4th Annual Black Business Expo, Gala Next Week

(KNSI) – The fourth annual Black Business Expo and Black Excellence Gala will occur next week in Waite Park.

Chief Operating Officer at Higher Works Collaborative and organizer Buddy King told KNSI News the event is bigger than ever. “It’s a weekend experience now. So, we have expanded it this year from what we have had in the past. It is celebrating Black businesses and culture, weekend experience.”

King says the event is growing and becoming more popular because “We’re doing it during Black History Month and doing something that’s not being done up here in our community. During Black History Month, there are little programs that happen all over town, but nothing to this scale. And so, we want to continue to do this.”

The events take place February 17th-19th at the Park Event Center.
Friday the 17th features a luncheon for donors and sponsors and a happy hour. And then, the expo kicks off at 1:00 and goes to 6:00 p.m. with around 30 Black-owned businesses and organizations showing off their stuff. The expo reopens Saturday at 9:00 a.m. and goes to 3:00 p.m. and will feature some family-friendly events and activities. The expo is free to attend and open to everyone.

Saturday ends with the gala, which gets underway at 6:00 p.m. This year’s theme is Black Renaissance or roaring 20s. The gala is the year’s largest fundraiser for the Higher Works Collaborative. Their goal is to raise $75,000.

New this year is a free brunch at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Park Center. Registration is required. The event will also feature a play by King called “The Best Program Ever-The African American Experience.”

For tickets to the gala, click here. For more information on the expo, click here.

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