<www.leaderkarencamper.com/tnmedweek>Friend,

Yesterday, we officially kicked off Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Tennessee 2025, as proclaimed by Governor Bill Lee for October 12–19!

MED Week is a time to celebrate the incredible contributions of minority-owned businesses — and to continue a proud bipartisan American tradition that dates back more than five decades.

In 1969, President Richard Nixon created the Office of Minority Business Enterprise. Then in 1983, President Ronald Reagan issued Executive Order 12432, directing federal agencies to strengthen minority business participation and establishing MED Week as a national observance.

Since then, every President — including Donald Trump and Joe Biden — has continued this legacy by issuing proclamations recognizing the value and impact of minority entrepreneurs.

Tennessee is proud to carry that legacy forward. From Memphis to Nashville, Chattanooga, and beyond, our state is home to Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American business leaders who are transforming communities, creating jobs, and building generational wealth.

🔹 Our Flagship Event

We’ll mark MED Week Tennessee 2025 with the Contracting Summit on Tuesday, October 14, in Nashville, bringing together business owners, government partners, and corporate leaders to share strategies for winning contracts, accessing capital, and scaling success.

👉 Register for the Contracting Summit » <[link removed]>

🔹 How You Can Participate

MED Week isn’t just one event — it’s a statewide movement. Everyone can play a part in supporting minority-owned businesses:

✅ Host a “Buy Diverse” day or networking lunch for local entrepreneurs.

✅ Invite a minority-owned business to bid on your next project.

✅ Highlight a local success story on your social media or company intranet.

✅ Mentor an emerging entrepreneur or connect them to resources.

✅ Commit to buy diverse year-round — make inclusion a business standard.

Each of these actions strengthens Tennessee’s economy and ensures opportunity reaches every corner of our state.

🔹 Our Shared Commitment

From the halls of government to small-town storefronts, we’re proving that supporting minority-owned businesses isn’t political — it’s practical. It’s how we create jobs, grow communities, and open doors for the next generation of innovators and leaders.

Let’s make MED Week Tennessee 2025 not just a celebration, but a commitment to build what’s next — together.

With gratitude and determination,



Hon. Karen D. Camper, House Minority (Democratic) Leader
Tennessee House of Representatives

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<www.leaderkarencamper.com/tnmedweek> <[link removed]>Sign up to attend the Contracting Summit! <[link removed]> <www.leaderkarencamper.com/tnmedweek>🔥 Fireside Chat Spotlight! 🔥

Did you know Memphis ranks 9th in the nation for Black millionaires per capita? 💼💰

That’s no coincidence — it’s the result of vision, strategy, and leadership from people like Jozelle Luster Booker, President & CEO of The MMBC Continuum.

Join us for a powerful Fireside Chat: “Lessons from Memphis — Statewide Partnerships That Translate to Immediate Wins for Suppliers” during MED Week Tennessee 2025 Contracting Summit.

Come learn how Memphis built a thriving ecosystem for Black entrepreneurs — and how we can replicate that success across Tennessee and beyond.

Jozelle Luster Booker
President and CEO
Mid-South Minority Business Council Continuum

Jozelle Luster Booker is the President and CEO of The MMBC Continuum and MMC-TADP, advancing small business growth through advocacy, consulting, capacity building, access to capital, and connections to public and private contracts. Under her leadership, the organization delivered 5,000+ services in 2024, with members reporting $500M in contract awards and $1.5B in revenue.


She joined the MMBC Continuum in 2017 following a 31-year career at Memphis Light, Gas, and Water Division, where she built an award-winning supplier diversity program that achieved half a billion dollars in minority, women, and small business spending—becoming a model across West Tennessee.


Recognized among Memphis’ most powerful leaders, Booker has earned honors including the Memphis Business Journal Power 100 (2023–2025), the Grizzlies’ HBCU Endowment Award, and Leadership Memphis’ 2025 Kate Gooch Leader of the Year Award. She holds degrees from Jackson State University and the University of Memphis and actively serves in numerous civic and professional organizations.

<[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]> <[link removed]>Rep. Karen D. Camper, Tennessee House Minority Leader

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3545 Hazelhedge Dr.; Memphis, TN 38116

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