WILKES BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— Local business professionals gathered this evening at a networking event focused on supporting black-owned businesses within northeastern Pennsylvania.
Wilkes-Barre Power meets monthly to network with fellow community members. This month, the group decided to celebrate black history month.
The meeting was held at a local black-owned business and many business owners were there to lift each other up today and every day.
Bringing power to Black owned businesses.
Wilkes-Barre Power supports the professional growth of community members through monthly networking events, focusing on black-owned businesses during the month of February.
“We want to grow the region and there’s a rich diversity here in northeastern Pennsylvania and this is was we can do to support today and every day,” stated Rich Perry, President of Wilkes Barre Power.
Black history month was celebrated on Wednesday evening at NEPA MR lounge. A family-owned restaurant that opened in Plymouth in 2018, and has been serving up soul food ever since.
Owner, Melissa Rivers, was happy to open her doors to local professionals.
“This is like putting me on another level, right? To have such prominent professionals to just come and network in my establishment with the struggles that come with being an African American in this area owning a small business,” said Melissa Rivers, owner of NEPA MR lounge.
She says although things have been going well for her business, she and other black business owners could always use more support.
“It’s important to know that we’re here. We have the same establishments as any other culture, any other nationalities. And there’s plenty of other businesses that are out here that are minorities that need the same support and attention,” voiced Rivers.
Brittany Stephenson was there to support Rivers and is also a small business owner herself.
“She’s one of the only black businesses in Plymouth right now and it means everything to be able to come out, meet other people in the area who want to support our businesses but also teach us along the way and help lift us up,” stated Brittany Stephenson, owner of Taste of Ja Jamaican Catering.
Stephenson brings a taste of Jamaica to northeastern Pennsylvania, with the grand opening of her catering business taking off this weekend.
The event helped her spread the word, but she wishes to see more meetings like this outside of Black history month.
“It’s important to recognize that America wouldn’t be what it is without the contributions of black people. To be meeting in this month and uplifting black businesses is highly important, but bringing that into that every other month changes the diversity of our communities. It changes the economic status of the people here,” said Stephenson.
And be sure to join us for our special “Honoring Black history”.
We have a lot of wonderful stories about community leaders from northeast and central PA to share with you. The program airs Saturday, February 24th at 7 pm on WYOU and Sunday, February 25th at 1 pm and 11:30 pm on WBRE.
