The Black-Owned Northwest Arkansas Business Expo has been a popular event for the community since 2020. During the collaboration, Black business owners come together to share and sell their work and form connections between guest vendors. The event will be held on Feb. 22 at 11 a.m., in Fayetteville Town Center.
Jasmine Hudson and J’Aaron Merchant, co-founders of Black-Owned NWA, found inspiration for the event through experiences in the community as a need for a collaborative outlet grew. The use of social media and their Instagram account, JazzyJaeNWA, allowed for the initial idea for the expo.
“We started receiving frequent questions like, ‘Where do you get your hair done?’ ‘Where do you go to church?’ ‘Are there any Black general practitioners in the area?’” Hudson and Merchant said in an email. “These recurring questions showed us there was a real need for a centralized resource to help others navigate and feel connected to the community.”
Throughout the years, the expo has drawn in over 2,500 attendees and 60 vendors to share products for sale. The atmosphere is welcoming to any person looking to show their support.
“Beyond its size, the expo has become a meaningful way to support entrepreneurs in creating sustainable growth and building lasting relationships with the community,” Hudson and Merchant said in an email.
Not only are there handmade crafts and warm soul food, but attendees will also experience learning the vendors’ stories and contributing to the enhancement of small businesses.
Clothing designer and The Empowerment Initiative brand owner, Emily Awour Wasonga, has featured her products for several years at the expo now.
“They’ve contributed to my visibility in every way under the sun,” Wasonga said. “It allows you to connect with people from various communities who want to uplift other ones.”
The majority of Wasogona’s products are handmade and used to combat the large clothing waste issue that endangers African countries. The business aims to flip clothing that might have been thrown out and turn it into a fashionable, wearable piece, Wasonga said.
“African textiles are actually endangered by the West’s fashion waste,” Wasonaga said. “So what we try to do is get our hands on those pieces, maybe give them a new life, maybe recreate something.”
Wasonga believes that the expo has been a great aid in boosting her business and her overall sense of well-being and establishment in the community.
Entertainment is produced by DJ Afrosia, who brings high energy to the space with signature mixes of music. The DJ has been spinning for the Black Business Expo since fall 2022 and is planning on bringing great vibes to this year’s performance, she said.
“My goal is always to take the audience on a journey, and this year will be no different – especially with it being Black History Month,” Afrosia said. “Expect a set filled with deep nostalgia, fire blends you didn’t know you needed, and plenty of rhythm & soul.”
Afrosia said that her music is used to facilitate an inviting presence and celebrate the community growth in the space.
“The energy in the room is electric,” Afrosia said. ”It’s a space where Black excellence is not just recognized but celebrated.”
First-time attendees can expect to discover amazing products and engage with local business owners, Hudson and Merchant said in an email. The expo offers a wide variety of goods and services in a positive, lively environment.
Wasogona said she believes the co-founders of the expo allowed her to adapt to selling and growing her business in NWA with confidence and she is appreciative of all the love and support that pays off from working the event.
“I’m able to set new roots in the ground and not feel like a stranger or lose hope of actually building out my dream,” Wasogona said.
