Cole: How clear is your vision for what the future of corporate responsibility should look like for AYA Foundation? Samuels: It’s clear. AYA is a young organization. A solid infrastructure has been built. Now it is time to scale it. I am confident that as I retire at the end of the year, the board will select a new CEO that will do just that, scale the foundation. In time, AYA will become a community foundation that will serve our community for generations to come. In addition to uplifting small businesses, I expect to see Coloradans choose AYA as a partner in their family and personal philanthropic goals. Cole: In what direction does AYA Foundation see itself going? Samuels: The goal for the next 3-5 years is to scale the operations and impact of the foundation. That doesn’t necessarily mean more programs. What it means is serving more business owners with our programs, and families with our philanthropic services (donor-advised- funds, family endowments, scholarship funds and more). Cole: Let’s switch gears and end with you as a Chamber colleague by providing a positive and forward-looking statement about the Black Chamber’s future for the next 40 years. Samuels: The more resources for entrepreneurs, the greater chance they have to be prepared to succeed in the market. May the Black Chamber continue to be an institution for us and by us for the next 100 years.
Photo: McBoat Photography
Cole: What do you think are the biggest challenges facing AYA Foundation today, and how do you see AYA overcoming them? Samuels: We are a foundation that serves the entire community, and we have a niche which is to support Black entrepreneurs. In these challenging times where the intent of the Civil Rights Act is being turned against us, we must remember those who came before us and fought for so long for our freedoms. Do a little sankofa everyday to help you visualize how our ancestors solved some of these same problems in the past. And for goodness sake, we better stick together!
24 The Acumen
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