Minority communities are consistently and drastically affected by public spending but excluded from broad public discourse about racial inequality in municipal contracting.

Studies nationally continue to show longstanding discrimination against minority-owned businesses in publicly funded contracting, with businesses owned by Blacks often faring worse than other minority groups.

As a matter of practice, consulting firms that conduct disparity studies host a series of community meetings with invitees generally from the minority business community.  Not engaging the minority public in these crucial conversations has crippled the awareness of the link between persistent disparities in municipal spending and its devastating impact on underrepresented communities.

The Labor and Industry Committee of the Greensboro Branch NAACP is committed to addressing inequities in public contracting. They will host a series of virtual community conversations to finally bring those who are impacted the most into the dialogue. These discussions will give participants a practical understanding of disparities in public spending, its connection to the many disparities seen and felt in their committees, and constructive actions they can take to effect long-overdue change.