SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS — Corporations across the nation continue to scale back on their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Because of it, people in Springfield wanted to make sure Black businesses are highlighted by creating a directory.
The directory highlights over 50 black-owned businesses in Springfield, and the list is expected to keep growing.
As committee members for the State of Black Springfield, Sunshine Clemmons and T’ena Haile created the list to bring these businesses to light.
I spoke with several owners, and they all agreed that being highlighted in this directory will allow them to set an example for future generations.
Kaia Griffin, owner of AR Luxury Event Spaces, wanted to create a space where little girls who look like her will feel inspired.
“I just think that it was important to give little brown girls and black girls an example to lead up to,” Griffin said. “‘Like wow, I can maybe have my own business.’”
Drawing inspiration from planning her daughter’s birthday parties, Griffin fell in love with the idea of offering a blank canvas to give people creative control for their special events.
“We can do anything from, you come in and the event is completely done for you,” Griffin said. “We also have a package where you can kind of create whatever you desire.”
After opening her doors in 2024, Griffin has worked with nearly 100 people, making it possible with the help of the Springfield community.
I really appreciate the Springfield community in all that they have done to pour into my business,” Griffin said. “Just different things like lending things to me, being a helping hand, word of my mouth, suggesting my venue.”
With a goal of bringing more diversity to Springfield, Griffin added it’s an honor to be highlighted in the black-owned business directory.
“Personally, I felt that there wasn’t as much diversity as much as I would like in terms of the community,” Griffin said. “I just wanted to kind of bridge that gap and give generations younger than me an idea of things that they have the opportunity to accomplish.”
After years of being an educator, Tara Allbritton, owner of the She Got the Nerve organization, serves as a coach for young girls and women to build their self-confidence.
“I saw the need for our young people to have a safe space to come and talk about their life issues,” Allbritton said. “Sometimes, they have things that they need to talk about that they can’t really talk about with their parents.”
Since the organization’s inception in 2008, Allbritton has worked with hundreds of youths and women. But her main goal is to help young girls know their worth.
“You still have a responsibility to yourself to be great,” Allbritton said. “You have a responsibility to tap into your greatness on the inside, so no excuses.”
Allbritton added highlighting black businesses is important because it shows future generations that they are important.
“They are our future,” Allbritton said. “They can become the firstEven if it’s just the first in your family. Understanding that you still have the ability to write history. You have the ability to become the next Black history.”
AR Luxury Event Spaces will be hosting an event on Saturday to highlight all women owned businesses from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m..
