By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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BELOIT, Wis. — Four years ago, a group of about a dozen Black women came together for an event that allowed them to both showcase their businesses and inspire other Black female entrepreneurs.

The event did just that, said Paquita Purnell, the owner of Blessed Divine Creations in Janesville and one of the original 13 vendors at the first Black Women in Business Expo.

Case in point is the year-after-year growth of the event, which continues to draw more vendors as more Black women are motivated by their peers’ success to launch a business.

The number of vendors more than doubled in the event’s second year.

“It’s because half of the people that came the second time were inspired to start their own business after seeing us (13) doing it,” Purnell said.

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When the fourth annual Black Women in Business Expo and Black History Month Celebration fills the Eclipse Center on Feb. 12, there will be about 65 entrepreneurs selling everything from food to fashion accessories to art, clothing and skincare products.

The event is coordinated by Vickie Lynn, a comedian, author and entrepreneur who wanted to help fellow Black female business owners find success. All but one business at this year’s expo is owned by a Black woman. The other, 5 Star Tainos of Janesville, is owned and operated by a woman of Puerto Rican descent, Lynn said.

“People didn’t realize how many Black-owned businesses were in Rock County until she started putting on these expos and highlighting the businesses,” Purnell said. “Her whole goal is to make sure that we are recognized, that we feel the love, that we stay encouraged — because it’s hard to be an entrepreneur out here, especially a Black entrepreneur.”

Purnell launched her gift and retail business in 2014, and in September she opened her first brick-and-mortar shop inside the Uptown Janesville Mall.

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‘Continue a legacy’

Lynn said she launched the event, in part, to create a support system after the death of her mother, Marilyn Johnson, who died at age 62 in October 2018.

She said her mother, despite having a disability, worked to help countless people and she wanted to “continue a legacy” her mother started.

“She was disabled, but if she could help she did,” Lynn said.”I just want take that strength and apply it to who she was because she was always about helping people – especially Black women.”

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The event, and the success of the businesses involved, has helped show people what they could achieve, Lynn said.

“You would be amazed at how many people don’t know what’s possible,” she said. “And when they see people like us – that look like them – doing things that they didn’t know was possible, that opens a whole new role for them and they know what’s possible and they know that they can be great as well.”

While the event is a celebration of Black women in business, it aims to attract people of all cultures.

“It’s just like any other cultural event like Pride Fest and Octoberfest, things of that nature,” Lynn said. “We want everybody to come out and support these women.”

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Know before you go | Black Women in Business Expo

What: Black Women in Business Expo & Black History Month Celebration

When: Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12

Where: Eclipse Center, 3 Eclipse Center, Beloit, Wis.

Cost: $1 donation goes toward Doris Wiles Center of Hope at New Life Ministries, 1400 Harvey St., Beloit, Wis.

For more information: bwbe19@yahoo.com

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.