On April 26, 2024, the National HBCU Black Wall Street Career Fest will bring Arkansas’ HBCUs together and support students’ career success for a third year! 

This year’s event will take place in Little Rock, AR with more capacity than it’s ever had before. The event has consistently grown over the course of three years, calling for larger accommodations.

The event will connect students with Black-owned businesses as well as employers from diverse industries. Representatives from additional organizations including law enforcement, the military and post-baccalaureate programs will also be on site to support, recruit, and hire students as they prepare to enter the next phase of their lives.

Kalon Martez Williams, Arkansas Baptist College alum and former festival attendee, spoke of his past experience,“Though I have been to a couple of career festivals in my past this one stood out the most. The interaction I had with Vinson Joiner aka ‘ThaPrince’ CEO OF 'Legendary Institute' a barbering college that's Black-owned, was astonishing as I received my haircut from him-on site at the HBCU BWS Career Fest. This motivated me to start my own business and one day promote at the National HBCU Black Wall Street Career Fest.” 

Current HBCU student Jarrell Grant of Sicklerville, New Jersey has said of the event, “The Black Wall Street Career Fest helped me build my resume and connections with other companies and organizations. [I also] met people who have the same interests and passion to be great in this world.” This 2024 event will be multifaceted and provide students with an opportunity to learn resume tips, interview advice and career coaching.

The festival was developed and facilitated through a working relationship between all four Arkansas HBCUs: Arkansas Baptist College, Philander Smith College, Shorter College, and The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Edmond Davis, the visionary behind the BWS Career Fest, sought more inter-connectivity amongst the institutions. “Historically, it seemed that the four Arkansas HBCUs operated in a lone wolf fashion. My intent was to design a career fest, not a job fair, to bring all Arkansas HBCUs a little closer in our communications similar to the way Atlanta’s HBCUs operate,” Davis shared. 

Location:

Holiday Inn Little Rock-Presidential-Dwntn, an IHG Hotel
600 Interstate 30 Little Rock, AR 72202

Register today to attend the HBCU Black Wall Street Career Fest.