December 18th

10:00 AM

Welcoming Rising Entrepreneurs! #CBAGrad2021


OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Joel Hamernick

Executive Director, Sunshine Enterprises

Celebrating Last Keynote as Executive Director!

Joel serves as the Executive Director of Sunshine Gospel Ministries, a 116 year old urban ministry in Chicago, where he has been on staff since 1999. His undergraduate studies were in Bible and Theology at Moody Bible Institute and graduate work was in Organizational Leadership at Cairn University.  

Joel’s tenure at Sunshine has included the rebuilding of the organization from the ground up focusing on youth outreach and enrichment, service learning, business incubation, violence reduction and facilities development. 

Joel has led a process which included re-branding, mission and vision development, board governance and membership, donor strategy and implementation, program design and outcome assessments, staff recruitment and training, as well as capital project and building construction oversight – all leading to more than 1000 individuals served annually.

Joel’s recent work includes the development of a new non-profit, Sunshine Enterprises, to combat poverty through business growth in Chicago’s most disinvested neighborhoods.

Joel and his wife Paula also founded Greenline Coffee – a for-profit, PE, impact investor model of business and job creation that has since been transitioned to a local entrepreneur, Tiffany Williams, of Exquisite Catering.

Joel is a sought-after speaker, often appearing at Universities, conferences, and Churches around the country.  His work is commonly on the topics of the gospel and justice; biblical perspectives on race, poverty and the city; as well as a wide range of other subjects of theological, sociological and organizational in nature.

Joel’s passions and interests include music, sports (watching only!), running, reading, and of course playing with his kids and granddaughters.  His interests also include a wide range of economic, sociological, historical and urban issues as well as the study of cities in general. Joel and his wife Paula have seven children and four grandkids.  They live in the Woodlawn community on the Southside of Chicago.

Meet Our Graduates & Their Businesses

 

Charise Westbrooks 

Love-N-Light Candles

 

Sheenah McClinton

Billionaire Mindset Squad

 

Nia Frazier

Cachinnate

 

K. Kikomo Peggs

Efforts For The Culture EFTC

 

Ana Cristina Velazquez

XV Primaveras 

 

Debra Thompson

Minty's Lips

 

Felicia Alston

My Crafty Table Sewing and Crafts L3C

 

Oscar Lester

The Wood Shed

 

Jamal Hamilton

Boom Bap Kitchen

 

LaVonne Washington

Cookie's Creations 

 

K. Kikomo Peggs

Efforts For The Culture • EFTC

 

Oscar Lester

The Wood Shed

 

LaVonne Washington

Creations by Cookie

 

Gheri Mattison

Aesthetically Pleasing Beauty Bar

 

Quinisha Payne

Onyx Beauty Suites

 

Paula Newson

Lovely Brown Skincare

 

Brittany Hughes

Nzuri Body Essentials

 

Adrienne Hughes-Jackson

Nzuri Body Essentials, LLC

 

Paula Newson

Lovely Brown Skincare

 

Adrienne Hughes-Jackson

Nzuri Body Essentials LLC

 

Monique Partee El

Divinely Prepared Business Solutions llc 

 

Maru Braemer

MB Strategic Consulting LLC

 

Kia Smith

Kia Smith Writes, LLC

 

Heidi Burkley 

Exalt Hire, LLC and DBA Veterinarian Careers 

 

Lester Green

Idle Hands, LLC

 

Jeffery Kelly

Chicago Youth Association

 

Danielle Jenkins

Danielle's Cleaning * Decor * More

 

Rosa Brown

Rosa Beezzz Cleaning Service Ltd. 

 

Deja Hood

Artists Initiative Program

 

DeLia Ramirez & Evelin Favela

Regeneration Compost Garden Consultants-- RCGC

 

Brandon Barber/Yvette Kelly Consultant

B Squared Electrical

 

Dwight Wilson

Erudite Plus, LLC

 

Jonathan Kelly

Nice Outdoor Decorating Service Corporation

 

Kimberly Augustin Lindor

Augustin Pro Realty

 

Davis Williams

Janet Property Preservation

 

Tracy & Theresa Mingo

Mingo & Sons Lawncare & Landscape LLC

 

Dwight Wilson

Erudite Plus, LLC

 

Laura Nulty

Grow Getter 

 

Brandee Dyson 

Drinks By A Diva 

 

Debra Thompson

Minty's Lips

 

Elvert Berry 

EQ Craft

 

Itunuoluwa Ebijimi

Petty Butter

 

Ladetria Warren

Twisted Rose Metal

 

Cassandra Monfiston

Corks & Cocoa, LLC

 

Tiffany Wilson

Embrace Your Crown Beauty Bar

 

Regina Dixon-Reeves

RDR Consulting

 

Erica AE Peek

Adventures in Learning Center (AILC)

 

Brittany Goss

Go Talent Solutions

 

Sharon Baxter 

Baxter's Equine Experience

 

Milove Streeter 

Magnificent City Collection 

 

Ridgley H. Johnson, Jr 

Rock Your Mate and Others

 

D'Sheadra Dot Benford

Krafty Chick Jewelry + Accessories

 

Jaci Coy Gist

BroZac Bling & Things, Inc.

 

Xavior Lewis

arete.gallery

 

D.N. Mason

D.N. Mason Media, Inc. 

 

Xavior Lewis

arte.gallery

 

Kenya Walker Aka Chef Kay

DLB Kitchen & VIBIN Liquor 

 

Jeffrey Crittenden/Esmaralda Ford Crittenden 

Island Tings

 

Judith Coakley

Jamerica Catering

 

Adrienne A. Foster

Sugar & Pearl Delectables LLC

 

Ilyasah Muhammad

Ily's Sweet Shop

Zenaida (Zenny) Velez

Buen Provecho Catering 

 

Jeffrey & Esmaralda Crittenden

Island Tings

 

Zenaida Velez (Zenny)

Buen  Provecho Catering

 

Alvin Green

Al's Cookie Mixx

 

Edgar Mullin

Maggie's Kitchen

 

Ilyasah Muhammad

Ily's Sweet Shop

Christopher Pierce

Psykadelic Snackz

Soraya Alem & Jarvi Schneider

Otter Oaks Farm

 

Crystal Robinson

Slices From My Heart Gourmet Cheesecakes

 

Chazney Seals

Creative Juice Blends and Company

 

Judith Coakley

Jamerica Catering

 

Mario Johnson

Dirty Dishes

 

Soraya Alem and Jarvi Schneider

Otter Oaks Farm

 

Ariana Romero & Elijah Bustamante

ChicagoHoneyTruck

 

Brandon Barber Yvette Kelly 

B Squared Electrical LLC

 

Cassandra Monfiston 

Corks & Cocoa, LLC

  

Jessica Smith

Plates On Purpose

 

Chazney Seals

Creative Juice Blends & Company

 

Mario Johnson

DirtyDishes

 

Angela Jones/Mahogani Phreedom

The Reiki Klubhouse

 

Citlali Lopez-Ortiz

NeuroDanceLab LLC

 

Chante' Gamby

Fringe Counseling, Coaching, & Consulting LLC-Change App

 

JoAnna DeJareaux

Herbn & Tings

 

Patricia Tatum

Making Mental Health Attainable Now 

 

Citlali Lopez-Ortiz

NeuroDanceLab, LLC

 

Tanisha J. Rayson-Henry

Better Days Wellness Clinic PLLC

 

Patricia Tatum

Making Mental Health Attainable Now

 

Deacon Jonathan Kelly, CEO

Nice Outdoor Decorating Service Corporation

 

Miya Howard

GoodTymze 

RaAmen Berry

Ultimate Martial Arts & Fitness Studio

 

Mahogani Phreedom (Angela Jones)

The Reiki Klubhouse 

 

Miya Howard

Good Tymze

 

Gingie Ellis

Fem Rituals/Inner G Movement

 

Deleshia Kinney 

Point of Care Home Health Services 

 

Dionne Victoria Milton

Dionne Victoria Studios

 

Tracy and Theresa Mingo

Mingo and Sons Lawn and Landscape LLC

 

Wiley Taylor III

Taylor Blade Lawn Service

 

Elvert Berry

EQ Craft

 

Susana Mata

Quality Metal Finishing

 

Sydney Corryn Holman

Noire Impact Collective

 

Brandee Dyson 

Drinks By A Diva 

 

Meredith S. Davis

For the Viticulture

 

Tanisha Blakemore

BECOMING

 

Jacquelyn Eadie

Professional Increase Network

 

Temina Weeden

Braids & Winks by Mina 

 

Tate Glover

Tate Glover Organizing

 

Marvin Cabell

Pershing Capital Bronzeville 

 

Daena Ramos

The Legacy Box: Growth by Design

 

Sydney Holman

Noire Impact Collective

 

Jacquelyn Eadie

Professional Increase Network

 

Mi'esha Robinson

Back2New Property Preservation

 

Nicholas Winchester 

Nicholas Winchester, LLC

 

John L. Pendleton II

Pendleton's Investment Group, LLC

 

Larry J. Brent, Jr.

Brentproperty21

 

Alexis Friley

Luxury Lex LLC

 

Sydnie Monegan

Sunflower SRO 

 

Tira Adams

Greek Explosions

 

KaKawana Powell

The Kaya Kollection

 

Ladetria Warren

Twisted Rose Metal

 

James Hampton & Sequena Luckett

The BOOM App

 

Michael Bussey

MAB Studios, LLC

 

Bryan Barber, Jr.

Legendary Technology Enterprse

 

Sequena Luckett

Studio 1582

 

Benjamin Nober

Develop Together

 

Brittany Goss

Go Talent Solutions

 

Brandon Barber

B Squared Consulting, LLC

 

Bryan Barber, Jr. 

Legendary Technology Enterprise 

 

Ben Nober

Develop Together

 

Michael Willett 

Blaze Alchemy Consulting 

 

Brittany Goss

DivMatch

 

Carl Mosby

Mosby Truckin LLC

 

Steve Thomas

Thomas National Logistics 

 

Alexis Friley

Lex Luxury LLC 

 

Jacquelyn Eadie

Professional Increase Network

 

Sharon Thimas

God's Youth Life Coach

A Special Thanks to Our Partners