The Baltimore Times will hold their second annual Best of Black Baltimore awards reception Saturday to spotlight and provide a networking opportunity for local Black-owned businesses.
Paris Brown, publisher for The Baltimore Times, described the event as “an opportunity for citywide celebration of Black owned businesses.”
The Baltimore Times started the event last year as a way to make the community aware of the Black-owned businesses in Baltimore. The public nominates their favorite businesses, which The Baltimore Times place into categories such as arts and culture, automotive, and food and drink. People can then vote for their favorite nominee in each category.
“It was really an initiative of The Baltimore Times to celebrate Black owned businesses in a way that gives the community a voice,” Brown said.
James Collins, an event producer with Blackout Studios that works with The Baltimore Times to create the award reception, sees the event as an opportunity for business owners to network with one another.
“This is just an attempt to recognize Black owned businesses in Baltimore,” Collins said. “All of the promotions are all sort of created to inspire folks to network and to celebrate the businesses that are here.”
This year’s theme is an art experience at Creatively Black art gallery, one of the largest exhibits of Black artists in Baltimore that has “all Black artists, all Black art and things that celebrate Black culture,” according to Collins.
The art show will also feature live music, poets, and catering from the businesses nominated.
“It’s really to highlight the businesses, encourage awareness and the ultimate goal is to encourage [patronage] of those businesses,” Brown said.
The event will take place March 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Light Street Pavilion at 301 Light Street. Tickets are available by clicking this link or on The Baltimore Times’ website.
