Brown Sugar Bakery Photo Courtesy of Greater Chatham Initiative
On Saturday, April 19, a South Side community will take a powerful step in a national movement to reclaim and redirect Black spending power—an economic force estimated at nearly $2 trillion.
The Chatham Business Association (CBA), in partnership with Alderman Will Hall, Progressive Baptist Church, and Salem Baptist Church, is leading the charge locally with a bold initiative: the Bulls Eye “Spend in the Black – Resurrecting the Black Dollar” event, running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 75th and King Drive.
The event’s centerpiece is the Chatham Bucks Program—a hyperlocal economic stimulus effort that gives away thousands of dollars in gift certificates, which can only be spent at Black-owned businesses in the neighborhood. That includes familiar favorites like Fat Burger, The Wrap Bar, and Uncle John’s.
At a time when Black communities are recognizing the need to own and circulate their wealth, this initiative is both practical and symbolic. It’s a grassroots approach to a larger movement—resurrecting the Black dollar by keeping it circulating within our neighborhoods, where it can have the most lasting impact.
Event Details:
When: Saturday, April 19, 2025 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: 75th & King Drive, Chicago, IL
Note: Limited street parking is available.
Who You’ll See:
- Melinda Kelly, Chairman/President, Chatham Business Association
- Jennipher Adkins, Interim Executive Director, CBA
- Veronica Clark, President of TCA Health
- Jackie Jackson, Owner of Fat Burger
- 6th Ward – Ald. Will Hall
- 8th Ward – Ald. Michelle Harris
What to Expect:
A vibrant marketplace of Black-owned businesses selling:
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Beauty products
- Home Decor
- Art
- Food
This isn’t just a day of shopping—it’s a day of strategy. A blueprint. A reminder that economic power is community power.
For more information, email ward06@cityofchicago.org, and for more info on “Spend in the Black,” visit www.progressivechicago.org/events/spend-in-the-black.
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