The Black Expo will focus on the community, businesses, education and health of African Americans and minorities throughout the Buckeye State.

It is countdown to the first Black Expo of Ohio, which will be held at the Wolstein Center from June 29 to July 3, 2011.

The Black Expo will focus on the community, businesses, education and health of African Americans and minorities throughout the Buckeye State. The exhibition is free and open to everyone. Concerts and other special programs are ticketed events. The promoter encourages all Ohioans to come out and enjoy the Black Expo experience.

The Ohio Black Expo in Cleveland will include three-day business exhibition and a large array of events and programs, economic development forum, business awards, networking mixers, concert and comedy shows with top national acts, wealth and wellness programs, and educational programs including a new mentoring program focusing on an educational/mentoring initiative that will help to keep our children in school.

The mission of the Black Expo is to create opportunities for minority-owned businesses to showcase their products and services to large audiences and also to create networking opportunities between minority and majority owned companies, educate small businesses on available free programs (grants, financing, marketing, MBE certification) while building new partnerships and collaborations statewide.

The mission is also designed to create a unique mentoring program that will focus on keeping children in school, advocate wellness for adults and children.

Thing will kick off with an R&B concert Wednesday, June 29. There will also be a show featuring Eddie Griffin on Thursday night. Eddie Griffin was the star of the famed “Malcolm and Eddie” show.

Other highlights include Saturday’s AM Pro Basketball League with seven games, shooting contest and slam dunk competition.

The Black Expo will conclude with “All That Jazz Festival” featuring Gerald Albright, Najee, David Benoit, Hiroshima and Alex Bugnon.

Jerry Costa is the organizer for the Ohio Black Expo.

Sponsors include: Dominion, Call & Post, Cleveland State University, Urban League of Greater Cleveland, Time Warner Cable, KeyBank, Cleveland City Council, Positively Cleveland, Radio One, COSE, Crowne Plaza, City of Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson, Regional Chamber, and Ohio Department of Development.