ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) – Couches washed into the rafters of their building have not stopped a local non-profit from supporting Asheville’s small business owners. This organization plans to honor people later this month who helped the community during Hurricane Helene.
Amid Black History Month, Black Wall Street AVL is recognizing five Asheville leaders who are making history daily with their contributions to the community from 5:30 – 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Asheville Community Theater.
Black Wall Street AVL exists to “Start, grow and expand businesses,” J. Hackett, the founder of the non-profit, explained. Founded in 2020 during the Black Lives Matter protests, Hackett’s group helps new business owners with paperwork to get the “LLC” tag and connect them with city and state leaders to earn grants and network.
Before the non-profit, Hackett operated Grind Coffee in the River Arts District. After noticing small business owners gathering in his shop, he decided to facilitate their growth.
“We did pop ups on Saturdays” at Grind Coffee, Hackett stated, using his cafe as a storefront for businesses without stores of their own.
Initially, Hackett’s plan was simple. He wanted to start Black Wall Street AVL to expand his small business assistance operation, to receive some grant money “to help 20 businesses” in the first year. Instead, Hackett got ambitious, inducting 74 local black owned companies into the group. In total, the fledgling businesses raked in $1.3 million in revenue that year.
On why his non-profit is named what it is, Hackett explained, 2020 was roughly the “100-year anniversary of the Black Wall Street Massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma.”
Five years later, Hacket says “We have two buildings.” The first is the coffee shop his non-profit began from. Apart from some plumbing issues and damaged equipment, it weathered Hurricane Helene well. “We just opened back up two weeks ago,” Hackett said.
His other building, which housed space for Black Wall Street AVL businesses to set up shop and sell their goods, faired far worse during the devastating storm.
“Our couches were in the rafters in the ceiling,” Hackett explained.
Without the other building, “Everything happens out of the coffee shop” now, Hackett said. While that worked for the first year, his non-profit has outgrown the small coffee shop it started in.
“We are applying for more grants,” Hackett stated, hoping the money will help them rebuild their building that the government is currently barring them from entering due to safety concerns.
“Rebuilding is everybody’s business” Hackett relayed, asking that if anyone wants to help Black Wall Street AVL, they can visit the non-profit’s website.
For four years, Black Wall Street AVL has been honoring local black community leaders with the Black Legacy Awards. Aimed at uplifting men and women who uplift their locality, Hackett explains the accolades go to the people who “shape Asheville into what it is.”
“It’s just local people saying, ‘We see you, we’re glad you’re doing what you’re doing,” he said.
“Local people have been nominating and voting for each other,” Hackett stated. Voting concluded a few weeks ago with over 1,000 Asheville area residents voicing who they think deserves the elite titles up for grabs.
The ceremony used to be held at their building, but “Each year we’ve had it, it’s been standing room only,” Hackett boasted, underscoring their need to host the annual event at a larger venue.
This year, the Black Legacy Awards will be held from 5:30 – 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Asheville Community Theater.
The following individuals are set to be recognized at the ceremony: Shirley Whitesides from Delta House, Tracey Greene-Washington from CoThinkk, Gene Edison from GO Places, Philip Cooper from Operation Gateway and Stephanie Swepson from Twitty Eagle Market Streets Development Corporation.
Over 200 free tickets have been distributed so far. Proceeds from the event will benefit Black Wall Street AVL. Tickets are still available as long as supplies last. You can reserve admittance by clicking here.
Specifically timed during Black History Month, Hackett’s awards ceremony coincides with many other local events geared at celebrating African American contributions to society.
“Black History Month is our month to come together to celebrate the service of black people,” Hackett related. Not wanting to dwell only on the past, he said “We’re making history every day.”