M/WBE In the Mix: We’re Making Matches!
On May 17, 2024, the DSS/HRA/DHS M/WBE Program Team partnered with the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services to deliver our first in-person matchmaking event. Our Minority- and/or Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) Matchmaking Series began in 2022 and has grown to become a key part of our strategy to bring M/WBEs together with procurement decision-makers from our agencies and the for-profit, non-profit, and community-based organizations we work with.
Our most recent event brought 14 Human Service Providers and 64 M/WBEs together for over 400 in-person matchmaking sessions. One in five or 20% of the M/WBEs who have attended past events later secured a contract with DSS/HRA/DHS or with one of our participating Providers, so we’re excited to celebrate more success stories.
Raymond Daniel Medina, who leads our contractor diversity program, shared, “We see our Human Service Providers as partners. We’ve developed information resources and matchmaking events that literally bring M/WBEs right to their table to discuss contracting opportunities. We’re very grateful to our agency partners and Providers for joining our mission to bring diverse vendors into the service of our clients and communities. It really shows that the City works best when we work together.”