Greenbook Launches New Platform For Local Black, & Minority-Owned Businesses

HAMPTON ROADS

Hampton Roads resident Seko Varner recently announced the official launch of The Hampton Roads Greenbook, a pioneering cell phone app and website resource directory designed to grow wealth in the Black community.

The Hampton Roads Greenbook spotlights Black-owned businesses, professionals, and organizations throughout the Hampton Roads area to bolster the local economy by enhancing the circulation of money within the community.

After months of meticulous development, this innovative platform is now available to the general public, with free Android and Apple app store downloads.

According to a study by the Selig Center for Economic Growth, money circulates significantly more within Latino and Asian communities compared to Black communities. In white neighborhoods, the circulation is virtually limitless. The Hampton Roads Greenbook aims to ensure that economic resources circulate more robustly and enduringly within the community by providing a comprehensive directory of local Black and minority-owned enterprises.

This modern iteration of the historic “Green Book” pays homage to the original Negro Motorist Greenbook of the 1930s, created by Harlem postal carrier Victor Green and his wife Alma. The original Greenbook served as a vital guide for travelers, highlighting businesses and services that welcomed all patrons across America and beyond. Similarly, The Hampton Roads Greenbook serves as a contemporary resource for the Hampton Roads area, spotlighting Black, Latinx, Veteran, Women, and Minority organizations and businesses while remaining inclusive of all.

The platform operates on a Freemium, offering free basic listings for Black-owned businesses, professionals, and organizations. Users can upgrade to paid listings, place advertisements, and share event information and articles. Additional features include links to job opportunities, health resources, support for those in abusive relationships, and other community services.

Seko Varner says his commitment to the community is personal and professional. He is currently a teacher at Granby High School in Norfolk and a consulting and entertainment company owner. Born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in Ohio, he relocated to Virginia Beach in 1990 after graduating from Hampton University.

Varner has since been active in the Hampton Roads community, earning degrees from Old Dominion University and Regent University and completing an Educational Leadership Certification from George Washington University.

He says the Hampton Roads Greenbook is set to become an invaluable resource for connecting local businesses and organizations with the community while fostering economic growth and unity.

For a FREE listing or to explore partnership opportunities, visit http://www.HRGreenbook.com. For further inquiries, contact HamptonRoadsGreenbook@gmail.com or call Mr. Seko Varner at (757) 932-0177.