Trifecta: Voices Before the Vision

Purpose & Concept:
Trifecta: Voices Before the Vision" is an intentionally curated, pre-event social designed to kick off the momentum for The MBE Experience: Racing Toward Economic Empowerment. Hosted the evening before the main event, "The Trifecta" serves as a relaxed yet purpose-driven gathering that brings together local small business owners, entrepreneurs, community stakeholders, and MBE leaders for a happy hour-style networking event—blending business, culture, and community.

The name “Trifecta” is symbolic:

1. Social Engagement – A space for MBEs to connect casually with peers, civic leaders, and procurement professionals.
2. Community Voice – Attendees will be able to voice their real-time concerns, challenges, and policy recommendations through structured feedback sessions.
3. Strategic Impact – Input gathered will directly inform the fireside chats & discussions during The MBE Experience, ensuring the mainstage reflects the issues that matter most to Baltimore’s business community.

How It Ties into The MBE Experience:
While The MBE Experience is a formal convening focused on procurement access, data and MBE numbers acorss the state, The Trifecta acts as the emotional and cultural bridge to that larger vision. It allows attendees to feel seen and heard before the larger convening takes place. The structure of this pre-day event will include:

• Live Feedback Stations & Comment Boards: Where attendees can submit anonymous or open comments, concerns, and questions about procurement, access, and systemic barriers.
• Moderated Question Collection: A small facilitation team will gather and summarize the most recurring or pressing questions to be included in the fireside chats during The MBE Experience.
• Community-Led Conversations: Small-group discussions led by local advocates and MBE leaders.
• Real-Time Data Collection: Survey tools and QR codes will allow participants to submit responses that contribute to live polling results used to shape the Day-Of content.

One of the most persistent criticisms of high-level procurement events is that they often fail to reflect the lived experiences of local businesses especially MBEs operating in underserved communities. The Trifecta solves that disconnect by giving the community a proactive voice in shaping the narrative and content of the main event. It adds an element of trust, transparency, and responsiveness to The MBE Experience while also demonstrating a new model of community-informed policymaking.

By creating this space, we ensure that The MBE Experience isn’t just about corporate and government leadership it’s about the community driving the conversation, influencing the outcomes, and shaping the future of equitable procurement in Baltimore and beyond.

Info: Guest check-in & name badge pickup

Music by local DJ, light refreshments

Informal networking with local business owners, community leaders, and procurement professionals

Info: Welcome by GBBCC President Devin Jackson

Purpose of The Trifecta and how it feeds into The MBE Experience

Why community insight is vital to procurement reform

Info: Guided discussions on top MBE challenges:

Access to Capital

Certification & Registration Roadblocks

Subcontracting & Prime Partnership Access

Bid Transparency & Accountability

Community members will record real-time feedback at each table

Info: Submit-a-Question Booth: Add questions for the next day’s fireside chats

Polling Wall: Vote on procurement priorities

Digital Feedback Lounge: Take the community impact survey

Policy Pods: Q&A with government agency reps & procurement staff

Info: Short presentations (3–5 minutes each) by 3–4 Baltimore-based entrepreneurs

Stories that highlight MBE wins, frustrations, and future hope

Interactive reflection: attendees can comment or ask questions

Info: Facilitators recap themes that emerged

Overview of how submitted questions will be featured during The MBE Experience

Share next steps and opportunities for continued involvement

Info: Last round of networking

Business card exchange

Closing toast & invitation to Day 2 event at CFG Bank Arena

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