Networking event to be held at Stony Point Fashion Park in honor of Black History Month

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A two-hour networking event will take place at Stony Point Fashion Park in Richmond on Thursday, offering the opportunity to hear from local Black-owned businesses in honor of Black History Month.

The Metropolitan Business League will present "Celebrating Black Enterprise in Richmond, VA: Then and Now" at the previous Dick's Sporting Goods at Stony Point Fashion Park from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27.

8News Anchors Delaney Hall and Autumn Childress spoke with Alexis Cheeseman, marketing and community engagement manager at Stony Point Fashion Park, and Rita Ricks, spiritual transformation expert for the Metropolitan Business League, to learn more about the event.

Cheeseman said the event will have a panel with Black business owners to tell their stories and journeys, as well as vendor tables selling some of their products.

"And then we'll also have line dancing by RVA's Line Dancing King Kemel Patton, as well as wine pours by Shoe Crazy Wine, and some $25 headshots, so we're excited to kick it off," Cheeseman said.

Ricks said the Metropolitan Business League is 71 years old and was started as a Black organization, but is focused on small businesses. The organization is dedicated to scaling businesses and getting businesses to network.

"We also have 1,500 members at this point, nine of which are over at Stony Point in either restaurants or storefronts," Ricks said. "So we are doing a huge job with supporting and scaling small businesses."

Cheeseman said Stony Point Fashion Park has a lot of Black business owners, so the event was meant to give these business owners the opportunity to network with other Black-owned and small businesses.

"We really just want to celebrate Black History Month and give Black business owners in Richmond and Stony Point the opportunity to tell their stories and hear other stories, as well as network and just have fun in a welcoming environment," Cheeseman said.