2010 Arizona Black Expo A Success In Spite of Short Preparation Window
Hundreds of Businesses, Organizations, Performers and Residents Take Advantage of Opportunity to Network and Socialize
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Tremaine Jasper of PhxSoul.com (left) and Michael Kelly of The Leadership Consortium at the 2010 Arizona Black Expo on January 9 at US Airways Center in Phoenix. |
Hundreds turned out for the 2010 Arizona Black Expo on January 9 showing that local residents, Valley business leaders and entrepreneurs are dedicated to continued success within the African American community despite challenging economic times.
Black Expo participants and vendors represented a dynamic cross section of business ventures in the community. Faith and non-profit organizations, Black news outlets, colleges and corporations occupied the Casino Arizona Pavilion at the US Airways Center in downtown Phoenix. Small businesses had a substantial presence in the reserved concourse area. This is significant according to 2010 Black Expo organizer Michael Kelly, president of the Leadership Consortium, which organizes the event.
“The mission of this organization is to provide opportunities for small businesses to cameo their business to corporations and the community,” he says. “We reduced the fees to our booths because of the economy and we hoped these businesses would have a great return on their investment. People are not only becoming aware of their businesses, but patronizing (them) for years to come.”
A variety of speakers brought entertainment and information to the central stage. Several performances highlighted this year's emphasis on youth involvement, such as Nina White's poetry and crump dancing, and the rap duo of Xavier and Black Oracle. The youth were participants in Magellan Behavioral Services youth outreach program, “My Life.” HomeBase Poetry also provided a well-received open mic set, featuring some of the Valley's elite spoken word artists. Later in the afternoon, the South Mountain Step Team drew enthusiastic applause following their performance.
The US Airways Center provided a unique venue to showcase the myriad of businesses and professionals working towards a stronger community in the Valley.
Olivia West is a single mother who recently relocated to the Valley from Atlanta and is currently completing her doctorate in Psychology. The Expo offered a children's area which gave her son opportunity to play while she listened to speakers and interacted with vendors.
“As a mother, I sometimes struggle to find things to do here,” West said. “(The Expo) has been a great opportunity to network and get plugged in.”
The sense of community among the present Phoenix businesses became apparent as the event progressed. Expo participants eagerly signed up to volunteer at the Arizona Black Film Showcase coming in March, college students made connections with Magellan representatives, and residents learned more about the various black media organizations in the Valley.
Author Jwanzaa Kunjufu offered knowledge to the crowd from his plethora of empowering works. Organizations also shared information about the upcoming 2010 Census, health and nutrition, and future events. Giveaways and samples abounded — one of the vendors offered free haircuts to Expo attendees.
Providing these unique interactions are precisely what Black Expo organizers intended, according to David Jones, founder of Positive Image Sports.
“This gives an opportunity for smaller businesses to advertise, market, and promote their products and where they are located,” Jones explained. “The Expo allows (businesses) to get away from the e-mail and text, and get some one-on-one interacting with people who could become customers.”
Verne Smith of National Future Benefits purchased vendor space for the Expo, and believes Black businesses will manage to find success despite current concerns over the economy.
“We work a little harder, but the spirit is still there,” Smith said. “(Our businesses) need more of these kinds of events. We have a responsibility to the community.”
Organizers praised resilient businesses and flexible sponsors for making the 2010 Black Expo a success.
“It was a significant amount of work this year, because of the short window we had,” said Kelly. “With the help of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury, and the assistance of David Jones, we delivered this event in less than 30 days with 10 significant sponsors.”
“It’s a lot of work, sleepless nights; you can imagine — but the fruits of our labor are payment enough for our sweat equity.”
If the bustling concourse and expectant faces at the 2010 Arizona Black Expo are any measure of success, this will be a premier event for greater Phoenix business owners in the new decade and beyond.
Editor’s Note: PhxSoul.com thanks all who visited our booth at the Arizona Black Expo. Many people thanked PhxSoul.com for the service that we provide to the community but we also met a lot of Arizonans who never heard of PhxSoul.com! This lets us know that PhxSoul.com will need to work harder in 2010 to help keep our community informed and engaged!
This event was well put together. Though, it was, short-notice, the community showed up, in big numbers! It was awesome to have the community and business community interact. This gave us a chance to meet some like minded individuals, and people who has things in common, like the love of art, meshing black families and even young married couples. Its very important, that our community, in Arizona, realizes, that the black community, is doing a Host of great things, they just have to get involved.
Thanks again, phxsoul.com, for you being a huge resource, for our community. May this experience, strengthen, us.
Posted by: Channel | January 12, 2010 at 19:13