URGENT UPDATE FROM MAKAL ALI

ON MOVING FORWARD

ST. LOUIS (Aug. 7, 2025) --"This message serves as an important update to a previous communication we shared with our members and the M/WBE business community in St. Louis. At the time, I was provided information that led me to believe the city’s M/WBE program was not under threat, and that only new certifications were temporarily paused until federal disaster relief funding was secured. I want to be clear: had I known the full scope of what was being planned, I would never have issued that statement. Misinformation, regardless of intent, misleads and harms the very communities we are here to protect.

"Like many in our community, AABCA was blindsided and deeply outraged when Mayor Spencer recently announced the full termination of the City’s M/WBE program. This action flies in the face of decades of progress and equity. We do not support this decision. Since the announcement, AABCA has been in active discussions with Mayor Spencer, the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), members of the Board of Aldermen and other organizations. Our goal is clear: to work toward a resolution and full restoration of the legal protections and pathways that have historically helped minority and women-owned businesses gain fair access to city contracts and public works opportunities.

"Moving forward, our organization will be updating and expanding our AABCA Watch List to hold developers, contractors, and project stakeholders accountable. Let it be known, we are watching. We will call out and confront those who disregard equity, transparency, and participation on projects funded by our tax dollars. One such project now under review is Midas Hospitality, where Brinkman Construction serves as the general contractor. These entities must answer the community—and to history. 

"Lastly, we want to announce that David Jackson is no longer with our organization, but our mission continues with the same clarity and commitment he helped build. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.

"AABCA remains steadfast in our mission to fight for economic inclusion and social justice for minorities, women , disadvantaged and small business enterprises in Missouri and across the nation. The path forward may be steep, but our purpose is clear. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” Let us stay united in that truth, holding fast to our courage and our faith in one another."

Respectfully and on behalf of the AABCA Board of Directors,

Makal Ali

President & Co-Founder