.
Shaw-Woo, along with friends and colleagues created NOIR as
a networking platform where members meet monthly to learn
from special speakers and lecturers on specific business topics
ranging from marketing, social media, technology, financial
planning, accounting, business development, Human Resources
management, benefits providers, and many more.
Shaw-Woo stated, “Helping small businesses become Minority
Business Enterprise (MBE) [National Minority Supplier Development
Council] certified is one of the organization’s highest
priorities, followed by understanding the economic and political
landscape of Louisville and Kentucky in order to grow their
businesses.”
NOIR is governed by an Executive Board including Shaw-Woo
serving as President; Marcus Forward, Vice President and
the owner of Personal Options Healthcare the only Veteran
Healthcare services in Kentucky; Michelle Rae Hicks, Secretary
and owner of the Old Louisville Chili Bowl restaurant and
founder of Louisville Integrated Care a multi behavioral, mental,
and social health network
of services; and Blair Butler,
Treasurer, retired JCPS Assistant
Principal and founder of the
nonprofit Lovie’s House, Inc. for
young men aging out of foster
care in Kentucky.
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VOMÉ
NOIR meets every third Thursday of the month in the evening
at a designated location to discuss and help solve issues
and to plan future activities. In addition, every quarter is a
social event with members and spouses.
NOIR signature events include a signature event called The
Black Ball and an Annual Members Trip. The Black Ball will
serve as an annual fundraising and friend-raising event to
showcase the organization, its mission, and activities. Proceeds
from the event will fund the NOIR Scholarship Fund
which will award financial benefits to non-college bound
students to further their non-traditional educational endeavors.
Membership into NOIR is by invitation but interested
businesses owners can send an email expressing interest
to info@noirky.com. Membership is limited to approximately
30 in 2019 unless there is a tremendous amount of interest,
and the annual cost of membership to NOIR is $250
per year, which helps defer the costs of lectures, meeting
spaces, and activities. Currently there are 11, active members
with more coming on board.
Why would a small black business what to join NOIR? Because
each member will gain ongoing business knowledge
through interactions with similar business owners that are
committed to assisting each other through support and
collaboration. Members will also be partnered with experienced
mentors that will provide one-on-one assistance that
will help the business owner reach their goals.
NOIR is in the process of establishing itself as a 501(c)3,
nonprofit organization, which will allow caring individuals,
corporations, and foundations to donate to the organization
to help hire an Executive Director to lead day to day
operations.
For more information about NOIR Black Business Social
Club or to Volunteer as a Speaker or Lecturer, please visit
www.noirky.com, call 502-599-5299
or email info@noirky.com.