The Black Women in Business Beloit Expo will host its 8th annual Black Herstory Day – continuing a mission of community building, cultural celebration and economic empowerment.
Founded by the late Vickie Lynn McGee, the expo started modestly with 12 vendors and has since grown into one of the region’s largest showcases of Black and Latino-owned businesses. At its peak in 2023, the event featured more than 65 vendors and filled the Eclipse Event Center.
“This expo was created to highlight Black and Latino-owned businesses in the Stateline area and to create a sense of community,” said Paquita Reddish, the event’s current organizer, who took over leadership following Lynn’s passing. “That vision hasn’t changed at all. I’ve stayed very close to what she wanted this to be.”
Lynn launched the expo shortly after the death of her mother, drawing inspiration from both her mother’s legacy and her own desire to reconnect with community. She passed away in 2023, five days before the fifth annual Black History Day celebration, following complications related to kidney disease. Before her death, Lynn made it clear she wanted the event to continue.
“She told me several times, ‘If anything ever happens to me, I want you to continue the expo,’” Reddish said. “This is her vision. This is her legacy, and it’s important to honor that for her children and for the community.”
This year’s expo will also mark the final time the event is held at the Eclipse Event Center, which is slated for demolition as part of an expansion of Lincoln Academy. Another notable change is the inclusion of both women- and men-owned businesses under one roof. While the expo originally focused solely on Black women-owned businesses, it expanded in recent years to include Latino-owned businesses and later inspired a separate event for men. This year, all groups will be combined into one unified expo.
In addition to vendors, the event will feature food, service-based businesses, and a slate of speakers. Keynote speaker Brandi Grayson of Urban Triage will headline the program, alongside speakers such as Kevin Levy of the Beloit City School District.
The expo also serves as a Black History Month celebration, emphasizing education, networking and access to local resources. Organizers hope attendees leave with a stronger sense of connection and awareness of what is available within the Stateline area.
“This is about culture, heritage and bringing people together in one space for a full day,” Radish said. “You can meet business owners, learn about services, and really see the strength of our community.”
Admission to the event is $1, with proceeds benefiting Concerned Black Citizens of Beloit, a local nonprofit focused on education and civil rights initiatives.
