Building Capacity for Black Contractors in the Marketplace

Building Capacity for Black Contractors in the Marketplace

Author: RNCN January 17, 2025 Duration: 25:10

Tammy Pierce was deeply moved when she learned that only 1% of the contracts for public/private partnerships in Dallas were awarded to Black contractors, despite the fact that Black residents make up 28% of the city’s tax-paying population. This stark disparity highlighted a significant inequality in opportunities. This gave birth to her “why” and the start of United Black Contractors whose purpose is to empower and advocate for Black contractors to have access to contracts with cities, states, and counties. Her passion is to economically bolster Black males in America, because “when you build up Black men, you’re building up Black families.”


Ed Christmas, founder and president of a tech firm, found a pivotal question echoing through the strange quiet of the 2020 pandemic: “What’s Your Why?”. For him, it crystallized around two persistent issues-the digital divide and the under-representation of Black professionals in technology and entrepreneurship. The Road to Why with Ed Christmas grew from that moment of reflection. This isn't a lecture series; it's a collection of genuine, meandering conversations with experts and insiders from across the tech landscape. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair to a dialogue that’s already in progress, where the destination is less important than the journey of the discussion itself. You’ll hear stories about the real hurdles faced in building inclusive companies, the personal motivations that drive innovators, and the practical, often unglamorous work being done to bridge gaps in access and opportunity. The podcast moves beyond simple diagnosis, delving into the nuanced “how” and, more importantly, the deeper “why” behind these systemic challenges. It’s for anyone curious about the human stories powering the business of technology, offering perspective from voices that are crucial yet often overlooked in mainstream tech narratives. Tune in for thoughtful exchanges that challenge assumptions and explore the foundational purposes guiding people’s work in this field.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 14

The Road to Why with Ed Christmas
Podcast Episodes