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PRODID:-//ChamberMaster//Event Calendar 2.0//EN
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART:20250920T140000Z
DTEND:20250920T180000Z
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SUMMARY:POSTPONED - BLEND Program (Cohort 1.1)
DESCRIPTION:*UPDATE 9/18/25 - this program will be rescheduled for a future date*\n\n\n\nThe Oak Park Black & Latine Business Support Network   known as BLEND   is more than a program. It's a movement.\n\nBLEND stands for Black and Latine Entrepreneurship\, Networks\, and Development   a name that reflects our core mission: to support\, connect\, and grow Black and Latine-owned businesses right here in Oak Park.\n\nDesigned to uplift and invest in the brilliance of these entrepreneurs\, BLEND brings together both emerging and established business owners to build a stronger\, more inclusive local economy. Through expert-led sessions\, peer collaboration\, and practical resources\, BLEND delivers the knowledge\, community\, and momentum that drive real business success   now and into the future!\nCohort 1 focuses on Micro & Emerging Businesses. These sessions will be held monthly for half of the day. Below are the dates and times:\n\n\n\n1. Navigating Oak Park's Economic Vitality Infrastructure - (9/20/25)\n\n  How to access village resources and collaborate with local institutions.\n\n\n\n2. How to Do Business in a Predominantly White Environment (PWE) - (10/18/25)\n\n  Navigating cultural dynamics and leveraging unique business strengths in a PWE context.\n\n\n\n3. Marketing for Emerging Businesses - (11/15/25)\n\n  Focus on resource-light marketing strategies that build brand presence.\n\n\n\n4. Human Resources - (12/13/25)\n\n  Building a small\, capable team and developing leadership skills.\n\n\n\n5. Accounting & Finance Basics - (1/17/26)\n\n  Financial literacy tailored for new businesses\, including managing cash flow and securing funding.\n\n\n\n6. Communications: Brand Storytelling - (2/21/26)\n\n  How to craft an authentic\, compelling business narrative.\n\n\n\n7. Operations: Scaling Your Business - (3/21/26)\n\n  Practical steps for growing and scaling\, from managing inventory to expanding customer base.
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:<img height="281" src="https://chambermaster.blob.core.windows.net/userfiles/UserFiles/chambers/1821/CMS/Jordi/BLEND-Landing-Page-Graphics.png" style="height: 281px\; width: 500px\;" width="500" /><br />\n&nbsp\;\n<p data-end="414" data-start="298" helvetica="" style="box-sizing: border-box\; margin: 0px 0px 10px\; font-size: 16px\; line-height: 1.3\; font-family: Arial\, "><span style="font-family:times new roman\;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box\;"><strong>*UPDATE 9/18/25 - this program will be rescheduled for a future date*</strong><br />\n<br />\nThe Oak Park Black &amp\; Latine Business Support Network &mdash\; known as&nbsp\;<strong data-end="371" data-start="362" style="box-sizing: border-box\; font-weight: bold\;">BLEND</strong>&nbsp\;&mdash\; is more than a program. It&rsquo\;s a movement.</span></span></p>\n\n<p data-end="626" data-start="416" helvetica="" style="box-sizing: border-box\; margin: 0px 0px 10px\; font-size: 16px\; line-height: 1.3\; font-family: Arial\, "><span style="font-family:times new roman\;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box\;">BLEND stands for&nbsp\;<strong data-end="497" data-start="433" style="box-sizing: border-box\; font-weight: bold\;">Black and Latine Entrepreneurship\, Networks\, and Development</strong>&nbsp\;&mdash\; a name that reflects our core mission: to support\, connect\, and grow Black and Latine-owned businesses right here in Oak Park.</span></span></p>\n\n<p data-end="1006" data-start="628" helvetica="" style="box-sizing: border-box\; margin: 0px 0px 10px\; font-size: 16px\; line-height: 1.3\; font-family: Arial\, "><span style="font-family:times new roman\;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box\;">Designed to uplift and invest in the brilliance of these entrepreneurs\, BLEND brings together both emerging and established business owners to build a stronger\, more inclusive local economy. Through expert-led sessions\, peer collaboration\, and practical resources\, BLEND delivers the knowledge\, community\, and momentum that drive real business success &mdash\; now and into the future!</span></span></p>\nCohort 1 focuses on <strong>Micro &amp\; Emerging Businesses</strong>. These sessions will be held monthly for half of the day. Below are the dates and times:<br />\n<br />\n<strong>1. Navigating Oak Park&rsquo\;s Economic Vitality Infrastructure - (9/20/25)</strong><br />\n&#9675\; How to access village resources and collaborate with local institutions.<br />\n<br />\n<strong>2. How to Do Business in a Predominantly White Environment (PWE) - (10/18/25)</strong><br />\n&#9675\; Navigating cultural dynamics and leveraging unique business strengths in a PWE context.<br />\n<br />\n<strong>3. Marketing for Emerging Businesses - (11/15/25)</strong><br />\n&#9675\; Focus on resource-light marketing strategies that build brand presence.<br />\n<br />\n<strong>4. Human Resources - (12/13/25)</strong><br />\n&#9675\; Building a small\, capable team and developing leadership skills.<br />\n<br />\n<strong>5. Accounting &amp\; Finance Basics - (1/17/26)</strong><br />\n&#9675\; Financial literacy tailored for new businesses\, including managing cash flow and securing funding.<br />\n<br />\n<strong>6. Communications: Brand Storytelling - (2/21/26)</strong><br />\n&#9675\; How to craft an authentic\, compelling business narrative.<br />\n<br />\n<strong>7. Operations: Scaling Your Business - (3/21/26)</strong><br />\n&#9675\; Practical steps for growing and scaling\, from managing inventory to expanding customer base.
LOCATION:Kinfolk CoLab (405 S Euclid Ave 2ND FLOOR)
UID:e.1821.43424
SEQUENCE:3
DTSTAMP:20260415T164950Z
URL:https://www.oprfchamber.org/events/details/postponed-blend-program-cohort-1-1-43424
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