BLCK Street Conference “Breaking Paradigms” to Empower Black Business

Richmond, VA – Developed for aspiring and current entrepreneurs, the second BLCK Street Conference will take place on August 6-7, 2023, in Richmond, VA. Participants will gain the tools and be inspired to Learn, Grow and Own their businesses alongside other Black business owners. REGISTRATION is open now.

This two-day conference will feature over 40 speakers, panel experiences, and breakout sessions to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business, from ideation to scale. Speaker topics will include small business grants, accelerators, and incubators, Navigating the Creator Economy, Leveraging Your Business To Create Generational Wealth, and more. Additionally, conference participants can receive onsite technical assistance for their business from subject matter experts and shop with Black vendors, artists, and small business owners in the ARTisan Village, presented by the Richmond Night Market. The event will conclude with a keynote fireside chat with Angel Gregorio, Founder of The Spice Suite and Black & Forth and an after-party to unwind after a day of learning.

The Jackson Ward neighborhood of Richmond isn’t always mentioned when discussing “Black Wall Street” in America, but many would argue that it was the heart of the movement for Black financial independence and empowerment. Following the Civil War, free and formerly enslaved Blacks joined to create a thriving community of Black commerce, entertainment, and religion in Richmond.  At the start of the 20th century, it was one of the wealthiest black neighborhoods in the entire country, pulsating with theaters, stores, newspapers, and medical practices. Maggie L. Walker, the first woman to charter and serve as president of an American bank, founded St. Luke’s Penny Saving Bank – one of the first Black-owned banks in the nation. This financial institution was key to providing Black entrepreneurs access to capital and an opportunity to thrive.

Black Americans have often innovated out of necessity, looking for ways to work more efficiently and effectively given the constraints placed upon them by a society that does not view them as equals. We see this in every aspect of Black life, especially business. Though not given the tricks of the trade Black Americans innovated and were able to establish their own commerce.

Entrepreneurship takes more than just an idea. It takes capital, resources, marketing, and both hard and soft skills to make the dream of a business come to full fruition. Black people are often blocked from these means, so history taught them to pool social and financial capital to build sustainable business models.  The people of Jackson Ward and other Black economic centers learned early on that they were stronger together than apart.

The BLCK Street Conference builds upon the spirit of self-determination embraced by the original Jackson Ward community to equip Black entrepreneurs with resources to help them navigate an ever-changing world.

This year’s conference provides participants individualized assistance to help take their businesses to the next level with training in business software, including Quickbooks, and brand marketing advice from subject matter experts.

An essential part of business is knowing your audience. With that in mind, this year’s BLCK Street Conference took feedback from the first conference and expanded its offerings for this second conference adding space for Black vendors and artists to share, sell and promote their products and services with conference attendees.

Additionally, this year’s conference is full of immersive cultural experiences. Gary L. Flowers will provide a 20-stop walking tour of Historic Jackson Ward in the downtown section of Richmond, Virginia. Tours include historic educational, economic, religious, and social institutions that inspired the name “Black Wall Street, and “The Harlem of the South” and reflect the Ward’s cultural past.

The JWC Foundation name stands for Jackson Ward Collective, paying homage to the organization's roots in Richmond, Virginia, where the Jackson Ward community was once known as America’s “Black Wall Street.” The JWC Foundation's mission, Learn Grow and Own in the Black community, is rooted in leveraging collective networks, resources, and information to build sustainable Black-owned businesses.