The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® (NGLCC) is asking African-American LGBT business owners to offer their valuable insights for a study that will look at their specific business experiences and networks.
The study, which is being conducted by Joanna Dees, the NGLCC's manager of supplier diversity and corporate relations, will examine the needs of business owners and the benefits of business organizations. Information gathered in the study will be used in Dees' master's thesis.
While the information collected over the course of the study will be published in Dees' thesis, the identity of all participants will be kept confidential. Once the thesis has been completed, comprehensive, anonymous data will be presented to the NGLCC in order for the chamber to increase the effectiveness of programming and benefits for African-American LGBT business owners.
"The findings of this study will inform the NGLCC Communities of Color Initiative and our goal of increased diversity as well as add to the much needed academic literature on ethnic and racial minority LGBT business owners," said Dees, a sociology graduate student at American University in Washington, D.C.
Participants in the study will complete a brief questionnaire and a one-hour interview to gather information about their experiences. Interviews may be conducted by phone or in person.
If you are interested in participating in the study, know someone who would be interested, or would like to learn more about this research, please contact Joanna Dees at jd4006a@student.american.edu or 757-561-1814.
