This year marks the fifth anniversary of ESPN’s Champion Black Businesses (CBB) program, a special milestone of ESPN’s commitment to leverage the power of sport to support and serve the communities in which sports fans live and thrive.
The journey from the program’s inception to the present day has paved a path for the 2024 businesses to achieve new levels of success. ESPN continues to partner with Black-owned and women-led cultural marketing agency Seven Elements Group on the program.
This year’s selected businesses from NBA cities in the Eastern and Western Conference — Greenwood Park Gallery and Framing, The Edge Harlem, Kobi Co., and Urban Dessert Lab —follow in the footsteps of previous businesses that embody the spirit of economic growth for local communities that the program seeks to impact.
As ESPN’s Champion Black Businesses celebrates its fifth anniversary, the achievements of these four businesses exemplify the program’s success in fostering entrepreneurship and community development. This milestone ensures that the program’s impact will continue to resonate for years.
As the NBA Summer League schedule concludes tonight with the Memphis Grizzlies playing the Miami Heat (8 ET, ESPN, ESPN+), Front Row caught up with Kobi Co. founder Kobi Gregory, who is the youngest entrepreneur to participate in the CBB program, to learn more about how the program is already paying dividends for the business within the Minneapolis community.
Kobi Co. in Minneapolis, founded by young entrepreneur Gregory and her mother, Tasha Harris, specializes in handcrafted soy candles and self-care products. Kobi Co. promotes holistic well-being and community empowerment through scholarship programs and support for fellow Black-owned businesses.
How has the Champion Black Businesses program positively affected Kobi Co.?
KG: The Champion Black Businesses initiative has significantly boosted Kobi Co.’s national visibility and credibility, increasing sales. The exposure has enabled us to reach a broader audience, furthering our mission of providing tranquility through our hand-poured luxury candles and wellness products.
What does this impact mean to you, your family, and the community?
KG: This impact symbolizes a collective achievement, reinforcing our family’s entrepreneurial spirit and inspiring other Black-owned businesses in our community. It demonstrates the power of support and recognition, encouraging us to continue striving for excellence while uplifting others along the way.
More 2024 Champion Black Businesses
Greenwood Park Gallery and Framing in Milwaukee founded by Fredrick D. Robinson Jr. and his father, is a cultural cornerstone in Sherman Park. The gallery offers affordable custom framing and a supportive space for local and international artists, playing a crucial role in revitalizing the historic neighborhood through art and community events.
The Edge Harlem, owned by sisters Juliet and Justine Masters, is a culinary space in New York that honors the Harlem Renaissance’s rich heritage. Offering a blend of Jamaican and British flavors, the restaurant fosters community engagement through job creation and social events, making it a beloved neighborhood institution.
Urban Dessert Lab in Los Angeles, founded by sisters Courtney Blagrove and Zan B.R., revolutionizes the dessert industry with plant-based offerings. Their oat milk ice cream shop, the first of its kind, challenges traditional notions of vegan desserts. Urban Dessert Lab is dedicated to quality and social justice, creating inclusive opportunities within the culinary industry.
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