Black Wall Street Expo holds Back to School Event
WEST POINT, Miss., (WCBI) — Rain and heat didn’t stop many from coming out to a back-to-school event in West Point.
In today’s economy, anything to ease the pressure and stress for parents helps.
That was the aim of the Black Wall Street Back to School event in West Point.
Despite the downpour many still made it out to the National Guard Armory where there were free haircuts from area barbers and stylists, free uniforms given by Lee Memorial Seventh-Day Adventist Church, free supplies and many vendors on site. People could get their kids prepared to go back in the classrooms.
LaThomas McClelland holds the Black Wall Street Expo and Pop-Up Shop in the Spring.
She says most returned from that event and there were new vendors, one was just 10 years old.
“Most of these vendors are returning vendors from the one that we did in the Spring and then a lot of the newer vendors, they’re still in high school we even have one guy that 10 years old so stuff like that is why I do what I do because it’s not about age, it’s not even about the color. Just show up and show up for yourself.”
This year, McClelland partnered with Ladies with a Purpose, a newly founded group that aims to help those in need and Phi Beta Sigma’s graduate chapter out of Columbus.
Nicole Spraggins says Ladies with Purpose is a growing group with a drive to give back, and connecting with McClelland on this event, they were able to accomplish that.
“We started out as just like a cousin group and I wanted to grow it bigger with it so we did it like a sisterhood. Currently it’s 10 of us and we just always give back to the community just whatever we can help with we try to provide it,”
The two groups gave out more than 300 backpacks, filled with supplies, all needed for the first day.
Lloyd Dixon with the Pi Tau Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity, Inc., says events like these show there’s a need, and it helps them find more ways to help those who need it the most.
“With the economic situation that’s going on in the world today we’re able to see who needs help and we provide that help throughout service to our community,”
McClelland says today proves there’s power in unity, and when people come together to help those in need and to support each other, it helps.
