Detroit Regional Chamber > Racial Justice & Economic Equity > BasBlue Celebrates One Year of Community Impact and Growing Network

BasBlue Celebrates One Year of Community Impact and Growing Network

November 3, 2022

Michigan Chronicle
Miss AJ Williams

Nov. 2, 2022

BasBlue is celebrating one year of incredible growth and impact with its first annual gala and fundraiser: Volume 1 | Amplifying the Women of Detroit. 

Since opening in October 2021, BasBlue, a nonprofit space on Detroit’s historic E. Ferry Street, has welcomed more than 700 members, the majority of which are Detroit residents, and more than half are women of color. During the past year, BasBlue offered more than 100 educational and wellness programs, partnered with 40 small businesses to help bring the space to life, and entertained more than 5,300 visitors. Collectively, BasBlue members have volunteered 800 hours serving the community. These statistics provide just a small glimpse of BasBlue’s community impact. 

“We’re extremely proud of what we’ve been able to do in just our first year,” said Natacha Hildebrand, co-founder of BasBlue. “Aside from creating a safe space for women and non-binary individuals to connect and network, we’ve remained committed to our mission of building bridges where there are none and providing support to those who need it most. We are eager to keep the momentum going as we continue to provide access, incubate, and grow through our impact strategy.” 

On Nov. 10, BasBlue will host its first annual fundraiser: Volume 1 | Amplifying the Women of Detroit by inviting the public to join the celebration as they highlight local women-owned businesses including vendors, artists, musicians, spoken word lyricists, food experiences, and more. The goal of this event is to raise $250,000 to support The BasBlue Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to increase educational access, career opportunities and financial support for historically underrepresented individuals and communities. 

The BasBlue Foundation helps individuals build social capital, self-confidence, and self-sufficiency. Over the next three years, it looks to build a robust endowment that will provide capital and resources to our impact programs and help sustain the organization for years to come. BasBlue will also mark the one year anniversary with a Member Appreciation event on Giving Tuesday, which will include 12 hours of giving back to their membership community and support to other non-profit organizations. 

“It has been an amazing first year for BasBlue,” said Nancy Tellem, co-founder of BasBlue. “When we opened our doors one year ago, we hoped to create a space of connection and support for women and non-binary individuals. It has been gratifying to watch our community thrive and bring the BasBlue Foundation to life. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our members, donors and the incredible hard working BasBlue Team.” 

BasBlue is offering a range of sponsorships and opportunities to support the BasBlue Gala and The BasBlue Foundation. Visit BasBlue’s website, www.basblueus.com/gala for details.