WORCESTER – Over a hundred business leaders from across New England arrived at Worcester State University over the weekend to attend the second annual New England African Business Expo.
The event, organized by the Worcester-based Massachusetts Organization of African Descendants (MOAD), included over 35 vendors from the local African and BIPOC business community. Speakers included Anna Maria College Academic Affairs Vice President Dr. Chioma Ugochukwu and MassHire Business Service Director Ken Messina.
“We are just really glad people showed up,” said MOAD President and former Worcester School Committee member Jermoh Kamara. “We’re trying to promote BIPOC businesses and a lot of vendors came from outside Worcester as well as from inside Worcester.”
MOAD held its first business expo last year at the Worcester Area Mission Society. The second event on Saturday attracted a larger attendance than its first.
“We are very happy with the turnout. We were expecting more people this year and we were not disappointed,” said MOAD Vice President Dr. Chingor More. “The turnout is far more than last year, the planning is far more than last year and we have many more sponsors this year.”
Local political and community leaders attended and participated in the event’s workshops and discussions.
“This African business expo is meant to bring people together and help promote the minority business communities.” Dr. More stated. “The more businesses we promote, the more jobs it creates around the city and so it helps things economically and helps the public too.”
MOAD plans to produce the event against in 2025.
