Torin Brazzle, 47, founder, CEO and president of IGNITE!, created the nonprofit to connect Black and woman owned businesses with the resources they need to thrive., created the nonprofit with a single thought: It shouldn’t be so hard for Black people to succeed at business.
“I was really frustrated looking at the state of our Black community and all of the obstacles that we were facing and dealing with in perpetuity. It can’t be this hard. It can’t be this hard for Black people to have a seat at the table,” Brazzle said. “IGNITE! is a message to the Black community to say let’s focus on what we can change.”
Brazzle said she saw how people in her community struggled with the same discrimination and obstacles she faced throughout her life. But as she invested in others, Brazzle said she also had to learn how best to focus her energy, especially in the wake of losing four family members, including her mother.
“The most important part of the Black Family Wealth Roundtable is the education, the conversation…The roundtable is about creating a playbook to secure and build wealth,” Brazzle said.