NEON's Upcoming Events

NEON hosts events throughout the year to highlight the importance of entrepreneurship in closing Minnesota's long-standing racial wealth gap. By creating a Culture of Entrepreneurship on the Northside, we are building generational wealth and transforming our community from a drive-through to a destination.

Our lively Community Conversations bring local and national luminaries together to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and policies that, when successful, can lead to a more equitable future of work, and other hot topics that impact the low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs we serve.

Sponsorship Opportunities

About Community Conversations

NEON’s Community Conversation 6.0 Series is the 6th in our popular sequence of Community Conversations originating in 2020. We continue to engage hundreds of leaders and business owners and expect to draw increased attention to and elevate our profile through the next Community Conversation Series, Version 6.0. Designed to spark strategic dialogue, the conversation series brings together BIPOC-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, NEON leadership, and guest speakers to address social and racial injustice, economic opportunity, and community support of NEON initiatives.

We are planning for dynamic speakers in 3 to 4 sessions taking place throughout the year in the late afternoon, with networking receptions to follow. Thanks to excellent survey response and feedback we’ll plan to feature our own local entrepreneurs, corporate executives and known BIPOC-owned business owners with connections to food, AI and community development other business interests.

NEON’s Community Conversation 6.2

Save the Date: June 25, 2025! More details to come.

NEON’s Community Conversation 6.1

Session 1: Northside Transformation: From Drive Thru to Destination Northside

Thank you to those who attended the first session of the NEON Community Conversation 6.0 series focusing on the Northside Transformation: From Drive Thru to Destination Northside! The Conversation brought together more than 150 hardworking entrepreneurs, community members, and supporters with great discussion and networking. Your continued support of NEON and our work helps make this happen!

Unable to attend, watch the recording below!

NEON’s Community Conversation 5.4

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Session 4: Black Developers - Their Experiences with Building Successful Projects

Thank you for joining us on December 4th for NEON’s Community Conversation 5.0 Series Session 4: Black Developers - Their Experiences with Building Successful Projects. This series featured Calvin Littlejohn, CEO of Tri-Construction, Inc; Gloria Freeman, Founder and CEO of Olu’s Home, Inc. and Olu’s Beginnings LLC; and moderator, Freddie Bell, CEO of KMOJ Radio! This discussion focused on the challenges for Black developers to build and create spaces, develop strategic opportunities and assess their impact, and bring projects to success.

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NEON’s Community Conversation 5.3

Session 3: Minnesota’s Local Food Economy Today—Idea to Table

Thank you for joining Warren McLean on August 28 for NEON’s Community Conversation 5.0 Series. Session 3: Minnesota’s Local Food Economy Today—Idea to Table will featuring Funwi Tita, Founder and CEO of Better Greens, LLC; Florian Schattenmann, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President for Innovation and Research & Development at Cargill; Mary Anne Kowalski, Owner of Kowalski’s Markets; and Kris Kowalski Christiansen, Kowalski’s Chief Executive Officer! The discussion focused on the opportunities and challenges within Minnesota’s local food landscape.

Comm Convos

NEON’s Community Conversation 5.2

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Session 2: Building Generational Wealth through Mergers & Acquisitions

Thank you for joining Warren McLean on May 1st for NEON’s Community Conversation 5.0 Series. Session 2: Building Generational Wealth through Acquisitions. This discussion featured Jashan Eison, President & CEO of H&B Elevators; Prince Wallace, Independent Packing Service, Inc.; and Frank Brown, Owner of Minuteman Press! This discussion focused on potential benefits and challenges of business acquisitions in terms of advancing business ownership, revenues, and wealth overall, for Black and Brown entrepreneurs.

NEON’s Community Conversation 5.0 Series

Session 1: Inflation, Interest Rates, and Equity in the Post-COVID Economy

On Thursday, February 22nd, Warren McLean we were joined by Neel Kashkari, President & CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis; Jeanne Crain, President & CEO of the Bremer Financial Corporation; and Kenneth Kelly, Chairman & CEO of First Independence Bank, for the first session in NEON’s Community Conversation 5.0 Series.

Moderated by Abou Amara, this discussion gathered new insights from our esteemed panel and examined:

Current economic trends and outlooks for 2024

How the future growth of Minnesota’s economy can create potential opportunities for BIPOC-owned small businesses

Thank you to our guests who attended!

NEON's Community Conversation 4.3 Series

Session 3

NEON’s third session in our Community Conversation 4.0 Series featuring Dr. Tim Childs, Wendell Maddox, and Sharon Kennedy Vickers was truly an afternoon to remember. We thank our panel for sharing their invaluable voices and entrepreneurial insights in High-Tech.

Thank you to our host, Warren McLean, and moderator, Abou Amara for a spectacular conversation. We extend a very special thank you to our sponsor partners who made this all possible.

Missed the conversation? Watch the video recording, below!

NEON's Community Conversation 4.2 Series

Session 2

NEON’s 2nd session in our Community Conversation 4.0 Series featuring Michelle Grogg, Mary Jane Melendez, and Philomena Morrissey Satre was one to remember. We thank our panel for sharing their invaluable voices and insights on the food industry.

Thank you to our host, Warren McLean, and moderator, Abou Amara for a spectacular conversation.

We extend a very special thank you to our sponsor partners who made this all possible.

NEON's Community Conversation 4.1 Series

Session 1: Building Wealth— women business owners’ perspectives on what it takes to create flourishing businesses, take on strategic development operations, and create a plan for consistent future growth

NEON’s first session in our Community Conversation 4.0 Series featuring Gloria Freeman, Anissa Keyes, and Kenya McKnight-Ahad was truly a wonderful afternoon. We thank our panel for sharing their voices and experiences.

Thank you to our host, Warren McLean, and moderator, Tru Pettigrew for a fantastic conversation.

We extend a very special thank you to our sponsorship partners who made this all possible.

Missed the conversation? Watch the recording here: