The term “Black Wall Street” is often associated with the prosperous residential and business community that was destroyed in the Tulsa, Okla., massacre 101 years ago.
But there were similar places of prosperity in Black communities throughout the United States, including Richmond’s Jackson Ward.
Building on that legacy to generate success for Black-owned businesses today, The Jackson Ward Collective will host the BLCK Street Conference in Richmond on Monday, Aug. 8, at The Collaboratory of VA.
Networking sessions the day before and the evening after the conference are designed for attendees to learn more about their respective businesses.
“[In the past,] Black Wall Street was necessary in Jackson Ward because we had to be self-sufficient,” said Melody Short, a founder of the Jackson Ward Collective. “We want to inspire people with the success of the past, but also want to inspire them with what is going on here now.”
Based on the stage of growth for an attendee’s business, the conference has three different tracks to be explored: Learn, Grow and Own. The Learn track provides resources for aspiring entrepreneurs, such as someone who has a side hustle; the Grow track is for people who have been in business a few years and are looking for resources to expand; and the Own track is for entrepreneurs who want to scale up or wind down their business.
Conference workshops will cover topics ranging from how to get access to capital for funding to leveraging technology for your company.
The keynote speakers for the event will be Julien and Kiersten Saunders, the couple behind the rich & REGULAR brand.
Co-authors of the book “Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away,” the power duo has built their brand from sharing their own hardships with money. Those hardships started with the two of them parting ways as a couple after arguing about money.
Conference attendees can expect to hear the couple’s story, from debt and scarcity thinking to reaching a goal of more than $1 million in savings, using a new strategy on building prosperity.
“They will hear financial secrets on how to build wealth easily; how to improve their relationship with their partner and communicating about money,” Mr. Saunders said. “You will learn how to reconcile uncomfortable truths regarding combatting racism and finances all at once.”
The couple is on a book tour, and as they do in every city they visit, will make a contribution to fight food insecurity here in Richmond.
“People are coming from California, At- lanta, Tennessee, Maryland and D.C.,” Ms. Short said.
Although the conference is sold out, interested business owners can visit the organization’s website, jacksonwardcollective.com, to be added to the wait list.
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