It was a big night for Erie’s Black Wall Street as they shined a light on local leaders and businesses to celebrate the fourth annual Greenlight Business Awards Gala.
“Believe — no matter what — it won’t look like anything is moving. But pretty soon everything starts flowing, and then you have lights and everything on you. Such a beautiful thing. Just believe.”
The Ambassador Center at the Marriott Hotel was bustling with energy as the fourth annual Greenlight Business Awards Gala filled the room, honoring Erie’s Black leaders.
The gala was hosted by Erie’s Black Wall Street, and the event is more than an elegant evening — it’s a declaration, a celebration, and an investment in the region’s Black entrepreneurs and excellence.
Each year the gala features a different theme. This year’s theme was “Renaissance Reimagined,” reflecting on the Harlem Renaissance and how it became a cultural movement for African Americans.
“The Harlem Renaissance was during the Great Depression; however, Black culture was still able to thrive, and they did that through art, through music, through business. So we wanted to capture that moment again this year.”
Organizers say this theme also echoes a local Black excellence renaissance happening in the Erie area.
“It’s more than just recognition. It’s about creating momentum and keeping that success going for years to come.”
“I’m excited that anybody even thought to nominate me — and to think of my girls.”
With every partnership and every honoree, the gala fuels leadership, opportunity, and generational impact — proving that when a community aligns around a shared purpose, real change can happen.
