Workshop C – 2022

Celebrating and Supporting Black Entrepreneurship in Cleveland: Paving the Way to Success for Adults, College Students and Youth

Meet at 11:30 AM at Reception Desk

Location:

Lunch, Networking and Keynote followed by Tour and Panel Discussion

Description:

Nurturing and celebrating entrepreneurship in the Black community is critical for a diverse city like Cleveland. Challenges include gaining access to capital, creating awareness, and understanding financial literacy. This was the impetus behind LaRese Purnell’s push to develop The Real Black Friday Black Business Expo, founded in 2015. In 2022, the Real Black Friday Black Business Expo collaborated with the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland to generate more than $600,000 in sales from more than 13,000 attendees in 14 hours. This session will feature a keynote from LaRese Purnell, a tour of Cleveland’s Black entrepreneurship venues and community, and a chance to enjoy cuisine from a local Black-owned restaurant. A panel discussion will follow that will share more lessons learned and suggestions for educators to inspire Black entrepreneurs at the collegiate and youth levels.

Agenda