WHAT IS THE VIRGINIA BLACK BUSINESS EXPO?
The Virginia Black Business Expo is the largest expo in Virginia, attracting more than 2000 attendees and 150 Black-owned businesses in August during National Black Business Month.
The Expo is a multi-day event dedicated to mobilizing, empowering, and uplifting the community through shopping, networking opportunities, relationship building, live demonstrations and business education from local industry experts. The event will celebrate Black culture, delicious food, entertainment, and community.
The event is one of the most anticipated of the year and strategically intersects "Black Culture" with community collaboration, education, networking and fun while celebrating black-owned businesses and their achievements.
EXPERIENCE THE VIRGINIA BLACK BUSINESS EXPO
We Believe In Community Over Competition More Than Ever.
Network and Support Passionate Business Owners.
2022 SPECIAL GUESTS
FREE
Marie Antoinette Wright, better known by her stage name, Free,
is a media personality, television producer, choreographer and philanthropist. She rose to fame as the first host of BET's 106 & Park and later going on to co-host at WPGC-FM in Washington, DC.
She is the CEO of Pudding Stone By Free and the Founder of TeamCancerFree a non-profit organization.
GUY LAMBERT
Undeniably one of the most recognized voices in Washington, D.C. As a current member of FOX 5’s Like It Or Not Show, Guy delivers on-air news and events pertaining to politics, entertainment and pop culture. In his current role and current position as the WPGC 95.5 News Director, he posts to social media and web platforms regularly to drive audience attention.
Guy operates in excellence in everything he does, and he goes above and beyond to offer creative and witty ideas to every environment he enters.
TOBIAS TRUVILLION
Tobias is an award-winning TV, film, and theatrical actor and producer from Queens, New York. He received an NAACP Image Award nomination for "Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series." He has starred on hit shows as Empire, First Wives Club, The Resident and NBC's New Amsterdam and ABC's hit drama Queens. Over the years, media outlets have hailed his performances as a force to be recognized.
He is dedicated to youth development and empowerment, philanthropy and is the CEO of Tru To The Core.
DUTCHESS OF INK
Owner of Pretty-N-Ink, Crystana ‘Dutchess’ Lattimore hails from Lincolnton, North Carolina. At an early age she showed exceptional talent in art. Always at the head of her class, she graduated cum laude from North Carolina A&T State University with a Bachelor Degree in Business Management, concentration in Visual Art.
While studying in graduate school for her M.B.A. she discovered her passion for tattoo artistry and quickly became a respected and sought out tattoo artist in her area.
EVAN ODESEYE
Evan is an American Actor based in New York City. The thought of pursuing an acting career blossomed one warm summer day in 2010 at the south street seaport in lower Manhattan while having dinner with the fallen Michael K. Williams who inspired Evan to take the leap once he was ready.
Since then you can find Evan starring as Jermaine Walker, a recurring character on City On A Hill Season 2 which airs on SHOWTIME network. Evan was also featured in the hit HBO series Ballers, MTV Summer Warped Tour, Blue City series, and the 50 Central BET commercial.
DJ HEAT
The nation’s capitol has a hometown hero that spins, scratches
and blends music while staunchly staying true to her roots. You can’t mute D.C. and you can’t mute DJ Heat. This skilled talent was just 13-years-old when she first discovered her interest in turntables
courtesy of a Wreckx-N-Effect classic.
She then went from fantasizing about spinning records to the real thing. An indelible spark was lit and a summer of saved paychecks led to her ultimately following her path and pursuing her passion. That small spark created a full- on flame, and DJ Heat took purposeful steps to align herself with her dream.
DJ PRINCESS CHRISTIONA
Christiona Graham also known as DJ Princess C is a growing force in the DJ world, a native of the DMV. She's no stranger to the music game, developing a love for music at a young age, she's been a performing DJ since 5-years old rocking parties and special events with her energy and skillset. Under the instruction of DJ Boogie at 5-years old, she learned the foundation of DJing at an early age.
She recently was a DJ for the White House Annual Easter Egg Roll, White House Communications Holiday Party, Port Discovery, weddings, school events, birthday parties, and more.
RACQUEL REID, LCSW
Is a social change agent, clinical director, therapist, and founder of
Inklusive Therapy. She leads an organization committed to making therapy inclusive across intersecting identities and cultural norms.
She has been a mental health professional for 13 years and is engaged in developing future therapeutic leaders and assisting community based organizations to meet the needs of their community members.
The Virginia Black Business Directory (VABBD) is excited to return to Fredericksburg, Virginia for it's 3rd Annual Expo for an entire weekend. This will be an amazing weekend celebrating black excellence in our community. The experience will be filled with networking, opportunities for learning, sales & shopping, relationship building, and uplifting one another.
2022 EXPO RECAP
THE 2021 WEEKEND EXPERIENCE
OUR 2022
PARTNERS
Fredericksburg Location
The Virginia Black Business Directory (VABBD) does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.
