Pick up an October 2011 issue of Black Enterprise Magazine, flip to page 57, and you will run across a few familiar faces. Birmingham entrepreneurial couple and creators of the Magic City BlackExpo, Darrius and Meagan Peace, are featured front and center of B.E.’s most recent Wealth for Life article – “Committed to Black Business.”
B.E.’s two-page spread highlights the origins and development of MCBE since its conceptualization threeyears ago, as well as the significant role it has played in the creation and growth of minority ownedbusinesses throughout the Birmingham area.
“We’re thrilled that a nationally recognized publication like B.E. has taken notice of what MCBE is doingfor the Birmingham area.” said Darrius Peace. “The national exposure is great PR for this city. It combats the negative perceptions the nation has aboutBirmingham, and lets people around the country know that our city is indeed a community thriving ofcommerce. We are moving forward by creating businesses, and businesses for black people.”
The article goes on to include testimonials from local entrepreneurs who experienced expansion as a result of their participation with MCBE. It also outlines the Peaces’ journey as entrepreneurs, and how their grueling search for a local platform to showcase their company, Hayah Cosmetics, eventually led them to create the expo to help themselves and others.
The Magic City Black Expo showcases the products and services of black-owned and -operated businesses. It also offers education, empowerment and entertainment activities that the entire community can take part in. In its mission to help African Americans obtain wealth, Black Enterprise has highlighted 10 Wealth for Life Principles that serve as step-by-step guides to responsible saving, investing and spending in hopes of providing a foundation of wealth for future generations.
The expo was chosen with the 8th principle in mind — I Will Support the Creation and Growth of Minority-Owned Businesses.
From 2002-2007 the expo increased 113.3%, from 6,964 to 14,855. Since its start, Exhibitor participation for MCBE Expo has swelled from 60 to more than 150 exhibitors. The fourth installment of theMagic City Black Expo is set to take place, February 25, 2012 at the Birmingham Jefferson ConventionComplex (BJCC), East Exhibition Hall 3.
For more information about MCBE 2012, or to check out the full Black Enterprise article, please visitwww.magiccityblackexpo.com.
