By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Motivational speaker Tajuan Kyles wants people to get away from their preconceived, negative thoughts about the color black.
She and fellow community leaders came up with a positive spin on the color and in the process thought of a way to talk about the importance of Black History Month.
Kyles and organizers created the Think Black Tour, in which motivational speakers and other talented people travel to area schools to talk to young people about the significance of Black History Month.
“We were playing around with Think Pink (breast cancer campaign) and we said ‘It’s Black History Month, let’s do ‘think black,'” Kyles said.
Participants hope to encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams and goals in business.
“Black history is positive and black businesses are positive,” she said.
The tour begins Monday at Livingstone Head Start and Price Head Start.
“The tour is an opportunity to get in the community and talk to kids about pursing their dreams and goals,” Kyles said.
She contacted some local schools to see if they would be interested in hosting a program.
Many of the schools were excited, she said.
Kyles said the administrative staff at Overton Elementary are “elated that we would have a group of people come in and talk to the kids.”
Each Thursday, speakers will talk to students at Knox Middle School.
Kyles and organizers have garnered more than a dozen speakers to talk to students at Overton Elementary.
Kyles said she is excited about the gathering. The group that will speak to the students are all males. She said the school wanted positive male role models to speak. The event is at 11 a.m.
The first part of the tour is focused on schools. Later, there is an emphasis on businesses and business ownership.
“This is something very positive, we are excited about and we want people to get excited too,” Kyles said.
One of the main events is First Fridays Of Salisbury which will be held from 7 – 10 p.m., Feb. 6 at Holiday Inn of Salisbury, 530 Jake Alexander Blvd. Admission is $10.
First Fridays is a social networking event similar to an after five event, which takes place each month. The gathering targets entrepreneurs, community leaders and business owners, who are residents of Salisbury.
Another event is the Black Business Expo. The event will be held from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Looking Glass Artist Collective Black Box Theater, 405 N. Lee St.
Local business owners will display their goods. There will also be food, prizes and other talent. Admission is $5, kids get in free.
“We want to encourage young people and business ownership to minorities,” Kyles said.
The tour will last three weeks and conclude Feb. 21.
Sponsors for the tour include Office Depot, O’Charleys, IHOP and Applebee’s.
For more information about the tour, contact Tajuan Kyles at 704-232-1922 or tajuankyles@yahoo.com. For more information about First Fridays of Salisbury, visit the group’s page on Facebook.