A Word from the Desk
When people ask why we are founding the East Contra Costa Black Chamber of Commerce, the honest answer is this: we are building what our community has needed for a long time.
As a Black woman entrepreneur, I came to understand that the tools, resources, and support that move a business forward are real — but access to them too often depends on who you know, not what you bring. The resources exist. The doors exist. But the connections that lead through them have not always been available to entrepreneurs who look like me, or who come from communities like ours.
I never wanted that to be the story of the next generation of Black business owners in East Contra Costa County. And I am grateful that I am not building this alone — a growing circle of leaders, advocates, and believers are building it alongside me. This Chamber is bigger than any one person. It always has been.
When we officially launch in early 2027, we will open the doors of a chamber where access does not depend on insider relationships. Where every decision is made in service of the entrepreneurs we exist to support. Where the question is not who you know, but what you are building — and how we can help you build it stronger.
This is heart-led work, born out of conviction. We believe in generational wealth. We believe in the power of Black-led business to transform communities. We believe that when Black businesses are sustained, scaled, and celebrated, entire neighborhoods change — schools, families, and futures along with them. We are not just building a chamber. We are building a legacy.
If you are a Black entrepreneur in East Contra Costa County — or if you believe in what we are building — we invite you to join us. This work belongs to all of us.
With gratitude,
Ceola J. Griffin
Founder & Executive Director, ECC Black Chamber of Commerce