Tyla Hughes, a trainer with Quiet Strength and Performance in Moline, holds up a weight during the 10th annual Black Business Expo at SouthPark Mall in Moline on Saturday, Feb. 22. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Tyla Hughes was flexing her muscles Saturday, Feb. 22, during the 10th annual Black Business Expo at SouthPark Mall in Moline. The expo, hosted by the QC Empowerment Network, showcased many of the Black-owned businesses in the Quad Cities. Those businesses and their owners and managers featured a wide variety of cookies, pastries, books, candles, […]
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Tyla Hughes was flexing her muscles Saturday, Feb. 22, during the 10th annual Black Business Expo at SouthPark Mall in Moline.The expo, hosted by the QC Empowerment Network, showcased many of the Black-owned businesses in the Quad Cities. Those businesses and their owners and managers featured a wide variety of cookies, pastries, books, candles, soaps and even physical fitness.
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Danielle Brooks holds a container of body butter she was selling at the 10th annual Black Business Expo, hosted by QC Empowerment Network, at SouthPark Mall in Moline. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Emily Robinson, owner of Emi's Treats, shows a cookie during the expo.
Myra Chattic of Sterling, Illinois, sells bracelets during the 10th annual Black Business Expo at SouthPark Mall in Moline. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Moesha Flake, owner of Moe's Sweets N Treats, shows some of the baked goods she was selling at the expo.
Emily Robinson, at right, of Emi's Treats, sells cookies at the expo.
People get a meal from Divine Soul2Soul Catering on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the 10th annual Black Business Expo at SouthPark Mall in Moline. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSON
Michelle Williams, owner of MJ Creative Candles, shows two of the candles she was selling at the expo.
Dawonne Reamer, owner of Grooming Hub, shows some of the saving products he was selling at the expo.
Ms. Hughes, who is a personal trainer and physical therapist, was at the expo to point out the advantages of physical strength and fitness through the Quiet Strength Health and Performance gym, located at SouthPark.While many other business owners had samples of cookies and cupcakes on their tables, Ms. Hughes had weights and information on physical fitness.“I hope people will get the message to stay healthy and keep moving. It will pay dividends for life,” she added.The annual expo had 60 vendor tables set up near SouthPark retailers Bath & Body Works and Kay Jewelers. The event featured everything from home-based businesses to Gilda’s Club of the Quad Cities, Ascentra Credit Union, the Iowa Black Doula Collective to Divine Soul2Soul Catering & Food Truck serving up hundreds of meals and gaining lots of fans with its soul food menu.Tracy Singleton, CEO of the Quad Cities Empowerment Network, said one of the main goals was to provide an event where smaller businesses will gain attention, new customers and new fans. It’s a valuable event because many of the smaller businesses featured at SouthPark do not have traditional storefronts. They often rely on word of mouth from customers, social media and big expo events to get new business, she said.“I hope people come out here today and get to know new businesses. .. People are always saying they want to shop at the best businesses,” she added. “Well, maybe they will get to know a new best business today.” One of the small businesses featured was Emi’s Treats, owned by Emily Robinson on Rock Island. Ms. Robinson has been in business for about 13 years and specializes in decorated sugar cookies. On Saturday, she was selling almost every shape and style of cookie including cookies shaped like dinosaurs and ones with the words “Celebrate Black History.”She said that she continues to be in business because cookies create joy and they bring people together. “It’s all about the customers. It’s the joy they bring. … These cookies bring smiles to people’s faces,” Ms. Robinson said.In addition to enjoying cookies and other sweet treats offered at the expo, Ms. Hughes said she hoped the hundreds of expo visitors would think about their physical fitness. She also hopes they will think about the “vision statement” offered by Quiet Strength. That statement is “To maximize every minute and compete with excellence despite adversity.”
