Dr. Eric Kelly III, founder of the North Carolina Artist Hall of Fame, hosted the Black Business Expo in STEM City USA. The expo was a 24-hour event from Monday, March 21 through Sunday, March 27. Dedicated to Black founders, entrepreneurs, business owners, organizations, and corporations, Dr. Kelly had a goal of raising enough money to give ten lucky students up to $10,000 to attend an area college.
“The reason that the Black Business Expo was created was to help our kids get more education; To help our kids do better in their lives,” Dr. Kelly said in an interview with the CW.
This partnership is part of CCG’s ongoing effort to bring people into the metaverse, a combination of multiple elements of technology, including virtual reality, augmented reality, and video where users "live" within a digital universe. STEM City is a platform that helps promote the growth and flourishment of underrepresented communities by providing opportunities to network and receive information which is essential to the advancement of the community.
Dr. Kelly highlighted the fact that people are starting businesses at a younger age and he wants to give these young people the opportunity to succeed. This realization inspired Dr. Kelly to put together the Black Business Expo.
Technology has been advancing at an exponential rate over the last decade, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced people to rely more on technology to interact with other people, near and far.
“We have to understand something about the old people, and I’m in that group. We’ve been kicking and screaming not to use the phone, not to use the technology, not to be involved because we’re set in our ways” Dr. Kelly said. “COVID has forced us to look at technology and use technology which really is speeding us up to the level of the kids, and I think that’s awesome.”
The Black Business Expo featured several keynote speakers and business leaders who talked about the importance of showcasing Black businesses to improve visibility. Perpetue Robert is a health professional who is dedicated to providing the tools needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Robert studied applied chemistry in food processing, agricultural laboratory, and nursing. After an accident that resulted in three knee surgeries, she decided to study naturopathic medicine to help her cope with inflammation and depression.
During her segment, Robert emphasized the importance of a healthy diet, proper exercise, sufficient water intake, and receiving enough sunlight when possible. She also talked about limiting unhealthy habits such as drinking alcohol, smoking, overeating, and overworking.
If you would like to learn more about Robert, you can visit her website. To learn more about the Black Business Expo, please visit https://blackbusinessexpousa.com/.
