During the pandemic, Bradley Wainwright has seen local businesses suffer—some more than others.
On Friday and Saturday, he’s holding a business expo to showcase those he believes have been hit disproportionately by COVID—Black-owned businesses.
“The minority business community as a whole has really been struggling during the pandemic,” Wainwright said.
The “Black is Beautiful Expo” will feature over 40 minority-owned businesses at the Crowne Plaza in downtown Harrisburg. The event is free to the public, but registration is required and remains open.
The host of the event is Wainwright’s company “Urban Revolution Marketing & Branding LLC,” which seeks to provide affordable advertising for businesses run by people of color.
The event will also feature speakers like Stefan Hawkins, co-owner of House of Vegans; Talond Luckette, owner of Texas Roadhouse on Union Deposit Road; and Elyse Katrina, owner of La Cultura.
“There is a lack of equity when it comes to minority-owned businesses,” Wainwright said. “My ultimate hope is we start realizing we can start putting more dollars into minority-owned businesses. That’s the only way we are going to thrive.”
Along with business vendors from human services, food, retail and health industries, there will be food, music, free flu shots provided by Penn State Health and raffles. Masks are mandatory and people’s temperatures will be screened.
McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC is a sponsor of the event, and partners include the Pennsylvania Diversity Coalition, the African American Chamber of Commerce, Penn State Health Hershey Medical Center and UNITE PA.
Wainwright said that he plans on holding another expo in February.
“We’ve been hit really hard, but the minority community is really resilient,” he said. “I definitely think there’s so much potential to grow.”
For more information on the “Black is Beautiful Expo” or to register, visit https://www.blackisbeautifulexpo.com./
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