October 28th 2023.
Two years ago, Birmingham, Alabama had the lowest rate of Black business ownership among major U.S. cities. However, despite this difficult history, individuals like Tanesha Sims-Summers are determined to make a difference. Sims-Summers is the founder of the popular Naughty But Nice popcorn enterprise.
She spoke with News Channel 5 about her journey into entrepreneurship, and the motivation she drew from the stark inequalities she saw. “I saw people of color either trying to get a personal loan or a home equity line of credit, but they either didn’t have enough equity or they didn’t have the credit score. The biggest challenge was the lack of knowledge, generation after generation not knowing how to play the game.”
With Black Americans making up more than two-thirds of the Birmingham population, Prosper, a non-profit powered by civic and business leaders, has taken on the mission of creating a more equitable city. Angela Abdur-Rasheed, Community Engagement Manager at Prosper, spoke of the organization’s commitment to Birmingham’s prosperity. “It’s a shame, when you think of Birmingham and the impact it has had, not just on the United States but on the world.”
Prosper’s funding enables various programs from high school workforce development to financial grants and training for small enterprises. Sims-Summer and her husband, Clem, received help from Prosper to navigate their business journey. “My husband was still in his corporate job when he was laid off. That’s when I felt it was critical that he jumped on the train. The biggest benefit was shortening the learning curve.”
What sets Prosper apart is its unwavering belief in Birmingham and its approach to connecting and uplifting people who are already part of the city. “We’re trying to erase 400 years of intentional exclusion,” said Abdur-Rasheed. “Four hundred years of leaving Black people, women, people of color out of conversations, out of the room where decisions are made, out of business. We don’t run programs. We fund and support and steward work that’s already being done on a community level so that it can be done in a way that’s inclusive and that’s lasting.”
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