The Design Group Presents Chamber’s 31st Annual Minority Enterprise Development Week
For the 31st year, the Little Rock Regional Chamber’s Annual Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week, will celebrate and grow minority businesses. Registration is required for each event except the Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage Commemoration. RSVP via the appropriate link. All events are free except the Sept. 23rd Awards luncheon. The cost to attend is $25 each or $250 for a table of 10. See full list of events below.
Monday, Sept. 16
Business Opportunity Networking Brunch Featuring Soul of the South Television 10:00 – 11:45 (Chamber)
The week will start with a kick-off Business Opportunity Brunch Monday presented by Central Arkansas Water in partnership with Centerpoint Energy. The brunch will profile the executive team of Soul of the South Television. Participants will also have the opportunity to promote their businesses during the event.
Tuesday, Sept. 17
Cinco Media & Communications Group Hispanic Heritage Fiesta & Networking 4:00 – 8:00 open house ( Mabelvale -14106 Chicot Rd, Ste 2 at Imprentta Printing location)
Tuesday will feature a Hispanic Heritage Fiesta and Networking event in collaboration with chamber member Cinco Media & Communications Group. This event will take place in the heart of the Latino community and provide an opportunity to connect with Hispanic advertising and marketing professionals, Mexican Consulate officials as well as local business owners from the community.
Thursday, Sept. 19
Hispanic Business Opportunity Brunch/ Panel at Hola! Expo moderated by KATV Reporter Katherina Yancy- 9:00 – 10:45am (Metroplex – Colonel Glenn Road)
Thursday’s offerings include a Hispanic Business Opportunity Brunch/Panel to be held at the Metroplex in conjunction with the Hola! Arkansas Career and Business Expo. The panel, moderated by KATV news reporter Katherina Yancy, will feature a business success discussion among three successful Hispanic businesses along with a networking session and brunch for all attendees.
Rock City Bus Tour/ Reception featuring entertainment by D.Harp Entertainment 2:00- 5:00 Tour/ 5:00 – 6:30 Reception (Chamber and Business sites)
(Please specify in notes section if you will attend tour and/or reception.)
Friday, Sept. 20
Friday’s Rock City Bus Tour will provide participants a chance to tour numerous minority-run business sites in the Little Rock region via Little Rock Tours . A Caribbean themed reception featuring entertainment by Trinidadian drummer Darril Edwards will be held afterward at the Chamber atrium. Featured tour and reception chamber members include:
Pinot’s Palette
Mickey’s Cakes & Sweets
Healthy Smiles Dental Clinic
International Interior Design
The UPS Store – South Rodney Parham
Trinity-Simone Fashion Truck
Greater Ozarks-Arkansas Region American Red Cross- Blood Services
My Uncle’s Gourmet BBQ Sauce
D.Harp Entertainment
Saturday, Sept. 21
3rd Annual Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage Trail Commemoration in partnership with UALR Institute on Race and Ethnicity 10:30 – 2:00 (Chamber)
Saturday’s highlighted event will be the Arkansas Civil Rights Heritage Trail Commemoration/ Reception in partnership with UALR Institute on Race and Ethnicity celebrating the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of downtown Little Rock with a bronze marker unveiling at the Chamber.
Monday, Sept. 23
Little Rock Regional Minority Business Awards Luncheon Featuring Keynote Speaker Representative Darrin Williams- CEO Southern Bancorp, Inc.: 12:00 – 1:30 ( Philander Smith College Kendall Center)
$25 each / $250 table of tenThe week will culminate the following Monday with the Little Rock Regional Minority Business Awards Luncheon presented and hosted by Philander Smith College featuring Southern Bancorp CEO and Arkansas General Assembly member Darrin Williams.
The Design Group is the presenting sponsor of MED Week. Additional partnerships included the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, City of Little Rock and Loop Capital Markets and features Chamber member minority business/organizations during the duration of the event.
The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce has been a partner in the area’s MED Week since its inception in 1983. In 1990, the Chamber assumed responsibility for all local programming.
All MED Week events, even if free, require reservations, which must be made/purchased separately and in advance at LittleRockChamber.com. (Click to RSVP – select events via calendar tab)
For more information about MED Week, including award nomination information (Business, Entrepreneur, Supporting, Legacy) and sponsorship opportunities, contact Carmen Parks, 377.6013.
