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From YouTube: July 25, 2022 City of Minneapolis Black Business Week Kickoff Summit, Sabathani Community Center
Description
For more information: https://www.minneapolismn.gov/things-to-do/events/2022/july/black-business-week/
A
We
had
the
first
black
business
week
just
a
couple
of
years
ago,
but
there
was
a
brief
hiatus
due
to
a
global
pandemic,
and
now
I'll
tell
you
we
are
getting
back
on
track,
and
this
is
so
important
work
right
now,
because
we
want
to
amplify,
we
want
to
celebrate.
We
want
to
strengthen
the
extraordinary
entrepreneurs,
the
makers,
the
artists,
the
creative
class,
the
the
business
people
that
are
black
and
are
already
doing
extraordinary
things
in
our
city.
A
We
want
to
make
sure
that
their
voices
aren't
just
heard,
but
that
their
work
is
seen
that
the
extraordinary
things
that
they
are
doing
every
single
day
to
make
their
businesses
flourish
are
seen
by
the
rest
of
the
city,
and
we
can
make
sure
that
people
are
patroning
their
businesses
on
a
daily
basis.
This
is
a
really
critical
component
and
one
thing
that
our
economic
inclusion
work
group
stated
as
they
were.
Providing
their
report
was
that
we
in
minneapolis
need
to
have
and
need
to
recreate
a
black
middle
class.
A
We
need
to
do
everything
to
amplify
and
strengthen
a
black
middle
class
in
our
city,
because
having
that
black
middle
class
is
such
a
huge
component
in
seeing
success
more
broadly
and
the
people
that
you'll
see
that
are
highlighted,
I
mean
this
is
everything
from
artists
to
technology.
This
is
industrial
to
the
food
space.
This
is
health
to
our
creative
class
to
business
people
into
financiers.
A
There's
a
number
of
events
where
black
business
entrepreneurs
have
the
ability
to
connect
with
all
of
the
different
offerings
at
our
city,
state
and
county,
so
that
they
can
make
sure
that
they've
got
the
right
tools
in
order
to
succeed.
This
is
about
kind
of
taking
things
to
the
next
level.
At
this
point,
we
are
proud
to
partner
with
a
number
of
different
businesses
and
jurisdictions,
to
make
all
this
a
reality.
A
This
is
a
big
deal,
and
although
there
was
that
hiatus
these
last
couple
of
years,
we
want
to
make
sure
that
black
business
week
is
an
annual
occurrence.
It
is
essential
to
our
economy,
it's
critical
for
equity
and
we
at
the
city
of
minneapolis
want
to
be
behind
it.
100
percent
someone
that
has
been
behind
black
business
week
from
the
very
get-go
and
her
staff
and
my
staff
and
our
city
staff
have
have
pushed
so
hard
to
make
a
reality.
Is
our
extraordinary
council
president,
here
andrea
jenkins,
give
her
a
huge
round
of
applause.
B
B
But
there
are
so
many
amazing
black
businesses
in
the
twin
cities,
and
this
is
black
business
week,
but
it'll
be
leading
up
to
black
business
month.
The
month
of
april
is
the
nationally
recognized
black
business
month,
so
please
go
out
and
support
black
businesses
support
the
events
that
we
have
planned
with
the
different
cultural
corridors
throughout
the
city,
broadway
cedar,
riverside
east
franklin
and
cultural
districts
throughout
the
city.
B
A
I'll
start
off
and
then
perhaps
pass
the
council
president.
Here,
it's
critical,
you
know
the
we
have
some
incredible
black
businesses
and
owners
that
have
been
working
their
tail
off,
but
they
aren't
necessarily
seen
or
heard
the
work
that
they
are
doing
is
of
great
contribution
to
our
city,
not
to
mention,
if
you
just
look
at
the
data.
A
If
you
look
at
the
statistics,
black
people
and
specifically
black
women,
are
starting
businesses,
businesses
at
rates
that
are
far
superior
to
almost
everybody
else,
so
this
makes
sense
for
our
economy
that
these
wonderful
contributions
are
seen
and
that
people
are
patroning
these
businesses,
because
when
these
businesses
succeed,
we
all
end
up
succeeding.
This
is
good
for
our
economy.
It's
good
for
our
bottom
line.
It's
good
for
equity.
This
is
part
of
not
just
highlighting
these
businesses,
but
also
making
sure
that
they
have
connection
with
the
work.
A
That's
happening
at
our
city,
whether
that's
the
commercial
property
development
fund,
which
enables
bipac
and
people
of
color
generally
to
not
just
own
their
own
business
but
to
own
the
underlying
real
estate,
so
that
when
gains
and
value
occur,
they
don't
get
displaced
because
the
rents
got
jacked
through
the
roof.
Rather,
they
gain
equity,
equity
being
a
key
piece.
You
know,
people
often
talk
about
equity.
B
A
B
Thank
you
for
that
question.
I
am
over
the
moon
delighted
that
we
are
kicking
off
black
business
week
for
the
second
time
in
ward,
8.,
the
first
time
in
2019
we
hosted
the
kickoff
of
black
business
week
at
mama
sheilas.
It
was
a
very
successful
event
and
I
believe
this
one
is
shaping
up
to
be
the
same.
So,
yes,
we
need
to
revitalize
this
quarter.
We
need
to
let
people
know
that
we
are
still
here.
We
are
still
strong.
We
are
still
resilient
and
again
welcome
to
ward
8.