Entrepreneurship has never been more challenging. Winning as a Black business almost seems impossible today. With funding and opportunities, few and far between, for anyone who hopes to grow their business, you will want to meet Twyla N. Turner, the Director of Program Resources for the United Black Fund (UBF).
The United Black Fund of Greater Cleveland is a legacy non-profit organization in Northeast Ohio that empowers other non-profits and entrepreneurs through funding, education, and leadership development to make a lasting impact in Northeast Ohio.
UBF’s Core Values are:
· Community: UBF is committed to uplifting the African American community.
· Leadership: UBF empowers visionary leaders driving community change.
· Accountability: UBF acts with integrity and delivers on its commitments.
Inclusivity: UBF expands access and removes barriers for all· Collaboration: UBF fosters trust-based partnerships that honor community voice and expand collective impact.
UBF’s mission has never been more critical to the support and development of those who need help understanding all aspects of business. Turner’s skillset and approach have created a safe place for people to come and seek advice and guidance.
“In our MORTAR Cle Entrepreneurship program we provide a cohort of entrepreneurs with intentional wrap-around support,” Turner said. “We offer coaching to business members of the community because we understand that we have to build the right relationships with our mentees to make sure that they get the kind of support that they can see and feel comfortable in.”
Turner and her team use a coach’s approach to winning teaching to get a stronger buy-in from those who sign up for the program. Trust is a huge factor when attempting something new ,and Turner and her team of entrepreneurship educators build on creating relationships with those that the UBF helps.
“We have coaching in several areas: public relations, technology, legal advice, finance, and business development.” Turner continued, “We try our best to understand the nuances of our community, and we work hard to figure out ways to engage those who take our courses, so they walk away better.”
And they feel better. The response to Turner’s programs at UBF resonates well with those who have graduated from the training. Leaving the classes with a better understanding of business in general will allow businesses to survive the tough first five years when most businesses shutter.
Turner’s job is to understand what is needed now in business, but her largest challenge is to be able to see around the corner and forecast what will be needed in the future for the businesses that UBF works with.
Turner has also revamped a different program at UBF, the Center for Diverse and Thriving Organizations.
With the current climate in the United States, Turner and her team figured out a way to work around workforce development, specifically for opportunity zones.
“We were fortunate to have a partnership with Cuyahoga County councilwoman, Merdith Turner, who believed in our idea, and she invested in our project, Turner said.
The revamped program creates the space for non-profits to compete in spaces that they ordinarily would not consider. The center provides a lens for its members that they can understand. This provides them with the perspective that they can use to expand their businesses in areas where they ordinarily would not compete.
Turner brought industry experts together to help expose those to take the program to new and different ways to look at workforce development. She expects the program to grow and attract new funders and non-profit leaders to participate in 2026.
Turner and UBF understand that Black businesses are under extreme pressure to constantly find new ways to remain relevant and profitable. With the end of DEI, the reduction of funding in areas where typically minority businesses get funding, it is more important than ever that they discover a new way to create revenue to cover operating expenses.
Turner has found her calling in the role of the Director of Program Resources, and with that, she has found an audience. Business looks good for her and for those who join her programs. Success comes to those who create it. ●
