Black Business Leaders Feted at Juneteenth Event

July 1, 2025

The Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce (GWBCC) hosted its "The Art of Black Business 2025 Juneteenth Awards Ceremony" on June 20 to honor notable Black business leaders and advocates in the D.C. metropolitan area. The annual event recognized several individuals for their contributions, including Kristina Noell, the first African American woman to serve as a Business Improvement District executive director in D.C., and Amanda Stephenson, founder of Fresh Food Factory addressing food deserts in Ward 8. Legacy Awards were presented to B.

Who is affected

Black business owners and entrepreneurs in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area
Award recipients (Kristina Noell, Amanda Stephenson, Yusef Henriques, Chefs Mac McAlister and Pinkey Reddick, B. Doyle Mitchell Jr., and Denise Rolark Barnes)
African American communities served by these businesses, particularly in areas like Ward 8
Residents of underserved areas like east of the Anacostia River benefiting from businesses such as Fresh Food Factory
Indigenous and African diasporic communities benefiting from health equity initiatives

What action is being taken

The Greater Washington Black Chamber of Commerce is hosting an annual awards ceremony recognizing Black business achievements
The Capital Workforce Innovation Consortium, a program of the D.C. Department of Employment Services, is supporting local Black businesses
IndyGeneUS ai is focusing on life sciences with emphasis on health equity for Indigenous and African diasporic communities
Fresh Food Factory is combating food deserts in Ward 8 by providing fresh produce
The Anacostia BID is encouraging African American-owned businesses in the Anacostia neighborhood

Why it matters

The ceremony recognizes and celebrates Black entrepreneurship during what the article describes as a "difficult time" with "retrenchment on minority business programs"
It highlights the growth and resilience of Black-owned businesses, which according to Dr. Andre Perry have grown 50% since 2017 despite challenges
The event connects the historical significance of Juneteenth with contemporary Black economic empowerment
It showcases businesses addressing critical community needs like food access in underserved areas
Long-standing Black businesses like The Washington Informer (60 years) and Industrial Bank (90 years) demonstrate sustainability and serve as inspiration for newer entrepreneurs

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer