Seventeen-year-old Bilal Ramos is working to change the way people experience chocolate while honoring his Belizean heritage.
Ramos sources cacao, the plant used to make chocolate from the country, and hopes to create healthier alternatives to traditional cocoa products.
“I wanted to do something that represents my community from Belize,” Ramos said. “That’s my heritage, that’s my culture, something I’m proud of.”
Ramos and his business ‘The Mayan Way‘ were among the participants at an event in Macon focused on helping Black business leaders connect with experts, resources and opportunities for growth.
For Ramos, the event was also a chance to learn.
“I just want to be a sponge,” he said. “Talk to people, learn from people. So that in return I can become a better person.”
The event is part of a two-day partnership between the Georgia The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus and the Georgia Coalition of Black Chambers.
The gathering brought together entrepreneurs, community leaders and lawmakers to discuss ways to expand opportunities for Black-owned businesses across Georgia.
Organizers said the effort is about more than business development. It also includes creating a framework for policy and civic engagement.
“We can’t do this alone,” said Charise Stephens of the Central Georgia Coalition of Black Businesses. “We need the legislators to let us know about legislative priorities. We need small businesses that will let them know what needs to be done. And just Black people in general.”
That framework, called “Black Print,” is being developed with input from conference attendees. The goal is to strengthen Black economic opportunities throughout the state.
Georgia state Rep. Shaygwen Adayna is among the lawmakers helping build the framework. He said creating better laws starts with electing representatives who understand and reflect the priorities of their communities.
“So how do we create better laws?” Adayna said. “It is by making sure that when we vote, the people who represent our interests represent what’s important to our communities.”
Civic engagement was a major topic at the conference, as Georgia voters go to the polls for hotly contested races in November.
Stephens said voting is directly connected to the progress made by previous generations.
“My grandmother, they fought for the right to vote,” Stephens said as she got emotional. “They fought for so much, and we’re letting some of those liberties slip away.”
The organizers said the conference is part of a broader effort to bring business and politics together while strengthening Black economic power across Georgia.
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