Greater Pittsburgh Black Business Directory
sets sights on its final edition
For 29 years Constance (Connie) Portis has published the Greater Pittsburgh Black Business Directory and Resource Guide with her brother Richard. In August the 2014/15 issue Portis says will be their last. “It’s time to move on and to do new things. I feel like I can make a difference in other ways now.” The issue will be the 30th edition.
In the publishing business since 1984 when she founded Renaissance Publications, Portis within the three decades has also published the Greater Harrisburg area Black Directory, the Women’s Yellow Pages and a weekly newspaper; the Renaissance News.
“Over the years, the Black Directory has captured the essence of the region’s African-American community through the business, corporate, non-profit and church listings and through the stories we tell,” Portis said.
She describes the publication as a community resource for locating African-Americans in business in the Greater Pittsburgh area and a means to showcase additional businesses, resources and services that are available to build and enhance opportunities in the community. She quotes the leveling of the playing field for African-Americans in the marketplace and for majority-owned businesses to reach the African-American market in a medium primarily targeted to them was the purpose of the Directory. “The concept was designed to reach out to and list as many business owners and service providers as we could identify,” Portis said.
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