@pattysaenz32020

Patricia (she/ella) was born in Cabañas La Paz, Honduras. My passion for cooking started when I was a little girl. I loved seeing my mom cook and make tamales. I remember the first time I made pastelitos with her when I was 6. My dad passed when I was 11, and that is when I started working. This was the beginning of my career in the restaurant industry. Years later, I moved to the US and after much hard work, I was able to materialize my dream. Pupuseria Paty is my way of showing this beautiful city the traditions of my village.

@buggypopsavl

In 2019 while on a little hiatus in Tampa, FL, Neomi (she/her) started eating ice pops from a local  shop when an idea was sparked. After eating a coconut pop that made her feel nostalgic for her time as a child in Puerto Rico, she immediately started testing recipes for her signature flavor, coconut cinnamon. Before she knew it, Neomi owned a trike, learned a whole lot about dry ice, and was the proud owner of a small BIPOC woman-owned gourmet ice pop business in Asheville, NC. 

@bunintendedavl

Erica (she/her) has over 25 years of experience as a chef. Bun Intended was founded in 2016 by four friends with a common goal: to serve the best homemade Thai street food. Our menu’s inspiration comes from Isan region of Thailand, where Chef Erica’s parents met and began the family tradition of cooking – we are honored to continue that tradition here in Asheville. Everything we cook is homemade, we always serve locally sourced ingredients, and we guarantee an excellent customer experience.

@kentekitchenmarket

In 2014 Kente Kitchen was born bringing West African flavors to Asheville's Goombay Festival. Young (she/her) has a passion for the food that was taught to her by her late fiancés' mother, sisters, aunties and his Liberian community. She wanted to continue this love affair and passion for West African food and his memory by expanding her business to also include catering, community efforts to teach and feed kids healthy meals and now in 2022 Kente Kitchen has transformed into Kente Kitchen Market, an E-Commerce grocery store of West African food products.

@iamjamieturner

2019/20 NCRLA Pastry Chef of the Year, Jamie Lauren Turner (she/her) has mastered the art of elevated comfort desserts. Her passion for baking and confections was ignited at the age of 10, in her hometown of Linden, NJ. As a Johnson & Wales University alumni, Jamie has worked and managed in all aspects of the pastry industry. Jamie Lauren's Pastry Prodigy Project focuses on mentoring young pastry enthusiasts on how to confidently express their pastry artistry while gaining confidence to turn their passion into a career.

@thaipearl_restaurant

Chef May (she/her) was born in North Eastern Thailand and cooking was a way to improve her life. She trained at the Royal Academy in Bangkok and cooked at the Royal Palace in Bangkok, and worked along side a Michelin star chef in Queensland, Australia, cooking high end cuisine. She moved to the US and opened a restaurant with her husband in Asheville, NC in 2020.

@tequiofoods

Martinez (he/him) was born in Santa Catarina Loxicha, Oaxaca, Mexico, in a small Zapotec pueblo. Based in Asheville, NC, Luis is combining his love for cooking with his passion for social justice. He is dedicated to working alongside indigenous communities in overcoming and flourishing, despite difficult economic challenges and dangerous political encounters. By combining his experience in community-building with his experience as a chef, he is leveraging a deep commitment to the roots of Mexican cuisine with the promotion of Oaxacan gastronomy.

@bullfr00g @mtnbizworks

An Asheville native, Jeremiah’s (he/him) goal is to uncover what socioeconomic opportunities aren’t available within the community that he grew up in and work to close gaps in equity by narrowing the racial wealth gap through entrepreneurship. As the Entrepreneur in Residence for Mountain BizWorks, he manages the Multicultural Catalyst Program and advocates on behalf of the local entrepreneurial BIPOC community to disrupt traditional lending practices that create barriers when starting businesses and building generational wealth.

@grind.avl @blackwallstreetavl

Bruce Waller (he/him) is a hi-energy servant leader with a heart for growth and development. He served in the military jumping out of airplanes, served Nonprofits building community school connections across WNC and is currently one of co-owners of GRIND- Asheville’s first black-owned coffee shop and Director of Black Wall Street AVL to start, grow and expand black businesses across Buncombe County.

@blackwallstreetavl @grind.avl

Joseph T. Hackett, PhD is a leader with 20+ years experience in the nonprofit and for-profit sector building bridges across cultures. His cutting-edge servant leadership style has gained notoriety from the grassroots to the international level. He is an expert in social entrepreneurship, community and economic development, and discovering purpose and is an advocate for the rights of Recovering and Returning Citizens was recently appoined to the Justice Resource Advisory Council alongside judges and lawyers to make system-level improvements to the Justice System. 

@saludcerveceria

@ebonywineandspirits

Charlotte, North Carolina's Only Black-Owned Wine & Spirits Company. Owned by Camillya Masunda, the brand is inspired by her Congolese roots and her way of celebrating the history and heritage of vast Black cultures around the globe.

@pernodricardusa

Conviviality is about how we do business – bringing our passion to work every day and living by our values of openness, simplicity, collaboration and entrepreneurship. We are constantly innovating to ensure our customers have the right spirit to match every moment of conviviality.

@wehrloomavl

While it's one of the worlds oldest fermented beverages, we're not serving anything dated. Our take on Mead is something new, something refreshing. Best of all, our meads are made with our locally produced Appalachian Mountain honey and each is gluten free. 

@matchanude

Matcha Nude exists because finding organic, pure matcha that tastes good, is affordable + good for the planet is actually pretty hard to come by. We offer affordable premium grade organic, non-gmo matcha that is ethically sourced from Japan + is packaging in 100% compostable packaging. Our matcha is naturally soft and sweet in flavor and doesn't need additional sweeteners. We are on a mission to show the world the power of this incredible tea + the lifestyle that comes with it.

@grind.avl

Coffee is our unifier to start, grow, and support businesses, owners, and networks to build black wall street. We pride ourselves on providing organic, high-quality coffee products. We work with local dairy suppliers and bakeries to source the freshest, highest quality offerings.

@devilsfootbrew

Farm-To-Can Craft Soda. We pride ourselves on working with Organic Roots & Fruits to create a healthier, more flavorful non-alcoholic experience for everyone in our communities.