The Elevation Expertise Kicks Off Orange Blossom Traditional

[ad_1] by Mitti Hicks July 3, 2025

The Orange Blossom Traditional is 90% produced by women- and minority-owned companies.

Most individuals know Kendra Bulluck because the brains behind reviving the historic Orange Blossom Traditional, an annual Traditionally Black Faculties and Universities (HBCU) soccer recreation and cultural celebration. In a male-dominated trade, Bulluck is the one Black girl in the USA to personal the unique rights to a serious HBCU sports activities property.

The son of Florida A&M College’s President, J.R.E. Lee Jr., based the inaugural Orange Blossom Traditional in 1933. The occasion welcomed 2,000 followers to the “Blacks-only” ballpark in Jacksonville, Florida. FAMU beat Howard 9-0 and efficiently established the muse of HBCU classics. From 1933 to 1978, the Orange Blossom Traditional reigned supreme because the postseason’s premier HBCU traditional occasion.

After a 43-year hiatus, the Orange Blossom Traditional made its return to Miami Gardens in 2021, because of Bulluck. The occasion attracts 1000's of followers, alumni, college students, and members of the family annually. It highlights not simply soccer but additionally the essential function HBCUs play in educating aspiring professionals and creating future leaders. Bulluck has remodeled the traditional right into a must-attend occasion for anybody occupied with HBCUs. Beneath her course, the occasion has been featured on ESPN2 in the course of the previous two NCAA soccer seasons.

<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" data-id="1103814" src="https://blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2025/07/KednraBM0113-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="Kendra Bulluck, Executive Director of The Orange Blossom Classic" class="wp-image-1103814" srcset="https://blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2025/07/KednraBM0113-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2025/07/KednraBM0113-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2025/07/KednraBM0113-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2025/07/KednraBM0113-2-1536x1025.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/> Photograph Credit score: Kendra Bulluck, Government Director of The Orange Blossom Traditional

However there’s extra to Bulluck than what spectators see on the sector annually. She’s a mom, writer, and serial entrepreneur who has worn varied hats whereas pursuing her profession endeavors. Now, Bulluck needs to verify ladies have the instruments they want to reach company America and as entrepreneurs. That’s why she’s internet hosting a ladies’s empowerment occasion often known as “The Elevation Expertise.”

“The Elevation Expertise was one thing I thought of based mostly on my expertise as a lady and entrepreneur. I used to be working in numerous areas, with totally different individuals, and attempting to raise by these areas,” she advised BLACK ENTERPRISE. “I believed it will be a very good alternative to present [women] one thing sensible that may assist them navigate company America.”

What Ladies Can Count on Throughout The Elevation Expertise

The Elevation Expertise, offered by Fort Lauderdale, is the official countdown to the Orange Blossom Traditional, which is 90% produced by women- and minority-owned companies.

Bulluck stated the one-day convention on July eleventh will present ladies with tangible data by panel discussions, breakout periods, and networking alternatives. Some audio system embrace an legal professional who will talk about tips on how to shield attendees’ manufacturers with emblems and copyrights. Different audio system will give attention to how ladies can finance or get hold of grants for his or her companies, and there may also be a dialog about picture consulting.

“[The focuses] can be on well being and wellness, trend and sweetness, company construction, understanding tips on how to incorporate your small business, in addition to tips on how to shield your model and investing,” Bulluck added.

The free occasion for girls will happen on the Charles F. Dodge Metropolis Middle in Pembroke Pines from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This yr’s panel will function a lineup of powerhouse ladies who Bulluck stated are redefining what success seems to be like throughout leisure, training, magnificence, and entrepreneurship. The lineup consists of serial entrepreneur Ebony Austin; actress and comic Fairly Vee; Grammy-nominated rapper Dr. Yolanda “Yo-Yo” Whitaker; and sweetness inventive and entrepreneur Ericka J.