Business expo spotlights Black entrepreneurs
Helena Jones has been in Macomb County for 20 years and didn't know until she chaired the committee for Saturday's Black Business Expo that there were so many Black-owned businesses in the county.
"To be able to showcase these businesses is so important because we don't get that experience often," said Jones. "To be proud of the fact that Macomb is not just one sided, we are all here, we all have businesses and we are all supporting each other and the community."
The event, held Saturday at Chippewa Valley High School, was put on by the Omega Xi Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
"What we want to do is showcase the richness of our culture through the economy, by supporting Black-owned businesses and by showcasing panelists who are leaders in their craft and who can broaden the pathway for young entrepreneurs," said Omega Xi Omega Chapter President Keia Perry-Farr.
A wide array of Black business owners were on hand to share information with attendees and with members of the Chippewa Valley DECA Club for young leaders and entrepreneurs, many of whom volunteered to work at the event.
"This gives our students the opportunity to network with some of the businesses that are here," said Chippewa Valley business teacher Krystal Gordon.
DECA students Clifton Haskin and Alaina Peters said they were hoping to make connections at the Black Business Expo that might be helpful when they are working on future projects for the club.
"Clifton is working on a big project right now that revolves around partnering with the community and this all counts as partnering with the community," Gordon said.
Peters, who is a sophomore, said she is contemplating a career in marketing or in business management so the Black Businesses Expo is an opportunity to learn and make connections.
Haskin, a senior, is undecided about his career choice but is getting a lot of ideas through conversations with business owners.
Eastpointe resident India Lewis started making beaded jewelry when her mother died as a way of grieving. Through that healing process she discovered she had a knack for putting together unusual beads and charms to make colorful bracelets, earrings, and necklaces and House of Sivron was born.
"I discovered that I was an artist and that I really enjoyed making the jewelry and I was good at it," said Lewis. "Now I'm teaching my daughter to do it too and it has blossomed into a business."
Darien Belcher Jr., 16, is a L'anse Creuse High School student whose third book is about to be released. The young author wrote his first book – The Story of the Curse – when he was nine and his second book – The Quest of Gravender – a year later.
Both feature the main character, Lego Boy, and his superhero friends.
"I wrote the first book when I was at summer camp," Belcher said. "And all of the other characters are based on kids that were at camp with me."
Belcher said he always thought writing was fun and that he spent a lot of time as a child writing stories and drawing pictures to go with them. Like Haskin, Belcher is undecided about his career but he expects that whatever he ends up doing will have something to do with writing.
Tracey Scott has owned her insurance agency in Madison Heights for 30 years and says she knows people want to avoid dealing with insurance, but it is something everyone needs. While it might not be a career that is on the radar of most people, Scott said she loves what she does and that the job has its perks.
"What I would tell someone who was considering a career in insurance is that the job offers a lot of flexibility – I never missed any of my kids' games – and that you can have a great work-life balance," said Scott. "Plus, you have the opportunity to help people every day."
