Next week’s Democratic National Convention is expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors to Chicago.
That’s a lot of people spending a lot of money while they’re here.
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Looking to get a slice of the economic action, as well as network with folks from across the country, are many Black business owners.
They will be providing a variety of different services at the convention showing that “Black jobs” can be jobs of all kinds.
One of the businesses showcasing its products is Sweet Beginnings, a social impact enterprise created by the North Lawndale Employment Network which will provide 10,000 lip balms for convention-goers thanks to a partnership with Microsoft.
Sweet Beginnings hit upon the idea of using urban honey cultivation to provide jobs for people struggling to find work because of the stigma of having a criminal record.
North Lawndale Employment Network President and CEO and Sweet Beginnings founder Brenda Palms is excited at the opportunity to showcase their honey and honey-infused skincare products at the DNC.
“It means a lot for me that we have the opportunity to elevate a social impact business based in North Lawndale that is too often known for all of the social ills versus something that is sweet and good,” said Palms. “So for me, it’s about changing the narrative and uplifting what’s positive and what’s good.”
Tamera Fair is co-author of the children’s book “The Purple Turtle,” an entrepreneur and a radio host who has been hired by the DNC to host a podcast from the convention each day.
Fair sees the DNC as a way to build relationships and contacts to help grow her business — and of course sell some books.
“So everybody and anybody that wants to be somebody is going to be descending on Chicago for the DNC,” Fair said, “and most of them, if not all of them, have children or some connection to children. And we definitely want to get the word out about the books.”
Lilia Key, founder of Lenore’s Kitchen Catering, has been providing catering services for DNC staff in the run-up to the convention.
“The experience was great,” said Key. “We had the opportunity to cater for the staff a soul food lunch, and it was well received. … All of the southern meals from the collard greens and cornbread to your macaroni and cheese and sweet potatoes and barbecued chicken and fried chicken and fish and potato salad. So it was a full spread for the staff, and I think a couple of people went to sleep after to take a little siesta.”
For all three women, the fact that the convention is set to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate makes the event and their association with it all the more special.
“To have Kamala in that seat to be the first woman of color to be nominated for the president of the United States, I never thought I would see the day, but I’m so happy to be in this day and in the DNC upfront and personal,” said Fair. “This is super, super exciting for me.”
But beyond Harris’ historic candidacy, it’s all business.
“We want to use the DNC to put a spotlight on Black businesses and say it’s OK to support Black businesses,” said Fair. “We’re up earlier than anybody. We stay later than anyone else. We have to do better than any one of our business counterparts. And quite frankly, it is time for Black businesses to shine.”