Celebrating Black Business Month with Board Member Laci Chisholm

Meet Laci Chisholm, Founder and Executive Director of Fit4Dance, a Brooklyn-based dance and wellness studio, and a member of the BCS board. In celebration of Black Business Month, we sat down with Laci to talk about the role Black businesses play in Brooklyn and how building her own shaped how she serves the place she calls home.

Why Black Business Month Matters

Black Business Month highlights the economic impact of Black entrepreneurs and draws attention to the unique challenges they face. For twelve years, Laci has been growing Fit4Dance through rising rent costs, predatory contractors, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Black Business Month is a beautiful opportunity to recognize what it takes to build, sustain, and grow these businesses,” says Laci.

Laci is proud that after twelve years of open doors, she’s created a multi-generational community hub that offers dance, fitness, wellness programming, youth and senior programs, and so much more. Fit4Dance has become such a cornerstone in the community that they were recently selected for the Community Energy Project—a partnership between CitizensNYC and National Grid. The grant will allow Fit4Dance to expand its impact beyond dance and fitness by connecting their community to resources around energy affordability, efficiency, and resilience.

“To me, it’s another example of what Fit4Dance has always been about,” says Laci. “Using the trust we’ve built to help our community thrive in every way.”

(C) PAUL MARTINKA

Through her work, Laci is deeply connected to what people in our community are experiencing every day. “It reminds me that the best solutions come from listening, building trust, and meeting people where they are,” she reflects. And that perspective is what Laci brings to the BCS board, where she has also volunteered for the last ten years.

“My relationship with BCS is rooted in long-term service, trust, and shared values around dignity, access, and care,” says Laci. She also believes “the people closest to the challenges should always have a voice in shaping the solutions,” and that conviction is one reason her voice carries so much weight on the board; she is deeply invested in the organization’s role as a stabilizing force in Brooklyn communities.

Philanthropy and Business, Intertwined

Laci has merged who she is as both a philanthropist and a business owner. She is committed to building and uplifting institutions that last. “Philanthropy to me is about sharing whatever you have to give—money, time, knowledge, space, resources, or simply showing up for someone. As a business owner, I believe our impact should extend beyond the services we provide. Strong communities are built when we invest in one another and make sure that as we grow, we’re creating opportunities for others to grow with us,” she shares.

When it comes to Black-women-owned businesses, Laci knows that visibility matters because, “when people see Black women owning businesses, creating jobs, leading in wellness and the arts, and building spaces in our own communities, it expands what feels possible. And for me, it’s important that we’re not just represented in these industries; we have ownership and a voice in shaping them.”

To others who are looking for the perfect moment to start a business, or who are looking out and seeing opportunity everywhere but can’t quite figure out how to seize it, Laci shares, “Start before everything feels perfect, because it probably never will. Be clear about your purpose, learn your numbers, ask for help, and build relationships with people who genuinely support your vision. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to take up space—literally and figuratively.”

Support Black-Owned Businesses All Year Long

So this month, and every month, show up for the Black-owned businesses in your community. As Laci puts it: “Take the class, book the space, tell a friend, leave a review, and come back. We often support celebrities and major corporations without hesitation; our local businesses deserve that same energy.” Consistent, intentional support allows businesses like Fit4Dance to stay in our communities, create jobs, and keep giving back.

Thank you, Laci, for building a home for movement, culture, and connection—and for showing Brooklyn what it looks like to grow a business that grows the whole community with it.