August is National Black Business Month, a time to recognize, celebrate, and support the contributions made by more than 3 million Black-owned U.S. businesses. At Inspire, our Black Voices business resource group (BRG) partnered with the Georgia Diversity Council to host the inaugural Black Empowerment Summit at our Atlanta Global Support Center.

Hosting a variety of speakers and panelists to discuss the theme of Crossroads of Identity: Embracing Black Intersectionality, the Summit also included a Black Business Vendor Marketplace to bring awareness to local entrepreneurs. Vendors represented the creative networks of our Black Voices BRG members, like urban farm BEE FREE FARM that teaches agricultural and sustainable practices, metalsmith jewelry maker Black Girl on Fire, organic sugar scrub and haircare company Celestial Ever Green, cold-pressed juices from Celery Gang, and Dope Pieces Puzzle Company that creates culturally inclusive puzzles.

“The marketplace is something we’re so excited to bring to life as a BRG,” says Inspire Quality Assurance Manager and Black Voices BRG co-lead Melody Blount. “It’s a gift to elevate local entrepreneurs within the community and share their unique offerings and platforms.”

Opening remarks officially kicked off the Black Empowerment Summit and opened the vendor marketplace, delivered by Inspire Chief People Officer Natalie Rothman, the executive sponsor of the Black Voices BRG. “We are so delighted to host this summit at Inspire. As a global company with six brands, 32,600 restaurants, and 675,000 team members around the world, it’s rewarding to highlight our diverse culture.”

Summit attendees also heard from keynote speaker and Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Michael Baptiste and Georgia Diversity Council advisory board member, and UPS Senior Manager of Global DEI Jessica Macon as she moderated a panel discussion exploring the intersections of race, identity, and activism.

The panel featured prominent figures and thought leaders within the Black community, including:

• Danielle V. Jackson, Firstkey Homes DEI Manager
• Dom Mitial, Goldbergs Group Vice President of Food Safety, Quality, and Regulatory Affairs
• Malik Brown, City of Atlanta LGBT Affairs Coordinator
• Marche Williams, Emory University Senior Managing Director
• Yvette Pegues, Your Invisible Disability Group Chief Executive Officer

To learn more about how we’re putting people first in the communities where we work and serve, visit Inspire’s Impact site.