August is National Black Business Month, a time dedicated to highlighting and supporting Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide. In celebration, the Beverly Area Planning Association, Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association, and the 95th Street Business Association have partnered with local Black business owners to launch a new online directory of Black-owned businesses in the neighborhood. They have also organized a thoughtful series of events aimed at raising awareness, expanding customer bases and fostering a strong sense of community among Black entrepreneurs.
Serving on the Black Business Month Committee with BAPA, MPBHBA, and 95th Street BA are local business owners including Dr. Femi Skanes from Leadership EDGE, Lynda Swan-McClendon of Jazzy Lady Jewels Boutique, Mallory McClaire co-owner of Beverly Phono Mart, and Morgan Martin from Live and Believe Nutrition.
Locally, the Business Month Committee is celebrating August as a time to appreciate how black-owned businesses contribute to the continuing quest for diversity and equality, as well as to the commercial success of our community and the national economy.
An important aspect of the committee’s work is the creation of an online directory of black-owned businesses that will be available at bapa.org, mphbha.org and 95thstreetba.org. Learn more about adding your business to the directory at mpbhba.org.
The committee is offering the following events for black business owners. For advance registration (required) and information visit mphbba.org/events.
How to Manage Cash Flow with Loftis Consulting, Thurs., Aug. 3, 9 to 11 a.m., Morgan Park High School library, 1744 W. Pryor Ave. With the constant ups and downs in the economy, it has never been a better time to get a handle on business cash flow. Small businesses can be profitable but still go out of business due to cash flow mismanagement or lack of understanding. This workshop is a crash course on how your business can not only survive but thrive.
Workshop topics will cover cash flow vs profits, how to project cash flow, and how to manage cash flow through the ups and downs of the business cycle. Attendees should bring their laptops to create their own cash flow forecast.
Meet, greet and network with the owners of local black owned businesses Sun., Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the 95th Street Farmers Market, 95th and Longwood Drive. Located in the Community Tent, find out more about the new Black Business Directory and share business promotional materials. Enjoy a fun-filled day of food pop-ups, music, a face painter, a LAB exercise class, plus the meet and greet. Wear the Beverly/Morgan Park Black Business t-shirt provided at no cost by BAPA, the 95th Street Beverly Hills Association and Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association — available at mpbhba.org.
Learn about business taxes and credit reporting at the Credit Reporting & Tax Workshop facilitated by Jason Swan of The Beverly Bank & Sharnell Curtis-Martin of CIBC, Tues., Aug. 29, 9 to 10 a.m., location TBD. A question-and-answer session follows the workshop. Refreshments will be provided.
