Channel RVA First Friday: August Block Party

Channel RVA's parking lot on Broad Street comes alive again for August's First Friday Block Party, and this one's got extra meaning behind it. In honor of National Black Business Month, we're teaming up with the Metropolitan Business League (MBL) to spotlight the entrepreneurs, creators, and small businesses driving Richmond forward.

Grab a plate from Bajan Goodness, Richmond's own taste of the Caribbean, and stick around for a look at what local innovators have been building. Teams from Hack for RVA, the mayor's office hackathon presented by AI Ready RVA, will have their projects running live on-site so you can see firsthand what's possible when Richmond's creative and tech communities show up for their city.

Come for the free food, stay for the community. These First Friday nights are about celebrating Richmond: the people making things happen, the businesses worth knowing, and the neighbors worth meeting.

On tap for the evening:

• Live food from Bajan Goodness

• Hackathon project showcase from Hack for RVA (AI Ready RVA)

• A few words from the Metropolitan Business League on who they are and how to get involved

• MBL info table

• Good music, good people, free to all Channel RVA subscribers, no cost to subscribe

Why we're partnering with MBL

The Metropolitan Business League has spent decades championing Black-owned and minority businesses across Richmond, providing the resources, connections, and advocacy that help local entrepreneurs not just start, but grow. As Channel RVA builds out its First Friday series to celebrate the people and businesses that make this city what it is, MBL was an easy call for our National Black Business Month block party. Their work lines up directly with what these nights are about: giving Richmond's business community a spotlight and a place to connect. MBL will have a speaking slot to introduce the organization and a table on-site so attendees can learn more about membership and get plugged in.