Mediaboss Marketing

The Joliet Black Lives Matter Business Expo, the first event of its kind, will be held Saturday outside the Warren-Sharpe Community Center.

The event is 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and combines a Black Lives Matter theme with a tribute to local civil rights activists of the past, an opportunity for black business owners to meet with the public, and messages for future leaders.

COVID-19 precautions are being taken.

The event is being held outdoors. Wearing of masks is encouraged. Exhibitors will be set up six feet away from each other for social distancing purposes.

But holding the event matters, said Trista Graves-Brown, an organizer of the expo.

"Right now we have to do it," Graves-Brown said. "The message is, after we do all this protesting, what's the next step? We have to pass the torch."

The event will include a ceremonial passing of the torch in which older community leaders and civil rights activists will encourage young people to become leaders.

"Now, because of COVID, kids are at home. They're not even inspired at school," Graves-Brown said. "What's going to motivate them to go on to the next step?"

Musicians will perform. Civil rights leaders who have a place in Joliet history will be honored. Several speakers will address various topics.

Participants are encouraged to wear African attire.

Warren-Sharpe Community Center is at 454 S. Joliet St.

The section of street outside the community center will be blocked off, making it easier to keep social distancing while still holding an expo, Graves-Brown said.

The event will end with a Black Lives Matter demonstration at South Chicago and McDonough streets.

But the purpose is for people to look beyond the demonstrations and prepare for the future. said Graves-Brown, co-founder of the group Speak Up that also organized a Black Lives Matter rally at Six Corners this month.

"The older people will pass on the torch to all the young people and say, 'It's up to you,'" she said. "Even though the world says Black Lives Matter, we have to matter to ourselves. That's the next step."

See the article here:
Joliet expo looks at the future beyond Black Lives Matter protests - The Herald-News