Vendors and shoppers fill up the CoLab to attend the Black-owned business expo hosted by JCCC’s Black Student Union on Feb. 26. (Photo by Jasmine Mills)

By Baptiste Raffin

To close out Black History Month, JCCC held the 2025 edition of its Black Owned Business Expo in the CoLab on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The event, which is organized by the Johnson County Community College’s Black Student Union (BSU), invites students and staff members to discover local black owned businesses. 

This edition was the biggest one yet. JCCC BSU president Rachel Hudson explained that they received a lot more applications from businesses wanting to take part in the event than in years past. 

“We ended up doing a link and promoting the link and saying ‘Hey, if you have a black business or know any black businesses, send them to us.’ And in years past we had like twenty, maybe fifteen businesses reach out,” Hudson said.  “This year, we had over fifty.” 

(Photo by Jasmine Mills)

In the end, a little over forty businesses, going from candle-maker, travel agent, jeweler, life-saving skills instructor, to food vendors, were present at the expo. More businesses meant that the organization crew needed a roomier space.

“We usually do it in the Student Center, so we needed to find a bigger space because we did not want to turn anyone away,” Hudson said. “If you signed up, you were in, and because we had so many different businesses of variation in category, it was really easy to just be like ‘You know what? You’re in. You’re in. You’re in’, there weren’t too many businesses that were too much along.”

Even after being in charge of it for her first year, Hudson believes that this event is extremely important to put on. 

“Especially in the time that we’re in right now, where it’s scary to say DEI or black, or female, I think it’s really important to have a space like this where there’s kind of the safety net,” Hudson declared. “You know, you’re in a school, there’s a lot of other businesses around you, and we’re all just steering in that creative space.”

The highlight of the expo was the presentation from keynote speaker Elaina Page Thomas. She took the mic around 12:30, after a dance performance by International Dance Crew, and songs by singer-songwriter Erica Jarman. 

Thomas is the founder and CEO of The Next Paige, Kansas City’s first talent agency owned by a woman of color. She delivered a very passionate and motivational intervention during which she talked about the importance of inspiration. She stressed the importance of writing down your goals: 

“Write down your goals, make them vivid, watch them come true,” Thomas said. 

One of Thomas’ goals was to dance with Beyoncé, and she was able to make it come true, through hard work. 

We were able to ask Elaina Page Thomas a few questions after her acclaimed intervention.

Why is it important for you to speak at an event like this where they showcase black-owned businesses, and to inspire young black entrepreneurs?

“It is who I am at the core. I am black and I identify as a woman of color, and because of that, that’s my roots. And so when I look in the mirror it’s very important for me to make that reflection and mirror that as a role model to others coming up.”

What have your years of industry experience taught you to help young people reach their potential?

“My experience, oh my gosh, I couldn’t make it up. Like I said, since 2008, I’ve been on this journey of entrepreneurship from being a freelance professional dancer, to now entrepreneur, and now a business owner. So, I think that there are levels and there are steps to it. But it’s definitely been a journey. And so, I just try to empower and inspire, as I spoke about today, other entrepreneurs to understand that it is a journey, it’s not a race.”

What does it mean for you to be the first female of color to own a talent agency in Kansas City?

“To me that’s success. To me, that means I have reached a goal that someone else has not. For me, it’s overcoming barriers and challenges that were put in place to not allow me to succeed, and with that accomplishment, I have succeeded.”

What advice do you have for young black entrepreneurs?

“My advice for young black entrepreneurs would be to not allow ‘black’, not allow that term or that word to identify you. Know who you are by your roots, but understand that we all bleed blood. We all bleed the same blood. And so in entrepreneurship, there are going to be struggles, there are going to be challenges. And so I just think, encourage them to keep going. Don’t focus on that, focus on you, as the individual, not just your identity, who you identify as. Always stay rooted and grounded from where you come from, and never lose sight of that. But, just be encouraged and inspired to continue to push the boundaries and push the barriers.”

If you want to learn more about JCCC’s Black Student Union and/or become a member, you can take part in one of their meetings, happening every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. in GEB 258.