A Recap of Our Entrepreneurship Fair Featuring Parent Vendors from the Family Hub Program
In a testament to the power of collaboration and community empowerment, our 2nd Annual Entrepreneurship Fair brought together a diverse array of parent vendors from our esteemed Family Hub program, creating an event that not only showcased their incredible talents but also highlighted the spirit of entrepreneurship within our community. We are grateful to our sponsors Wintrust and United Credit Union for their generous support of this event.
The Entrepreneurship Fair served as a platform for these dedicated parent vendors to showcase their products and services, ranging from handcrafted artisanal goods to delicious foods. The event, held at the Paulo Freire Family Center (PFC) in Back of the Yards, buzzed with energy as visitors explored the vendor’s stalls, engaged in workshops to inform their businesses, and discovered the remarkable offerings brought forth by their fellow community members.
The 2023 Entrepreneurship Fair helped to raise awareness of entrepreneurship in the community and provided vendors with the resources they need to succeed. We look forward to seeing everyone again at the 2024 Entrepreneurship Fair. If you missed the event, you can check our the Vendor Directory here and watch the interviews with our vendors in the video below!
Speakers
Ken Kimber, Director of Small Business Recovery and Resiliency
Ken Kimber is ABIC’s Director of Small Business Recovery and Resiliency and overseas ABIC’s Community Navigator Technical Assistance programs for disproportionately impacted small businesses, focused on maximizing access to COVID-19 relief resources and expanding businesses capacity. Ken brings 10+ years of dynamic campaign management specializing in public policy, advocacy, strategy, outreach, and more recently public grant management with ABIC’s small business grant work.
Mina Mari, Small Business Associate
Mina Mari is the Small Business Associate at ABIC, working with disproportionately impacted small businesses in Illinois and ensuring they have access to relief resources. Prior to joining ABIC, Mina worked with several refugee and immigrant organizations in Chicago. Mina received a bachelor’s in political science and criminal justice and criminology from Loyola University Chicago. Currently, Mina is pursuing a master’s degree in criminology, law, and justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Marcella Diaz, Income Tax Services
Maricela Diaz graduated from DePaul University with an Accounting degree. After graduating from college, she worked for CH Robison as Financial Reporting Manager. She started her Tax Preparation business in 2010, and focuses on serving the Latino community. Services provided include: Individual Income Tax Preparation; Obtaining and Renewing ITIN/EIN; tax preparation for sole proprietors. She also serves as a notary, translator, green card assistance and social security for retirement planning.
Kris Casey, Communications & Marketing Manager, Chicago Commons
Kris Casey is an experienced marketing and communications professional, program manager and educator with over 10 years experience working with organizations, nonprofits and small businesses. Kris translates her love of information and visual culture into dynamic websites, infographics, social media campaigns and more. Kris has a reputation as a critical thinker and creative problem solver in the fields of branding, web and graphic design, and digital marketing.
Vendors
ICandy Coffee & Candles: Icandy wants to show you that it’s okay to embrace everything about your Blackness whether its your skin tone, curves, strength, and elegance. We have it all! Everything about Black is Beautiful. Icandy will be selling cold brew coffees and homemade scented candles.
REBEL STYLE: Rebel Style is custom-created items by the customers, T-shirt and Bling-Out (shoes, cups, etc.) business. The t-shirts are made with vinyl however the customer chooses. The Bling-out is rhinestones on an item of the customer’s choice in any color that they choose.
Les Make Sweets: Artesian Confections
Star Farm: Our team cumulatively brings over 50 years of landscaping, urban farming, programming, and culinary expertise to Star Farm community and clients. While each team member boasts specialty skills, we all work together with the underlying mission of creating a resilient food system through growing, sharing, and celebrating food.
Ade Adeosun: Catering and Hairdressing services
Uniquely Designed with U in Mind: All Natural Hair Oil Blends, Handbags and Accessories
Silk Body Butter by Shae: Indulge your body in all natural body butter and body oil. Protect your skin in the summer and winter months with Silk Body Butter by Shae and make your skin silky smooth and smelling great, with ingredients like mango butter, Shea Butter, coconut oil, rosehip oil, vitamin E oil, olive oil, and natural fragrance (at customer request). Promotes healing of Eczema, stretch marks, cellulite. Good for after tattoos!
Jenny B’s Pottery: Handmade clay, ceramics (piggy banks, flower vases, plates, trinkets, etc.)
Amaris Clay and Gifts: Handmade ceramics and jewelry
Gomitas y Dulces Enchilados MADIZON: Jellybeans and candies per unit and for events with a touch of spice. We also have Chamoy sauce ready for drinks. (Only Spanish).
Antojitos Elly: Grated vegetables for salad and Nopal. Traditional vegetables are ready to be served. (Only Spanish)
BeColores: Ceramic kits for little ones
Postres Suli: I dedicate myself to making desserts for your events or personal consumption such as: Jellies of different flavors, strawberry, walnut, eggnog with cherry, Mocha (coffee), vanilla, sweetened condensed milk with flavors of water (mozaico), flan, cornbread, cheese pie, strawberries with cream, apple salad. It handles individual jellies or images (transfers), with your favorite picture or emoji.
Dulces Creaciones Maricela: Dulces Creaciones is dedicated to making artisan pastries. From personalized jellies, traditional desserts such as churro cheesecake, chocolate-covered strawberries, and low-calorie gelatin. There is a dessert for each person and need. (Only Spanish).
Dust Erase: Dust Erase is a family-owned business dedicated to providing you with peace and wellness by taking care of your cleaning needs. We believe a clean environment promotes wellness, creativity, and productivity. Rest assured and let Dust Erase take care of your cleaning needs. Our cleaning services include: Residential, Buildings, Office, Move In / out, Study, Personal.
Marietta McDuffy: Handmade crossbody bags
Embellish Kreations Décor, LLC: Event planning
Resin Remembers: Handmade ceramic art
Photos
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors!
