With the goal to expand the platform that the Homewood-Brushton Business Association has created for the business community and to showcase quality small businesses, the organization recently hosted its second annual Homewood Small Business Expo. The morning sessions were designed for business owners to receive quality information and education. Two different tracts offered information for start-ups and existing businesses and consisted of a professional panel discussion moderated by Allegra Johnson, creator and host of CitySTYLES412, to help entrepreneurs take action to further their growth. Panelists included Mamar Gelaye, the former CEO of Omnyx, Chris Edmonds of Athletic Trauma Unit, and Shallegra Moye, founder and executive director of Brilliantly Blessed Community Health and Wellness. Speakers included Attorney Dana Richardson; Diamonte Walker, Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program Officer of the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh; Emily Keebler, Kiva Pittsburgh Program Director; and Jonathan E. Gamble, owner of AXNFGR. Participating venders in the afternoon activities, according to Vernard Alexander, provided an opportunity for area residents to learn about the businesses in their own neighborhood and provided the opportunity for those businesses to attract new consumers.
Purposed to encourage aspiring authors to write their first book, learn the business of writing a book and provide local authors a platform to showcase their talents while connecting with the Greater Pittsburgh community, organizers of the Write on First Annual Black Book Expo considered the event a success. Founded by Robyn Greer, Sharise Nance and Bonita Penn, all published authors, the goals of the Expo were to bring books, authors and the publishing world to the reading public. They said the event showcased books from all genres and offered authors opportunities to promote their books to readers most likely to engage with them. Darcla Reed and Tara Bailey from Bailey Publishing House were keynote speakers.
In its second year, a flea market Pop-up Mall took place in Homewood, Dec. 2, sponsored by Bible Center Church. “Our purpose was to promote entrepreneurs in the community,” said pastor Cynthia M. Wallace. The event was full of a variety of vendors, music and raffles. “Today we wanted to provide the opportunity for the vendors to share what they do and merchandise they have.”
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