July 28: Mini Dessert Expo at African American Museum in Philadelphia

A mini-cup stuffed with peaches, bananas, pound cake and whipped cream, is one of the featured desserts to indulge in at the first-ever Sweet & Savory Mini Dessert Expo on Sunday, July 28 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the African American Museum in Philadelphia .

“The expo gives us the opportunity to really feature what we feel we do best,” said Nina Bryan, owner of Sweet Nina’s in Reading Terminal Market. “To do this at the African American Museum is even more special for me because I am an African American woman with a small business just trying to do my best.”

Nina Bryan, who cooks classic banana pudding and versions of the dessert, is one of 20 pastry and dessert chefs satisfying sweet tooths at the event. The Mini-Dessert Expo will transform the museum into a venue full of live entertainment, games, small businesses and mini-desserts.

“It’s nice that we have opportunities like this to come together in such a unique, historic place,” said Dr. Kris Brown, owner of Doc’s Cookie Table . “Here, I’m looking at pictures of Frederick Douglas and MLK, men who inspired me.”

Dr. Brown earned a doctorates degree to pursue a career in education. While teaching high school students, for years, he maintained his hobby and love for baking cookies, until someone convinced him to sell his cookies online, including the Cookies ‘n’ Cream, the seasonal Glazed Lemon and the classic Chocolate Chip cookies. Thanks to his sister-in-law, Shekhinah B., he joined the list of dessert chefs at the expo.

Shekhinah B. is experienced with helping entrepreneurs network and promote their businesses. She began the nonprofit the Women’s Coalition for Empowerment , which assists creative entrepreneurs and artists to secure paid opportunities.

“Micro-businesses have a hard time as it is,” Shekhinah B. said. She’s also the host and a performer providing live music and entertainment during the dessert expo. “The African American Museum is doing an incredible job giving these businesses the opportunity to be seen. This is the first-ever, it’s historic.”

The African American Museum in Philadelphia is located at 701 Arch Street in Center City. Registration is open for the Sweet & Savory Mini Dessert Expo.

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