Alaska Black Business Expo Celebrates 11 Years Strong

Fifty Black entrepreneurs turned the Anchorage Museum into a celebration of community, commerce, and culture this weekend.

The 11th annual Alaska Black Business Expo, Summit and Fashion Show kicked off Saturday with vendors selling goods, sharing ideas, and building connections. The museum's atrium buzzed with energy while workshops and speakers filled the auditorium with inspiration.

"Black businesses are huge in our history," said event organizer Jasmin Smith. "Even here in Anchorage we had Eastchester Flats, which is like a local Black Wall Street."

Smith wants people to understand that Black business history isn't just something to read about in textbooks. It's happening right now in Alaska, where an estimated 1,500 Black-owned businesses operate across the state.

Real estate agent Leslie Jennings has attended every single Expo since it started 11 years ago. She's watched it transform from a small gathering into a major community event.

"I love the fact that we all get together at one time and kind of play off of each other," Jennings said. "To me, it's almost like a family reunion."

The Ripple Effect

The Expo's impact extends beyond the Black business community. Smith believes the event serves as a blueprint for other cultural groups looking to celebrate and support their entrepreneurs.

"We're here. We're thriving," Smith said. "I think other cultural groups can replicate and do the same thing as well."

The weekend celebration will conclude with a fashion show featuring designers from across Alaska on Sunday evening. It's another reminder that Black excellence in business, creativity, and community building continues to flourish in the Last Frontier.

Eleven years strong and still growing proves that when communities invest in each other, everyone wins.