The African American Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce (AAGACC) honored Mr. Powdrell’s BBQ and Nina Farrow Hair Studio, the city’s oldest black-owned businesses, at their inaugural fundraising event on Nov. 5.<\/p>\n
“It took me all of this time to feel like, \u2018Okay, you know what?’ I think I\u2019ve done something. “It brought to light all my years of hard work,” said Farrow, a licensed cosmetologist and shop owner. She explained that the award helped her realize the struggles she has overcome in the last 30 years. Farrow was a single mom of two children and continued to work through the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
Farrow is involved in the community in addition to working with clients. Farrow was a Young Girl Summit facilitator who encouraged middle-school girls of color to love their hair and skin. Farrow played a key role in putting on the show through the Black Expo. She has also taught classes at various institutions and to parents who adopt curly-haired children through CYFD (the NM Children, Youth, and Families Department).<\/p>\n
Farrow said that many of the community events she was involved in have been postponed due to the pandemic but are \u201cgetting revved up again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like everyone had to do a jumpstart,\u201d Farrow said.<\/p>\n
Mr. Powdrell’s BBQ, a black-owned restaurant that has been in operation since 1962, was also recognized at the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is an honor to recognize both the Powdrell Family and Ms. Farrow for their longevity, triumphs and contributions to our community. We all can draw inspiration from their success,\u201d AAGACC President and CEO Karla D. Causey said. \u201cIn a climate of widening inequalities and persisting racial disparities, it is imperative to empower Black entrepreneurs to sustain and scale their companies \u2013 doing so can create a more stable and prosperous economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Karissa Culbreath, TriCore’s medical director for infectious disease and chair of the American Board of Medical Microbiology, and Dr. Jeron T. Campbell, the founder and director of ACES Technical Charter School, were also honored at the event.<\/p>\n
According to Causey, the AAGACC’s primary goal is to create and empower economic opportunities for black businesses in New Mexico. However, Causey made it clear that the AAGACC will assist any business, not just black-owned ones.<\/p>\n
“One of the reasons they started the chamber is [that] historically, black people have been left out.” “Especially, and even still, in the state of New Mexico, we still hear it called “a tri-cultural state” all of the time, and we have been a part of New Mexico since the early 1900s, and we just want to make sure that black businesses are included,” Causey said.<\/p>\n
According to Causey, the AAGACC’s primary goal is to create and empower economic opportunities for black businesses in New Mexico. However, Causey made it clear that the AAGACC will assist any business, not just black-owned ones.<\/p>\n
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