Get inspired by the visionary CEO and founder of the Black Women’s Expo, Merry Green, as she shares her journey and empowers others.
Before all of the excitement and fun gets started and thousands of women descend on McCormick Place Chicago to experience the Black Women’s Expo 2024, I had the opportunity to get an insider’s view from BWE’s dynamic founder Merry Green.
LP: What was the inspiration behind founding the BWE?
MG: It was pretty simple, I was a promotional marketing director for a local station here in Chicago. My role was to create events and opportunities for the listening audience. I would come up with things to do in the city and things that would support the community. I had also been Involved in a similar event for women, but in 2012. I thought we should ramp it up and really take it to the next level. I wanted to create a space where we would talk about the issues that we face in our communities, whether it’s finances, health, wellness, violence or whatever and do it for us, by us.
So, we’ve curated BWE around seminars and workshops, and still have an exhibit floor focused on Black small businesses, Black exhibitors and Black vendors.
LP: How has the Expo evolved since you started?
MG: Well, you know, over the years, we’ve had steady growth, yet remained true to our core business and target audience. Like most organizations, the pandemic hit us pretty hard in 2020. We had to stop our show like two weeks before it happened. We did offer full refunds if the vendor wanted, or they were given the option to rollover to the next year–and many chose to roll over.
So, we came back in 2021 and have been going strong ever since.
LP: That’s great.
MB: Of course, in Chicago, the weather is always a consideration. A couple of years back, we were scheduled in March and there was a snowstorm which inhibited attendance. Other than that year, we’ve been fortunate to see steady growth with attendance and vendors. Last year, we had almost 400 exhibitors and about 30 corporate clients and sponsors.
LP: Can you give an overview of some of the key events and sessions that are going to be happening at this year’s expo?
MG: There are lots of key events. Besides the music and entertainment or mainstage, which is a really good lineup this year, We have fashion designers, plus our musical artists from K-John on Friday, to Angie Stone on Saturday and Vashawn Mitchell, the gospel artist on Sunday.
On Sunday afternoon at 3 pm, there will be a panel discussion featuring “Mothers of the Movement”; Gwendolyn Carr, Mother of Eric Garner, Sybrina Fulton, Mother of Trayvon Martin and Wanda Cooper Jones, Mother of Ahmaud Arbery. This promises to be a very powerful session. I just could go on and on – there are about probably 30 sessions happening over the three days.
LP: So it sounds like you basically need to be cloned about five times because this is a lot, but it sounds amazing.
MG: Yes, it is and there is something for all generations. That’s a big part of our planning; making sure that we touch on important issues and we have the right vendors that relate to every age group.
LP: What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in organizing the expo and how have you moved past them?
MG: Well, I think the biggest challenge is always, getting the sponsors, getting the dollars to support this event. I hadn’t talked too much about it before, but we had never applied for grants. This year we applied for a tourism grant and we were selected by the state.
LP: Yay! I applaud you because I imagine you’re bringing in people not only from Chicago, but from all over the country–maybe the world.
MG: So we applied, and I think our story alone sold it. A number of our vendors come from the surrounding region too. We shared that in our application; that we reach those surrounding communities and the BWE brings them here. Chicago is wonderful city. Everybody wants to come to Chicago in the summer. So, why not come to the Black Women’s Expo like Lollapalooza and all the rest of them?
LP: Right. Make coming to the BWE a mini vacay.
MG: We’re marketing the expo in about six different markets. We’re in “drive-in cities” Indianapolis, Gary, Detroit, Atlanta and Columbus. We’re marketing on digital boards, multiple Black newspapers and targeted social media. We’re doing what’s necessary to help get the word out in different market spaces, with different age groups and different demographics.
Also, our booths aren’t very expensive and half price tickets are now on sale at all Walgreens here in Chicago. We do this every year where you can go in there and buy your tickets at half price all the way through the show.
LP: What are your future plans as you move forward?
MG: I just want to continue growing the tourism piece and and really make this a destination event – really show what we bring to the table and to the city of Chicago.
LP: That sounds like a plan. What advice would you give to women starting/running their own businesses?
MG: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I find that a lot of folks are sitting around afraid to ask. I mean, I was there myself for a number of years. Then one day I’m like, wait a minute. I know all these people and they know me and the reputation of the Expo. We’ve been around for years and they respect us. So I asked people for what I needed and they obliged.
LP: So, literally, all you have to do is open your mouth and ask for help. When you put your needs out into the universe, things will line up for you – and then you’re kicking yourself because you didn’t do it three years ago.
MG: (laughs) Yeah, you didn’t ask earlier – that’s a whole other story. With this grant, everybody was saying, you never applied for a grant before? And I was like no, I never did. I guess I didn’t think it was something I needed or something that we could win.
LP: And look what happened.
MG: Look what happened – and looking toward the future, who knows what’s going to come from just this simple step? We’ve also had more collaboration and gotten more community organizations involved in the last couple of years; so I’m excited about the future for the Women’s Black Expo.
LP: Ms. Berry, I am as well and thank you for your time.
The Black Women’s Expo Chicago runs from August 1 – 3. For more information on the Women’s Black Expo Chicago, go to https://bwenext.com/.
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