OUR MISSION
To improve entrepreneurial opportunities and economic conditions for our member chambers, affiliates, and the communities that they serve through advocacy, chamber development, and building partnerships to expand networks and resources.
AREAS OF FOCUS
Partnership
Connecting our membership to leaders and decision-makers in order to increase their networks, business opportunities, and resources.
Advocacy
To actively engage in the policy, procedure, and law-making process in order to secure the resources for member chambers and small businesses resulting in growth, while addressing the unique challenges faced by our business owners.
Access to Capital
To ensure that both government and private funding is available for all businesses and to facilitate access to credit, capital, and other financial instruments for the creation, expansion, and growth of our businesses.
Chamber Development
Preparing chamber leaders to operate efficient and effective entities in order to help the maximum amount of local, small business owners.
ABOUT US
The Florida Association of Black Chambers of Commerce is focused on having an equitable business ecosystem in the State of Florida, where all, even the most vulnerable, businesses can thrive and the organizations that support them have the necessary resources to help them grow.
OUR FLORIDA CHAMBERS
OUR FOUNDER
Shaheewa Jarrett Gelin, Esq. serves as the General Counsel and Vice President of Compliance for a private company and previously worked as a federal litigator for close to over 18 years with the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security.
In 2017, she incorporated the Broward County Black Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber officially launched in August of 2018, and currently has over 350 members. She is also the founder of the Florida Association of Black Chambers of Commerce, a growing collective of black chambers across the state of Florida.
Shaheewa has been honored for her hard work and dedication. In March 2015, the Broward County Women’s History Coalition presented her with the Rising Star Award. In 2018, she was honored as one of “South Florida’s Most Influential and Prominent Black Women in Business and Industry” by Legacy Magazine. In 2019, she was awarded with the T.J. Reddick Bar Association’s President’s Award and recognized by Legacy South Florida as one of “South Florida’s Most Powerful and Influential Black Business Leaders of 2019.” In late 2019, she received the “Healing the Community Award” from the Healing Arts Institute of South Florida International in recognition of her efforts to build community collaborations. In 2020, she was recognized with the “Women of Distinction” award by the Lauderhill Chamber of Commerce and will receive the Pro Bono Award from the Haitian Lawyers Association in April of 2023.
Shaheewa has volunteered in various capacities. She is currently a Vice Chair of the Broward County Small Business Development Advisory Board, Vice Chair of the Broward County Public Schools Small Business Advisory Board and in the past, she has served as Vice President for the League of Women Voters of Broward County, on the Board of Directors for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Florida, and as a child advocate for the Guardian Ad Litem program.
Shaheewa graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami School of Law. In 2009, she received a certificate in Non-Profit Management from Duke University. Shaheewa is also a 2021 alumni of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Reinventing Our Communities Programs Cohort, focused on creating small business solutions through a racial equity lens.
CONTACT US
Address:
1451 West Cypress Creek Road
Suite 300
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309
Email: