‘Black excellence’: Advocacy organization to host weekend of events at Clipper Stadium

The African American Cultural Alliance of Lancaster will offer a weekend exposition this month promoting local Black businesses.

The event, featuring more than 25 vendors selling food, art and other goods, will be at Clipper Stadium from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m on Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18. Besides the vendor booths, attendees can expect raffles, giveaways and live music.

“We are welcoming all entrepreneurs from all small and large businesses,” said Vincent Derek Smith, the alliance’s president. “It will be a [weekend] of art, dancing, great food, music, culture and overall Black Excellence.”

The alliance is still accepting vendors and encourages anyone to attend regardless of “race, economic background, sexual orientation, age or disability.”

Working to grow into something bigger

Although only in its first year as the African American Cultural Alliance, Smith says the organization has been functioning for almost seven years, primarily focused on producing the Annual Day Parade & Festival.

During the Covid-19 shutdown, he started working to create a more permanent group with a more all-encompassing name.

While the alliance isn’t a formal nonprofit yet, Smith said it is working with funders to become one, hopefully by January.

Smith said that the ultimate goal of the alliance, and exposition events, is to gather funds to eventually return to Black-owned businesses in the form of grants.

“We’re trying to create economic support for the community,” said Smith. “AACA Lancaster envisions a community of friendly interdependent relationships with diverse cultural, economic and educational opportunities to create an unparalleled quality of life.”

For more information about the Black business event or the other events of the weekend, visit the African American Cultural Alliance of Lancaster’s Facebook page, email aacalancaster@gmail.comor call 215-909-1569.