Calvin Williams' goal is nothing if not ambitious: “I want this to be the one call you make to access talent, products and services in the African-American community. I'd say we're moving strongly in that direction.”

        Mr. Williams, a 43-year-old College Hill resident and Pittsburgh native who's been here since 1985, is the new program services manager of the Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African-American Chamber of Commerce. It is a 700-member group catering to the needs of African-American businesses.

Calvin Williams (Enquirer photo) | ZOOM |

        It's really not all that new for him because he's something of a people specialist. After moving to Cincinnati, he managed a Wendy's — “loved mixing it up with the customers” — then signed on as manager in the financial resource redevelopment division at United Way. Meaning a fund-raiser. That job brought him into contact with companies such as Cintas, Cinergy and PNC.

        Then, the African-American Chamber and a deceptively simple title that keeps him hopping way beyond the basic eight-hour day.

        “On the surface, I develop the programs and services we offer members to help them survive and succeed. But beyond that, my job is to help members find and develop opportunities with the ultimate goal of giving strength to the black business community and helping it become a vital part of the larger Cincinnati business community.”

        You get the feeling he'll succeed, step by tiny step. He has already set up a series of networking events to get black businesses talking to each other. He's also inviting corporate Cincinnati in — black and white — to get to know the community and is finding “their enthusiasm toward us is high.”

        Right now a priority is building the chamber's data base — finding out everything he can about the 700 member businesses.

        “You know why I need that? People call here, they say, "I want a black plumber or a black mover or a black roofer.' I need that business information to be able to answer their questions.

        “Like the lady who called a while back and wanted a black male psychologist. It took me a week and a half to find five names. If I had the data base, it would have taken no time at all.

        “I have a passion for hooking people up, but I can't do it in a vacuum.”

        Networking is one passion, volunteering is another: The Alliance for Leadership and Interconnection; Genesis Men's Program (no relation to Genesis Redevelopment); United Way.

        But his big and most consuming passion right now is 8-year-old son Aaron Jamal. “One thing I'm so proud of in my life is Aaron. I love him and I love being his dad.

        “This is our year of music. My son is already taking drama lessons and basketball clinics. Now he's going to learn African drums. And me, I'm going to learn an instrument too. Probably percussion.

        “I want so much for Aaron. I bought my first house at 42. I want him to buy his at 22. I want him to have choices and options. I want him to be a free thinker and to be free to live his life being who he is. And yes, he will go to college.

        Mr. Williams went into the military instead of college, but he'll tackle school soon.

        “I had good parents and good public schooling and a wealth of life experiences, so I've been lucky. Then, in the military in 1977 I auditioned — that's what they called it, an audition — for a job in the print and broadcast division. I got it and an on-the-job education.

        “I'll start college this year. I've always been blessed with communication skills, above average with the written and spoken word. It's what I'm going to expand on now.”

        Hmmm. Work 10 or so hours a day. Volunteer all over town. Time for Aaron. Time for music lessons. Time to be a basketball fanatic, especially with his beloved UC Bearcats.

        Time to sleep?

        “Not a lot. Especially now. I'm a first-time homeowner and I love it. I look out every window and I think, "It's mine.' I'm the second out of seven children and only the second of us to own a home. But it's work.”

        So is, well, just getting along. Mr. Williams is well aware of and tuned into the city's racial problems.

        “I don't see myself ever leaving Cincinnati, but it's a tough place, so very tense around racial issues. And I mean both within our community and with whites. It's a very parochial place where outside thinking is not respected or desired.

        “To be out front, to be a black male, it can be difficult here because this is a difficult place to be who you are.

        “On the flip side, I've never lived in a more beautiful city or one with better amenities such as cost of living, parks, arts, cultural institutions.

        “That dichotomy makes it tough living here. That dichotomy is also why I volunteer with Genesis, a helping group for disenfranchised African-American men. We believe that people behave badly because they're hurt. Our premise is, let's heal.

        “That said, I'm always very careful to say I'm not an activist. I'm just a dude who helps.”

        Hmm. So let's hit him with some fill-in-the blanks before he goes off on another 10-hour day.

        What the African-American business community needs most ...

I would say a real, meaningful, productive African-American Chamber. African-American businesses have specific needs in terms of services and programs. After we fill the needs, we can export our members to the larger community.

        The best thing I can do for it ...

Is to be the best leader I can be and to be of great service to this (African-American business) community.

        If I accomplish nothing else, I want to ...

Sit courtside at the Crosstown Shootout. And not on X's side. Right behind Bob Huggins.

        I'm guessing my biggest obstacle in this job will be ...

I don't worry about them. I look back at the path that led me here and I realize there are no obstacles. You know why? Because I'm a survivor. I'm standing on the shoulders of a million black people who went before me.

        One question you should have asked me but didn't ...

How can I help you get to meet Bob Huggins? I know a lot of people in town don't like him, but I won't rest until we meet.

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