By Dianne Anderson

Real Women Revealed is calling on Black women to come out to grab their sophisticated swag bags, but more importantly to “come like your ancestors sent you” and forge new entrepreneurial ground at their annual celebration expo.

From her own family history inspiration, Audrey Bell Jenkins thinks back to her great-grandma, who established a school district and had a church built in Mississippi.

“And that’s the thing, we all have somebody important but we don’t know where the drive came from, a couple of generations away. She was all about community. I see that’s where it comes from for me.” said Bell-Jenkins, CEO and Founder of Real Women Revealed, LLC.

On Saturday, February 25, the Celebrating Black History Month at the Black Women’s Expo event features celebrity guest speaker, Bern Nadette Stanis, “Thelma,” of Good Times. Health is also a big focus, with guest speaker, educator and best-selling author, Dr. Nicoline Ambe.

The expo runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., located at Embassy Suites by Hilton Ontario Airport 3663 East Guasti Road Ontario.

Lately, Jenkins said that one of her priorities this year is getting the word out to the community about the success of the expanding Amazon Black Business Accelerator program. She is targeting Black women to become familiar with the program, and navigate that space. Jenkins is based in Arizona, but hosts events nationally.

Her goal is to provide a dynamic networking space for women, whether they are already established in business, or those looking to get their start in a new industry or sector.

“The heart of Real Women Revealed is a passion, and it is part of the mission to provide a space and support women entrepreneurs. Sometimes we just don’t have the space,” she said.

Especially now as Black businesses have been steadily expanding since the start of the pandemic compared to other groups, she feels it’s important the community get access to all the right tools to make their businesses sustainable.

“African Americans are leaving corporate America jobs for entrepreneur [opportunities]. This is just to highlight with authentic support and the spaces for us to showcase where we are,” she said.

Also Saturday, February 25, the City of Fontana hosts its annual Jazz Festival Black History Month Celebration from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Miller Park Amphitheater, located at 17002 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana.

Tiffany Starks, community services supervisor, said the event is hosted by her community services department, and they are providing plenty of recreational activities, and connecting the community, wherever needed, to social services.

“We’ll have a couple of booths, emergency preparedness, an arts connection. We try to have community groups with specific touch points for the community,” she said. “Having access to a free event, they can at least make a connection. We can talk to them about our scholarship programs for our residents and other free services.”

There will also be a huge assortment of crafts, unique jewelry, clothes, and hair stylists on site. She said there’s something for everyone, and best of all, it’s free.

“If you’re looking for something to do, I’m so excited about our entertainers and different forms of jazz. We’re going to have a New Orleans jazz band, we’re going to have dancers and drummers and we’re going to have pop jazz and slower jazz. It’s really just accessible to the community, for all ages, it’s a free family event.”

The event offers the community an opportunity to learn something new, listen to good music, eat good food, participate in the arts, and experience multiple vendors showcasing fine art pieces.

“What I love about being able to put on events like Jazz Fest is that it’s really an opportunity to experience different cultures. I like that it’s close, it’s in people’s neighborhoods,” she said. “We utilize this event to celebrate the diversity of the city.”

For information on Real Women Revealed, see  https://realwomenrevealed.org/

For information on the Fontana Jazz Festival, see  https://www.fontana.org/3538/Jazz-Fest