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Celebrate Black History Month

02-Feb 04, 2021

Celebrate Black History Month with the following events and activities.

MWBE Business Week and Expo
Feb. 22-26

The MWBE Business Week and Expo will be held Feb. 22-26, 2021. This is the fifth year for the Expo and it continues to grow. Due to COVID 19, this year’s event will be virtual, livestreamed via the Columbia REDI Facebook page.

The schedule for this event is as follows:

  • Monday Feb 22: Kickoff Speakers and MWBE Support Services Webinars
  • Tuesday Feb 23: State, Federal and Local Certifications Requirements
  • Wednesday Feb 24: Residential and Commercial Contractors and Services Expo
  • Thursday Feb 25: Women Owned Business Expo
  •  Friday Feb 26: Minority Owned Business Expo & Closing Program

For more information, visit

To register your business to be a virtual vendor, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7Aw8gbfyfwHRExcQsOInMeo2nP0JL-k-w3jhZ1h4VTQZOMQ/viewform?gxids=7628

African American Heritage Trail map app available

Explore the African American Heritage Trail in Columbia using your phone, following a free app available through OtoCast. Download the free OtoCast app from your phone's app store, and search "African American Heritage Trail". The app offers an audio presentation to accompany each marker, along with photos of the people and places honored, and directions to follow the trail.  REDI is proud to sponsor two markers along the African American Heritage Trail, one to honor entrepreneur Annie Fisher, and a marker not yet placed that will honor Clara Miles and the Miles Manor subdivision. The African American Heritage Trail is a two-mile urban trail that honors local Black people and institutions from Columbia's first 200 years. Printed maps of the trail with descriptions of each marker are also available at REDI.

Click here to find more resources to help you explore the African American Heritage Trail.

Black History Exposition at the Armory

City of Columbia Parks and Recreation is offering an exposition of the Black History of Columbia Timeline. Historical information from the last 200 years will be available for viewing at the Armory Sports Center, 701 E. Ash St., Monday - Friday until February 28, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event is free and open to all.

University of Missouri Black History Month Events

To view a list of Black History Month events sponsored by the University of Missouri, visit:  https://blackstudies.missouri.edu/black-history-month

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