Black Wall Street SOUTHERN MARYLAND Presented by BMORENews & the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards Program
📅 Monday, February 24, 2025 🕔 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST 📍 University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland
Sponsored by: R.E. Harrington | Alexis Solis | Southern Maryland Chamber of Commerce
🎟️ RSVP: blackwallstreetsouthernmd.eventbrite.com
(WALDORF, MD – February 23, 2026) — When Drs. Vaughn and Tracey Wallace stood on 42 acres of Southern Maryland farmland and saw not a former plantation — but possibility — they weren’t simply dreaming. They were building legacy.
The visionary couple, owners of Hennessy Creek Bed & Breakfast, Farm Brewery, and Event Center, are among the honorees at the inaugural Black Wall Street SOUTHERN MARYLAND Awards — marking a historic first for the region under the Joe Manns Black Wall Street banner.
Their story did not begin in 2018 when Hennessy Creek officially opened. It began in 1991, when they welcomed family and friends into their home to celebrate milestones, holidays, and life’s meaningful moments. Long before they formalized a business model, they were cultivating community.
After exploring how they wanted to spend the next chapter of their lives — and recognizing the decline in agritourism across Southern Maryland — the vision crystallized: create a welcoming farm-based destination rooted in hospitality, dignity, and shared humanity.
Hennessy Creek was born.
Established in 2018, it became the first minority-owned farm brewery in Southern Maryland — a fully integrated agritourism enterprise blending brewery operations, event hosting, and bed-and-breakfast hospitality. The 42-acre property, formerly known as Rosemont, carries a complex history. Once plantation land, it has been transformed into a vibrant gathering space where families, veterans, professionals, entrepreneurs, and visitors of every background come together in celebration.
Today, Hennessy Creek operates as both an economic engine and a cultural anchor in the region.
Under the Wallaces’ leadership, the brewery and event center have filled a long-standing void — offering Southern Maryland a destination that blends agriculture, enterprise, and community. In a time often defined by division, they have built a space centered on connection.
Their vision continues to expand.
Most recently, they launched Rooted2Grow, a nonprofit initiative designed to demonstrate that farming extends beyond produce and products. Through hands-on education and engagement, the program teaches youth and community members that soil can generate economic opportunity — blending agriculture, hospitality, entrepreneurship, and STEM learning into a sustainable empowerment model.
In September 2025, the Wallaces appeared on Fox 5 DC to discuss “Rhythm & Brews at Hennessy Creek,” further cementing their growing regional presence.
“In our infinite diversity, we continue to be a community of people who enjoy the same tradition of coming together to celebrate life and all its splendor,” the Wallaces have shared.
That philosophy — rooted in stewardship, ownership, and forward-looking enterprise — aligns squarely with the mission of the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards, which for more than a decade has celebrated entrepreneurs, professionals, and those who support Black business ecosystems across the country.
From opening their home in 1991 to transforming 42 acres into a destination enterprise, Drs. Vaughn and Tracey Wallace exemplify transformational entrepreneurship.
Congratulations to the Wallaces on being honored at this milestone Southern Maryland celebration.
The Black Wall Street SOUTHERN MARYLAND Awards are presented by BMORENews.com and the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards program.
