The idea for Diverse Hampton Roads came to founder Angela Johnson in 2021 during the pandemic. She was visiting a local restaurant and saw numerous local business cards displayed in a designated area.
“I took some of the cards home with me, and upon review, I noticed that most were minority-owned businesses,” she recalls. “Many were either lacking a website or any digital presence.”
Her background as a web designer and developer kicked in, and she created a directory web site where micro and small businesses could list their businesses.
Thus, was born Diverse Hampton Roads, a coalition of businesses and organizations dedicated to celebrating, showcasing, and supporting diverse micro, and small businesses and nonprofits that are minority-owned, women-owned, black-owned, veteran-owned, disabled-owned, and LGBTQ-owned in the Hampton Roads area.
Since that then, a small directory web site has grown into a coalition of about 85 businesses and organizations that not only take advantage of the online directory, but also post their events online, contribute blog posts, and most recently hold regular networking events.
“Many micro and small businesses operate with minimal to no marketing budgets and often lack access to the beneficial information to help them effectively promote their businesses to potential customers,” said Angela. “And that’s unfortunate because diversity, equity, and inclusion are vital to the health of our nation, the Hampton Roads region, and our local communities.”
“Our diverse perspectives make us stronger when we embrace them and work together,” she said.
Diverse Hampton Roads’ next networking event is on the Peninsula on October 16 from 6-7:30PM at Salsa’s Mexican Grill, 704 Mariners Row #110, Newport News, VA 23606. Get more information about the organization and how to join at diversehamptonroads.com.