STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) – Mary Baldwin University is set to host its second annual Black Business Fair, providing a platform for Black-owned businesses to showcase their products and services.
The event — spearheaded by the university’s Black Student Alliance — will take place on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Student Activity Center. The fair is open to students and the community, aiming to highlight Black entrepreneurs and foster connections between businesses and consumers. Jonathan Delgado, president of the Black Student Alliance, said the event is about more than just shopping.
“I’ve seen some of these businesses get built from the ground up,” Delgado said. “To see where they are now, it’s inspirational.”
The fair will feature vendors from Staunton and beyond, including businesses from Richmond. Among the participating businesses is the Treehouse Juice Bar, a local Black-owned establishment that opened in June. Co-owner Sunqeet Pepper said the event is a chance for businesses to connect with students and community members who might not otherwise know they exist.
“Anything that has to do with the community of Staunton—we support small business, Black business,” Pepper said.
Co-owner Kyle Alston echoed that sentiment and said it also highlights the importance of supporting one another.
“Being a part of the Black [Business] collective, we can help each other out,” Alston said. “We can [go to] each other’s businesses and go buy and patronize each other, just make it more of a family affair.”
Delgado said the Black Business Fair is part of Mary Baldwin’s Black History Month programming and is designed in part to introduce students to local businesses they may not have been aware of, helping students feel more at home in the Queen City.
“Some students don’t know these businesses are right down the street,” Delgado said. “It’s a great way for students to network and for business owners to gain new customers.”
The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and is free to attend.
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