On Saturday, January 28, 2023, the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District #8 held the “11th Annual MKE Business Now Entrepreneurship Summit” at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., School, 3275 N. 3rd St. The MKE Business Now Entrepreneurship Summit is held to support the growth of local entrepreneurship and to help innovators stimulate economic development, neighborhood reinvestment, and job creation.
As part of the event, Milwaukee’s own Chef Joya (Adjoa Courtney), an award-winning private celebrity chef, the author of four cookbooks, and cultural influencer known for “veganizing” traditional recipes, delivered the keynote address about how to make creativity and passion your business. The summit consisted of four workshops and concluded with a panel discussion featuring a variety of local business owners who shared their stories and experiences with the audience. This year’s panel included: Gregory Davis, co-founder of One 5 Olive; Adija Greer-Smith, owner of Confectionately Yours; Jonathan Adams and Myron Smith, co-owners of Yum Yum Fish and Chicken; and Djdade Denson, owner/operator of Coffee Makes You Black. The panel was moderated by Reggie “Smooth Az Butta” Brown of V100.7. The event was sponsored by the Historic King Drive Business Improvement District #8, the City of Milwaukee, the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin, US Bank and Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs (right photo, left).