A Humber College conference linked a virtual marketplace where students got to meet and talk with different local Black business owners and shop to their heart’s content.
Students were also able to view an interview with Emmy Award-winning actress Lauren Keyana Palmer, better known as Keke Palmer. Students were also able to submit their questions to her.
“I attended the event because Keke Palmer is someone that has always inspired me to grow up and wanted to be a part of this amazing opportunity,” said Brianna Timothy, a Community Social Services student at Humber.
She’s also a natural wellness entrepreneur and hopes the school continues to have such events.
“I would like to be a part of one in the near future as I have my own small business,” she said.
Students had many options for their next shopping spree during the event hosted by the Black Academic Success and Engagement (BASE) and IGNITE.
A few of the Black-owned businesses highlighted during the conference were Camria Beauty, Cup of Té, Gerda Creates, and Jones Mental Health.
“I enjoyed the event overall and found it to be very inspiring, encouraging and empowering,” Timothy said.
Palmer spoke about what inspired her during the interview and how having that inspiration helped her throughout her career, from being a Disney Channel star — including Akeelah and the Bee, and True Jackson, VP — to a singer, and to a business owner.
“Always follow your heart. You know what I mean?” she said. “Because I think there also is a lot of pressure on women, on people of colour, and on Millennials in general to say something profound.”
Palmer said people need to need to pick-and-choose their battles in life, because not every fight can be won and not every fight is worth winning.
“Don’t put pressure on yourself to expect yourself to do God’s job because at the end of the day, only small things can be done. Small things with great love,” said Palmer, paraphrasing Mother Teresa.
Many students attended the event that was held through Pheedloop, and students had the opportunity to enter raffles throughout the day to win $50 gift cards to the businesses featured that afternoon.
Shadrach Ogbomo, a business management degree student at Humber and a self-proclaimed huge fan of Keke, said he learned some valuable lessons from Palmer including being “proud of who you are and to not let anything stop you, because only you can stop yourself.”
The entire day was jam-packed full of events and opportunities to meet with different local business owners, many connections were made and maybe even some friends.