SPEAKER_05 0:00

What has been some of your absolute favorite experiences where you've just left your this is my Mary sauce and this like nobody else does.

SPEAKER_00 0:10

Where I cry while everything is going slowly.

SPEAKER_04 0:12

A lot of that happened, a lot of that happened. I mean there's been many. I mean, even though it was a probably the most difficult um speaker that we've ever had over this 30 years was Winnie Mandela. Difficult in terms of You didn't know that she was came to our show. And um difficult getting her here. I'm sure.

SPEAKER_01 0:32

You know, South Africa and the whole I mean just hearing about it is making me want to tear up.

SPEAKER_04 0:39

So that that that is probab that is probably my second.

SPEAKER_02 0:42

I'll tell you my first experience was when um hello, beautiful, and welcome to another episode of Becoming Serene.

SPEAKER_05 1:30

I'm Ruth Devonet South Hall, your host, and because we are not at my home, our usual studio, you can already see my guests, so I can't even leave it as a mystery. But anyway, this podcast is designed for entrepreneur-minded women just like you who would love to embrace peace on their pursuit of purpose. So today I am so excited to introduce the woman who began her journey behind the scenes, actually producing for NBC and shaping stories at Johnson Publishing, later leading advertising and promotions at V103 Chicago. And it was there that she helped lead the expo for today's Black Woman until the platform was no longer prioritized. But instead of walking away, guess what? She leaned in and built something that would outlast trends, titles, and time. And in 1993, she began laying that foundation for what officially has become the Black Women's Expo in 1995. That means they are celebrating their 30th year anniversary. Safe space for African American women to gather, grow, and be poured into. With over 25 years of experience in event production, public relations, and community engagement, she continues to lead her company. MGPG events with purpose, curating wellness pavilions, youth summits, empowerment lounges, and cultural conversations that make the Black Women's Expo more than an event. It's a necessary experience. She builds legacy, responds to purpose, and remains committed to making sure that black women feel seen, valued, and supported. She is the president of MGPG Vince and the founder of the Black Women's Expo, the illustrious and Chicago's very own, Mary Green. I was wondering who you were talking about. Mary, stop it, stop it, stop it. It is such an honor, honestly, truly. Thank you. Thank you, thank you. Thank you for the bottom of my heart. Not just for, you know, gracing us with your presence for the podcast. No, thank you for your commitment to helping women be seen and valued and appreciated, recognized, and celebrated through the Black Women's Expo. I know personally, because my husband has worked with you over 10 years, I know personally that it's not an easy feat.

SPEAKER_04 4:03

Not at all.

SPEAKER_05 4:04

And there are many times that I just listen to the conversations on the other end of the phone and I'm like, I would have bailed that a long time ago. Like, I would have said, y'all can have this. No. So let's start there at the beginning. What is keeping you in the game?

SPEAKER_04 4:19

Wow. What is keeping me here? You know, um, don't know how to stop, number one. Um, but someone asked me that at a meeting um about a month ago. Say, what keeps me up at night? And the reason they asked that because of what is going on in this country. Right. And the administration and how it's making it tougher for events like ours than for anybody else's that's black and female or LGBTQ. Um and I'm like those 300 small businesses that are there. That's what keeps me going. That is what keeps me going. Uh, as I realized a few years back that this has become the platform for many uh new businesses, first-time business owners, entrepreneurs, uh to get an opportunity to really push their product and services out there. Um we do it in a way that is affordable.

SPEAKER_05 5:15

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 5:16

Uh, like you said, it's a safe space, yes, uh, where they can learn, because many of them have never exhibited before, um, but they can learn how to really uh promote and market their products.

SPEAKER_05 5:26

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 5:27

And so that's what keeps me going. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_05 5:31

Yeah. That is so awesome. And I love it. I love the space. I love that the platform and everything. I mean, it's at McCormick Place, like the largest in the whole country. Like, first of all, let's start there. It's not as though it's a Joe Schmo type of expo at all. And this is just, we're going to keep going back to the Black Uh Woman's Expo, but that's just one of the many things you do. It's not like that's all you do. I think people think that's all we do. I know that is, but I have had the pleasure to attend events that you have curated, and they were marvelous. So I get to see you at the helm. And I was like, oh, that's what she does. I know. Watch every all the pieces come together. I'm in the middle of doing something. I just wanted to make sure you're right so that you will miss another episode of being coming forward. Everything that we're doing is for you. And don't forget, hit that bell so that you'll be notified when new episodes air. Alright, see you there. So speaking of watching all the pieces come together, what excites you the most about the process? Like, some people like the grid and the grind in the beginning, and they like, okay, let the pieces fall where they can. Yeah, but what is your favorite part?

SPEAKER_04 6:58

I like I mean, I like it the way we, you know, you have to start out. I mean, you're really creating the event every year. You know, we try to do something different, not just um keep doing the same old thing. Um, one of the challenges we have is that everybody comes to the show. So teens and baby boomers all come to the expo. So trying to program and have something for each um demographic is a little tough sometimes. I was standing in the hallway of City Hall this afternoon, you know, with one of my uh with a couple of my event um consultants, and we were talking about how we, you know, how we're leaving out the younger people with what we have so far. Wow. So and they bring up names of people I've never heard. Of course. Artists and whatever, and speakers and rappers and whatever sound like. I don't know who you're talking about. And they all laugh. But um, you know, that's the biggest thing is trying to, you know, make sure that we have something for all of our attendees. And I think we do. I think we we we see that every year that the entire family comes, kids and men. Yeah, men, yeah, you know, which we've had to add that component to our show. So I think I think what gets me going is creating it, you know, having something new. This year we are, you know, have several different pavilions that are different.

SPEAKER_05 8:13

Please share because I was gonna bring that up because I know since my husband is designing the website, I'm on it college. But yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 8:20

So we one of the new ones is called Hughes, H-U-E-S, and it's a hair and beauty pavilion. Wonderful. Um, that we just started this year, see how it goes. Um, but we also have culinary. Really? Yes. Last year it really took off. We have chefs all day long, they get about an hour and a half to um cook. I'm gonna hang out there and sample those products. Yeah, that goes on all three days. And then we have the literary cafe, which we've had forever.

SPEAKER_05 8:49

Oh, I love that.

SPEAKER_04 8:50

You know, which is you know, our on-site bookstore where many of our speakers can, you know, sign their books after they're done with their sessions. And oh that's a place where you can purchase books and anything like that. So it's a wonderful space to um then we always have the kids' corner somewhere where there's something for the young people. And we added a few years ago the men's den. And that was because we needed to put them somewhere for pretty much. So there are barbers there and shoe shiners, and just now this year it'll be health as well with real men coming. Wonderful. Um, talking about some of the things that men don't want to talk about.

SPEAKER_05 9:26

Wow. So that is absolutely amazing. I love it. I do. It is definitely a place for the whole family to enjoy. Come out August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. And guess what? You don't have to just pick one day, just make it a whole weekend out of it. It is in downtown Chicago at McCormick Place, one of my favorite places, downtown and my children. So we'll be hanging out with you all. Yes, most definitely, and we're looking forward to it. So I'm so glad you did bring up all of the other um lounges and activations that you all had. Those are so awesome. Yes, yes, yes. So, speaking of, what has been, if you can, I'm not gonna say one, but were absolute favorite experiences where you've just left your this is my Mary sauce and this, like nobody else does.

SPEAKER_00 10:17

Where I cry while everything is going.

SPEAKER_04 10:19

A lot of that happens, a lot of that happened. I mean, there's been many. I mean, even though it was a probably the most difficult um speaker that we've ever had over this 30 years was Winnie Mandela. Difficult in terms of You didn't know that she was came to our show. And um difficult getting her here. Yeah, I'm sure. You know, South Africa and the whole I mean just all of the red tape to get her on a plane and to get her here. Wow um but um I will never ever forget that. You know, you know, you can almost touch the hymn with somebody's garments. Hearing about it is making me want to tear up and I was so that that that is probably that is probably my second. I'll tell you my first experience was when um Gayla or Gayla wore ceremony and my Angelo was the keynote. Okay, I'm just done. Oh yeah, oh we've had everybody. My Angelo was not around then. I don't know. This is the early, early days of the show, and she was our keynote, and the night that morning, uh that Friday morning where we're at McCormick Place setting up, I get a call from the uh her people saying that she is she took ill the night before and she will not be coming. I said, What do you mean? Oh I said it's sold out. The gala was completely sold out over 1,500 people we were at um my goodness. I think we were at the uh the Hyatt, but it was sold out, and they tried to give us other people to come in her stead. Nope. Exactly. There's no substitute. And then I called a couple of my advisory committee members at the time, and we all agreed that the only substitute would be Oprah. And of course, we must have been crazy and out of our mind. But she she was this I won't name names, but she was pretty well known in this city, and she said, Let me make a few calls. She found out that Oprah was in town, and about an hour later, I get a call from Oprah's team saying, Relax. Okay, she's coming.

SPEAKER_05 12:16

You know what? I'm I'm literally done. No, of course I didn't know. So we didn't tell. Only here, honey, I become a surround when you get things exclusive. But my good, no wonder, no wonder when things get a little rocky, you like my husband is oh, Mary's going through this, that, and the other. And then it works out because of these things that you've got us already always worked it out.

SPEAKER_04 12:40

Yeah, you've been through yes, and so we but I'm gonna tell you when um we didn't tell anybody, we didn't put it in there. Even though ABC 7 television partners, I'm radio covering anyway.

SPEAKER_05 12:51

We didn't want to not come because we also want to tell them we had all that. And then there's that, of course.

SPEAKER_04 12:58

So then that night of the Gala, the the the ad agency.

SPEAKER_05 13:01

Is this recorded?

SPEAKER_04 13:03

I think it is, of course it is. The ad agency that was doing the introduction for Maya, she got up to do it, and she started to say, you know, I know you guys are waiting for Maya, but I'm sorry she won't be here. And the place went, I heard you heard the side. But she said, I think we got something better. And Oprah walked out the back door. The place went up, women took their napkins and it became a whole New Orleans. It was crazy. Oprah came out the back door, walked up on the stage, and the plate, the women jumped, and it was crazy. Do you remember the year this was?

SPEAKER_05 13:37

Because I'm trying to remember what's the height of the Oprah show.

SPEAKER_04 13:41

I remember, but I remember, all I remember is I was in tears and I got up from the front and I walked to the back of the bar when I was standing by the ballroom, and a very good big PR um uh executive was coming by me to go to the bathroom. She couldn't wait, and she said, What's wrong? And I said, And she said, Mary. She said, Nobody gets open. No one. She said, You walk on water. She said, smile. Oh. So that was the probably the number one. That's my favorite story ever. Like, I'm gonna start telling the stories with you. That's probably the number one.

SPEAKER_05 14:18

My goodness, yes. Yes, that is a ram in a bush if I've ever heard of one in my lifetime. Ever. Now I'm gonna go back and research it so I can get the year right and everything.

SPEAKER_04 14:29

So when I tell a story, too. I mean, we got them in our welcome guides. You know, we've got all these guys stacked in the past, so we just have to look back. I don't keep it in my head what years all of these things happen, because there's so many wonderful times.

SPEAKER_05 14:41

Oh God, I'm sure. And see, these are the things that you all cannot miss out on. So, speaking of the gala, who are we honoring this year?

SPEAKER_04 14:50

It's a little bit of a surprise, but I'm gonna tell you. Well, that's what I mean.

SPEAKER_05 14:54

I'm gonna see they love surprises.

SPEAKER_04 14:56

We're doing something different. This is not gonna be a sit-down dinner. Okay. This is a gala reception. Okay. And networking and then the award ceremony. That's right. And we're doing something different because this being our 30-year, 30th anniversary, we are not only awarding women, we're awarding men that have been in my corner. Wow. And we're awarding partners that have been in our corner. And many of them don't even know.

SPEAKER_05 15:23

Oh, I'm sure. But they will be there. We're making sure they'll be in attendance. Yes. I'm so looking forward to this. Okay, so oh my goodness. I am so full right now. I just I promise you. Okay, ma'am. Um, she's been some of everywhere, of course, promoting and getting folks to the Black Women's Sex Club, doing what they said they were gonna do, you know, because you'd be in these circles and they, yeah, I'm gonna support. Yeah, you could count on us. And then, yeah, it comes down to so she's been busy, and I've been following her as I should, since I knew I was gonna have this conversation. So you were quoted uh at the Rainbow Push Coralitions People Conference for your critical work and awarded saying that disruptors are creating distractions by grandstanding. So let us stay the course by brandstanding. I love that. I love that. So please explain our brandstanding.

SPEAKER_04 16:20

You know, this I think everybody knows. And you know, I had a one of my colleagues said to me on Saturday, he said, I never thought it was gonna reach us. You know, what was going on in Washington, but it reached us. You know, when the first call came in about a month and a half ago saying that we can't sponsor this year because you guys are black and female. Wow. They didn't say that, but yeah, of course. It was very clear, and they said we were not inclusive. And I'm like, hmm. It's because we weren't included that we have the Black Women's Expo. So that started, and then the snowball started to roll down the hill a little bit. And right now there's probably about six clients that we've had last year that are not gonna be in this year. But my mother said one monkey don't stop a show.

SPEAKER_05 17:05

I promise you, one monkey does not stop a show. It doesn't stop a show.

SPEAKER_04 17:09

No, ma'am, not at all. We are moving forward and we are working harder to try to get um to fill those holes, but we're filling them. But I said we can, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 17:21

Because the people have come together and have a mind to work just like Nehemiah's wall. So, and you just can't come down. I feel that. No, I know that you can't give up.

SPEAKER_04 17:31

I mean, if I was gonna give up, it would have been years ago when you know the transition happened between us and the radio station. That was a time to say, can I really do this?

SPEAKER_05 17:40

Wow. Wow, and I'm glad you brought that up. It's as though, you know, you're in my head because I want to go back to that time because that's when your company was born. Yes, you were working and working in your field and your career and enjoying that, and then out of that came, and that's who my audience is. You know, women who think, oh, entrepreneurship is not for me, and I love my job and I love what I do, but guess what? You may be able to do it and name it and do it on your own time and on your own in your own way. So, how did that feel 30 years ago? You can't.

SPEAKER_04 18:15

Well, it was such a I mean, when when I was asked to take it on the outside, I really think that when I was asked by the station to take it on the outside, they didn't have any idea that it would last this long because I didn't either. Uh no. But it was just too big of an operation for this radio station. I mean, the exhibitors, people, you know, you know us, we want to come in and pay half. Right. Oh my god. They were like, oh no, we're not doing it. Mary, please take this. Oh, so a couple executives took me out and said, Why don't you open up your own company and then you can take the expo. Who does that? I know, and then you can take the expo on the outside. And I was like, and produce it for us. So about I think for the first five years at that time, I produced it on the outside. I moved two blocks down from the station, opened up my own uh business, MGPG Events, what else was I gonna call it? Well, actually, at that time it was Mary Green Promotions, uh, and we started to produce the expo on the outside, and then about maybe another five years, it was like my goodness. I went through about five different general managers and about five differ different radio owners. Wow. And everybody would come in and say, Who is she? And I didn't work there, you know, but then they would find out about the expo, it was part of the sales process. Yeah, like man, who is she again? She don't own this thing, but yeah. So finally, you know, one of the general managers said, This is yours, and gave it to me.

SPEAKER_05 19:37

That is absolutely phenomenal. I man, that I'm not built like that. I mean, I guess I can say that now, right, but I'm doing things now that people are like, I can't imagine doing what you do. So yeah, it starts off with one foot in front of the other.

SPEAKER_04 19:53

But it's not like I made these things happen. I don't think of it that way. I feel like I just was carried it one step, one way, you know, to another. Because I didn't sit somewhere saying, Okay, let me think I'm gonna do this. I didn't do that. It was like, okay, you think you should take it on the outside? You think I should take it on? Okay, I'll find an office space. Was at a meeting, somebody told me about their husband was trying to get rid of his office space. He happened to be too blocked from the station. I was like, I'll take it.

SPEAKER_05 20:19

All you have to do is be willing, being and listening. Yes, that I that's all about the networking. Just like you said, open your mouth. I did everywhere I go, I'm introducing myself and asking people, what do you do? But because you never ever know to introduce you to your next. Speaking of next, and we're gonna start wrapping it up. Okay, it's moved from the Black Woman's Expo, and I know it's all part of branding and marketing again. It's my household. So I want to ask you about where did the acronym BWE next come from, or be we how did that evolve from the Black Woman's Expo to being known as it was just one of those things I think we were trying to be creative, trying to be different, always looking to uh involve a younger audience, make sure that we, you know, include them in everything we do, and the next was next generation. That's what I was thinking about. Yeah, so it kind of stuck. That's yeah, that's really, really good.

SPEAKER_04 21:15

But it was we were going after the next generation.

SPEAKER_05 21:17

Oh, yes, because you all have my goodness, 30 years. That's a lot of generations. That's a lot, yes, that's coming. That's great, grandma, Nana, grandma.

SPEAKER_04 21:29

And I've seen them coming together at the expo. Oh my goodness. Hand in hand. I know I saw that a couple years ago, and I was like, oh my god, look at them, and they would dress to the nine.

SPEAKER_05 21:38

I can hardly wait to ask people how long have you been coming? Like, I'm going to definitely stop. Oh, yes. You'll be surprised. It's gonna be so much fun. That's another thing. So thank you so much for onboarding the family. And now I'm gonna be part of the team and working it with the microphone and talking to everyone. It's gonna, oh my god, that's gonna be a blast, especially with this. Culinary corner that I didn't know about. And I just told you how much I like to eat.

SPEAKER_04 22:05

Oh my goodness. We've been there for a couple years now, but it's kind of grown.

SPEAKER_05 22:09

Yeah, normally I am traveling around the time of Black Women's Expo, going to other conferences that I'm a part of. So the fact that I was able to attend this year, I was like, oh, that's it. It's going to be fabulous. Oh, yes. So as we wrap things up, because she has to get back to those phone calls and get back to work because we have experiences to create, you know, people to hold secrets from. What are you? What are you looking forward to most for your uh attendees and participants to take away from this 30th year anniversary?

SPEAKER_04 22:44

I want them to know the history of it. Yes. You know, so one of the things we're doing is a whole timeline that's gonna be on one of the walls.

SPEAKER_05 22:50

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 22:51

That's gonna take you from actually when we started, like 93, when we started to plan and all the way through, and you will see, you know, some of the highlights. Uh, you'll see some of the pictures of people like a Maya or an Oprah when they were there. Or um I was sitting at a luncheon a couple, maybe about a month ago, and Carol Mosley brought on. They brought her to sit next next to me. You know, she was the first black female senator. And uh she was like, What are you up to? And I said, Working. She said, You're always working okay. I said, Yeah. And I said the expo is coming in, you know, a little bit. I said, guess who was our first keynote speaker? She said, Who? I said, You. Right. I read that. Thirty years ago. She was our first keynote for the gala. So um just looking forward to people knowing, you know, the history of the show. And one of the things we did recently was an impact report. I had never done that, believe it or not. We just were but this impact report we needed to do, and I did present it to City Hall. This is uh today, but it is what we've done over the 30 years like how many businesses have been there, how many have we engaged, how many attendees, uh how much money to a certain extent. Speakers, entertainers, just all the way down the line. Health screenings, something that people don't know. That I mean, that hall is full of hospitals and health organizations that are doing all kinds of health screenings. I mean, the the health piece has be become a big uh component of the expo since COVID. Most definitely. Yeah, so everybody will definitely tell us about things we don't know we have, you know, which is screamish for me, but I know we need to have it. Yeah, we need to have that information. So I'm I'm looking forward to all of that.

SPEAKER_05 24:36

I am too. I really, really am. Thank you so much. And I am going to do this, and it's something that I have not done before, but I'm going to definitely pray and declare that everything that you have poured out over these 30 years, ma'am, that you continue to receive an abundant harvest of just all of it. All of the just excitement, the joy, the inspiration, and all the things that you, stories that you don't even know about. There are things that you don't know about behind the scenes that have, yes, sparked people, uh, just their businesses, their families, because if you all don't know when it comes to women, but especially as black women, when you literally impart something into us and we carry it into our children and our community, and it just creates an amazing, amazing just ripple effect.

SPEAKER_04 25:30

We've heard some stories, but not right.

SPEAKER_05 25:32

Yeah, you can't hear them all. You just can't, yes. So please, please, please, please, when you watch this, hear about this, anything, please send in comments, send in your stories and all that. She has people. People will sort that's for the same thing. And people, yes, we would love to hear that. And please, please affirm when you see Mary running around and see her, just say thank you. Just a mere thank you. You don't have to just stand in awe and go, oh, oh, that's her. Yeah, that's Mary Green. Yeah, I've seen her.

SPEAKER_02 26:07

You know I'm behind the scenes anyway. So I appreciate that. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_05 26:11

Thank you so much, beautiful. No, thank you for taking this time out. I know it's not easy, but you are seen and valued just as much. So thank you. Thank you, ma'am. So thank you all again for joining us for this episode of Becoming Serene. This has been one for the books. I am floating right now, so I really, really am. We love you and appreciate you. And if you like everything that you've heard, please subscribe, like, and share. And I look forward to seeing you again on the next episode of Becoming Serene with Ruth Debonay South Hall. Bye-bye. Hey, and don't forget the Black Woman's Expo. I want to see you there too. Friday through Sunday, August 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. It's going to be amazing celebrating 30 years of excellence with the Mary Green. Thank you, Mary. Bye, everyone.