Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce x Icon City: Modernizing the Message, Mobilizing the Mission

A Case Study in Strategic Communications, Funding Development, and Cross-Generational Outreach 2022-2023 🧠 The Context From 2022–2023, Aigner “Anye Elite” Ellis served as Director of Communications for the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce – Palm Springs Chapter , bringing a media-savvy, culturally responsive approach to an organization with deep regional legacy but declining engagement from emerging Black entrepreneurs. With a focus on revitalizing visibility, securing strategic funding , and building authentic connections to younger, culturally grounded community stakeholders , this role marked a turning point in how the Chamber showed up across platforms, generations, and partnerships. 🎯 Strategic Objectives Re-establish relevance of the Chamber among Black Gen Z and millennial entrepreneurs Secure and direct funding toward cultural and health-centered community events Bridge relationships with previously disconnected stakeholders and local organizations Position the Chamber as a modern, collaborative economic and cultural leader 🛠 Role & Contributions 📣 Communications Infrastructure Led external messaging , content strategy, and media relations Aligned digital presence with the Chamber’s mission, programming, and partnerships Provided public-facing language and press guidance for event materials and campaigns 💸 Funding Activation Played a key role in securing funding from the HIV Vaccine Trials Network (HVTN) for the Breast Cancer Awareness Fashion Show , redirecting national health dollars into community-based Black-led events Supported narrative and logistics work to ensure this funding was distributed equitably and with visibility 🤝 Partnership & Community Development Acted as a bridge-builder between the Chamber and organizations such as: Brothers of the Desert (previously under-engaged) Soul-Cal Experience (ticketing + tech support) Younger Black creatives and entrepreneurs via Icon City and Icons Rising Reframed the Chamber’s value as both legacy-rooted and future-facing 📊 Outcomes Secured and activated new sources of programmatic funding Reopened pathways for inter-org collaboration , increasing trust and relevance Built the foundation for a sustainable, intergenerational network of Black professionals, artists, and activists Modernized the Chamber’s voice and visual presence in the regional business ecosystem 💡 Why It Matters “Legacy doesn’t survive unless it evolves.” Through intentional communication and relationship-building, Aigner and Icon City helped the Southern California Black Chamber of Commerce not just broadcast its message — but update it for a new era of Black business and cultural leadership. 🔗 Let’s Work Together Want help modernizing your org's narrative, securing mission-aligned funding, or building generational bridges? That’s our lane. 📩 Exploring Synergy with Icon City 🤝 Learn more about our civic and business development work at IconCityNews.com 🧩 Support community infrastructure via Icons Rising