Black Business and Community Expo Full of Impactful Resources
by Clarence Thomas, Jr. (thomasjr63@gmail.com), MGI Contributor
Alex Habersham and Brittany Perry
“We felt like there was a great need to bring the community together as one to cross share resources,” Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages founder Alex Habersham shared recently referencing the first Black Business and Community Expo.
The free Bicentennial Partnership event will start at 11am Saturday August 19 at the Macon Coliseum and is filled to the brim with all things needed to enhance and promote a healthy, unified, financially stable Macon-Bibb for all; and followed by a 7pm After Party. Live entertainment, giveaways, vendor spotlights, goods and services selling and purchasing, and energy assistance sign up through Georgia Power are just some of the things that will be available and occur.
While the event is supported by heavyweights in media, business, non-profits, and local government, the Central Georgia Coalition of Black Businesses is the primary sponsor of the expo and is helmed by Executive Director Brittney Briscoe Perry.
She says the expo is a natural way to work with Habersham and others towards creating a Central Georgia environment that allows the “least of these” as well access to resources designed to make their lives better. “It’s way past time for everyone to break out of their silos and cities and highlight our region. Collaboration is key to expand and move as one,” suggests Perry.
Three activities of significance that will take place at the expo are health screenings by Atrium Health, breakout sessions, and a panel discussion. Topics that will be tackled include: taking a humanistic approach to building your business, keeping parents inspired, getting your small business certified, and doing business with Macon-Bibb County.
The Macon-Middle Georgia Black Pages stated previously in its annual publication that there are billions of dollars of disposable income circulating in the collective Black communities of Central Georgia. Habersham is looking to also leverage it through the expo to improve lives. “We’re treating this like a movement,” he insists. “The expo is not just an event but a movement.”
Habersham – who co-chairs Macon 200, the city’s bicentennial celebration and education platform — and Perry say at the expo’s core is the empowerment of attendees. They’re taking a holistic approach since the needs are many towards building and maintaining a mid-state environment anchored by a healthy, financially stable, educated, unified citizenry.
Perry especially likes the potential of the expo to build bridges between various groups. For her it’s also a cross generational collaborative that stands to close divides. “We’re not taking full advantage of each other’s generations. That’s a mistake since we have much to give each other that strengthens us all. If this happens it will be explosive,” she said.
With “Together We Rise” as the expo theme, they’re excited about the possibilities. “A rising tide raises the whole ship,” says Habersham. “Everybody has a role in making Macon and her neighbors better,” Perry stated. “We project and expect good things to come out of this expo.” For more information on attending, vending, and co-sponsoring the Black Business and Community Expo visit www.cgcbb.org.
