Petersburg Town Hall Meeting
Date and Time
Wednesday May 8, 2024
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
Wednesday, May 8th, 2024
10AM-12PM
Location
201 W Washington St, Petersburg, VA 23803
Wellness and Activity Center 2nd Floor
The Library Doors Open at 10AM
Town Hall Begins at 10:30AM
Website
Description
Join us for The Metropolitan Business League's Small Business Town Hall Meeting, a dynamic and interactive forum for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. Presented by The Metropolitan Business League (MBL), this event provides a unique opportunity to engage in open dialogue, share insights, and explore strategies for supporting the growth and success of small businesses in our community.
Our Host Mr. Tyrone Power Cherry III, is a visionary leader, educator, and urban farmer renowned for his transformative work in Petersburg, Virginia. As the founder of the Petersburg League of Urban Growers (P.L.U.G.) and Executive Director of Petersburg Is Growing Inc., he has spearheaded initiatives to address food insecurity, promote sustainability, and empower marginalized communities. Cherry’s passion for education has led him to develop innovative programs that integrate farming practices into urban environments, fostering environmental stewardship and healthy living. Through his dedication and expertise, Cherry continues to inspire others to cultivate positive change, making him a respected figure in both local and national agricultural circles.
For more information about Tyrone Power Cherry III and his work, please visit:
https://petersburgisgrowing.org/
MEET THE PANELIST
George Piazza is the Deputy Director of LISC Virginia. Since joining in 2020, he has served as their Program Officer for Fundraising and Communications, as well as Senior Program Officer for Economic Development. During this time, he has helped deploy COVID-relief grants for small businesses harmed by the pandemic, and affordable small business lending to underserved communities.
Prior to LISC, George was the Deputy Director of the Urban Design Forum in New York City, where he managed the Forefront Fellowship and the communications and development portfolio. He led projects with the NYC Department of Homeless Services to develop design guidelines for homeless shelters and with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Resiliency to produce a report on extreme heat and urban design.
Senithia H. Martin is a Richmond, VA native who has now resided in Petersburg for over 17 years. Senithia is the Owner of the Appomattox Event Center, an inclusive event venue located in Old Towne, Petersburg. Senithia has been a full-time entrepreneur and doing business in Petersburg since August 2016. Senithia loves her God, her family, dancing and doing business and serving the community!
Kofi & Sahreem Annan , the owners of Soul Rebel, in downtown Petersburg, Soul Rebel began as a Caribbean-American Fusion Restaurant based in Northern Virginia. In 2023, the owners, Kofi and Shareem Annan opened a brick and mortar restaurant under the same name in Petersburg, VA. Soul Rebel is a certified Small, Micro, Minority Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business that serves a unique blend of Caribbean-American fusion cuisine founded in late 2019. Our menu includes island favorites such as curry chicken, oxtail, and jerk chicken made with our artisan jerk paste marinade but also features blends of Caribbean and American cultures that you will not find anywhere else such as our juicy Jerk-BBQ burgers and wings, our one of a kind Pineapple-Mango Blaze wings, and mouth-watering tacos. In 2022 we began bottling our sauces to accommodate customer demand.
Shara Gibson, brings over a decade of experience in economic development to her role as Program Manager for Go Virginia. With a proven track record of tackling intricate challenges and implementing effective strategies, Shara excels in driving impactful solutions. Her expertise ranges from crafting strategic business plans to leading ambitious initiatives, all while fostering an environment of creativity, innovation, and strategic foresight.
See you soon!
Our Host Mr. Tyrone Power Cherry III, is a visionary leader, educator, and urban farmer renowned for his transformative work in Petersburg, Virginia. As the founder of the Petersburg League of Urban Growers (P.L.U.G.) and Executive Director of Petersburg Is Growing Inc., he has spearheaded initiatives to address food insecurity, promote sustainability, and empower marginalized communities. Cherry’s passion for education has led him to develop innovative programs that integrate farming practices into urban environments, fostering environmental stewardship and healthy living. Through his dedication and expertise, Cherry continues to inspire others to cultivate positive change, making him a respected figure in both local and national agricultural circles.
For more information about Tyrone Power Cherry III and his work, please visit:
https://petersburgisgrowing.org/
MEET THE PANELIST
George Piazza is the Deputy Director of LISC Virginia. Since joining in 2020, he has served as their Program Officer for Fundraising and Communications, as well as Senior Program Officer for Economic Development. During this time, he has helped deploy COVID-relief grants for small businesses harmed by the pandemic, and affordable small business lending to underserved communities.
Prior to LISC, George was the Deputy Director of the Urban Design Forum in New York City, where he managed the Forefront Fellowship and the communications and development portfolio. He led projects with the NYC Department of Homeless Services to develop design guidelines for homeless shelters and with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Resiliency to produce a report on extreme heat and urban design.
Senithia H. Martin is a Richmond, VA native who has now resided in Petersburg for over 17 years. Senithia is the Owner of the Appomattox Event Center, an inclusive event venue located in Old Towne, Petersburg. Senithia has been a full-time entrepreneur and doing business in Petersburg since August 2016. Senithia loves her God, her family, dancing and doing business and serving the community!
Kofi & Sahreem Annan , the owners of Soul Rebel, in downtown Petersburg, Soul Rebel began as a Caribbean-American Fusion Restaurant based in Northern Virginia. In 2023, the owners, Kofi and Shareem Annan opened a brick and mortar restaurant under the same name in Petersburg, VA. Soul Rebel is a certified Small, Micro, Minority Owned, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business that serves a unique blend of Caribbean-American fusion cuisine founded in late 2019. Our menu includes island favorites such as curry chicken, oxtail, and jerk chicken made with our artisan jerk paste marinade but also features blends of Caribbean and American cultures that you will not find anywhere else such as our juicy Jerk-BBQ burgers and wings, our one of a kind Pineapple-Mango Blaze wings, and mouth-watering tacos. In 2022 we began bottling our sauces to accommodate customer demand.
Shara Gibson, brings over a decade of experience in economic development to her role as Program Manager for Go Virginia. With a proven track record of tackling intricate challenges and implementing effective strategies, Shara excels in driving impactful solutions. Her expertise ranges from crafting strategic business plans to leading ambitious initiatives, all while fostering an environment of creativity, innovation, and strategic foresight.
See you soon!
