In August, the 95th Street Business Association was proud to join BAPA, the Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association, and the Mount Greenwood Community & Business Association in celebrating Black Business Month.
Throughout the month, we brought local business owners and community members together to connect, learn, share resources, and celebrate the Black-owned businesses that contribute so much to our neighborhoods.
Kicking Off the Month at Afro Joe’s
We started the celebration on August 5 with a Black Business Month Kickoff Coffee at Afro Joe’s.
Local business owners and community members gathered for a morning of coffee, conversation, and networking. It was a great opportunity to make new connections, catch up with familiar faces, and learn more about the businesses and entrepreneurs doing great work throughout the 19th Ward.
Thank you to Afro Joe’s for welcoming us and providing the perfect place to kick off the month!
Connecting Business Owners with Resources
On August 21, we continued the month with a Business Education Panel hosted at Beverly Bank.
Our panel brought together local professionals and business resources to discuss topics important to entrepreneurs and small business owners, from accessing City resources and financing to legal considerations, business growth, and building strong professional networks.
Thank you to our panelists Darvell Jones of Levraddigans, Kecia Ellis Bobbitt of Primerica, James Harris of the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, Katrice Matthews of Sable Law Group, and Adam Reyes from Beverly Bank for sharing their time, expertise, and experiences with our local business community.
We are also grateful to Beverly Bank for hosting us and supporting this opportunity for local businesses to learn and connect.
Celebrating at the 95th Street Farmers Market
We wrapped up Black Business Month on August 30 with a special celebration at the 95th Street Farmers Market.
In addition to our regular Sunday vendors, we welcomed several local Black-owned businesses to pop up at the market, giving shoppers an opportunity to discover new businesses and support local entrepreneurs. DJ Mike joined us for the celebration, adding to the energy and making it an especially fun morning on 95th Street.
Continue to Support Black-Owned Businesses
Black Business Month may take place in August, but supporting our local Black-owned businesses is important all year long.
Looking for a new restaurant, shop, service provider, or local business to support? Explore the 19th Ward Black Business Directory to discover Black-owned businesses throughout our community.
Explore the 19th Ward Black Business Directory
The 95th Street Business Association is grateful to all of the businesses, organizations, panelists, hosts, and community members who helped make this month possible. We look forward to continuing to create opportunities for our local businesses to connect, grow, and be celebrated right here in our community.
