MassLive recently asked readers to identify people they consider Black leaders in Massachusetts, working to make a difference in politics, education, business, the arts or another area of interest.
Profiles of these leaders will be published leading up to the Juneteenth holiday on June 19. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.
Ronald Molina-BrantleySebastian Restrepo
Ronald Molina-Brantley
Age: 43
Community: Springfield
His story: After earning his MBA from American International College, Ronald Molina-Brantley served as the COO of Valley Venture Mentors. In this position, he was able to build a solid foundation of skills to help mentor and provide strategic support to emerging businesses while also helping them with the challenges of growth and sustainability.
Molina-Brantley then joined Berkshire Bank as head of multicultural banking. He told MassLive, “I dedicated myself to helping historically marginalized communities gain access to capital. My work at Berkshire Bank allowed me to witness firsthand the transformative power of providing financial resources and strategic guidance to underserved business owners.”
Molina-Brantley’s experience further reinforced his belief in the importance of equitable access to capital and support. With this belief, Brantley led initiatives that provided crucial financial resources and training, supporting many businesses in the community. In September 2021, Molina-Brantley and his husband, Kelvin, co-founded the Entrepreneurial and Business Collaborative (E&BC). Molina-Brantley said that the organization recognizes the systemic inequities that disproportionately affect minority, women, and LGBTQ-owned businesses.
“These entrepreneurs often find themselves trapped in a cycle of debt and financial vulnerability due to a flawed and fundamentally broken system,” Molina-Brantley told MassLive. “This is not merely a failure of finance; it’s a failure of justice. Our work aims to rectify these disparities, creating pathways for marginalized communities to achieve economic independence and success.”
In addition to E&BC, Ronald founded a local nonprofit called Seeding Ventures in March 2023. It offers the Micro-SEED Program (Supporting Entrepreneurs for Economic Development) for minority, women, and LGBTQ businesses in Western Mass. The Pilot Program is a revolving loan fund that provides a sustainable solution to these business owners and helps them overcome financial barriers and succeed.
Each of the trainings is designed to support the customers by enhancing their skills, expanding their business or finding a supportive network. As Brantley said, E&BC’s goal is to “build a thriving ecosystem where every entrepreneur can realize their potential and contribute to the economic vibrancy of our community.”
Molina-Brantley continues working to uplift the community, advocate for equitable access to resources, and foster economic development. He hopes that by empowering entrepreneurs, it will create ripples of positive change.
“I aim to build on this foundation, driving forward a legacy of empowerment, resilience, and success for the Black and African American community in Massachusetts and beyond,” Molina-Brantley said.
Molina-Brantley encourages those who are pursuing work in supporting historically marginalized communities and fostering economic development to be grounded in commitment, empathy and have a strategic approach. He also encouraged others to commit deeply to their missions, embrace empathy, continuously expand their skills, build strong networks, advocate for systemic change and remain patient and persistent.
In his words: “By staying committed, empathetic, knowledgeable, and collaborative, you can help create a more equitable and thriving community.”
We’re always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If you’d like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
