Fort Wayne Networking Party Connects Local Businesses

The 9th annual event provides local entrepreneurs with a direct pathway to mentor youth and support workforce development.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Philanthropy

Fort Wayne Networking Party Connects Local Businesses

Live Poll

Do you believe local community events effectively increase support for minority entrepreneurs and local mentorship?

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana hosted its 9th annual Black Business Card Party in Fort Wayne to drive local workforce mentorship. The event focused on building professional networks and connecting minority entrepreneurs with youth through technology-based education.

Why it matters

Local professional networking events are increasingly being used to bridge the gap between regional business leaders and community workforce development. By formalizing these connections, organizations aim to build long-term mentorship pipelines for local youth and minority business owners.

The 9th annual Black Business Card Party held in Fort Wayne highlighted the long-term impact of community programs, citing mentorships active since 2008. The event series continues to scale its outreach efforts within the local Northeast Indiana business community.

The players

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana

A regional non-profit organization dedicated to fostering one-on-one youth mentorship programs.

Sedricka Epperson

A SPARK award recipient recognized for contributions to local community philanthropy.

Dr. Mulokozi Lugakingira

A SPARK award recipient recognized for contributions to local community philanthropy.

The McGee Family

A SPARK award recipient recognized for contributions to local community philanthropy.

The details

The event facilitates business networking while providing specific educational sessions on workforce technology. By bringing together entrepreneurs and youth, the organization functions as a pipeline for professional guidance and skill development, incentivizing local business owners to volunteer as mentors for the community.

The 9th annual Black Business Card Party took place on October 24, 2026.
The mentorship partnership between Brad and Kaimari began in 2008.

Market Landscape

This event follows the established regional trend of leveraging networking mixers to catalyze professional mentorship programs. It mirrors broader efforts in the Fort Wayne market to integrate private-sector expertise into community-led workforce development initiatives.

Operators in Fort Wayne should evaluate how local networking events can serve as a primary source for identifying community-based corporate social responsibility partners. Engaging with these platforms allows businesses to align their workforce development goals with established local mentorship networks.

The takeaway

Effective mentorship programs rely on multi-year commitments to produce sustainable outcomes for youth and minority entrepreneurs. Business owners looking to contribute should track organizational annual reports to identify engagement windows for next year’s recruitment cycle.