By Nick Jones
Abel Communications
As Small Business Month comes to a close, the AFRO, the oldest Black-owned business in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, will host the Black Business Matters Expo 2024 on Thursday, May 30 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The media company’s fourth annual event is titled “Celebrating Black-Owned Small Businesses.”
The fourth annual Black Business Matters Expo, held May 30, will be a virtual event focused on celebrating Black-owned businesses throughout the region and the entrepreneurs and elected officials who keep them running.
(AFRO Photo)
The expo is a virtual event designed to empower and uplift the Black entrepreneurial community.
Whether you’re just starting off or well on your way and looking to scale your business, this year’s expo will feature a lineup of top-notch speakers that will teach an array of business topics. The expo offers valuable insights and strategies for businesses, providing a unique opportunity for learning and growth within the Black business ecosystem.
The event will be held virtually on the super innovative virtual platform STEM City, offering attendees an enriching experience at no cost. The AFRO aims to showcase and support the achievements of Black entrepreneurs, providing a dynamic platform for learning and growth.
The 2024 program will feature a full slate of speakers, including Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott, Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, Special Secretary of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs Yolanda Maria Martinez and various notable Black business leaders.
Attendees will be treated to special performances by Elyscia, a contestant on season 25 of “The Voice,” and the Morgan State University Choir.
“As a Black-owned family business, we at the AFRO are proud to celebrate other Black businesses creating opportunities throughout the region,” said Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, CEO and publisher of the AFRO. “There is endless innovation and entrepreneurship on display at this event, and we are proud to connect sharp strategic minds.”
This event is brought to you for free by the AFRO Media Group, with support from sponsors including Chase; United Bank; TEDCO; United Way of Central Maryland; Giant; Security Plus Federal Credit Union; PNC Bank and Live Casino and Hotel.
Registration is available at: https://www.afrotix.live/e/black-business-matters-expo-2024/tickets
To learn more about the AFRO, visit: https://afro.com
About the AFRO
The AFRO is the oldest Black-owned business in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, and the third-oldest in the United States. For over 130 years, the AFRO has offered a platform for images and stories that advance the Black community, fulfilling the vision of John H. Murphy Sr., a formerly enslaved man who founded the publication with his wife, Martha Howard Murphy. Today, through the leadership of Murphy’s great-granddaughter, Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, the AFRO remains the Black Media Authority, providing readers with good news about the Black community not otherwise found.
