Jennifer Hudson and Mastercard are on a mission to uplift Black women-owned businesses!

According to Businesswire, the company has announced the Strivers Initiative — a consumer-facing platform that will elevate the visibility of Black female business owners who are overcoming obstacles to grow and maintain their business.

Strivers Initiative kicks off with a national ad spot that will not only feature Black women business owners from across the nation, but GRAMMY Award winning singer/songwriter Jennifer Hudson will make an appearance too.

The initiative will partner with Fearless VC, a fund built by women of color for women of color, to sponsor a grant program. This will also include a multi-city educational road show to drive awareness of the state of minority and women-owned businesses in cities across the U.S. while also providing insight to actions that cities can take to create an equitable climate.

No mountain can stop Black women business owners. Join us and @IAMJHUD – shop, share & support their businesses and start something #Priceless. Learn more: https://t.co/Mjk4GIHk5l pic.twitter.com/RpgWTTdLuy

— Mastercard (@Mastercard) February 16, 2021

“For years, Black women have built businesses at a pace far greater than any other minority group, with a focus on building businesses that give back to their communities,” said Cheryl Guerin, EVP Marketing and Communications in North America for Mastercard. “The pandemic has delivered financial headwinds that threaten the economic progress of Black female business owners and because of this, Mastercard is taking action, while also calling on consumers and corporates alike to shop, share and support these women.”

In the new ad spot, Mastercard ambassador Jennifer Hudson will perform her own rendition of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” produced by will.i.am. The song serves as an anthem for Black women business owners across the country whose businesses serve as pillars of their community and who are paving their Path to Priceless.

“I am fortunate to have been influenced and inspired by so many incredible Black female role models as I’ve pursued my dreams, but that’s not always the case for all Black girls and women,” Jennifer Hudson shared in a statement. “Entrepreneurship has always been a part of the American Dream and the work that Mastercard is doing to elevate these visible, strong Black Women business owners and highlight the support they’re providing our communities is hugely important to me and to the impact of future generations.”

Click here to shop with Black Women and learn more about Strivers Initiative.

Jennifer Hudson

Sign up for our daily Newsletter.