Event: Celebrate Black Business Month with Umpqua Bank (2024)
Date: August 29, 2024
Location: Umpqua Bank, San Francisco
Photos (67): Photographer-At-Large
Bay Area Black businesses met and mingled with business and community organization leaders at an event created to celebrate Black Business Month, learn about financial education and opportunities, receive an update on the State of Bay Area Business and take advantage of business resources.
Presented by the African American Employee Network (AAEN) and sponsored by Umpqua Bank with its senior executives in attendance, speakers included Lynell Bevels, AVP Community Lending Manager, Umpqua Bank; Chris Horton, District Director, U.S. SBA; Linda Parker Pennington, Board Member, San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce and Anita Russell, Community Development Manager, Working Solutions CDFI with remarks from Paul Henderson, Executive Director, SF Department of Police Accountability. In addition to his civic responsibilities, Henderson is a well known and avid collector of African American art, and highly supportive of Black business and entrepreneurism.
The event was supported by and featured local Black-owned wineries P. Harrell Wines, Longevity Wines and Theopolis Vineyards, who were on hand to keep the mood festive, along with smooth sounds from DJ Christie James.
Given the response to the sold out event, discussion is already under way for a larger venue next year, or perhaps a series of events at Umpqua throughout the month of August, allowing for more businesses to participate in this intentionally intimate high-touch event. Umpqua’s San Francisco branch is not your typical bank branch. It’s located in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district featuring glass walls, a business lounge and workspace, community meeting room and a cafe located next door, providing a convenient, welcoming and useful location for bank customers.
Supporting Organizations: 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Oakland Bay Area Chapter, Northern California Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Foundation, Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, Inc., SCORE and Working Solutions CDFI
The event was part of Bay Registry’s (BAR) Forum series. BAR produces events on a variety of topics that drive positive dialogue about and support for Black arts, culture, business and lifestyle. Upcoming: Real Talk! Black Men and Healthcare, Sept 26 (Town Fare, Oakland)
