It’s February! It’s all about love and the Annual Celebration of Black History Month. I love how the two go hand in hand. This is an extra special podcast because Tara Palacios is filling in this month to host and in addition we are collaborating this month with our partners with the National Landing BID. Black History Month is a vital time to honor the achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black entrepreneurs who have shaped industries and paved the way for future generations. From trailblazers like Madam C.J. Walker to today’s innovators in tech, finance, and beyond, their stories serve as powerful lessons in perseverance, creativity, and economic empowerment. As we celebrate Black excellence in entrepreneurship, we also recognize the ongoing challenges and the need for equitable opportunities. Join us as we highlight inspiring Black business leaders, share their journeys, and explore how we can foster a more inclusive and thriving entrepreneurial landscape. Hosting today is Tara Palacios, Director of BizLaunch at Arlington Economic Development in Arlington Virginia. Economic Development agencies throughout the US aim to build sustainable businesses and the role businesses play are vital to the health of our communities. We wholeheartedly support small business through BizLaunch and value the importance of placemaking as a sector devoted to creative economy and the arts. On today’s show we are going to discuss black entrepreneurship and what it takes to innovate and create using food as a canvas…. To discuss this topic is the renowned Chef Rock Harper of Queen Mother’s Kitchen located in National Landing in Arlington.

Resources Queen Mother's Kitchen website: https://www.queenmothercooks.com/ National Landing BID: https://nationallanding.org/ Arlington Economic Development BizLaunch Division: https://www.arlingtoneconomicdevelopment.com/Small-Business General information about the Small Business Administration (SBA): https://www.sba.gov/ SBA resources locally: https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance SCORE Counseling and other resources: https://www.arlingtoneconomicdevelopment.com/Small-Business/Small-Business-Programs/One-on-One-Counseling Small Business Saturday, November 30, 2024 The Innovation Economy Website: https://www.innovationeconomy.show Sign up for The Agile Brand newsletter here: https://agilebrandguide.com/ Get the latest news and updates on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/innovationeconomy/ Listen to our other podcast, The Agile Brand with Greg Kihlström: https://www.theagilebrand.show The Innovation Economy podcast is brought to you by Arlington Economic Development: https://www.arlingtoneconomicdevelopment.com The Innovation Economy is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company