Business View Magazine - Sept 2023

During the active application phase for dispensaries and craft grow in Illinois, The Majority Minority Group organized workshops to guide applicants. “We would go through the application itself and explain each part of it, breaking down various areas, and asking people if they needed advice and trying to connect them with the right people,” describes Kenyatta. These workshops were strategically advertised in communities that were disproportionately affected by factors like the war on drugs and poverty, to empower individuals with the knowledge and resources needed to establish themselves in the cannabis industry, whether as owners or employees. Key Partnerships and Advocacy Efforts The Majority Minority Group has cultivated key partnerships by collaborating with local community advocacy groups and individuals with direct experience in the cannabis industry. They’ve also established connections to gather insights on effective business practices and regulations. Kenyatta relays, “From a business perspective, it was very important for us early on to talk to people in other states that were successful. We found a lot of people were very open to sharing their knowledge and experience, especially when we explained the concept of social equity, and how their knowledge can help Black and Brown operators be successful in the industry. I would say collaboration was a big part of how we started with the company, and how we continue to advise people today.” Highlighting the group’s key approaches to advocacy and support within the cannabis industry, Kenyatta mentions advocating for legislation that channels funds back into impacted communities. “The cannabis law in Illinois, the way it’s structured, there’s a certain amount of money that goes back into the community. So various community programs can get funding from the state, based on whatever THE MA JORI T Y MINORI T Y GROUP they’re doing in the community. It’s a much easier, more streamlined process than your typical grant process that you get from the local or federal government,” he conveys. Another strategy is to explore partnerships between the state, financial institutions, and other relevant entities that could be interested in providing funding and training opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to utilize. “It’s more of a matchmaking kind of thing. We work on policies and laws that people can then utilize once they do become operational, or even before they become operational, to put them in the best position,” he adds. Fighting Back through Knowledge and Skill Development In many communities that have been impacted by the war on drugs and poverty, Kenyatta