Miami-Dade County supports Black Business Month with community events

Michael Butler
·2 min read
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The Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust is commemorating Black Business Month by providing local residents and entrepreneurs opportunities and programs to build their career skills and professional networks.

Bill Diggs, the trust’s executive director, thinks the county’s Black business community is among the area’s most underutilized resources.

“We need the community to help us make an undeniable statement that the growth and prosperity of Miami-Dade County is correlated to the growth and prosperity of the county’s Black business community,” Diggs said.

The tourism industry has been a source of income for many local Black entrepreneurs, but it has been hampered in recent months by state and national politics. For example, in May the NAACP issued a travel advisory recommending people of color not visit Florida because of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ perceived anti-minority policies.

Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO David Whitaker hopes this month’s focus on Black business acumen and potential can convey the county’s commitment to its minority business community.

“The travel and hospitality industry can only continue to truly have equitable growth in Miami-Dade County if those in the Black business community are afforded viable opportunities,” Whitaker said. “Black Business Month can be used to reassess key relationships, evaluate resources and needs and enter into meaningful conversations to leverage the talents and drive of our entrepreneurs.”

Entrepreneur Shirlene Ingraham sits in one of the booths at her Jackson Soul Food II restaurant in Opa-locka on Aug. 11, 2022.
Entrepreneur Shirlene Ingraham sits in one of the booths at her Jackson Soul Food II restaurant in Opa-locka on Aug. 11, 2022.

Below are a sampling of upcoming Black Business Month events in Miami. Get registration and general information about them at www.bit.ly/MDEATevents.

▪ Tuesday, Aug. 15 at 6 p.m., Elevating Communities: A Black Business Month Salute to Million-Dollar Nonprofits, Florida Memorial University, 15800 NW 42nd Avenue, Miami Gardens.

▪ Thursday, Aug. 17 at 6 p.m., Black Business Month Networking Mixer, The Hub at Office Logic, 1501 Biscayne Blvd., Miami.

▪ Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m., Pathways to Prosperity: A Black Business Month Panel with Million-Dollar Innovators, Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center, 10950 S.W. 211 Street, Cutler Bay.

▪ Wednesday, Aug. 23 at 5:30 p.m., Bold Moves, Strong Defenses — Cybersecurity and Resilience Best Practices, The Rum Room, 2100 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach.

▪ Thursday, Aug. 24 at 11 a.m., Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau annual Partner Expo and Black Owned Business Celebration, Jungle Island, 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami.

▪ Saturday, Aug. 26 at 11 a.m., The CEO Conference, Betty T. Ferguson, 3000 NW 199th Street, Miami Gardens.

▪ Saturday, Aug. 26 at 3 p.m., Black Pepper Food & Wine Festival, The Urban, 1000 NW 2nd Avenue Miami.

▪ Tuesday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m., Miami-Dade Economic Advocacy Trust hosts discussion with Alfred Edmond Jr., Ampersand Studios, 31 NE 17th Street, Miami.

▪ Thursday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m., Black Business Month Closeout Event, Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152nd Street, Miami.

Minority business owners Rose Jean, 40, left and husband Tony Jean, 45, right, discuss design elements for a customer’s order at their Tshirt Mayhem Corp. in Miami, on Aug. 11, 2022.
Minority business owners Rose Jean, 40, left and husband Tony Jean, 45, right, discuss design elements for a customer’s order at their Tshirt Mayhem Corp. in Miami, on Aug. 11, 2022.