More than 3000 business owners convened at Malcom X College in Chicago to discuss new criteria established in the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Interim Final Ruling to amend the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Regulation. The Illinois Unified Certification Program (ILUCP) Partners assembled the group to announce the deadline, November 24, for companies to submit Personal Narratives and Personal Net Worth Statements, as specified by the USDOT Ruling.

The ILUCP Partners are Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT,) City of Chicago, Chicago Transportation Authority, Metra and Pace. The Partnership was established as a “one-stop” certification process for Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs). DBE certification is needed to participate on projects that utilize federal funds.

DBE Personal Narratives, now required for DBE Certification, focus on demonstrating social and economic disadvantage through detailed, personal stories of setbacks in education, employment, or business. These narratives should include specific details about who was involved, what happened, where it took place, when it occurred, why the incident was motivated by bias, and how it impacted the business owner's ability to succeed.

Examples of incidents that can be used for a DBE personal narrative include the following.

Education: A narrative detailing how you were consistently overlooked for advanced classes or scholarships due to racial bias, hindering your educational and future business prospects.

Employment: An account of being denied a promotion or being passed over for a position, even when more qualified than other candidates, because of your ethnicity, gender, or other protected characteristic.

Financing: A story about being denied a business loan or being offered less favorable terms compared to non-disadvantaged business owners for the same loan.

Business Operations: A narrative about being consistently unable to secure contracts or clients despite offering competitive prices and high-quality services, which you attribute to discriminatory practices or bias from larger corporations or institutions.

Key elements of a DBE Personal Narrative Include the following.

Structure: Begin with an introduction that sets the scene and includes a thesis statement or hint at the central theme. The body should detail the events of the story using descriptive language and dialogue, while the conclusion should reflect on the impact of the experience and the lessons learned.

Focus: Center the narrative on specific acts or omissions that impeded your progress in the business world.

Objectivity: Identify at least one objective basis for the discrimination, such as race, ethnicity, gender, or physical disability.

Impact: Explain how the discrimination caused harm to your business opportunities, including both social and economic disadvantages.

Proof: Include specific details about the incident, such as when, where, and by whom the discriminatory conduct occurred.

‍