for years now, vendors have been asking me if there's a way that they can pay one fee and be in all four festivals (Melanin in May, Tha Block Party, Daptoberfest, and the Black Business Bazaar) to lock themselves in for the year. I've always been hesitant because I want to make it as fair and equitable for new vendors as humanly possible.

Well now there's a way to do it, but there's a catch.

We've also engaged in ongoing discussions about how we can support businesses in enhancing their customer service, branding, financial planning and long term sustainability goals. Well,...

We've paired with S.E.A Leaders, Inc to administer customer service edification top to bottom. You know this. But we've also partnered with heavy hitters like Trezanay M. Atkins of I tmalaw l the lawyer for brands, Joí McCrary of ResumeMe and finance maven Regina Warren. The result? A 12-Week intensive cohort that will navigate through all of it to provide the tools necessary to take Black owned businesses to the next level.

Now we realize this is or will not be for everyone, but I firmly believe in the value of this experience just based on the instructors alone.

So starting TOMORROW, the application will open. We will be searching for 14 participants for this pilot program. 7 Black Owned Businesses that have been operating for less than five years, and 7 that have been operating for greater than five years. Based on their positionality and the things they need, you will engage in ongoing sessions based on the expertise of our instructors and in exchange, those chosen will be directly admitted into all four festivals and promoted as our inaugural cohort so that participants can hold each other accountable; and as a community we can uplift, empower, hold accountable, and bear witness to the growth as well.

Now the fee for a booth at our festivals is $50 for a single space. Four festivals, that's $200. The cost for chosen participants? $250.

That's it. $250 total. A one-time fee that covers not just entry into the festivals, but the training as well, paid only upon acceptance into the cohort. Again, we're intimately invested in the uplift of our people and the success of Black owned businesses. We truly hope potential applicants will not only find value in this opportunity, but also unprecedented growth and unquestionable success.