2024 Empowerment Experience

WURD Radio invites you to join us for our free signature holiday event that is expected to draw hundreds of WURD listeners and friends — The Empowerment Experience. Celebrate with us this year as we acknowledge the Kwanzaa principle of Ujamaa — cooperative economics — with Black and Brown artisans, creators, merchants and more for a holiday marketplace.

Continue to check back for more details. If you are interested in being a vendor, please email [email protected].

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 Tonya Pendleton and Dr. Aaron Smith plus informal meet-and-greets with WURD Radio hosts

Compelling panel discussions

Creating and Protecting Black Wealth

Building and safeguarding wealth within the Black community is perhaps more important than ever. This panel focuses on strategies for creating prosperity — and keeping it — in the face of historical attempts to seize Black wealth and ongoing systemic inequities. Panelists will discuss the importance of wealth building, financial best practices for getting started, and actionable steps to help prepare future generations.

The Entrepreneur’s Journey from Hustle to Power

With shrinking DEI budgets and the reversal of affirmative action, many Black workers are considering whether entrepreneurship is a valid pathway to independence and economic empowerment. From the first steps of starting a business to navigating systemic challenges like limited funding for Black business owners, our panelists will discuss how Black entrepreneurs can lean on innovation as part of the fight for economic justice.

Community resources

Government, nonprofits, and faith organizations will be on hand to interact with the public and share vital information.