BIA (Black Incubator & Accelerator) Project
CCHE’s Black Incubator & Accelerator (BIA) Project is an annual capacity-building program for emerging Black-led community-based organizations addressing health equity gaps in and around HIV in the South and West Sides of Chicago. Upon acceptance into the program, organizations receive seed funding of up to $10,000. Over the course of nine months, they receive structured capacity building support from program staff and consulting partners, towards a shared mission of improving holistic health services within these community areas. BIA was piloted to an inaugural cohort of four organizations in 2022, and has only grown in scope and depth since then. In January 2025, BIA accepted 13 organizations into its fourth annual cohort.
BIA 2025 Cohort
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Casa Esperanza Project
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Esteem Awards LGBTQ & People of Color Epiphany Arts Foundation
Testimonials
“Erica was one of the most instrumental ways that I was supported in BIA. Having the Ask the Attorney sessions, and having her guide us on the rules of engagement of 501(c)(3) was very beneficial.[…] Her explaining it differently made all the difference and made me think bigger.”Erica Spangler Raz from Spangler Raz Law & Consulting LLC.
“Jerome’ gave me the tools and ideas to develop my board. There were things that I didn’t think about at first, because of my stress with the state of my organization that I did'n’t even know where to start. […] Now I’m more confident on how to scout for board members, because he gave me a couple of strategies.”
