Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce’s Ken Harris Assembles Business Leaders

Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce's Ken Harris Assembles Business Leaders

Michigan black business leaders have come together to combat the challenged Michigan economy for African American businesses by establishing the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC). “More than 150 African American business owners participating in the conference, black leaders from Michigan and across the country are coming together to acknowledge and examine the ‘condition’ of black business and establish an agenda of success for going forward,” says Ken Harris, the chamber’s president and CEO.

The MBCC is Michigan’s first statewide black chamber of commerce. The black chamber’s creation is the culmination of efforts by a network of business organizations called the African American Business Alliance.


Harris is widely known for his innovative approach to improving social and economic challenges in Detroit; for founding the extremely successful International Detroit Black Expo; and for his work to eliminate disparity in opportunities for minority- owned businesses in Michigan’s southeast region. The entrepreneur and minority business advocate was honored by Crain’s Detroit Business 40 Under 40, and was named the U.S. Small Business Administration Minority Advocate of the Year. Harris also served as Vice President for the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council the largest of its kind in the country. Now Harris’s role has expanded to the national scene by his appointment to the Board of Directors of the U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce and serves as its Midwest Regional Director.

“The Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce will aggressively advocate for the economic gardening, growth and capacity building of Michigan black-owned businesses. As a mission-based, member-driven organization, the black chamber will provide quality resources, benefits, services and access needed to help stimulate economic viability throughout Michigan. Our efforts will nurture an environment of economic parity, helping black businesses to expand and create jobs, jobs, jobs in the community,” explains Harris.


The MBCC recently hosted  its inaugural State of Black Business Conference in Detroit on Thursday, June 23, 2011.  The spillover crowd of more than 500 prominent business leaders and entrepreneurs represented the most influential and dynamic African American business leaders in the area. “As the voice of black business and through its aggressive advocacy, the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce will change and improve the ‘condition’ of black businesses in Michigan and achieve economic parity,” Harris says. “The conference was a fundamental and strategic step toward that economic empowerment and the sustainability of African American businesses in Michigan.”

Recently at the inaugural State of Black Business Conference black businesses engaged attentively in a standing room only crowd.  The crowd spillover of more than 500 prominent business leaders and entrepreneurs represented the most influential and dynamic African American business leaders in the area.

“As the voice of black business and through its aggressive advocacy, the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce will change and improve the ‘condition’ of black businesses in Michigan and achieve economic parity,” Harris says. “The conference was a fundamental and strategic step towards that economic empowerment and the sustainability of African American businesses in Michigan.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join our Newsletter

Sign up for Rolling Out news straight to your inbox.

Read more about:
Also read