BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Black History Month celebrations at Kellogg Community College (KCC) were in full-swing Wednesday.
The Soul Food Luncheon and Black-owned Business Showcase at KCC brought Black-owned businesses, students, staff and community members together for food, collaboration and networking.
Ribs, collard greens, traditional fried chicken, sweet potatoes and mac and cheese were some of the featured items at the luncheon, according to organizers.
In the Binda Performing Arts Center, KCC hosted the event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with food prepared by the KCC staff and catered from Taste-A-Licious Catering.
“Food helps us connect culture, music, all the different dances, all the different things that we have that we need to share,” Marshall Washington, Kalamazoo Valley Community College president, said. “We need to do more of that because it’s all around learning who we are to inspire one another to be our best.”
The Soul Food Luncheon event started at KCC as a way for Washington, who was KCC’s vice president at the time, to share his family’s recipes with the college and public, event organizers said.
Next door, multiple Black-owned businesses were networking and strengthening community bonds at KCC’s Black-owned Business Showcase.
“The fact that it’s local and we get to reach the community. We’re in the community. We’re right here in Battle Creek,” Sherria Heath, owner of Superior Beauty Supply & Barber Salon, said. “So having a space right here at the college. So you get to meet so many different people at different ages.”
The following businesses were slated to be showcased, according to KCC:
Black Genius Black Famous: Educational consultantsBread & Basket: BoutiqueColorful Roots: High-fashion eyewearDelectably Infused: DessertsDream of Kalamazoo: Hair salonHolmes Fitness LLC: FitnessLJ Active Co.: ActivewearMela’s Peaceful Raine Wellness Massage: WellnessThe Perfect Pucker: Facial/body careSuperior Beauty Supply & Barber Salon: Barber/salon
More information about Kellogg Community College can be found online.