Networking and business conversations were top priorities at Wednesday’s night expo.
The Black business expo hosted over 17 businesses and over 100 students were in attendance.
Some of businesses included fashion, non-profits, hair accessories, cleaning services, food, jewelry and much more.
Senior Eyaan Mahone, works as a volunteer for ‘Meet and Teach’, a non-profit that teaches videography to disadvantage youth.
“The whole purpose of the organization is to spread positivity and I learned a lot about myself in the process,” Mahone said.
Mahone says having the Black Expo is important because in America’s history, Black people have been disenfranchised including in the Tulsa, Oklahoma bombings.
In the 1900’s, a Tulsa community called Greenwood, was known as ‘black wall street that had over 600 Black business that were destroyed due to race riots.
Mahone added that these historical disadvantages makes the business expo more important and essential to the Black community.
Namoi Tolbert, interim director of diversity and inclusivity in the college of business, says the expose gives recognition to black businesses.
Tolbert says the expo helps establish relationships between local and student business owners.
“It’s important to have a Black Expo because there’s so many Black businesses in Carbondale and there’s no platform for them to co-exist and co-organize,” Tolbert said.
Tolbert says additional to establishing’s relationships, it gives business owners a sense of hope.
“Its important for us to be able to give people a opportunity to believe in something and believe in the idea that you can be what you want to be and create what you want to create,” Tolbert said.
Fashion was a big attraction at the expo from causal street wear to trendy high heels.
Senior Jessena Fields opened a clothing store this month on the strip. She sells clothing, shoes and accessories for women but it also branching into men’s fashion soon.
This was her third year participating in the expo and she says It helps with marketing and preparing students for future business endeavors.
“I feel like by us being students were all helping each other out and the Black Expo gives us a opportunity to see what it’s like in the real world,” Fields said.
Senior Toussaint Mitchell and president of USG helped organize this event by inviting different vendors to participate.
Mitchell said last year this event was a struggle but this year, he’s pleased with the outcome
“This is totally different this year and I’m glad to see how it turned out,” Mitchell said. “Black people starting their own business, this is exactly what we need.”
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