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Black Business Friday

Celebrate and support #BlackBusinesses in Downtown Baltimore during our first Black Business Friday event. The pandemic won’t let us meet in person but, just like the entrepreneurs who will be joining us, we won’t let a little thing like a global pandemic get in the way!

The event takes place in a virtual Center Plaza on Friday, September 25 from 6:30-8:30 pm, with a live dj set, product demonstrations, interviews with thought leaders, and a virtual marketplace with some of Baltimore’s favorite Black-owned shops.

Join us the live stream HERE.

6:30-7pm - Grab the beverage of choice and enjoy DJ 5 Starr's live set.

7pm - Event will Begin

7-8:30pm - Peruse virtual event space and choose a room:

Listen - Enjoy Black Business Friday interviews with Owner and CEO of Mess in a Bottle, Kalilah Wright, and Jason Bass Owner and CEO of Kiss Tomorrow Hello.

Learn - Check out a live candle making demonstration from KSM Candle Co. and a cocktail making demonstration from Cajou Creamery feat CAnE Collective mixers. Followed by a live Q&A.

Shop - Shop 11 black-owned business in the BBF virtual marketplace. Purchase items and gift cards in real-time. Customer service agents will be available to help answer questions. See the full list below.

Black Business & Entertainment

DJ 5 Starr

Kendrick R. Tilghman is a Baltimore native, an entrepreneur, a DJ, educator, outreach specialist, and top Science Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.) advocate. Known as the #1STEMDJ, Mr. Tilghman goes by the stage name "DJ 5Starr - The General."

His company, 5 Starr Entertainment, educates and empowers communities to play more active roles in S.T.E.M. related curricula and fields.

Black Business Interviews

Kalilah Wright

Owner / CEO - Mess in a Bottle

Kalilah Wright is a designer and graduate architect practicing in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2010, Kalilah obtained a Masters degree in Architecture from Morgan State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University, 2005.

Mess in a bottle is a t-shirt company that allows you to say what you want without ever having to say anything at all. It is an expressive brand and it allows an individual to be outspoken and vocal by wearing their message.

Jason Bass

Entrepreneur & CEO - Kiss Tomorrow Hello

For the last 10 years, he has developed products, partnered with national brands, and founded small businesses. Most notably, he co-founded Treason Toting Company in Baltimore, MD in 2013. As CEO, he raised over a half a million in venture capital. He also won Light City’s 2018 Ravens Pitch Competition. In 2017 he co-founded a successful event series called The Night Brunch. In 2019 Jason launched a digital marketing agency, Kiss Tomorrow Hello.

Black Business Virtual Marketplace

	Mess in a Bottle An innovative apparel company with MESSages that gives a voice to the voiceless. The MESS mission is to evoke change, and create a community of unapologetically authentic humans.
	Next Phaze Cafe Nestled in downtown Baltimore at 112 E Lexington Street directly across the street from the Clarence Mitchell Court House, Next Phaze Cafe is one of the latest additions to the city's list of places for residents, businesses, conventioneers, government employees, and visitors to find the food they love.
	NoelleRX Handmade Whether you are in the market for a beautiful painted bowl, fun magnets, a custom gift or the perfect silk lined shower bonnet to keep your hair dry and protected NoelleRx Handmade has a variety of products to suit your style needs.
	NKVSKIN NKVSKIN was created and designed to help create perfect skin balance. Living in high populated areas can have a detrimental effect on our skin. Our handcrafted facial skin care is made with beautiful carrier oils including sweet almond oil, safflower and evening primrose.
	Cajou Creamery To this husband and wife duo, Cajou represents the joy of choosing, preparing and eating real food, made from scratch. Cajou Creamery reimagined ice cream as a healthy treat. Cajou is committed to making ice cream better, using real ingredients that are responsibly sourced.
	Bria Price Bria Price is a gifted writer, poet, author, and created from Baltimore, MD. Bria's early writing flowed into her life naturally by the form of journaling and poetry books. Her passion for poetry, storytelling, teaching, and artistry are inspired with love, individuality, expression, style, and grace. Bria's mission is to build a sacred space where others can express themselves creatively.
	Kiki's Cuisine KiKi's Cuisine is a family-owned business based in Baltimore Maryland. In 2005, Lakisha started baking homemade navy bean pies in the kitchen of her basement apartment. She wanted to give her family alternative, healthy snack options. They enjoyed it so much that she started to share with close friends and family. They encouraged her to sell pies during the holidays. As the years went on, she received more and more orders until she outgrew her kitchen and in 2019, KiKi's Cuisine was born.
	SoBeachy Haitian Cuisine Originally "Green Grass Tall Trees" Sobeachy Haitian Cuisine, is Baltimore's first family-owned Haitian restaurant that specializes in offering the rich culture of Haiti through its authentic Haitian meals and exotic fruit juices "The Gwa", "Beach Bum" and "Gone Beyond".
	Pandora's Box Boutique Pandora's Box is a trendy boutique that sells home decor, jewelry, handbags, and gifts for special occasions. Stop by and find your new favorite accessory.
	Creatively Nomadic Ashley Wilder aka as Creatively Nomadic is a Baltimore-based artist who specializes in portraiture style work using oil and acrylic paint.