Resources on opportunities ranging from college admission to home ownership will be brought together at the Pasadena Convention Center, along with music and other entertainment, at the first Pasadena Black Expo on Saturday.
The free event is being co-sponsored by Pasadena City Councilman Tyron Hampton and will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the facility at 300 E. Green Street, organizers said in a written statement.
“There will be an enormous amount of fun and activities for people to enjoy,” according to the statement. “Special informational resources areas such as the College Expo; the Homeownership Pavilion, the Health and Well-Being and Career areas will be there to provide services and information to assist people.”
Guest speakers included Hampton and State Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, as well as concerts, award ceremonies and a tribute to local clergy members are also planned.
Black Expo Events founder and CEO Rick Warren described the exposition as a “Mecca of Opportunity.”
“The purpose of the expo is to build diversity in terms of economic development, in terms of homeownership, in terms of careers and jobs and health matters and different things that affect the community overall,” he said. “If we unify, if we can all come together and solve a lot of the issues that affect the African American community, which also has an effect on other populace of the city. So we want all of Pasadena and surrounding cities to come.”
Job seekers were invited to bring their resumes for a job fair, Warren said.
“Here’s one of the big things that we’re going to have a black expo that’s never been done before: It’s called ‘Careers in the Cannabis Industry’,” he said/ “Even if you don’t own your own dispensary or something like that, there’s tons of jobs in the cannabis industry that people don’t know about. So we’re doing a big push called Careers in Cannabis. Everybody should be there for that.”
A Black women’s networking conference in the expo will provide a platform for women to talk about various professional and business opportunities, Warren said.
“Women are going to be talking about business opportunities, family opportunities, things that affect African-American women and how to build better relations in business, not only with one or other, but with other companies and corporations as well,” he added.
Pasadena made the ideal location for the expo, Warren said.
“Pasadena is a city that welcomes all people and Pasadena is going to open up its arms to welcome everybody, to see the beautifulness of Pasadena and how it feels about diversity and sharing opportunity, so that all people can have access to success,” he said.
Warren added that he hoped the event would draw a diverse group of guests.
“We want everybody to know that the Black Expo is open to everyone. You don’t have to be African American to attend. We want you to check it out and enjoy the culture,” he said.
Music will be a big part of the expo in the form of the Los Angeles Black Music Awards, which is a “black Grammy-type event” and a gospel concert which will be the grand finale, Warren said.
“They’ve even changed the menu at the convention center, so it’s going to have soul food. So we’re going to have a lot of fun,” Warren said.
Pandemic safety protocols will be observed, he added.
More information is available online at theblackexpoonline.com.
