Check out the August RIM Newsletter here.

ACCCOUSA serves Black and African immigrant entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing business education, technical assistance, and access to capital. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ACCCOUSA provided COVID education, outreach, vaccination and test distribution services. As a trusted voice in the community, the organization is well positioned to support health and economic development to build wealth in their community. Partnerships developed to set up vaccine clinics, include community-based organizations like the Salvation Army, Colorado Ethiopian community, the Librarian Association, the Colorado Muslim society/other faith-based organizations, grocery stores and food banks.

Maya Wheeler (Executive Director) and Teguo Daniels Djoyum (Public Health Project Manager) identified going the extra mile to build good faith when building relationships with constituents, as well as increasing the need for community ownership of health programs through appropriate cultural representation during service provision as the key aspect to the organization’s success. Other avenues explored include providing certain financial aid, which was beneficial in addressing the vaccine hesitancy some members had regarding lost wages.