Black History: Beyond a Month
Sherline Heriveaux, Senior Marketing Manager, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
Black history is American history, and the month of February is a time to honor that by exploring the fullness of African-American culture. Year round, let us continue to celebrate the people, movements, and strides made to better our lives by ensuring that our society is a place where all are humanized, seen, heard, and supported.
Boston While Black is a membership network for Boston’s Black professionals, entrepreneurs, and students who are seeking connection and community. The organization was founded by Sheena Collier, a Harvard University School of Education graduate and community leader who had a vision of convening Black Bostonians for connection, adventure, and a sense of belonging. In our Q&A below, the Boston While Black team shares the organization’s biggest accomplishment, how they create lasting impact, and how they continue to contribute to Black history today.
In the past 3-5 years, what has been your company’s biggest accomplishment?
Three years ago, we didn’t exist – we launched in 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, based on a vision from our founder, Sheena Collier. Now, almost three years later we have over 1,000 members, over 20 corporate partners, 2 front page features on the Boston Globe, and we’ve hosted more than 15,000 people at our public events, including our BWB Family Reunion and our How to Boston While Black Summit. Our biggest accomplishment is all that we’ve managed to build over the years.
What lasting impact have you created in your community?
Our membership network has created an opportunity for Black Boston natives and transplants to build community with one another – something many people felt was missing. Anchored by the BWB Hub, our digital community platform, we provide a safe virtual space for people to share resources, tips, and tricks for navigating the Greater Boston region. Central to that is our special interest communities which help our 1,000+ members find deeper connection among each other and tackle navigating Boston as their most authentic selves.
How would you say you’ve made Black history today?
As a company founded by a Black woman and led by a Black team, we are demonstrating how and when we have the appropriate resources, Black people can and should lead in building the spaces, communities, and systems we need to thrive. We are not only building a successful local company. We are creating the blueprint for how cities across the world can become places where Black people choose to live, work, and play.
