Featured on Invest Durham Economic Devlopment & News

DRABPE is proud to announce that our recent directory-revamp project was featured in a January 29, 2024 article on Invest Durham, written by Senior Content Writer Abigail Guevara. In “Innovation and Inclusivity: Stories from Durham Region’s Black Business Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Professionals,” the piece:

• Profiles Dane Lawrence’s journey from Jamaica to launching Salesforce1 in 2006, and his dual role as DRABPE President.
• Charts the rise of Black entrepreneurship in Durham Region, citing Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census figures (population growth from 608,123 to 696,992; 2.8 per cent of newcomers from 2016–2021) and a report showing that Black Canadians are the third-largest racialized group in the country.
• Describes DRABPE’s impact—from our Black business directory and youth STEMM entrepreneurship program to educational workshops and government roundtables—now serving over 200 members.
• Connects our mission to Durham Region’s 2023–2027 economic strategy, emphasizing Collaboration, Talent, Cultural Identity, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Innovation.

Read the full article on Invest Durham’s site:
Innovation and Inclusivity: Stories from Durham Region’s Black Business Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Professionals