Events Gem City Black Business Month

Tap Into the Gem City Black Business Month lineup:

Downtown Dayton Black Business Challenge | Downtown Dayton Partnership

August 1-31

Celebrate downtown’s collection of Black-owned businesses during the month of August. Pick up a map or download a copy from the Downtown Dayton Partnership’s website and visit any of the participating locations. Take a pic of yourself visiting that business and/or a shot of what you purchased, and text it to 937-668-7227. Every Friday in August, four winners will be selected to take home $25 in Downtown Dollars. One grand prize winner will receive $100 Downtown Dollars on August 31.

SHOP BLACK

New Business Information Webinar | SBDC

Wednesday, August 3, 6-8 pm | online

The online New Business Information Session is a 1.5 hour, free seminar that will answer your questions about starting, buying, or expanding a small business.

REGISTER HERE

The World of Marketing Campaigns and Content Creation | SBDC

Thursday, August 4, 6-7:30 pm | online

During this 90-minute session you will work through a 33 page marketing workbook to break down every aspect of your marketing. You will land on a 1-page marketing plan, 30-day content strategy for social media platforms, and review best business practices utilizing a social media scheduler.

REGISTER HERE

Social Justice Speaker Series: Candice Mathews Brackeen

Saturday, August 6, 2 – 3:15 pm
Dayton Metro Library (Main) | The Bassani Theater Off Third — Second Floor

Candice Mathews Brackeen is a general partner at Lightship Capital, directs programming at Lightship Foundation, expands upon her work driving representation in innovation with her role on the Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium for NASA, and sits on the advisory committee and selection committees for technology for the Ohio State University and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Medical Center. This program coincides with Gem City Black Business Month. More information about the Social Justice Speaker Series can be found here.

HEAL Thy Self: Yoga for Self-Care

Sundays, August 7, 14, 21, 28, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Gem City Market | 324 Salem Ave, Dayton, OH 45406

Join certified yoga teachers, Tiffany Brown and Taylor Johnson (aka T&T Dynamite duo) for a weekly yoga flow centered around mindful movement, self-care, nature, and community. We will flow outside in the grass next to the parking lot whenever weather permits. In the case of rain, we will flow inside the Gem City Market Community Room. This class is accessible for yogis of all levels. Please bring a yoga mat if you have one, water, and any other props you’d like. If you do not have a mat, we will have extras. By clicking through to register you are agreeing to this liability waiver and to receive emails from Tiffany NP (Healing Wisdom Health + Wellness) and Taylor Johnson (HAYA Healing).

REGISTER HERE

Community Book Club: Collective Courage

Mondays, August 8, 15, 22, 29, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Gem City Market | 324 Salem Ave, Dayton, OH 45406
Event contact: Te’Jal Cartwright, tejal.cartwright@coopdayton.org.

Co-op Dayton: Book club with Amaha Sellassie reading Collective Courage by Jessica Gordon Nembhard. Join Co-op Dayton with a deep dive discussion about understanding the roots and power of Black cooperative economic development. This group will meet every Monday at the Gem City Market from 6pm-8pm. This new model will help community members and business owners learn more about the power of cooperation and how the cooperative model has been a crucial part of success for Black communities in the past.

REGISTER HERE

Gem City Rooftop Social

August 12, 2022 from 6:00 – 8:30 PM
The Hub powered by PNC Bank | 31 South Main Street
Event Contact: Tywan Corbitt, tcorbitt1@udayton.edu

Kick back and unwind at the Gem City Rooftop Social at the Hub powered by PNC Bank. Celebrate our city’s black business owners, entrepreneurs and resource providers while you experience the smooth sounds of your favorite hits. Tours are available for entrepreneurs and business owners who want to explore the halls of the fastest growing office and innovation space in the city.

REGISTER HERE

Theze Dealz Thrifty Boutique presents the Gem City Black Business Bus Tour

Saturday, August 13, 2022, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (subject to change, check website)
Theze Dealz Thrifty Boutique | 3183 W. Siebenthaler Avenue

This tour, led by owner and Entrepreneur Zontaye Richardson of Theze Dealz Thrift Store, features shopping, eating, and bringing awareness to black-owned businesses and spending $$. A friendly, local black-owned bus company drives you around the city for a true insider’s perspective. Bus tour costs $50. It includes tour, snacks, and a special bus tour-only discounts at Theze Dealz. Tickets can be purchased in-store at Theze Dealz. Partners include Beauty By Dani, God Tees, and Dayton Fit Lab.

A Poetic Medley: Dunbar 150 Tribute

Saturday, August 13, 2022, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Dayton Metro Library (Main) | The Eichelberger Forum — 1st Floor

June 27, 2022 marked the 150th birthday of Dayton native/poet Paul Laurence Dunbar. To celebrate Dunbar’s contributions to poetry, Oral Funk Poetry Productions will pay tribute to Dunbar with their contemporary performance, Lyrics. Love. Legacy. This high-spirited show celebrates urban roots and Black creativity through the eyes of the Gem City and Paul Laurence Dunbar. This program coincides with Gem City Black Business Month and is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Let’s WOW Your Customers | SBDC

Wednesday, August 17, 6-7 pm | online

Instead of trying to “sell” your customer, let’s wow your customer so that they want to buy from you again and again. Learn how to guide your customer into a sale, instead of convincing them to buy.

REGISTER HERE

Community Capital & Resource Fair

Thursday, August 18, 2022 from 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Hub Powered by PNC Bank | 31 South Main Street
Event Contact: Tywan Corbitt, tcorbitt1@udayton.edu

Join us for the GWDI Community Capital & Resource Fair, a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs to learn about the funding and resource opportunities available in Dayton and how to prepare to receive them. At this event, you’ll be able to connect with community partners who can help you grow your business, access capital resources and gain knowledge through workshops that will help you make informed decisions that may increase your chances of acquiring capital. Sessions include:

• Crowdfunding – How to Leverage the Power of Community to Fund Your Business
• The Corporate Hustler – How to Use Your 9-5 to Fund Your Dreams
• Flip the Bank: How to Turn Stocks and Digital Currency into Business Capital
• Get Out the Trap: How to Improve Your Personal Finances and Credit to Build Your Business
• Get Your House In Order: How to Position Your Business for Grants, Loans, and Funding

REGISTER HERE

Tiny Stacks Music Concert

Thursday, August 18, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Northwest Dayton Metro Library Branch | 2410 Philadelphia Dr.

Dayton Metro Library, Home of Urban Creative Arts, and WYSO of Yellow Springs, have collaborated to bring the Tiny Stacks Music Series to Library patrons. This initiative, sponsored by Friends of the Dayton Metro Library, aims to connect musicians, books, and patrons in one spot.

DML will kick-off this music series with saxophonist, Ric Sexton, at the Northwest Branch while introducing communities not only to the vast resources DML offers, but also to the diverse musical talents of the Dayton area. This event, produced and curated by Sierra Leone, will be a unique experience for DML patron audiences as well as for the musicians.

New Business Information Webinar | SBDC

Saturday, August 20, 9-11am | online

The online New Business Information Session is a 1.5 hour, free seminar that will answer your questions about starting, buying, or expanding a small business.

REGISTER HERE

16th Annual Dayton African American Cultural Festival

Saturday, August 20, 2:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Island MetroPark | 101 E. Helena Street

Live music, African drumming, Gospel, Jazz, R&B, Blues, Hip Hop, Dancers, Live Performances & more! The Dayton African American Cultural Festival, Inc. provides a space for people to gather to celebrate the richness of the African American Cultural experience and uplift the communal family through activities that promote culture, art, education and health awareness. Find more information here.

Power Hour, Black Businessmen Edition – “Overcoming Adversity”

Thursday, August 25, 2022, 6:00 -7:30 PM 
Montgomery County Employment Opportunity Center | 4303 W Third St, Dayton, OH 45417
Event Contact: Tywan Corbitt, tcorbitt1@udayton.edu

You don’t need to be a millionaire to experience the power of networking. The Power Hour Black Men in Business Edition is designed to help you identify and create your own networking opportunities. Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned business pro, the Power Hour offers a place for you to learn the skills that allow you to tap into the resources that can make all the difference. It’s time to realize the power of who you know – and meet some of the most successful Black male business owners in our community.

REGISTER HERE

Scripted in Black Movie Nights

Sunday, August 28, 2022, 3:00 – 4:00 PM Social Hours and Showtime Starts at 4:30 PM
The Neon | 130 East 5th Street

Scripted in Black is back at it again with some of our favorite Black movie classics + community social hours! This time around, we’re coming more live + personal with timeless Black classics while giving homage to local Black talent and businesses, Whether you’re in the mood to search for true love, plotting to make it big by any means necessary, or getting well-versed with the dynamic nature of hood politics, this year’s film series allows us to collectively experience the art of Black cinema, together.

This movie night series is a chance to celebrate as a community the importance of Black storytelling and the way it honors the multi-dimensional layers of our culture, experience, and perspective. This movie night series is the perfect way to close out a busy work week or end the weekend with nothing but high-vibes.

This event will feature the film B.A.P.S.

GET TICKETS

Gem City Black Business Expo

Saturday, August 27, 2022, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Dayton Metro Library (Main) | Cooper Park and Main Library Atrium

Join host Tae Winston as she brings together an impressive collective of Gem City’s Black business owners for an exciting gathering of food trucks and a wide variety of retail vendors in Cooper Park behind the Main Library. Community resource partners will also be on hand to provide support and advice for Black business owners.

Gem City Flea

Sunday, August 28, 2022, 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location TBD

Dayton Young Black Professionals presents a curated vintage, flea market focused on apparel, accessories, & art. For more information follow DYBP on Facebook.

Black Women in Business

Tuesday, August 30, 2022, 6-8:30 PM
Genuine Works Fifth Floor | 15 McDonough Street
Event Contact: NaAsiaha Simon, info@nsafirm.com

Connecting like-minded individuals with a community of black and brown business owners that supports growth, featuring a panel conversation on why sisterhood, friendship, and womanhood is important in the business sector. The meet & greet mixer will be from 6:00 pm – 7:00pm followed by a panel discussion and roundtable from 7:00pm – 8:30pm.

Building Black Brands

Wednesday, August 31, 2022, 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Genuine Work | 15 McDonough Street
Event Contact: Audrey Ingram, audrey.ingram@parallaxresearch.org

A panel of Back business owners building the city’s hottest upcoming brands will share stories and advice from their journeys. Soak in the knowledge and good vibes as you mix and mingle with your fellow makers. What’s the Biz founder and on-screen host Te’Jal Cartwright will moderate the conversation. Confirmed panelists include:
Baba Love founder Vaniti Byrd | Chicken Heads founder Anthony Head | Scripted in Black founder Dana Graham

REGISTER HERE