Building the Businesses in the Village
In 2024, the Black Business Hub celebrated an official opening during the Urban League’s Unity Picnic. It is a space designed not just to house businesses but to nurture dreams and cultivate a thriving community. Its design not only provides workspaces but is becoming a ‘go-to’ spot for community events and meetings.
I had the opportunity to speak with Magugu Davis, who is the Hub director since November of 2023. As I stepped into her office, I was immediately struck by the energy (and candy) that surrounded her. She is not just a director; she is a visionary. “Simply put,” she said, smiling, “my job is to oversee all functions that relate to this building.” Her creativity also comes to light when organizing Hub sponsored events.
Magugu’s responsibilities include… developing memberships for coworking spaces, receiving and organizing reservations for community events, communicating with contractors as they build out future retail spaces and offices and setting up those aforementioned Hub sponsored events. The Hub is a place for workshops, networking sessions, and celebrations. She explained how she has booked a few upcoming events that will undoubtedly draw local entrepreneurs eager to connect and collaborate. According to Dr. Ruben Anthony, Urban League of Greater Madison’s CEO, there have been over 600 community events, small and large, held at the Hub since its inception.
When you break it down, the Hub has 17 permanent office spaces, and 20 cubicles designed to foster productivity and creativity. Additionally, the open-air seating areas offer a relaxed atmosphere perfect for brainstorming sessions or casual meetings (membership or lease agreements are required for all space use). There are also multiple conference rooms with up-to-date technology for private meetings. The 4th floor event space is multifaceted and when rented includes a bonus feature of rooftop ambience for those ‘climate friendly’ days. For those looking to establish culinary ventures, 3 commercial kitchens are available, accommodating 30 to 40 memberships for aspiring chefs and food entrepreneurs. Coming real soon, The Hub’s atrium will have 5 retailers offering food, coffee, wine and entertainment. Beyond that, there will be opportunities for walk-ins to visit 30-40 pop-up kiosks providing opportunities for small businesses to thrive.
The Hub and Magugu’s job are ever evolving with a healthy number of small businesses currently taking advantage of this new southside beacon. With clipboard and pen in hand, I thought I’d interrupt 5 business owners and find out a bit of information regarding their mission and vision. UMOJA readers will find this information helpful if ever in the neighborhood. This will be an ongoing UMOJA segment as membership, tenant and foot traffic grows.
If interested in using the building for your business or event needs, give Magugu a call at 608.729.1240 or email at mdavis@ulgm.org
Jeffery Norwood
What’s the name of your business?
Jeff’s Catering
Is there any history behind the name chosen?
Wanted to keep it simple
What is the purpose of your business?
Provide catering for weddings, baby showers, graduations, birthday parties, etc. I have a weekends and evening business as not to conflict with my kitchen manager position with the Black Business Hub
How do you feel about being in the Hub?
As the Manager of the shared kitchen space, we have 4 active businesses which use the space for catering. Membership is required. I love my job and the ability to mentor others.
Let me have a short comment to a long-term goal?
As a kitchen manager, I seek to provide service for up-and-coming food business entrepreneurs. I’m in a position to help them start and watch them grow.
As a chef, I want to stay as active as I am currently until I retire with a plan to travel the country in an RV.
Jodie Jefferson
What’s the name of your business?
House Of Flavas
Is there any history behind the name chosen?
Cooking from home, my daughter suggested this name
What is the purpose of your business?
I love to gather people together and feed the soul as well as the stomach!
How do you feel about being in the Hub?
It’s exciting to be on the southside of Madison. This is a definite upgrade from where I was previously.
Let me have a short comment to a long-term goal?
I’m looking forward to having a sit-down restaurant serving some real soul food!
Tiffany Castagno
What’s the name of your business?
CEPHR, LLC
Is there any history behind the name chosen?
It’s an acronym.. Cultivating the Evolution of Professional Human Resources
What is the purpose of your business
Provide HR and Cultural / Diversity services to small & medium businesses across the country
How do you feel about being in the Hub
I love the sense of community and connection with other businesses, especially those that look like me
Let me have a short comment to a long-term goal
I want to help others understand that HR is a strategic partner, and employees should always come first.
Vincent Carey III
What’s the name of your business?
Triple Double Logistics/TD
Is there any history behind the name chosen?
It’s a sports reference which means that you’re good in more than one area.
What is the purpose of your business?
I act as a broker. I connect shippers and manufacturers with truckers to make sure their products reach a prescribed destination.
How do you feel about being in the Hub?
I love being in the Hub. It’s a great atmosphere with small businesses. There are more businesses to come and I’m excited about the future of this building.
Let me have a short comment to a long-term goal?
I have my goal set on being a 100 million dollar / yr business. I look forward to bringing others into this industry as partners.
Matthew Boatright-Simon
What’s the name of your business?
SPEAK – SPEAK.Studio (Pronounced Speak dot studio)
Is there any history behind the name chosen?
I want to be very clear about what we do. We empower people to speak their passions, their voices, their minds, their points of view, their interests, their culture, their talents. Speak.
What is the purpose of your business?
The purpose of my business is to provide an easy to use, powerful, enjoyable platform for people to leverage their ideas and talents for brand amplification, and monetization. In short, it is my singular mission to help people brands, universities, governments, companies, and other great groups make money off Podcasts… and I define the term podcast very liberally.
How do you feel about being in the Hub?
I’m very honored to have been asked to join the Hub. I could go in for hours.
Let me have a short comment to a long-term goal?
More and more people need a way to leverage their ideas and talents to make money to empower themselves. I continue to build tools, systems products, and experiences that help people do that. I am obsessively compulsively interested in building meaningful and useful tools that billions of people commune to make their lives better.
