Press Releases

Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher Closes National Black Business Month by Convening Roundtable

Houston, August 31, 2021
Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) hosted a virtual roundtable highlighting Black-owned businesses in our community, discussing the challenges their businesses face, and celebrating their successes.  Following the roundtable, Congresswoman Fletcher toured Houston City Dance, a TX-07 Black-owned small business, with representatives from the Houston Small Business Administration (SBA).

“Our community thrives when businesses big and small have access to resources and capital,” said Congresswoman Fletcher.  “I convened this roundtable to listen to Black business owners on the issues on their minds.  Their perspectives were informative and instructive as our community and the Congress navigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and our recovery.”

Roundtable participants included business leaders from around the Houston region. In attendance:

  • Carol Guess, Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce
  • Marcus and Mel Davis, Owners of The Breakfast Klub
  • Atum Ra, Chief Brand Officer, Action One Media
  • Reverend Reginald Lillie, Sole Proprietor, Reginald Lillie Insurance Service
  • Carla Lane, Owner of Lane Staffing

National Black Business Month is an annual celebration during the month of August, meant to highlight the work of Black-owned businesses and explore the challenges they may face.  Black people represent 13.4% of the U.S. population, but account for only 4.3% of the nation’s 22.2 million business owners.  By April 2020, 450,000 Black business owners went out of business because of the pandemic.