🌟 It’s time for another internship update!
Last Thursday I had the honor of volunteering at and attending 1871’s annual Juneteenth celebration. As the host of their signature event, 1871 brought the Chicago community together to empower Black founders, entrepreneurs, and vendors for a time of empowering allyship. With a whopping 400+ RSVP attendees, it was so cool to see everything play from plan to action. Let’s recap!
👨🏻💻 My role in the day was to handle registration for the Black Pitch competition, an event 1871 hosts where nominated startups gain exposure and compete for various prizes.
👏🏽 Which, by the way, BIG congratulations to our finalists: Felicia Jackson at CPRWrap, Inc. Makini Allwood at plait, Dr. Rebecca Caesar at Tinted Health, Hope Ndhlovu at Tuverl, and Dana Fry at Ujamaa Financial.
🥳 Right after, we transferred to the Mart’s lawn to continue the celebration, where we enjoyed a live DJ, ate some delicious cuisines, and networked on the Chicago River!
🎟️ To end the event, we mingled during a complimentary happy hour at Marshall’s Landing and revealed the winners of our raffle for prizes from local organizations.
Last week was full of fruitful experiences and meaningful connections that made me reflect on my own personal efforts supporting the diverse communities around me. I’ve learned it all starts with getting out of my comfort zone, being hands on involved, and advocating for the initiatives of impactful startups around me. What a great way to spend such a significant holiday!
