Empowering Entrepreneurs: LaRese Purnell’s Workshop Series Aims to…

On a brisk morning in Cleveland, a group of aspiring and established small-business owners gathered at Tri-C Corporate College East. Their purpose? To attend the first of a four-part workshop series spearheaded by LaRese Purnell, the Tri-C Entrepreneur-in-Residence. This initiative, more than just a series of meetings, represents a beacon of hope and a tool for empowerment for community businesses, particularly those owned by African Americans and other people of color. Advertisment A Blueprint for Success The workshops, designed to cover a comprehensive range of topics including business structure, law, accounting, taxes, access to capital, investing, and insurance, aim to provide the essential tools needed for business success. Purnell, with a keen understanding of the challenges faced by first-generation business owners, emphasizes the importance of these resources. “It’s about laying down a foundation,” Purnell remarked, “so that these entrepreneurs can not only survive but thrive, creating generational wealth and strengthening their communities.” This initiative comes at a critical time, as according to the Pew Research Center, only about 3% of U.S. businesses are Black or African-American-owned. Voices from the Community Advertisment The article also shines a light on the personal stories of local business owners like Miesha Wilson, who underscores...