Black Professionals in Minnesota

Celebrate Black business, leadership, community, and legacy at the 6th Annual Black Business Ball: Secret Garden in Minneapolis. Celebrate Black Business in 2026 Celebrate excellence at the 6th Annual Black Business Ball: Secret Garden. A night honoring Black business, community, and legacy. Welcome to the 6th Annual Black Business Ball: Secret Garden Edition! Get ready for a night of celebration, networking, and fun. Join us on November 7th, 2026 at 6:00 PM for an unforgettable evening. Location: Quincy Hall • 1325 Quincy St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 Beyond the concrete and chaos of the city, there is a place where Black business blooms. On November 7, 2026, we invite you to step through the gates of our Secret Garden for the 6th Annual Black Business Ball — an evening where vines, florals, and soft light frame a celebration of Black excellence, legacy, and limitless possibility. This year’s Ball, “Honoring the Legends,” is a love letter to the founders, visionaries, and trailblazers who have built, sustained, and reimagined Black business in Minnesota and beyond. We’ll gather beneath a canopy of greenery and light to: Honor LEGENDS whose work has created pathways for generations Celebrate today’s builders and innovators across industries Elevate Future Founders and Kidpreneurs who are just beginning their journey Guests will experience: A fully transformed ballroom evoking an evening garden — rich with florals, greenery, and storytelling installations A seated dinner and curated program highlighting Black business legends, award recipients, and Future Founder features Live performances, music, and creative vignettes that bring our Secret Garden to life Interactive installations including the Legends Wall, Floral Tribute Garden, Future Founder Showcase, and Secret Garden Portrait Experience Whether you are a long-time supporter of BBE, a business owner, a community partner, or a first-time guest, the Black Business Ball is your invitation to step into a space where Black brilliance is centered, celebrated, and beautifully staged. Come dressed in your best Black-Tie or culturally expressive formal attire. Please note: guests who purchase tickets together will be seated together. A Taste of the Evening Enjoy a seated dinner featuring a curated menu inspired by the Secret Garden theme. Your ticket includes a Winter Green Salad starter, your choice of one of three entrées, and a dessert to close out the evening: Roasted Statler chicken breast w/ rice Seasoned Mahi mahi w/ rice Cauliflower steak w/ rice and seasonal roasted vegetables Dessert selections include Lotus Biscuit Caramel Mousse and Chocolate Tiramisu. Expect elegance. Expect magic. Expect a night that feels like walking into a story we are all still writing together. Join Us in the Secret Garden: Honoring Legends, Sustaining the Future Corporate commitments changed. Ours did not. In the years following 2020, many institutions made bold promises about equity. They launched initiatives, hired leaders, and spoke publicly about supporting Black businesses. As political pressure and economic uncertainty grew, those commitments were often the first to fade. Programs ended. Budgets disappeared. Many simply moved on. Black Business Enterprises (BBE) has lived the impact of that shift. The phone doesn’t ring the way it once did, but the needs in our community have only grown. At the same time, membership dues across our BBE community have declined as families and business owners face rising costs and economic strain. We cannot wait for corporations to rediscover their commitments. And we cannot rely on short-term funding to sustain work that must exist every day. That is why we gather. The 2026 Black Business Ball: Secret Garden — Honoring Legends is more than a celebration. It is a return to what has always sustained us: community investment, shared responsibility, and honoring those who built pathways before us while ensuring the next generation has somewhere to grow. If you’ve ever come to BBE to start or stabilize your business, repair credit, find resources, host a meeting, or simply sit in a space where you didn’t have to explain who you are—you are already part of this garden. This Ball is our invitation to tend it together. Your support through the Black Business Ball helps us: Keep BBE’s doors open with lights on, Wi-Fi working, and a professional space where Black entrepreneurs can gather, build, and belong Provide business formation, credit support, and technical assistance for founders starting, pivoting, or rebuilding after job loss Sustain homeownership and financial readiness programming so families can move from surviving to owning Offer accessible meeting and coworking space for entrepreneurs who no longer have access to an office or supportive workplace Build the internal capacity BBE needs to remain stable, responsive, and rooted in community—not shifting trends or corporate cycles In the Secret Garden, we pause to honor the legends—those whose labor, leadership, and vision made space for us to be here. And we recommit to what comes next. We are not asking you to replace anyone else’s broken promises. We are inviting you to be part of a real, local, long-term answer. Join us as we honor legacy, invest in community, and ensure Black Business Enterprises continues to stand for decades to come. The not-so-fine print Black business is our focus, but we do not discriminate. Black is the blueprint for our work and our lens. We welcome and support BBE members of all backgrounds, including people of every race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, pregnancy status, marital or family status, immigration status, and veteran status. Our Programs and Initiatives Financial Literacy Workshops: We partner with local businesses to offer workshops that equip members with the skills and knowledge to manage finances effectively and strategically. Housing Support: Recognizing that stable housing is foundational to business success, we provide guidance and resources to help entrepreneurs secure housing solutions that support their business goals. Youth Programs: We are passionate about empowering the next generation. Our youth programs focus on instilling entrepreneurial spirit and financial savvy in young people, preparing them for a brighter future. Credit Programs: Understanding the importance of credit in business, we offer programs that help members build and maintain strong credit profiles, essential for accessing capital and growing their enterprises. Our primary mission is to promote community development by offering both financial and educational services. We offer tangible programs and initiatives that address these problems, track success, and start meaningful conversations to make impactful changes.

St. Thomas Black Law Student Association represents a cornerstone of community and belonging at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a student-led organization, it embodies the university's commitment to diversity, inclusion, and social justice by creating a welcoming space where Black law students can connect, collaborate, and grow together throughout their legal education journey. The organization's mission centers on building solidarity and mutual support among its members while advancing conversations around equity and representation in the legal profession. Located at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, MN, the association recognizes that law students of color face unique challenges and opportunities in their academic and professional pursuits. By fostering a strong community culture, the organization ensures that members feel valued, supported, and empowered to achieve their goals. What distinguishes the St. Thomas Black Law Student Association is its dedication to both internal community building and external impact. Members work together to organize events that celebrate their shared experiences, provide peer mentorship, and create dialogue about important issues affecting Black communities and the legal system. The organization also serves as a bridge between law students and the broader Minneapolis community, facilitating meaningful engagement with local organizations and causes. Through its various initiatives and programs, the St. Thomas Black Law Student Association demonstrates that law school is not just about individual achievement—it's about building relationships, fostering collective growth, and working toward a more just and equitable legal profession. The organization stands as a testament to the power of community and the importance of creating inclusive spaces within higher education.

Black Law Students Association is a student organization at the University of Minnesota located in Minneapolis, MN, dedicated to supporting and empowering Black students pursuing legal education. The organization serves as a welcoming community where members can find belonging, encouragement, and shared purpose throughout their law school journey. Operating within the broader University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus community, the association plays an important role in creating an inclusive and supportive environment for students who are navigating legal education while contributing to greater diversity in the legal profession. The association's mission centers on building meaningful connections among Black law students and fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom. Through its participation in the official CampusGroups platform at UMN Twin Cities, the organization maintains an active presence on campus with regular events and engagement opportunities. Members come together to celebrate their identities, share experiences, and collectively address the distinctive perspectives and challenges that shape their law school experience in Minneapolis. As a student-led organization, the Black Law Students Association reflects the voices and priorities of its members while contributing to the broader mission of the University of Minnesota Law School. The group recognizes the importance of community, mentorship, and mutual support in helping Black law students thrive academically and personally. By creating spaces for connection, celebration, and advocacy, the association enriches the law school community and helps prepare the next generation of Black legal professionals to make meaningful contributions to the profession and society.

Since its founding in 1947, the National Association of Real Estate Brokers has championed the mission of promoting democracy in housing and equal opportunity for all. The Twin Cities chapter carries forward this legacy of advocacy, activism, and action within the Minneapolis, MN community. NAREB Twin Cities was established by local professionals committed to creating equitable homeownership opportunities and has grown into a vital force for change in the region. The organization works daily to educate families and support them on their path to homeownership and wealth building. Beyond professional development, NAREB Twin Cities remains deeply rooted in its core values of fair housing and community empowerment. The organization welcomes professionals from all real estate disciplines who share its commitment to serving diverse clientele and advancing meaningful housing solutions. Through educational programs, legislative advocacy, and community engagement, NAREB Twin Cities continues the fight for sustainable affordable housing and expanded homeownership opportunities. Members are known as Realtists—professionals who uphold the highest ethical standards while advocating for public policies that protect and expand housing access for all residents of the Twin Cities region.