BWPL Business Owners Association

A community where Black women entrepreneurs learn, grow, and build legacy through collaboration and shared success.

We Help You Create The Foundation

You’ve built something powerful. But sustaining and scaling your vision requires strategy, systems, and a supportive community that understands the journey of entrepreneurship.

The BWPL Business Owners Association was created to provide that foundation. This is a space for Black women business owners to connect, collaborate, and grow their businesses with confidence and clarity.

Membership Benefits

1. Increased Visibility

Be listed in the BWPL Business Directory, a trusted source connecting members to clients, partners, and organizations committed to supporting Black-owned businesses.

2. Private Networking Community

Be listed in the BWPL Business Directory, a trusted source connecting members to clients, partners, and organizations committed to supporting Black-owned businesses.

3. Financial Literacy & Sales Coaching

Gain access to practical financial education and sales coaching designed to help you strengthen your revenue streams, manage cash flow, and sell more effectively.

4. Business Development Sessions

Be listed in the BWPL Business Directory, a trusted source connecting members to clients, partners, and organizations committed to supporting Black-owned businesses.

5. Featured Business of the Month

Be listed in the BWPL Business Directory, a trusted source connecting members to clients, partners, and organizations committed to supporting Black-owned businesses.

6. Exclusive Event Discounts

Receive discounted access to BWPL quarterly networking events, where members meet to exchange ideas, resources, and referrals that promote collective growth.

Why It Matters

Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States, launching businesses at more than four times the national average. Yet, studies show that many face ongoing barriers to funding, mentorship, and strategic networks that lead to sustainable success.

Entrepreneurs who participate in supportive business communities are 80% more likely to achieve long-term growth. The BWPL Business Owners Association exists to close that gap by creating an ecosystem where learning, collaboration, and accountability lead to measurable results.

Join a Network That Invests in You

If you are ready to increase your business IQ, expand your reach, and grow alongside a community of high-achieving women committed to excellence, the BWPL Business Owners Association is for you.

A Personal Message from Our Founder

Cheresa “Reese” LaFrances Purnell

Founder & CEO, Black Women Professionals League

When I first launched the Black Women Professionals League in 2015, it was an initiative created to highlight the success of young women professionals and galvanize them to volunteer and give back to the organization I was serving at the time.

It wasn’t until 2022 that I took the leap to officially incorporate BWPL as a business entity. And let me tell you, even with more than 20 years of experience creating and running programs, running a business was an entirely different journey. I had so much to learn, and in many ways, I’m still learning every single day.

That experience is exactly why the BWPL Business Owners Association means so much to me. I understand firsthand what it takes to balance purpose, profit, and perseverance. I know the late nights, the tough decisions, and the moments where you question if it’s all worth it.

But I also know what happens when we have the right people and resources around us — we grow faster, smarter, and stronger.

This community is my answer to that.

I don’t want us to just survive as business owners. I want us to thrive.

Together, we can build something that not only sustains our businesses but strengthens our legacy. I believe this community is the key to the support we all need to win.

With gratitude and growth,

Reese