Evanston Public Library celebrates National Black Business Month

August is National Black Business Month. Join the Evanston Public Library as they highlight and support Black owned businesses in the community. This program will run from August 1 to August 31.

National Black Business Month is a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of Black-owned businesses to our economy and communities. It serves as a reminder of the resilience, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit within the Black business community. Throughout August, Evanston Public Library will honor the legacy of Black entrepreneurs and highlight their significant impact on innovation, job creation and economic growth. This observance encourages support for Black-owned businesses through patronage, partnerships and advocacy for equity and inclusion in the business world.

How to can participate and support

• Visit one of the two library locations to pick up a punch card of local Black-owned businesses. 
• Choose at least five of the participating businesses to visit in-person and the remaining one can be an online business.
• In order to get credit for visiting a business, you must make a purchase and get a stamp on your punch card or ask staff a trivia question about the business and jot down the answer. 

Once your punch card is full, bring it back to a library location to be entered in a raffle for your chance to win either a $100 gift card, $75 gift card, or a $25 gift card to one of the participating businesses.

This a great opportunity to learn more about all of the local Black-owned businesses in our community.

Celebrate Black Business Month with kids’ books

Dr. Jean Murphy, co-owner of Evanston’s YoFresh Cafe, and beloved former professor at Chicago State University, Erikson Institute, and National Louis University, has put together a recommended reads book list for younger kids to enjoy for National Black Business Month.

Check out our National Black Business Month booklist (third to eighth grade) to learn about great entrepreneurs and trailblazers, historical and current.