The Umoja Diop Scholars hosted an event called The Black Creatives: Awaken the Creative in You on Feb. 22 to recognize Black students who want to be entrepreneurs.
The event consisted of three speakers talking about their experiences as entrepreneurs. This event was held in celebration of Black History Month, as the central focus of the event was to encourage young Black people to go out into the world, do what they love and be successful by creating their own businesses.
“This event means the world to me. I want to be able to make this into a club to support my fellow creatives and really build a community for people,” said 22-year-old computer science major Myliya Willard who co-hosted the event. “I want to be a resource and a support system for people.”
The event’s other co-host, 21-year-old photography major Tevin Tyler, talked about his motivations for helping create the event.
” I want to just be able to tell my story and inspire other people,” Tyler said. “I feel like my story alone is very motivational and inspirational to where I can inspire people to start doing what I’m doing. If not as good as me, then as good as they possibly can be.”
One of the speakers at the event, Nate Tate, a 32-year-old communications major, spoke about how he hoped that the event would help proliferate the amount of Black entrepreneurs and creatives so that they can inspire more people to be like them.
“I wanted to help people find their spark,” Tate said. “I wanted to help them know that it is okay to put themselves out there like I have when I started my business in photography. I hope that the people who came here grow to inspire others and create more people like themselves.”
Twenty-six-year-old anthropology major Garrison King said the event’s meeting was enlightening.
“You are not on this path alone,” King said. “It is less about the destination or goal and more about the journey.”