Opportunity Uplifted, Coastal Today Magazine, & Black-Owned Brunswick Announces “Ujamaa BWK 2024: Celebrating Black Businesses”

(l to r) Courtney McGill, Donte Nunnally, Charmaine Richardson, & LaTanya Abbott Austin

Empowering Local Black-Owned Businesses Through Networking, Support, and Visibility

Brunswick, GA – Opportunity Uplifted is excited to announce the inaugural Ujamaa BWK 2024: Celebrating Black Businesses, set to take place on Saturday, December 28, 2024. This one-of-a-kind event will bring together Black-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and community members for a day of networking, empowerment, and economic collaboration.

Ujamaa, one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, focuses on cooperative economics—encouraging communities to build and maintain their businesses together. This event will reflect that principle by celebrating local Black-owned businesses, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect, and offering visibility to businesses across the region.

Event Highlights Include:

 • Networking opportunities with local entrepreneurs and business leaders

 • Panel discussions and speakers addressing equity, community investment, and the future of Black entrepreneurship

 • The launch of the Black-Owned Business Directory, a resource showcasing businesses across the region, available year-round

 • Community-driven programming that supports economic empowerment and cooperative economics

Opportunity Uplifted is proud to partner with Coastal Today Magazine, Black-Owned Brunswick, and The Abbott Institute to deliver this impactful event, which will also feature sponsorship opportunities for organizations looking to empower local businesses. This event serves as a significant kickoff to Opportunity Uplifted’s broader efforts to provide social, economic, and well-being programming, with a 2025 fundraising goal of $125,000.

“Ujamaa BWK 2024 represents a powerful movement toward supporting Black entrepreneurs and businesses in our community,” said Charmaine Richardson, Executive Director of Opportunity Uplifted. “We invite everyone—businesses, community leaders, and supporters—to be part of this event and help build an ecosystem of collaboration and empowerment.”

Additionally, there are direct giving opportunities for sponsors interested in supporting specific aspects of the event, such as sponsoring ad space for small businesses, providing free event tickets to local entrepreneurs, or contributing to event costs. Sponsors will have the opportunity to make a direct impact on the success of this event and the broader community.

Event Details:

 • Date: Saturday, December 28, 2024

 • Time: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

 • Location: 715 Bay Street, Brunswick, GA 31520

Get Involved:

Business owners can list their businesses for free in the Black-Owned Business Directory by visiting our website. Sponsorship opportunities and event tickets are available now. For more information, visit opportunityuplifted.com/ujamaabwk.

About Opportunity Uplifted:

Opportunity Uplifted is a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of inequality through culture, education, entrepreneurship, and wellness. By creating opportunities for underserved communities, we strive to empower minds and foster sustained economic growth through targeted programs and initiatives.