NBWSAA’s mission is to advance Black American economic restoration through organized spending, support for Black-owned businesses, ownership, education, institution building, community connection, responsible community development, and long-term community wealth building.

The mission guides every level of leadership. Leaders are expected to protect the organization’s purpose, serve the community responsibly, follow established governance and approval requirements, safeguard information and resources, work collaboratively, and place the long-term interests of the mission above personal recognition or individual control.

Leadership within NBWSAA is a responsibility—not independent authority. No leader may make financial commitments, public statements, appointments, contracts, partnerships, policy decisions, or other organizational commitments unless that authority has been formally approved and documented.

NBWSAA has established a governance foundation that includes Michigan nonprofit corporate formation, Articles of Incorporation, Founder and Mission Steward oversight, documented approval and authority controls, financial accountability requirements, records-management standards, privacy and security protections, and an organizational handbook and operating procedures developed for internal review.

The organization has also created controlled training, compliance, reporting, document-management, and review systems to help leadership responsibilities remain consistent, accountable, and connected to the mission.

These governance materials provide the foundation for responsible operations, but development-complete documents are not automatically active policies. Final implementation, assignments, governing-body authority, and expanded decision-making rights require appropriate review, approval, documentation, and activation.

The About page presents NBWSAA’s current public foundation-building leadership: Renee Neal, Founder and Mission Steward, and Earl Hughes, Vice President. Select Meet the Team on the About page to view their current biographies.

Renee provides mission stewardship, organizational direction, and approval oversight. Earl contributes the experience and support described in his current About-page biography. JB provides AI-assisted administrative support, including drafting, research, document development, project continuity, organizational review, and preparation of materials for Renee’s review and approval. JB does not independently vote, make binding decisions, approve organizational actions, or replace the judgment and authority of authorized human leaders.

The current structure is still developing and is not intended to represent every position NBWSAA may need. Through the “Answer the Call” pathway, NBWSAA is seeking additional serious builders, volunteers, advisers, professionals, business owners, community representatives, and prospective leaders whose skills and experience can strengthen the organization.

The developing structure is intended to include governance and organizational officers; operations and administration; financial accountability; orientation and Builder support; community outreach and member engagement; communications and social media; professional and advisory support; and, when properly established, City and State leadership.

The exact size of the future team has not been finalized. Positions will be added according to organizational needs, available capacity, governing requirements, and formal approval. Expressing interest or participating through “Answer the Call” does not guarantee a title, appointment, board seat, employment, compensation, or decision-making authority.

NBWSAA is developing future leadership opportunities to support the national organization and organized work within participating cities and states. Potential opportunities may include:

• City Leaders and State Leaders

• Governing-body and organizational-officer roles

• Committee and project leadership

• Builder orientation and support

• Community outreach and member engagement

• Business-network development

• Communications and social-media support

• Education, mentoring, and training

• Professional and advisory service

• Other mission-aligned leadership responsibilities

These opportunities are not automatically available or guaranteed. They will be developed and activated according to NBWSAA’s organizational needs, capacity, governance requirements, operating procedures, training, accountability standards, and approved local and state structures.

Individuals interested in future leadership should begin with Answer the Call. NBWSAA will review the submission and may invite the individual to orientation. After orientation, selected individuals may be invited to complete the full Call to Service Application. The application will undergo further review and approval before any written, documented role, appointment, assignment, or next step is offered.

Submitting an interest form, joining the community, attending orientation, completing an application, volunteering, or participating in activities does not guarantee a title, appointment, board seat, employment, compensation, leadership position, decision-making authority, or any other outcome.

A City Leader is a future local leadership role being developed to help organize and support NBWSAA’s mission within a specific city or community.

When activated, City Leaders may help connect residents, Black-owned businesses, professionals, community organizations, and prospective Builders; share approved information; identify local needs and opportunities; support approved outreach and activities; and coordinate with NBWSAA’s State and national leadership structure.

City Leader positions are not currently active. Individuals interested in future consideration should begin with Answer the Call. NBWSAA will review the submission and may invite the individual to orientation. After orientation, selected individuals may be invited to complete the full Call to Service Application. The application will undergo further review and approval before any written appointment, role, assignment, or next step is offered.

Submitting an interest form, attending orientation, completing an application, or participating in NBWSAA does not guarantee selection. Every City Leader must complete all applicable review, approval, training, documentation, and activation requirements. City Leaders may act only within formally granted authority and may not independently bind NBWSAA, collect money, make promises, establish partnerships, make appointments, or speak officially for the organization without authorization.

A State Leader is a future statewide leadership role being developed to help coordinate and support NBWSAA’s mission across participating cities and communities within a state.

When activated, State Leaders may help connect City Leaders, Black-owned businesses, professionals, community organizations, and prospective Builders; identify statewide needs and opportunities; support approved outreach and activities; and coordinate communication between participating cities and NBWSAA’s national leadership structure.

State Leader positions are not currently active. Individuals interested in future consideration should begin with Answer the Call. NBWSAA will review the submission and may invite the individual to orientation. After orientation, selected individuals may be invited to complete the full Call to Service Application. The application will undergo further review and approval before any written appointment, role, assignment, or next step is offered.

Submitting an interest form, attending orientation, completing an application, or participating in NBWSAA does not guarantee selection. Every State Leader must complete all applicable review, approval, training, documentation, and activation requirements. State Leaders may act only within formally granted authority and may not independently bind NBWSAA, collect money, make promises, establish partnerships, appoint City Leaders, or speak officially for the organization without authorization.

No. City Leader and State Leader positions are future leadership roles under development and are not currently active.

Individuals interested in future consideration should begin by completing the Answer the Call interest form. NBWSAA will review the submission and may invite the individual to orientation. After orientation, selected individuals may be invited to complete the full Call to Service Application. The application will undergo further review and approval before any written appointment, role, assignment, or next step is offered.

Submitting an interest form, attending orientation, completing an application, or otherwise participating in NBWSAA does not guarantee selection, appointment, authority, compensation, employment, or any other outcome. No City Leader or State Leader may act on behalf of NBWSAA unless the role, responsibilities, limitations, and authority have been formally approved, documented, and activated in writing.

Leadership consideration begins when an interested individual completes the “Answer the Call” interest form on the NBWSAA website. After reviewing the information, NBWSAA may invite the individual to participate in orientation. Those who complete the appropriate orientation and wish to continue may then be invited to complete the full Call to Service Application.

NBWSAA reviews the completed application based on the organization’s needs, the responsibilities of the role, and the individual’s qualifications, experience, skills, availability, community involvement, mission alignment, conduct, and ability to work within NBWSAA’s standards and accountability requirements. Depending on the position, additional leadership conversations, references, background checks, training, conflict-of-interest review, or other requirements may apply.

Membership dues, personal relationships, financial contributions, volunteer service, orientation, or completion of an application do not purchase or guarantee a leadership position. Every selection must be formally reviewed, approved, documented, and activated before the individual receives a title, responsibilities, or organizational authority.

You may express interest in a future leadership opportunity by completing the “Answer the Call” interest form on the NBWSAA website. Share your city and state, experience, skills, community involvement, availability, the type of leadership or service opportunity that interests you, and how you would like to contribute to the mission.

After reviewing your expression of interest, NBWSAA may invite you to participate in orientation and complete the full Call to Service Application. The full application allows NBWSAA to gather the additional information needed to evaluate qualifications, experience, availability, mission alignment, and potential fit for a leadership or service role.

Free Community Membership is a separate pathway and does not require completion of the leadership application. Submitting an interest form, attending orientation, or completing the full application does not guarantee selection, appointment, a title, employment, compensation, or organizational authority. Every leadership role must complete the applicable review, approval, training, documentation, and activation process.

Qualifications vary according to the responsibilities of each leadership role. In general, prospective leaders should demonstrate integrity, professionalism, sound judgment, accountability, effective communication, community involvement, commitment to NBWSAA’s mission, and the ability to work within established policies, approval requirements, and limits of authority. Relevant experience in business, nonprofit service, education, community development, administration, finance, communications, or organizational leadership may also be considered.

Leadership consideration begins with the Answer the Call interest form. After reviewing the expression of interest, NBWSAA may invite the individual to orientation. After orientation, the individual may be invited to complete the full Call to Service Application. Depending on the position, additional conversations, references, training, background checks, conflict-of-interest review, or other role-specific requirements may apply.

Submitting the interest form, attending orientation, completing the full application, or meeting the general qualifications does not guarantee selection, appointment, a title, employment, compensation, or organizational authority. Every leadership role requires further review, formal approval, documentation, and activation.

NBWSAA leadership roles may be volunteer, appointed, or—in the future—paid positions, depending on the role, organizational need, available funding, governing requirements, and formal approval.

Unless a written agreement expressly states otherwise, participation should be understood as voluntary and unpaid. After the required review, orientation, full Call to Service Application, and selection process are completed, an approved candidate must receive a written appointment or service agreement describing the position, responsibilities, terms, limitations of authority, compensation status, and effective date.

The agreement must be approved by Renee Neal or another formally authorized organizational decision-maker and signed by the selected candidate before the role becomes active. No person may assume a title, begin exercising responsibilities, represent NBWSAA, or receive compensation before the required approval and signed documentation are complete.

Expressing interest, attending orientation, completing the full application, volunteering, or being considered for a position does not guarantee appointment, employment, compensation, reimbursement, continued service, or a permanent role.

City and State Leaders will primarily focus on approved activities within the cities, states, and communities they serve. City Leaders may help organize local outreach, connect residents and Black-owned businesses, identify community needs and opportunities, support approved local activities, and assist with developing community-based projects. State Leaders may help coordinate communication, resources, and collaboration among participating cities within their state.

NBWSAA will serve as a national connection point through which local and state leaders can remain connected online, exchange approved information, learn from work taking place in other communities, identify businesses and organizations in different locations, and explore appropriate opportunities for collaboration across cities and states.

When assistance is needed and organizational capacity permits, NBWSAA may provide training, planning support, approved resources, technical assistance, or help with developing a community-development project. NBWSAA may also help leaders serve as liaisons between communities, coordinate approved projects involving multiple cities, and connect local work with the broader national mission.

Each leader will have only the responsibilities and authority specifically granted in approved written documents. They will not automatically have voting, financial, contracting, hiring, appointment, fundraising, partnership, publication, or organization-wide decision-making authority. They may not independently collect money, make promises, enter agreements, appoint other leaders, issue official statements, or otherwise bind NBWSAA without specific written authorization.

Before a role becomes active, its geographic area, responsibilities, limits of authority, reporting requirements, compensation status, and effective date must be stated in a written appointment or service agreement approved by Renee Neal or another formally authorized organizational decision-maker and signed by the selected candidate.

City and State Leader positions are still under development and are not currently active or open for formal appointment.

Voting and decision-making authority belongs only to the individuals or governing bodies formally authorized through NBWSAA’s governing documents, approved resolutions, written appointments, and documented delegations of authority.

During the current foundation-building stage, Renee Neal, Founder and Mission Steward, retains organizational approval and decision-making oversight unless specific authority is formally delegated in writing. Team participation, Free Community Membership, Builder service, orientation, completion of an application, a leadership title, financial support, or involvement in a project does not automatically create voting or decision-making rights.

As NBWSAA establishes its governing body and organizational-officer structure, voting rights, meeting requirements, officer responsibilities, conflicts-of-interest procedures, and decision-making authority will be defined through the applicable governing documents and formal approvals.

City Leaders, State Leaders, Builders, advisers, volunteers, partners, contractors, staff members, and community members may provide information, recommendations, expertise, or project support, but they may make binding decisions only when that authority has been specifically approved and documented.

JB, Renee Neal’s AI Executive Administrative Assistant, supports research, drafting, document development, project continuity, organizational review, and preparation for Renee’s approval. JB does not vote, make binding decisions, approve organizational actions, or replace authorized human judgment.