Black Expo's new entrepreneur event showcasing Black-owned business

2022-07-16 01:04:44 By : Ms. Reann Cheung

Black entrepreneurship will be on full display this year during Indiana Black Expo’s 51st Summer Celebration at a new exhibit called the Black Wall Street Zone.

The exhibit will feature over 30 local Black-owned businesses, many of which are recent graduates from Black Expo’s Black Business Training Institute.

The institute offers programming meant to equip business owners with practical skills as well as knowledge, opportunities and relationships to help sustain and grow the business, according to their website.

Tanya McKinzie, president of Black Expo, said economic development is a persistent goal.

“When we talk about Summer Celebration, people often look at it as entertainment,” McKinzie said. “But really, for me, it’s about Black culture and this sense of belonging and what it means for our community to celebrate our achievements and accomplishments, but also talk about those issues that impact us the most.”

McKinzie mentioned the disparities that exist for Black-business owners, like lagging generational knowledge, which she partly attributed to the history of racism.

A history which includes the Tulsa race massacre of 1921, when white rioters looted and burned the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma – known as the Black Wall Street – to the ground. Over 30 city blocks and 1,000 businesses and homes were destroyed, according to the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum. Before the event, Greenwood was one of the most prosperous Black communities in America.

The Black Wall Street Zone, named in remembrance of the original Black Wall Street, premieres Friday, July 15, from 12:00 to 7:00 p.m. It runs until Sunday, July 17.

Here is a list of the businesses participating that were graduates from the Black Business Training Institute:  

A Birthed Blessing Doula Services, LLC provides personalized, holistic care for expecting mothers from pre-labor through postpartum. Services include educating the family in infant care and safety, breastfeeding support, and physical and emotional wellness.  

Balance Period is a wellness consulting company helping organizations who want to better organize their time and energy with an emphasis on health and wellness.

BOSS' R US LLC is a clothing retailer selling women's dresses, tops and bottoms for a variety of looks from beachwear to streetwear. 

Cleaning Care LLC is a professional home cleaning service. 

8250 Allison Pointe Blvd., Suite 250, Indianapolis, 46250

Consistent Care Transit LLC is an adult day service designed to help seniors and young adults with daily living and transportation needs. The company also provides room and board to assist elders and young adults with disabilities needing proper home health services.  

Cretia Cakes is a bakery offering freshly made cakes for sale, including carrot cake, cheesecake, Italian cream cake and more. 

Culture Kraze Marketplace is an online marketplace offering visitors access to international retail items including home décor, clothing, artwork and more. 

Enhanced DNA Publishing is a publishing company whose goal is to help storytellers publish their work that meets the standards of the Independent Book Publishing Association. It works with clients from the writing process all the way through the finished product and distribution. 

Favor Care Organics is a natural skin and hair care line featuring products like facial cleansers, hydrating conditioners, body butters, soaps and more.

Freebirds General Contracting provides professional contracting services for everything from roofing to flooring. It specializes in home and commercial improvement projects. 

Gift Arrangements by Renee provides customizable gift baskets for a variety of occasions including birthdays, care packages for students, Easter baskets and more. 

Jones Property Investment Group LLC helps Indianapolis residents meet their urban living needs. 

Lift Up Tumbling and Nutrition offers cheerleading, recreational tumbling, nutrition coaching, and personal training. It works with clients from early childhood into adulthood to improve fitness and health through nutrition and exercise programming.

Castleton Square Mall, 6020 East 82nd St., Indianapolis, 46250

Market Square Popcorn uses Indiana wholegrain corn to create fresh popcorn with a variety of flavors like butter caramel crunch, dill pickle, aged sharp cheddar and white chocolate cherry. 

Mrs. Murry’s Naturals specializes in vegan cuisine including everything from soups, salads and sandwiches to cookies, cakes, and pies. 

My Wealthy Wellness LLC assists students, families and organizations to improve their financial behavior and work toward financial freedom. It educates clients on the relationship between financial health and personal well-being. 

Opulent Radiance offers handmade natural skin care products including body scrubs, body oils, cold-pressed soaps, body butters and more. Products are intended to be used for holistic everyday self-care. 

14701 North Keystone Ave., Suite 200, Indianapolis, 46220

ORR Payroll provides administrative and management services to support businesses looking to outsource operations. Their team of advisors include payroll administrators, human resource managers, recruiters, office administrators and bookkeepers. 

Perked Up works with businesses to provide custom apparel for branding, marketing, advertising and other needs.

429 East Vermont St., Suite 002A, Indianapolis, 46202

SofiYah LLC offers artisan soap, body creams, scrubs and other handmade products for sale and soap-making classes. 

The 360° Experience helps train and coach models for print, televised commercials, and runway and fashion shows. It works with youth to build confidence in a variety of programs including cheer, mentorships and internships.

212 West 10th St., 4th Floor, Suite B 425, Indianapolis, 46202

THE PINK TUB offers handmade soaps, lotions, face masks and other skin care items.

Tmalaw is a law firm specializing in trademark and brand licensing. It helps businesses establish, protect and defend their brands. 

The following businesses participating were graduates from the Black Business Training Institute that did not have a physical address provided or an active web address:

Contact IndyStar reporter Brandon Drenon at 317-517-3340 or BDrenon@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BrandonDrenon.

Brandon is also a Report for America corps member with the GroundTruth Project, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to supporting the next generation of journalists in the U.S. and around the world.

Report for America, funded by both private and public donors, covers up to 50% of a reporter's salary. It’s up to IndyStar to find the other half, through local community donors, benefactors, grants or other fundraising activities.

If you would like to make a personal, tax-deductible contribution to his position, you can make a one-time donation online or a recurring monthly donation via IndyStar.com/RFA.

You can also donate by check, payable to “The GroundTruth Project.” Send it to Report for America, IndyStar, c/o The GroundTruth Project, 10 Guest Street, Boston, MA 02135. Please put IndyStar/Report for America in the check memo line.