Celebrating Eight Years of Empowerment: The Legacy and Future of BLOC
Eight years. That’s eight years of building, thriving, and proving what’s possible when we come together. BLOC is officially eight years old! This milestone is a celebration of you, of us, of every entrepreneur, dreamer, and doer who has made this movement what it is today.
With BLOC we break barriers, lift each other up and turn visions into reality. And the best part? We’re just getting started.
The number eight carries deep meaning across cultures, it represents prosperity, balance, and infinite possibility. It is a number that never ends, looping seamlessly, symbolizing continuity, endurance, and evolution. And isn’t that exactly what BLOC is? A force that adapts, grows, and redefines what success looks like for business owners of color, women, immigrants, and all those carving their own paths.
But this milestone is more than a number. It’s a testament to strength, the kind of strength that Bronze, the traditional gift for an eighth anniversary, represents. Bronze is forged by blending elements together, creating something durable, unbreakable. Just like BLOC, it is not one thing, but many, brought together in a way that makes it stronger than ever.
A Legacy of Building Against the Odds
For generations, entrepreneurship has been an act of resilience. In Ithaca, Upstate New York, and beyond, business owners of color, women, and immigrants have always found ways to thrive in systems that were not built for us. We have fought for access to funding, for fair opportunities, for a seat at the table, or, when that failed, we built our own.
In the early days, Black-owned businesses in Ithaca flourished despite legal and economic discrimination. The Southside neighborhood, with its deep-rooted history, became a hub for Black entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency. But policies like redlining, discriminatory lending, and exclusionary business practices made it clear: opportunity was not evenly distributed. For many, starting a business was not just about success, but survival.
Fast forward to today, and these same challenges persist. Access to capital, resources, and networks remains a barrier for many underrepresented entrepreneurs. Grants exist, but navigating them is like solving a puzzle without all the pieces. Mentorship is out there, but connections are still too often reserved for the privileged few. The system has not changed enough. That’s why BLOC exists, not just to fill gaps, but to break barriers wide open.
BLOC: The Answer That Keeps Growing
When Gladys Brangman founded BLOC in 2017, she wasn’t just forming a business network. She was writing a new rulebook. She saw people with the drive, talent, and vision to build something real, but who lacked the support and access that others took for granted. She saw potential and she did something about it.
BLOC was born from a simple but powerful truth: no one succeeds alone. Business ownership can feel like a lonely road, but not here. Here, success is built together. Every entrepreneur who has walked through BLOC’s doors has contributed to something bigger than themselves, a community that lifts as it climbs.
In the past eight years, BLOC has:
Helped hundreds of entrepreneurs in Ithaca and beyond build sustainable businesses.
Provided essential mentorship, resources, and connections that turn ideas into income.
Fostered a culture of collaboration, where businesses support each other, creating a ripple effect of economic growth.
Grown into a movement that challenges outdated systems and builds new opportunities.
And we are just getting started.
What’s Next? A Future That Reflects Our Strength
BLOC’s eighth year is not just a reflection on where we’ve been, it’s a launching point for where we are going. Balance, prosperity, and infinite possibilities, just like the number eight.
More community-driven events to foster collaboration, networking, and education.
Expansion into AI, technology, and digital tools to give BLOC members a competitive edge in the modern business world.
Stronger local and international partnerships to increase funding opportunities and resources for members.
New initiatives that make entrepreneurship accessible to all, breaking down financial and systemic barriers.
And most importantly? BLOC will continue to be led by you. Every business owner, every supporter, every person who believes in what’s possible. BLOC is not just an organization, it’s a movement. It’s Gladys. It’s its members. It’s its community. BLOC is YOU.
So here’s to eight years of breaking barriers, blending strengths, and building a future where access is not a privilege, but a right. And here’s to the next eight.
