Broadview’s Black Business Expo Highlights Area Entrepreneurs

Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson and her business parter, Village Administrator LeTisa Jones, sold hygiene products for men and women during Saturday’s Black Business Expo. | Michael Romain 

Monday, February 12, 2024 || By Michael Romain || michael@wearejohnwilk.com 

Around 32 vendors setup shop at the Beverly Community Center, 3065 S. 25th Ave. in Broadview, on Feb. 10 for the Broadview Park District’s Third Annual Black Business Expo. 

Myisha Owens, the park district’s events manager, said this year’s Expo was hosted in partnership with the Grassroots Community Collaboration (GCC), a new organization created to enhance Black History Month programming and initiatives in Proviso Township. 

“These vendors don’t have storefronts, so this event gives them an opportunity to sell their products and market themselves,” Owens said. “They never know what exposure they might get.” 

Members of the Grassroots Community Collaboration, which co-sponsored the Black Business Expo. | Michael Romain 

Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson, whom Owens said came up with the idea for the annual Expo, was at the event as a vendor, selling organic feminine hygiene products for Aamori, a company Thompson founded and named after her granddaughter. The mayor introduced several hygiene products for men that she recently developed, including a scented body scrub.  

“When we talk about Black History in Proviso Township, it’s important we stay connected to resources, which many Black entrepreneurs [lack],” she said. “They often don’t have opportunities to expose their businesses, so this is a way to do that. We want to empower Black businesses, because if they’re growing, [the community] is growing.” 

Maywood business owner Audrey Jaycox’s beads on sale during Saturday’s Black Business Expo. | Michael Romain 

For some vendors, Saturday’s Expo was an opportunity to showcase not just their products, but the stories behind them. 

“These colorful beads over here? These are paper beads. Women in Uganda make these out of recycled paper,” said Audrey Jaycox, a Maywood resident and owner of Specially Made For You, a business she established with her sister, Janis Curtis. The two sell jewelry and other accessories that they make by hand. 

Judy Miller, a Broadview business owner and trustee, stands behind her products for sale. Miller owns Casual Canvas Creations, which hosts paint parties. | Michael Romain 

“There are widows with kids, and organizations and business people send them paper magazines and they make these beads to earn money to send their kids to school. They cut the paper in strips, put them on a wheel, run them through water six times and then run them through a sealant four times. The sealant makes the beads water resistant and gives them a shine. We do necklaces, bracelets, earring sets, etc.” 

As Jaycox spoke, First District Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps approached her table to purchase an item she had selected earlier in the day. 

“Small businesses are the backbone of thriving communities,” Commissioner Stamps said. “Small businesses, especially Black small businesses, have been trying to recover since COVID and any opportunity I have to support them, I will.” 

Anita Davis, who owns Set Apart Apparel and has authored multiple books, stands in front of her products during Saturday’s Black Business Expo. | Michael Romain 

Mathis Stegall, the executive director of the Broadview Park District, said the annual Expo helps support Black businesses by providing them with critical community exposure. 

“Our goal is to help create economic development within our community and by having this Expo, where businesses can network and consumers can come out and see them, does just that.”