To celebrate Black History Month and help inspire students, the Black Student Union (BSU) and Harper Student Engagement teamed up to invite local Black entrepreneurs to their Black Entrepreneurship Day event. The event was held in the Student Center Lounge in Building A from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, February 28.
There was an area for students to savor refreshments, pizza boxes on tables, and popcorn to munch on as they roamed to talk to vendors, table to table. The event was free.
One business owner was Shakea Houston: a therapist, mental health podcast service consultant and founder of Social Work Sunday Tea (SWST).
According to their website, SWST “is a multi-purpose organization that serves as a vessel for mental health awareness, focusing on conversations around mental health.” To achieve this, SWST hosts events that help connect people in need with mental health professionals, as well as act as “Community, Holiday Drives and Fundraiser events that raise funds for mental health services in Chicago and the surrounding suburban areas.”
Houston founded Social Work Sunday Tea because she wanted to help people by incorporating a tea business for mental and physical health. She said what inspired her is helping people navigate throughout life, which is a journey for everyone.
“One sip of the tea at a time: it’s not a job, it’s a passion,” Houston said. “When you do what you love, it’s really not a business, it’s a passion. You’re doing what you love.”
Even when she’s off of work, she is still working on growing the business: marketing it through social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, as well as through simple word of mouth.
It’s this exact kind of work ethic and dedication that the BSU was looking to put on display. Aisha Robinson coordinated the event and is also an advisor at the college. Her initial idea of Black Entrepreneurship Day was a bit smaller in scale, but it grew as she began to pitch the idea to interested coworkers. She promoted the event at the Advising Office and anywhere else she could, wanting to let students know that everyone is welcomed.
“Another event we always do in the fall is Meet the Black Faculty and Staff,” Robinson said. “[Events like these help students] to be introduced or meet other black faculty and staff on campus, and talk to them about classes, career advising.”
She elaborates, saying that the fall event is held for students to have one-on-one relationships and feel more comfortable at Harper. She has also helped organize other inclusive events, such as demonstrations for Women’s History Month and open discussions between students and the Harper Police. She measures the success of those events not only by their attendance, but also by how students engage with them.
According to Harper student and BSU member Precious Efunlowo, this particular Black Entrepreneurship Day event gives those students the opportunity to engage with potential role models.
“We hope to achieve Black excellence,” Efunlowo said. “We have a lot of vendors showcasing their products and we want to inspire students by letting them know this could be you one day showcasing your products – and that they made it, so we can make it too. Anything is possible and you can create your own business.”
The event piqued the interest of first year Harper student Miriam Odutola after she received an email from the BSU promoting it. With some encouragement from her advisor, she decided to give it a shot.
“It’s really inspiring,” Odutola said with a smile. “It’s something new that everyone should be involved with and I like it so far.”
Although it’s scary to just jump into an idea like she did, Houston believes that this kind of inspiration is what helps someone find their courage. She advises aspiring entrepreneurs to develop the following three habits: discipline, sacrifice and consistency. For example, without her discipline when it came to saving up her own money, she wouldn’t have been able to support her business.
Even so, there’s always more progress to be made. Houston is currently working on getting grants because she wants to open up a storefront tea shop. The business is sprouting, but she hopes her soon-to-be shop continues to help it bloom.
“What you’re seeking, is seeking you,” Houston said.
