The African American Business Leaders Council

11/03/2026

📣 Calling all Black-Owned businesses 📣 At our Diamond Gala on November 20, we are excited to offer vendor space for our nonprofit and for-profit Black-owned business entrepreneurs! We have an extremely limited number of spots available. To be considered for a spot, please submit your application by Friday, November 6, 2026.

Vendor fee is $50. If you are selected for this opportunity, we will email or call you using the information you provide in the application. Payment will be requested after we confirm your spot. Apply here: https://forms.gle/b2H4tfw9MdHxoSFU6

11/02/2026

We are excited to honor Hasanna Birdsong as a recipient for the 2026 African American Business Leaders Awards Community Impact Award 🎉

Hasanna is:
💎 an executive leader, advisor and community advocate with more than 25 years of experience leading growth and transformation across for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
💎 born and raised in the Lehigh Valley. Her leadership experience includes senior roles with The Express-Times/lehighvalleylive.com, Azzur Group and Adept Packaging, and most recently serving as President & CEO of Lehigh Valley Public Media, where she became the first Black woman to serve as CEO of a public media organization in the United States.
💎 deeply committed to creating access and opportunity in her community. Through her leadership with Community Action Lehigh Valley’s Generation Next, she has mentored emerging leaders and helped establish a scholarship for participating students. She also serves on the Northampton Community College Foundation Board, on the board of Friends of the Levitt Pavilion, and as a sustaining member of the The Junior League of the Lehigh Valley.
💎 a magna cm laude graduate of DeSales University and recipient of the Star of Bethlehem Award. She is especially committed to mentoring emerging leaders, opening doors for others and investing in the community she has always called home.

Join us for the Diamond Gala on Friday, November 20, 2026, from 6:00 to 10:00 PM at the Aster Event Center in Allentown. Tickets are $160 for one and $285 for two. Register here: https://bit.ly/3VQhSms
- Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FxFisiNNr/
- LinkedIn event page: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7509353663144853505?viewAsMember=true

10/24/2026

10/23/2026

We spent the morning at Gems & Joe for Empower Black! Thank you to everyone who came out and spent their dollars with our community 🤩💸. Your support makes a real difference. Stay tuned for our next one!

📸Photo credit: McKinney Media

10/20/2026

Join the African American Business Leaders Council for Empower Black this Friday! Enjoy networking while making an impact on our local Black-owned business community. There is no formal programming, so feel free to stop by at any time during the event to support 🩵

📍 Gems & Joe (1019 Hamilton St., Allentown, PA 18101)
📅 Friday, October 23, 2026
🕗 8:00 to 10:00 AM

Free to attend, but we encourage you to support by purchasing coffee, tea, or a pastry. Register here: https://bit.ly/4ruc65T
- page: https://www.facebook.com/share/19wDxUK8Mx/
- LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7508992702831767552?viewAsMember=true

10/13/2026

📣 We are excited to reintroduce Dr. Jeff Bullock as the African American Business Leaders Council Board Vice Chair!

Dr. Jeff Bullock is a visionary leader and the driving force behind PRISM AI Consultants, a firm dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and businesses unlock the transformative potential of artificial intelligence. With a background in pharmacy and a career spanning multiple industries, he combines technical expertise with a passion for innovation. He has guided countless professionals in leveraging AI tools to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and gain a competitive edge. Dr. Bullock is also an advocate for ethical AI practices, ensuring organizations navigate the digital age responsibly and effectively.

10/10/2026

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Teisha Jones was serving as interim director before being appointed CEO

10/06/2026

Last week, we spent the morning learning about angel investing from our experienced and insightful panelists. 💸 Panelists, Max Aggrey, Aaron Fisher, and Itbaan Nafi, and moderator, Ngozi Bell, answered the questions: What is it? What do angels look for in a pitch? Where does it fit between creating the initial idea and VCs?

Thank you to all who attended in person in Bethlehem and those who joined us online!

09/30/2026

We are thrilled to unveil our 2026 African American Business Leaders Awards honorees! These individuals are shining bright in our community and are making a lasting impact in the Lehigh Valley and beyond 🎉

Please join us in congratulating:
💎 Hasanna Birdsong
💎 Dr. Isaac Jamison
💎 Officer Jamil Newsome
💎 Andrene Nowell

You won’t want to miss the Diamond Gala happening on Tickets are on Friday, November 20, 6:00 pm at the Aster Event Center in Allentown. Tickets are $160 for one and $285 for two. Register here: https://bit.ly/3VQhSms
- Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FxFisiNNr/
- LinkedIn event page: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7509353663144853505?viewAsMember=true

09/25/2026

The African American Business Leaders Council presents their 10th Annual Awards Gala on Friday, November 20, 6:00 pm at the Aster Event Center, Hyatt House Allentown.

Join us for 💎 Decade of Brilliance…The Diamond Gala 💎, an awards dinner to honor African American achievements in the Lehigh Valley paired with live entertainment, elegant style, and a fundraiser to benefit the African American Business Leaders Council Scholarship Fund.

The 2026 African American Business Leaders Awards will also be presented. This award is presented to an individual or a company who is a community icon, has made significant contributions to the community, and has distinguished him/herself in the business world and the community. Stay tuned for announcements on our 2026 awardees!

🩵 Tickets are $160 for one and $285 for two. Register here: https://bit.ly/3VQhSms
- Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1FxFisiNNr/
- LinkedIn event page: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7509353663144853505?viewAsMember=true