top of page
Ujamaa 2026 Logo.png

Empowering Local Businesses

Join us in celebrating and supporting black-owned businesses in the Brunswick, GA area. Network, collaborate, and thrive together!

Celebrate Black-Owned Businesses

Nexus

Speakers

Quarterly Mixers

Experience Knowledge

Engage with expert speakers.

Awards

Business Directory

Grow Together

Network with fellow entrepreneurs.

Networking

Cultural Stories

Create Connections

Discover the annual directory.

Our Partners

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting local businesses and enhancing our community spirit.

Become a Sponsor

Get in Touch

We’d love to hear from you! For inquiries, reach out to us.

Follow Us

Call

Contact us

IMG_9287.JPG

HABARI GANI?

WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME  WELCOME 

UJAMAA BWK 2025

Cooperative Economics

Welcome to Ujamaa BWK, a community-centered celebration of Black entrepreneurship, connection, and collective economic power. Ujamaa is more than a moment on the calendar. It is a principle to live by: we build, circulate, and sustain community when we intentionally support one another.

Today is designed to help you:

  • Meet and connect with local entrepreneurs, leaders, and resource partners

  • Celebrate community-nominated businesses and their impact

  • Learn from speakers who are building and scaling with purpose

  • Leave with tools that make it easier to shop local and stay connected year-round

UJAMAA BWK 2025

Network. Elevate. Celebrate.

AGENDA

Doors open at 1:00 PM and this is your time to connect intentionally with entrepreneurs, leaders, and peers. Visit the Resource Center, enjoy refreshments, and start building new relationships. Be sure to take your free digital professional headshot early since it’s walk-up and first come.

Network.

1:00 PM

Then we move into speaker features and a panel conversation with Brandi Lyde Whitfield (moderator), Angel Butler, and Evie Staples focused on real-world insight for entrepreneurs. We’ll close this portion with audience Q&A so you can learn from the panel and the room.

Elevate.

2:00 PM

We close by celebrating the spirit of Ujamaa through inspiration and recognition. Our keynote feature will be delivered by AJ Alston, followed by awards and acknowledgements including the Legacy Award, Trailblazer Award, Rising Star Award, and Community Impact Award. 

Celebrate.

3:00 PM

UJAMAA BWK 2025

3.png

Zaleah Fields

Mistress of Ceremonies, Zaleah Fields serves as Miss Ebony Queen of the South, representing leadership, service, and confidence rooted in community.

4.png

Ragan Flowers

Ragan “Authenticee” Flowers is Miss Ebony Legacy and will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies for the Ujamaa BWK 2025 Celebration. Known as Authenticitee, she is a poet and author whose work is deeply rooted in faith, reflection, and real-life experience, including her published title Foolish Thangs. A Brunswick-area creative, Ragan also brings community storytelling to life through projects and productions with Authentic Praize and Authentic Praize Creations, using her voice to uplift, connect, and celebrate purpose-driven people.

2.png

Brandi Lyde Whitfield

Brandi Lyde Whitfield is a financial advisor and the owner of BLW Financial Services, where she helps families and entrepreneurs build strong financial legacies through education, planning, and personalized strategy. With over a decade of experience, she supports clients with services like retirement and college planning, insurance guidance, and business retirement plans. Brandi is deeply involved in her community and church, and she and her husband, Jonas, are raising three children: Janyah, Jonas II, and Jordan.

6.png

Angel Butler

Angel Butler is a Brunswick native, wife to Benjamin Butler, and mom of three sons, with 25+ years of customer relations and administrative experience and service in the U.S. Army. She launched Top Notch Services in 2013 to deliver customer service workshops for schools, healthcare practices, restaurants, and small businesses. Angel later founded Beyond Average Mentality (BAM) and opened StoreBAM in 2023, a Brunswick-based hub for custom apparel, workwear, and DTF transfers that also creates space for other entrepreneurs to submit designs. Her philosophy is simple: “Be the Initiator of Positivity.”

1.png

Evie Staples

Evie brings 15 years of leadership across the medical, financial, and supply chain sectors with a specialization in enterprise change management, strategic communication, and business transformation. She is known for helping organizations improve performance through clarity, systems, and strategy, and now leverages that expertise to help small and mid-sized businesses thrive.

5.png

AJ Alston

Born in New York City and raised in Greater Charlotte, NC, AJ spent 20 years in Metro Atlanta before making the Golden Isles home. She studied sociology and organizational change at the University of North Georgia, then served as a communications and technology specialist in the U.S. Army. Since transitioning, AJ’s career has spanned more than a decade in tech and healthcare, project and knowledge management, and business excellence across corporate and entrepreneurial ventures. An advocate of economic empowerment and an eight-time founder, AJ also serves as a facilitator, coach, and advisory council chair for the Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship.

UJAMAA BWK 2025

Look for the UJAMAA BWK Products table during networking and at intermission moments. Limited quantities may apply. 

Ujamaa BWK Directory

A local guide to local businesses in our community, created to help residents and visitors shop with intention. Use it to discover new businesses, keep your favorites in rotation, and share with friends, family, and colleagues.

2026 Business & Cultural Event Calendar

A year-round calendar highlighting cultural dates, community moments, and opportunities to stay connected. Great for homes, offices, and gifting.

Ujamaa BWK Membership Card

A simple way to keep supporting local: member perks, participating business offers, and an easy reminder to circulate dollars with intention throughout the year.

Untitled design.png
bottom of page