ABOUT
The Ohio Black Expo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
EIN: 84-4364902
Purpose
Ohio Black Expo is a statewide non-profit organization committed to enhancing the lives, success, and well-being of communities in Ohio. We drive change and foster growth through initiatives that address critical disparities in areas such as health, education, senior support, business, technology, and youth development.
Our signature event, the Ohio Black Expo: Riverfront Culture Fest, takes place every Memorial Day Weekend, to empower and unite Ohio’s 1.7 million Black residents and those beyond. This annual gathering welcomes guests from across the nation to engage in solution-focused workshops, build connections at networking events, and celebrate the richness of Black culture. With amazing food, the arts, and an unforgettable atmosphere, there’s no other place to be Memorial Day Weekend!
History
The founder and current Board Chair of the Ohio Black Expo, Rhonda D. Robinson, was initially inspired to create the Columbus Black Expo after successfully registering 70 plus vendors for the Columbus Black Convention in 1980.
The Columbus Black Expo was held at the Focal Point of Mt. Vernon Plaza from 1981 – 1987. After seven (7) years, realizing that the event was drawing people and vendors from all over the state, she changed the name to the Ohio Black Expo to reflect what was happening.
The first Ohio Black Expo event took place at Veterans Memorial in downtown Columbus. It was held there from 1988 through 1991, peaking at 300 exhibitors and over 30,000 visitors. She then decided that Ohio Black Expo should possibly be held in other cities in Ohio. The Ohio Black Expo was held in Dayton at the Dayton Convention Center in 1992. She moved it to Cincinnati, her hometown, in 1993 and 1994 at the Cincinnati Convention Center. After a hiatus, the Ohio Black Expo returned in 2020 under Rhonda’s leadership. In 2022, the torch was passed to Sherri Hamilton (CEO) and Lawrence ‘Butch’ Hamilton III (COO) with the support of a dedicated team located throughout the State of Ohio.
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Programs & Initiatives:
Beginning in the 1980s, the primary goal of the Ohio Black Expo was to showcase Black-owned businesses to the general public in order to empower small enterprises with funding to help them establish, expand, and potentially grow. This objective continues to be achieved through a well-coordinated exhibition of vendors in an open, secure, and celebratory atmosphere focused on networking and solidarity. Alongside our main event, the OHIO BLACK EXPO Riverfront Culture Fest, we are dedicated to launching or continuing the following fifteen (15) initiatives:
ONGOING FUNDRAISERS
• Scholarships for Central State, Wilberforce and other students attending HBCUs
• COSI Family Memberships through our AfroSTEM Ohio-Go Program
ANNUAL EVENTS
• BlackExpollence Awards (for Educators & Community Activists)
• Level Up Youth Summit (for Teens 13-19)
• Memorial Day Weekend Kickoff Parade (showcasing youth & community organizations)
• Family Day (children + adult activities, free health check-ups & screenings)
• HBCU College Fair (exposing youth & adults to Historically Black Colleges & Universities)
WEEKLY / MONTHLY / QUARTERLY PROGRAMS
• BlackExpollence Learning Labs: Connecting the Past, Present & Future
• BlackExpollence Dream Path Career Program
ONLINE RESOURCES / YEAR ROUND
• Ohio Black Expo Business Directory (HUKU)
• Holistic Health & Frugal Living Tips
• “Standing on Business” Training Sessions
• BlackExpollence Study Club (Online Curriculum)
SPECIAL STATEWIDE PROJECTS
• African Cemetery Restoration (Randolph Freedpeople) in West Central Ohio
• Commemorating Early Black Settlements in Ohio
We are dedicated to continuing and expanding these programs in 2025 and beyond. We kindly ask for your support through donations. Every contribution, whether large or small, is deeply valued. Give today.
Serving with Gratitude
A very special thank you to our sponsors, partners, volunteers, participants, artists, board members, and our entire team. Additionally, we are appreciative of attendees who came out to support more than 100 Black-owned businesses.
Photo Credit: @ShelleeFisher and Team (@RaeHolloway-Collins & @IanCrumpler) – Video Credit: @AndreMatthews
2024
2023
Board of Trustees
Rhonda D. Robinson, Chair
Sherri Hamilton, President
M. Simeon Frazier, Treasurer
Ella Coleman, Secretary
Advisory Board
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2024 Promotions
Shaping The Future
EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
Dream Path Program
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OBE Honors
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Hall of Fame
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Ohio Black Educator Awards
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OBE Veterans Honors
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OBE Salute to Black Expollence Business Awards
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