Join the CYP Club for Coffee Talk Networking, a structured yet casual setting for making connections while hearing from local business leaders & entrepreneurs. The goal is to help our members get more acquainted with one another while offering career lessons/networking tips & takeaways each time.
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J. Averi Frost serves as Executive Director of the Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce (COAACC) and Freedom Equity Inc.
COAACC provides education and empowerment to the Black Business community in Central Ohio; Frost works with members to build capacity, increase sales, and seek capital. Freedom Equity Inc., a community development financial institution (CDFI), provides alternative financing options for Black owned businesses who historically have had difficulty accessing the capital needed to grow their enterprises.
A proud daughter of entrepreneurs and advocates, Frost understands that there often is a gap in resources for Black business owners. Whether it is connecting entrepreneurs to resources, advocating for the support they need, or both, Frost strives to bridge the opportunity gap and build up those left out. Frost, a Columbus, Ohio native and Denison University graduate has served the small, Black, and minority-owned business community for the past fifteen years.
Prior to her current roles, Frost served five years as Director of the Columbus Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC), a State of Ohio program hosted by the Central Ohio Minority Business Association (COMBA). Through her work with the MBAC, Frost developed and facilitated business development workshops, and counseled clients to help advance their business in areas such as general business administration, marketing, government procurement, and applying for minority certification. Having facilitated nearly 200 workshops (including multiple iterations of custom programming) and having counseled 200+ business owners, Frost prides herself in helping to build community through strengthening the minority business community in whatever way she can.
Beyond work in business and economic development, Frost has been involved in a number of social causes since being a student at Denison University. Frost has been involved in fundraising efforts for Ohio based nonprofits raising over $5M in over the course of her career (including three Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society and two NAMIWalks events). Frost, previously served as Board Chair for Mothers Helping Mothers, Inc. – a non-profit that provides housing and supportive assistance to homeless and economically disadvantaged mothers in Central Ohio; and Board President of Black, Out, & Proud, Inc., a non-profit that provides advocacy, education, and inspiration for and by the Black LGBTQ+ community. Frost recently joined the Board of Directors of the Columbus Empowerment Corporation (formerly the Columbus Compact), a non-profit supporting local community development efforts through real estate; and recently completed a term serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Community Capital Development Corp. (CCDC), an entity that provides real estate loans to small businesses across the state of Ohio.
On April 24th, we will welcome J. Averi Frost, Executive Director of the Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce!
As you arrive, you’ll be greeted by Amun and Zach from our events team! Each Coffee Talk event is hosted at Chocolate Café in Grandview Heights/Upper Arlington.
Agenda:
• 7:30am: Arrival, Networking, Grab Coffee
• 8:00am: Member Introductions
• 8:30am: Coffee Talk featuring J. Averi Frost (15-minute talk + 5 minutes of takeaways)
• 8:50am: Closing Announcements & Giveaways
Cost: It’s $5 to attend (or free for Premium members)! Coffee is included and all are welcome.
Parking: You may park for free in the Chocolate Café surface lot or on street parking.
Coffee Talk is hosted on the last Wednesday of each month at Chocolate Cafe in Grandview/Upper Arlington!