Edmonton: A Return on Colour

We’ve probably all been there—as a Black entrepreneur, how do you take your business to the next level; as a Black student, how do you find an internship with a company that understands your culture—say, like your hairstyle for example; as a not-for-profit organization, how do you find experts that can fill your board positions; as a working Black professional, how do you find complementary professionals who can help service your business needs; as a business, how do you diversify your workforce; and as a Black freelancer, how do you showcase your work to potential clients?

For allies in the professional space, how do you diversify your management team and workforce?

Enter Return on Colour—an online platform working to connect Black professionals, Black-owned businesses, not-for-profit organizations focused on issues of importance in Black communities, Black students, Black entrepreneurs, and freelancers of African descent (including those of mixed races).

Because let’s face it, if education, sheer hard work and a ton of experience were all that it took to “make it,” then Black people would not have any barriers to success based on race, but systemic and overt racism creates a playing field that is not level.

While Return on Colour is primarily a technology-driven Black Directory, it is more than that, Return on Colour is multi-layered- a community, an ecosystem.

There is always a desire for like-minded people to connect. Still, within the Black community, there are often silos, bubbles and this is where Return on Colour can be of value, providing a pathway - a way to break down those silos and to burst those bubbles.

There is an unspoken understanding among Black people that it is helpful to talk about the Black experience with others of African descent, the experience of dismantling some of the issues that come living while Black can sometimes only be understood by another Black person; layer onto that a Black woman, add another layer of entrepreneur or student, and it’s easy to understand that shared experiences really do matter.

Imagine having the space and the pathway to find the “similar” to dialogue with.

Studies show that business owners prefer to do business with people they know, like and trust. Return on Colour is a space where business owners can foster relationships before needing that accountant, so when the need arises, there is a built-in pool of accounts that are already known to the owner, but it also works the other way, Return on Colour is also a space for those looking to gain more clients to engage with business owners, entrepreneurs.

Coming heavy with a work portfolio, a series of ways to prove expertise is only part of the equation and where Return on Colour will bridge the gaps.

Return on Colour provides the platform to proactively create opportunities for Black Canadians – providing a way for Black people to not only have a seat at the table but to build our own table.

Return on Colour aims to organize Black Canadian businesses, professionals, and organizations to make them more searchable and accessible, disrupting the platforms that don’t serve Black people, making it easier for Black professionals to support one another. In addition for non-black-identifying professionals to connect and work with the Black community, to partner and ally - either to diversity their existing business, the find expertise or incorporate social responsibility into their business model.

Not for profits can also find value with Return on Colour, for example, you can find Human Resources professionals who can help with the dynamics of working with others and in solving specific problems, industry experts with knowledge on how to raise funds, even if the goals are in the millions, or the 10s of 1000s or hundreds of 1000s, grant writing and other professional services.

Return on Colour is a place to connect with Black businesses, professionals, organizations etc. and the kicker of it ALL of these experts exist in the Black community.