Please be sure to check the event organizer’s website for any last-minute changes or cancellations prior to attending.
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2025 WURD Empowerment Experience
Join us on Saturday, December 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for WURD’s Empowerment Experience, a live event and holiday marketplace celebrating Black entrepreneurship, creativity, and community growth and hosted by Karen Taylor Bass. This year’s program features two engaging panels focused on culinary innovation and business corridor development.
The day will include:
Holiday marketplace
Shop for jewelry, clothing, home decor, candles, skin and hair care, and much more for holiday shopping, all under one roof.
A live broadcast
Hosted by multiple WURD Radio hosts
Compelling panel discussions connected to WURD’s Ready, Set, Grow initiative
Main Street Moves: Thriving in a Business Corridor—moderated by Solomon Jones, host of Wake Up With WURD.
A discussion on the role of commercial corridors and drawing tourism and commerce to predominantly Black business districts in 2026 featuring:
- Kimberly Lloyd — President & CEO, Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corporation, representing the West Oak Lane business corridor
- Stan Straughter — Africatown Economic Development Corp.; Chairman, African and Caribbean Business Council of Greater Philadelphia; Chairman Emeritus, Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs
- Ann Turner — Founder and President of Hair Du Jour Salon and Integrity Hair Care Systems, representing the 63rd Street business corridor
- Jack Eckhardt — Director of Government Banking, TruMark Federal Credit Union
- Nadir Jones — Director of Business Impact & Economic Advancement, Office of Mayor Cherelle Parker
Entrepreneurship in the Eatery Industry—moderated by Dr. James Peterson, host of Evening WURDs.
A deep dive into leadership, culture and innovation in the culinary space from some of Philadelphia’s most influential chef-entrepreneurs featuring:
- Omar Tate — Chef & Co-Founder, Honeysuckle Projects
- Angie Brown — Culinary Director, Rex & the Royal
- Felicia Wilson — Restaurateur, Amina Hospitality Collection
- Tanisha Trippett — Brotherly Grub food truck owner
The Empowerment Experience is brought to you by Keystone First Family of Plans, Visit Philadelphia, Comcast, PECO, Philadelphia Parking Authority, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Community Wellness Initiative, Temple Health, the Philadelphia Water Department, and Pennie.
