Midday on Friday, Tony O’Neill will be where he always is at the noon hour: manning the grill and greeting the lunch rush at his Jamrock Cultural Restaurant in Duluth.
But while the Chef Tony is dishing up jerk chicken, shrimp po’boys and Jamaican coco bread, the small business owner will also be keeping an eye on the KARE 11 video stream coming carrying Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol as it unfolds.
“I’m interested in what they’re saying and thoroughly intrigued by what they are doing,” said O’Neil, who started catering his Caribbean food delicacies in the Twin Ports five years ago and now owns Jamrock Cultural Restaurant on W. 1st St in downtown Duluth.
While he’s often told that his authentic cuisine fills a need in the Duluth food scene and is often praised by locals and Duluth’s many tourists, O’Neil said he and other small business owners need more than appreciation.
“We are trying to figure out ways to attract new grants. I would like to see the city and the state do more to support us; we need more if they want us to last,” O’Neil said.
Presented by ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com, the small business owned by podcasting entrepreneur Sheletta Brundidge, the second Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol is a day that promises to bring energy and emotion to St Paul.
“These entrepreneurs all have stories to tell about their big dreams. We are going to talk about our plans for prosperity and building generational wealth and also the obstacles that still stand in our way,” said Brundidge.
Black business owners and their allies who can’t make it to Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol in St Paul but want to see all the action unfold will be able to watch the video stream. The event will be carried on KARE 11’s website at https://www.kare11.com/watch.
Viewers will be able to take in the Rally in the Rotunda program, with anecdotes from several Black entrepreneurs as well as comments from elected leaders. Gov Tim Walz, Lt Gov Peggy Flanagan and Auditor Julie Blaha will be in attendance along with dozens of state legislators including Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman.
"We deeply value authentic community building,” said Alexis Rogers, community relations manager at KARE 11.
“Initiatives like Black Entrepreneur Day at the Capitol are innovative ways to provide resources and support to our community. Everyone deserves access to these opportunities, as it's through empowerment and inclusivity that we strengthen our community,” she added.
The day brings Black small business owners to the Capitol just days after the legislature was gaveled in. In the coming session, lawmakers will make decisions about billions of dollars in state funds.
Brundidge is convening her fellow Black entrepreneurs so they can lobby for programs, grants, loans and other funding that they can access.
“KARE 11 is pleased to partner with Sheletta Brundidge to share the stories of Minnesota's Black business owners during this Black History Month," said KARE 11 digital director Jeremiah Jacobsen.
"Sheletta plays an important role in amplifying voices across our community, and we're excited to share this important conversation on our KARE 11+ streaming platform.”
The video stream will also key in on the excitement as one entrepreneur will be surprised with a financial windfall to take home. Each attendee will be eligible to win a no-strings-attached $5000 gift from Brundidge.
Viewers will have one more chance to see Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Capitol on the evening of Feb 16. At 8 pm, the video of Black Entrepreneurs Day will be replayed on KARE 11+ the station’s streaming app for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV and many smart TV platforms.