One Discovery Square

⭐ RAPTOR RECONNECT ⭐

All UMR students, staff and faculty are invited to UMR's annual back-to-campus celebration, Raptor Reconnect on September 2 from 2:30-5 p.m.

Enjoy food stands, ice cream, yard games, craft stations, sidewalk chalk art competition, face painting and live music. More information at the link in our bio and on RaptorLink!

See you soon, Raptors!

Join us Today! 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗼 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 @ Two Discovery Square Building 12 to 4 PM

Rochester, Minnesota –The NAACP Rochester Branch MN , in collaboration with the Minority Owned Business Foundation , proudly presents the Black Excellence Expo 2025—𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸-𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘁𝗮. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲; 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. If you are a Black owned business and want to participate, submit your application today to be considered.

https://www.naacprochestermn.org/black-excellence-expo-registration

In a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts face increasing challenges, supporting local Black and minority-owned businesses has never been more critical. These businesses play a vital role in fostering economic growth, creating jobs, and strengthening our community. By attending the Black Excellence Expo, community members can take direct action to help close local racial wealth gaps, build a more inclusive economy, and celebrate Black entrepreneurship.

The economic case for supporting Black businesses is compelling. According to Citibank’s Global Perspectives and Solutions (GPS) report, the 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗮𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 $𝟮.𝟵 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 between 2020 and 2024. While some progress has been made, with the number of Black-owned businesses growing by 14.3% in 2021—partly due to the social movement for racial justice and initiatives like Buy Black—it remains evident that systemic barriers persist. At the current pace, the report noted that 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝟴𝟬 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 to their share of the U.S. population. If the number of Black-owned businesses mirrored that of the white population, we could see an additional 600,000 firms and over 5 million new jobs, generating up to $2.9 trillion in revenue and $840 billion in annual payrolls.

Black entrepreneurs face significant barriers, including limited access to capital, unfair lending practices, and fewer networking opportunities. By supporting Black-owned businesses, we contribute to a more equitable economic landscape while driving innovation and community growth.

Now in its third year, the Black Excellence Expo continues to expand, and we need the public’s support to ensure its success. Join us and learn about these amazing businesses. You can make a difference—one business, one purchase, and one opportunity at a time.

Happy 10th anniversary to our friends over at Café Steam!

Their value as a community gathering space is second only to their coffee! Truly a mixing place for locals and visitors of every kind and they participate in the Bicycle Benefits program too!

Rochester is lucky to have you!