About Us
Who We Are
Built By Us. For Generations To Come.
CBEE is a community-rooted, Black-led nonprofit organization committed to advancing economic justice, entrepreneurial empowerment, and intergenerational leadership across Alberta and the Prairie provinces. We are a coalition of changemakers—entrepreneurs, elders, youth, cultural leaders, and ecosystem allies—united by a shared vision: to build an inclusive economy where Black communities thrive.
Born from a multi-year partnership funded by the BEP Ecosystem Fund, CBEE emerged as a legacy institution to carry forward the momentum, relationships, and impact of a groundbreaking regional initiative. We are not just a network—we are an infrastructure for transformation.
Our Mission & Vision
Mission Statement
CBEE exists to advance economic justice by building a thriving, inclusive ecosystem where Black entrepreneurs and communities across Alberta and the Prairie provinces can access the resources, relationships, and recognition they need to succeed.
We do this by:
- Mobilizing Black-led organizations to co-design and deliver culturally grounded programs and services
- Expanding access to capital, mentorship, and digital infrastructure for Black-owned businesses
- Advocating for equitable policies and systems change that dismantle structural barriers
- Fostering intergenerational leadership and community ownership to ensure long-term sustainability
- Centering Black voices, stories, and solutions in every aspect of economic development
Our mission is bold yet clear: to transform the conditions that shape Black economic life—and to do so together, with purpose, power, and pride.
Vision Statement
CBEE envisions a future where Black communities across Alberta and the Prairie provinces thrive through equitable access to entrepreneurship, innovation, and generational wealth. We exist to dismantle systemic barriers, amplify Black leadership, and build a resilient ecosystem where Black-owned businesses are visible, viable, and valued.
Rooted in cultural wisdom and powered by community-led collaboration, CBEE is committed to:
- Economic Justice: Advancing policies, programs, and partnerships that close racial wealth gaps and foster inclusive prosperity.
- Entrepreneurial Empowerment: Supporting Black founders from ideation to legacy through mentorship, capital access, and capacity building.
- Intergenerational Leadership: Cultivating youth, elders, and emerging leaders to shape a future grounded in equity and innovation.
- Cultural Continuity: Honoring Black identity, history, and creativity as essential drivers of economic transformation.
- Sustainable Infrastructure: Building lasting institutions, networks, and systems that serve Black communities beyond any single funding cycle.
CBEE is more than a coalition—it is a movement. A movement to ensure that Black economic equity is not an aspiration, but a lived reality.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
Our Core Values
Equity First
We prioritize justice, fairness, and the dismantling of systemic barriers in all we do.
Community Ownership
We believe those most impacted must lead the solutions. Our work is rooted in lived experience and collective leadership.
Cultural Integrity
We honor Black identity, history, and creativity as essential to economic empowerment.
Collaboration Over Competition
We build together, share power, and uplift one another across sectors and generations.
Transparency & Accountability
We lead with integrity, share openly, and hold ourselves responsible to our communities.
Sustainability & Legacy
We design for the long term—building institutions, relationships, and systems that endure.
Innovation With Purpose
We embrace new ideas that serve our people, solve real problems, and create lasting impact.
LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE
Governance Model
Our governance model reflects a coalition-led structure rooted in community leadership, shared accountability, and long-term vision. Built on partnership and lived experience, it ensures that every decision supports a more just and inclusive economic future for Black communities across the Prairies.
OUR LEADERS
The People Behind
the Impact
WHERE WE WORK
Our Regions
CBEE works across Alberta and the Prairie provinces, building networks that support Black entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders. Our regional partnerships strengthen our collective impact and deepen our reach where communities need it most.
