A TALE OF TWO CHAMBERS
In 2022, when the city of Maricopa negotiated its embattled contract with the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce, a second chamber of commerce was born in the city. Kent O’Jon and Chrystal Allen-O’Jon surveyed Black-owned businesses about their view of the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce and got an overwhelmingly negative response. Black people are better represented in Maricopa than any other Arizona city, according to U.S. Census data. Feeling excluded from the so-called “white chamber,” the Black Maricopa Chamber of Commerce was born. At a Maricopa City Council meeting last month, BMCC members spoke publicly and encouraged businesses to join. Not just Black-owned businesses — all businesses. “We genuinely welcome everyone no matter their social status, religion, age, race or social clique,” said Allen-O'Jon, who is also running for Maricopa City Council. The Maricopa Chamber of Commerce’s new president, Isaac Jackson, is Black. Its outgoing president, Antonia Présumé, is Black. And BMCC has a white businessowner on its board of directors. While Allen-O’Jon said she doesn’t see the two chambers as being in competition, there are two big reasons why hers is needed and the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce isn’t enough for this community on its own. “We aren’t always asking for money.” That was her first reason. The second? It stems from the responses she got from Black businessowners on her 2022 survey. “The difference is, there are no glares when you come to events, no negative micro expressions, no one is asking if they can touch the texture of your hair,” Allen-O’Jon told InMaricopa . BMCC will soon offer a diversity and inclusion seminar. It hopes to one day be a liaison between underserved groups and the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce while extending its reach to other cities in Arizona.
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February 2024 | InMaricopa.com
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