Join the Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars this Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Peter Graham Scholarly Commons, first floor of Bird Library, for Afropreneurship, a celebration of black entrepreneurs. The event will include panel discussions. an open pitch competition, student awards and a free reception. It is being organized by Kelsey Davis G’20 (Whitman) G’19 (Newhouse), founder of CLLCTVE and Victoria Lawson ’20 (VPA School of Design), CEO of Weird and Woke Design. It will feature community leaders such as Sharon Owens, deputy mayor of the City of Syracuse and charismatic entrepreneurs such as Indaria Jones, Founder and Chief Executive, The Creatives Lounge. A “Fast Pitch Challenge” will offer a $500 first prize for a creative and realistic solution to solve a problem in our community. The program will be moderated by Kelsey Davis, and will showcase a number of Syracuse campus and community black entrepreneurs who are launching ventures. A highlight of the program will be a student award ceremony recognizing student leaders who are innovators and change agents. It will conclude with a networking reception. All are welcome to attend, and commemorate Black History Month at this first annual event.