Over 30 Black-owned businesses at Black Expo's Summer Celebration entrepreneur event
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
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 LLC
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
www.prizepossezions.com/search
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
Cleaning Care LLC is a professional home cleaning service.
Consistent Care Transit LLC
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
6066 East 82nd St., Indianapolis, 46250
Cretia Cakes is a bakery offering freshly made cakes for sale, including carrot cake, cheesecake, Italian cream cake and more.
Culture Kraze Marketplace
www.culturekrazemarketplace.com
Culture Kraze Marketplace is an online marketplace offering visitors access to international retail items including home décor, clothing, artwork and more.
Enhanced DNA Publishing
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
5160 East 65th St., Indianapolis, 46220
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
Freebirdsgeneralcontracting.com
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
2607 Braxton Dr., Indianapolis, 46229
gift-arrangements-by-renee.square.site
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
2239 North College Ave., Indianapolis, 46205
www.jonespropertyinvestmentgroup.com
Jones Property Investment Group LLC helps Indianapolis residents meet their urban living needs.
Lift Up Tumbling and Nutrition
3810 North Kercheval Dr., Indianapolis, 46226
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.
Market Square Popcorn
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
Mrs. Murry’s Naturals specializes in vegan cuisine including everything from soups, salads and sandwiches to cookies, cakes, and pies.
My Wealthy Wellness LLC
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
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.
ORR Payroll
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, LLC
Perked Up works with businesses to provide custom apparel for branding, marketing, advertising and other needs.
SofiYah LLC
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
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.
THE PINK TUB
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 | the lawyer for brands™
125 West South St., #2674, Indianapolis, 46206
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:
Be You Organics
Bounce With Me Bounce House Rentals
Capture Me Photography
Keeping It Simple Services Concierge
Keys 2 Care Staffing Solutions LLC
Ladies Night Indy LLC
LaMausi International INC.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Black Expo's new entrepreneur event showcasing Black-owned business
