More than a
networking event.
Black Coffee Connect was created to bring entrepreneurs together — not simply to exchange business cards, but to build trusted relationships that lead to opportunity.
Powered by Shora Foundation, Black Coffee Connect strengthens our entrepreneurial ecosystem by connecting business owners, professionals, creatives, nonprofit leaders, and aspiring entrepreneurs who believe success grows through collaboration.
What began as a monthly networking event has evolved into a vibrant community where relationships become partnerships, conversations become collaborations, and connections create opportunity.
It started with a shared belief in February 2021.
In February 2021, during Black History Month, Tanika Harper, Founder and CEO of Shora Foundation, and Damon Rawls, Founder of Evergreen Corporation and creator of the Knoxville Black Business Directory, came together around a shared belief: entrepreneurs thrive when they have a community that believes in them.
Both had spent years working to remove barriers for underserved communities through different avenues. Tanika focused on creating opportunities through Shora Foundation's work in youth education and entrepreneurial development. Damon dedicated his efforts to supporting small businesses by increasing visibility, fostering connections, and helping entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of business ownership.
Together, they created Black Coffee as a welcoming space where entrepreneurs could gather, build authentic relationships, exchange ideas, and support one another's success.
What started as a monthly networking event quickly became something much more.
Entrepreneurs weren't just looking for another place to introduce themselves. They were looking for a community where they could ask honest questions, celebrate wins, navigate challenges, and find people genuinely invested in their success.
Month after month, relationships formed. Business partnerships emerged. Clients were referred. Mentors stepped forward. Doors opened.
Black Coffee became proof that when entrepreneurs intentionally support one another, entire communities benefit.
Today, Black Coffee continues to grow while remaining grounded in the same belief that inspired the very first gathering:
Relationships create opportunity.
Bridging the gaps
that hold founders back.
Entrepreneurship can be one of the most rewarding journeys a person can pursue — but it can also be one of the loneliest.
Too often, entrepreneurs lack access to trusted relationships, practical resources, mentorship, and opportunities that help businesses grow. Black Coffee Connect exists to bridge those gaps by creating a community where entrepreneurs can learn from one another, collaborate, share opportunities, and celebrate success together.
Our mission is rooted in economic equity. We believe stronger businesses create stronger families, stronger neighborhoods, and stronger communities.
Four principles.
No exceptions.
Relationships Matter
Business grows through trust.
Collaboration Creates Opportunity
The greatest opportunities often come through people, not platforms.
Everyone Has Something to Contribute
Whether you're launching your first venture or leading an established organization, your experience has value and your story can inspire someone else.
Community Over Competition
When one Connector succeeds, our entire community becomes stronger.
The two people
behind Black Coffee.
Tanika Harper
Tanika Harper founded Shora Foundation with the belief that lasting community transformation begins by creating opportunities—not simply providing services.
As an entrepreneur herself, Tanika understands both the excitement and the challenges of building something from the ground up. She has founded and led multiple organizations and businesses, including Shora Foundation and Harper's Naturals, and has spent more than two decades working to remove barriers for individuals, families, and business owners in under-resourced communities.
Today, she leads the continued growth and vision of Black Coffee Connect, helping cultivate a community where entrepreneurs build meaningful relationships, discover new opportunities, and strengthen one another through collaboration.
Her work is driven by one belief
“When people have access to meaningful relationships, practical resources, and real opportunities, entire communities can thrive.”
Damon Rawls
Damon Rawls has long envisioned a future where entrepreneurs can build thriving businesses regardless of where they begin. As the creator of the Knoxville Black Business Directory and Founder of Evergreen Corporation, he has dedicated his work to increasing visibility, expanding access to resources, and creating stronger support systems for small businesses.
His vision extends beyond helping businesses survive—it is about helping them build lasting legacies. Through business development, mentorship, networking, and community partnerships, Damon believes thriving businesses create thriving communities.
As a co-founder of Black Coffee, Damon helped establish a space where entrepreneurs could connect authentically, share knowledge, and grow together. His commitment to empowering business owners continues to shape the collaborative spirit that defines the Black Coffee community today.
People, resources,
opportunity.
Black Coffee Connect brings together the people, resources, and opportunities entrepreneurs need to thrive. As a Connector, you'll have access to:
Discover and connect with fellow entrepreneurs.
Grants, funding, contracts, vendor opportunities, speaking engagements, partnerships, and accelerator programs.
Designed to foster meaningful relationships and business growth.
Our exclusive library of practical business conversations and entrepreneurial insights.
Support for every stage of your entrepreneurial journey.
Every feature is designed with one goal in mind:
Helping Connectors create opportunity through community.
Shora
Foundation.
Black Coffee Connect is an initiative of Shora Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to creating opportunities and transforming communities.
Through programs focused on academic achievement, mental health, food sustainability, and economic equity, Shora Foundation works alongside individuals, families, and entrepreneurs to remove barriers and create pathways to long-term success.
Black Coffee Connect represents Shora Foundation's commitment to strengthening local businesses, advancing economic equity, and cultivating an entrepreneurial ecosystem where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Visit Shora Foundation
There's a seat at the table
for you.
Whether you're launching your first business, growing an established company, leading a nonprofit, or simply exploring entrepreneurship, there's a place for you at Black Coffee Connect.
Come for the conversation.
Stay for the connections.
Grow through the opportunities.