Bean Soup Times founder Toure Muhammad attended the 17th Annual Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Conference and Expo hosted by Nationwide Insurance. Below are a few of the pics. Enjoy

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 Chicago business gets $1100 boost in sales from Cash Mob Noir

On May 19, the birthday of Minister Malcolm X, FraserNet, Inc., The Empowerment Experiment (EE), Bean Soup Times, and other Black business advocates united to promote "cash mobs" in seven major cities.

Cash Mob (Noir) demonstrates the economic value and benefit of supporting local, quality, Black-owned businesses. 

The Cash Mob (Noir) operates the same way as a flash mob, but with one major difference: instead of "flashing" the mob will be "spending cash" at a Black-owned business.

Kudus Health Food Store in Chicago was the retail outlet supported by the first Cash Mob Noir. This small, Black-owned business was chosen because they have been committed to improving the health and well being of our community. For 15 plus years, Kudus has provided health food and nutritional supplements, and more. 

Participants in the Cash Mob (Noir) spent at least $20 at local Black businesses in Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC/Prince George's County, MD between 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm on Saturday, May 19 to demonstrate the great buying power of Black consumers.

People came from all over the city of Chicago, including white consumers from the north side of Chicago and elsewhere. 

When Black consumers consistently spend more money with Black-owned businesses, the community will see improvement, by way of recycled dollars and job creation. Supporting Black businesses will change lives.

View the collage of photos below!

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For the first time, Sandy Baker who has a long standing brand of art-to-wear jewelry bearing her name in sterling silver with rich unique organic inlays will exhibit her collection at Wholesalecrafts.com's upcoming ACRE show in Las Vegas from June 2 to June 4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

ACRE is a juried show of American and Canadian wholesale artists seeking to expand their markets and to connect and do business with retailers that have an appreciation for high quality handcrafted goods. This show is unique in that the all professional designers themselves will be in attendance.

Baker was the first Black to boldly enter the jewelry industry decades ago as designer and manufacturer. Her work can be seen in the following books - "500 Earrings - New Directions in Contemporary Jewelry", "Brilliance! Masterpieces of the American Jewelry Design Council" and "500 Gemstone Jewels".

Baker's love of world cultures inspires her work and the use of non-traditional combinations of materials. The rich variety of natural materials includes South Sea abalone, fresh water pearls, non-endangered sponge coral, marble, mother of pearl and horn.

Baker plies her Art for the majority of women in America-the ones with jobs, families and busy lives. "The working woman is my specialty," Baker declares. "She wants engaging jewelry that can be worn through the day and into the evening. She has an educated eye for good design and wants to make a personal style statement."

Tahlia wearing EarthThe Sandy Baker brand is known for bold, modern, fluid clean lined mini sculptures. Her style is described as casual elegance that is appealing to the eye and fashionably timeless. The highlights of her extraordinary vision are designs for the front and back of the ear. During the day a more conservative look is obtained while saving the removable "jazz stems" to be slipped on as a busy woman moves to a more festive appearance later. Other designs are structured for women who spend a lot of time on the phone and don't want to remove their earrings every time they take a call. Baker says her customer is always on the move, so all pieces are designed to be easy to wear and comfortable.

Baker, never one to rest on her laurels, continues to do what she does like nobody else. Over the years Baker has curved a distinctive niche in all corners of the globe.

Her work is available primarily at better gift shops, art galleries, museum stores, jewelry stores and upscale women's specialty shops.

For more information, visit www.sandybakerjewelry.com