‘Minding My Black Owned Business’ held its expo in North Little Rock over the weekend to showcase and show support for about 60 Black-owned businesses.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The ‘Minding My Black Owned Business’ business expo is back in Central Arkansas, and this year, it’s bigger than ever as business continues to boom.
“Our first event started with just 50, and then our biggest was 125 vendors. This year, we have 60 vendors that registered, and we are still steady growing. We had to turn people away because we were so packed,” said Gabrielle Wilkerson, the founder of ‘Minding My Black Owned Business.’
However, that’s a good problem to have for Wilkerson.
Her brainchild to help those in the community blossomed into creating a space for Black entrepreneurs in the community.
“Our mission is to connect Black owned businesses to the community through economic development, mental health, and youth engagement. It starts with one business at a time,” Wilkerson said.
Sunday’s event featured live performances and food vendors outside.
Before opening the doors to the expo, businesses had the opportunity to participate in panels designed to expand their operations.
“[They] learn about taxes, learn about how to set up their accounts with banking. How does AI affect their businesses? And then from there, once they get finished, we allow our business to network with each other,” she described.
Entrepreneurs, like Kesha Letoya-Glass, owner of Kollection, explained how attending the event for the first time is another step in pouring back into the Black community.
“I think if we come out and just come and, you know, bring ourselves out together and just mingle with everyone and showcase your style and what you have available, I think, I think everybody would be great. It’ll feel good for yourself,” Glass said.
Owner of Give More Love to Birth, Aliyah Gilmore, agreed with those sentiments.
“Black love is self-love. So if you can pour back into your own community, you’re loving on yourself,” added Gilmore.
As the organization grows, Wilkerson said her hope is that the expo will continue to uplift and impact future generations.
“We want to continue to grow. We want people to see what our community has for them and continue,” she added.
