Exclusive Event Spotlights Community Success
Stories & the Economic Impact of the Black Restaurant
Accelerator Program
BALTIMORE, Sept. 6,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The PepsiCo Foundation,
National Urban League, and Greater Baltimore Urban League are
pleased to announce the first Culinary Tasting Event in honor of
the Black Restaurant Accelerator Program. The one-night event will
showcase grantees of the program and highlight success stories
emerging from this impactful partnership.
The Black Restaurant Accelerator Program (BRAP), a joint
initiative between PepsiCo Foundation, the National Urban League,
and Greater Baltimore Urban League (GBUL) aims to provide support
and resources to Black-owned restaurants across the country.
Recognizing the critical role that these businesses play in their
communities; the GBUL BRAP program focuses on empowering
entrepreneurs and building a stronger future for Black-owned
restaurants. The accelerated program runs for 8-10 weeks of intense
and informative information to educate, enhance and sustain
Black-owned restaurants in Maryland. The cohort consists of a series of
workshops in addition to one-to-one personal coaching guidance from
our expert consultants to support their growth and scaling their
businesses.
The event will be held on September 12th at 6pm, at the Baltimore World Trade Center. A
city rich in culture and history, Baltimore serves as the perfect backdrop to
celebrate the resilience and achievements of Black-owned
restaurants as the city is home to many successful grantee
stories.
The success of this nationwide partnership can be seen in the
numbers since the inception of the program in 2021:
- More than 1,000 business owners across the country have been
served by the Black Restaurant Accelerator Program
- Leading to 26 new restaurant openings
Local Baltimore Success:
- 24 restaurant owners participated in the Baltimore programming
- 96 restaurant jobs were created in the Greater Baltimore region
"We are inspired by the impact we are making through our
collaboration with the National Urban League to address a
fundamental gap and create opportunities for Black business owners
to build generational wealth and continue to strengthen their
communities," C.D. Glin, President of the PepsiCo Foundation said.
"By providing Black owned restaurants with capital, technical
assistance, and access to resources, we believe we can make a
measurable impact on their trajectory not just today but for
generations to come."
Attendees of the event will have the opportunity to hear
directly from program grantees, who will share their inspiring
stories of growth, innovation, and community impact.
"As a first-generation black woman and entrepreneur there are
tons of things we are not taught or have access to when building
our businesses. The Black Restaurant Accelerator program opened
doors which previously seemed impenetrable. The support and
feedback from the business coaches has refocused me on the upward
trajectory of French Toast Connection. Funding will set the stage
for materials and staffing needed to grow as well as expansion,"
Donvenia "French" Jackson, chef/owner of French Toast Connection
said. "It's no secret that small black businesses don't often reach
their full potential due to various systemic barriers. This program
is changing that for participants. I am now more equipped to grow
French Toast Connection in a strategic and organic way that will
have a positive outcome for my family, community, and other food
businesses."
These entrepreneurs will detail how the Black Restaurant
Accelerator Program has helped them to transform their businesses,
overcome challenges, and navigate the complexities of the
industry.
"We are truly thrilled about the transformative partnership
between the Greater Baltimore Urban League and the PepsiCo
Foundation Black Restaurant Accelerator program. This collaboration
represents a remarkable opportunity to empower and uplift Black
restaurant owners in our community, providing them with the
resources, mentorship, and guidance they need to thrive in the
culinary industry," said Tiffany
Majors, President & CEO of the Greater Baltimore Urban
League. "We are especially excited to announce a forthcoming
culinary tasting event that will showcase the exceptional talents
of the program's participants as well as celebrate their incredible
achievements. This group of entrepreneurs have certainly
transcended above their peers. They've had the capacity to view the
tip of the iceberg in creating generational wealth for their
families. This event will serve as a testament to the resilience,
creativity, and dedication of these entrepreneurs who are shaping
the future of our local Baltimore
food scene."
Executives from the PepsiCo Foundation will be present to
address attendees and emphasize the company's commitment to
supporting black-owned restaurants.
Leaders from the National Urban League, a historic civil rights
organization, also will be in attendance to discuss the
organization's dedication to economic empowerment and social
justice through partnership and collaboration.
"Entrepreneurship is at the heart of the Urban League mission,
and Black–owned restaurants in particular hold a special place in
the history of the civil rights movement," National Urban League
President and CEO Marc H. Morial said. "The impact of the Black
Restaurant Accelerator program lies not only in breaking down
barriers to business creation and expansion, but also infusing
strength and resiliency into our communities. We're proud to
showcase the success of this incredible partnership."
This invite only event will include notable Baltimore city leaders, community members, and
grantees.
When: September 12, 2023,
6:00-8:30 PM
Where: Baltimore World Trade Center - 401 E. Pratt Street
About the PepsiCo Foundation:
The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests
in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a
mission to support thriving communities. Working with nonprofits
and experts around the globe, we're focused on helping communities
obtain access to food security, safe water and economic
opportunity. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we
live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and
international organizations, and our employees to affect
large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of
global importance. Learn more at www.pepsicofoundation.com.
About the National Urban League: The National Urban
League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to
economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in
historically underserved urban communities. The National Urban
League spearheads the efforts of its 92 local affiliates through
the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy,
providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more
than 2 million people annually nationwide. Visit
www.nul.org and follow us on Twitter and Instagram:
@NatUrbanLeague.
Greater Baltimore Urban League:
Founded in 1924, the Greater Baltimore Urban League, Inc. (GBUL) is
a 501 (c)(3) civil rights organization. The Mission of the
Greater Baltimore Urban League movement is to enable African
Americans to secure Economic Self Reliance, Parity, Power and Civil
Rights. We are committed to alleviating the circumstances that
create inequalities in the lives of African Americans and other
minorities in Maryland by headlining the issues and inspiring
actions to eradicate them. This guiding principle drives steadfast
work of enabling African Americans and other marginalized
communities to secure a first-class quality education and an
equitable and sustainable career. At our core we consider
INEQUALITY AS UNACCEPTABLE.
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SOURCE PepsiCo Foundation