Over a year after the 265 Morse St. space began hosting Covid-cautious events in its first-floor gymnasium, the cafe joins office space, several small Black-owned businesses, and artwork from muralist Kwadwo Adae to grow the story of Black entrepreneurship in New Haven and Hamden.

From trivia and free food to an all-ages bouncy castle, the day was full of celebration for ConnCORP, which was born in 2018 and has weathered a global pandemic.

The Lab at ConnCORP, located at 496 Newhall St. in Hamden, was the location of the event. Over four hours, hundreds came out to experience Black-owned businesses, free food, educational games, crafting, dance, music and more.

More than a dozen minority business owners will test out their sales pitch techniques Thursday, as they wrap up the first ConnCORP Quinnipiac University Entrepreneurship Academy and Clinic.

Morgan and Carson will finish the five-month entrepreneurship academy Thursday night, capping off weekend lessons on business plans, marketing, cybersecurity, finance and even commercials shot by QU students.

Aya Beckles Swanson, executive director of ConnCORP Lab, said, “This is just one piece of the larger picture to siphon much-needed support into our community of business owners who have a much steeper hill to climb to success. With this investment in our work, we hope to bridge the gap between the initial idea to business success.”

Improve ​“information deficits,” build ​“genuine partnerships,” and lead with respect.

Kerwin Charles laid out those goals as he described his deliberate path towards forging a new Yale business school-developed center designed to foster economic growth outside of the walls of New Haven’s Ivory Tower.

Charles, who is the dean of the Yale School of Management, described those efforts Wednesday night during a lively talk on ​“Economics and the Black Community” hosted at The Lab at ConnCORP at 496 Newhall St. just past the New Haven town line in Hamden.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — The newest installment of a partnership between ConnCORP and Quinnipiac University is set to launch a cohort of minority entrepreneurs next month.

The Quinnipiac University Entrepreneurship Academy and Clinic aims to support minority-owned businesses in New Haven by giving them the skills they need to thrive.

Arts Council Greater New Haven

Evelyn Massey caught Shamecca Davis’ eye, and caught up with her beside a rack of vintage furs, leather and sequins that glittered as the two embraced. Winter Carson put the final touches on her sign for Blush Beauty Salon, and then welcomed the first wave of attendees over.

Fox 61

Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program (ConnCORP) and Quinnipiac University have announced the first cohort of minority-owned businesses from Greater New Haven that have been selected to be part of the newly created ConnCORP/Quinnipiac University Community Entrepreneurship Academy and Clinic (CEAC).

New Haven Register

Ra Hashim wants to turn his vegan baking business into a brick-and-mortar store. He hopes a new business accelerator program that aims to support small, local minority-owned businesses will help him get there.

Qunnipiac Today

The grant also will allow the clinic to serve as the educational partner to the Connecticut Community Outreach Revitalization Program (ConnCORP), which focuses on economic development and providing opportunities to New Haven’s underserved residents.