BLACK WALL STREET MILFORD MILL | BMORENEWS.COM
(RANDALLSTOWN, MD – March 22, 2026) — There are events you attend.
And then there are events you feel.
Black Wall Street MILFORD MILL was the latter.
Held at IQ Bar & Grill on Liberty Road — owned by entrepreneur Donovan Murphy — the gathering brought together a room full of builders, believers, and some of Baltimore County’s most engaged community voices. The energy was palpable from the moment you walked in.
Prayer opened the program. Positive vibrations filled the space. And for a few powerful hours, Northwest Baltimore County felt exactly like what it has always had the potential to be: a hub of Black excellence, economic momentum, and collective possibility.
Where We’ve Been
My connection to this corridor goes back to around 1979 or 1980.
My sister had moved into Rockdale Apartments. Scotts Branch Elementary sat right across the street. There was a basketball court I absolutely loved. And the swimming pool at the complex? For a city kid, that was everything.
I’ve been watching this community evolve ever since.
I’ve watched people talk about what could be done — and I’ve watched those who actually did the work.
Former Baltimore County Councilman Ken Oliver set a high bar, helping bring a sit-down restaurant, Walmart, Home Depot, and the Liberty Road Resource Center to the corridor.
Then came Councilman Julian Jones — and he raised the standard even higher.
Serving four terms as Chair of the Baltimore County Council — three consecutively — Jones hasn’t just represented the district. He has helped shape its future, not just for the Black community, but for the entire county.
His presence at Black Wall Street MILFORD MILL — where he presented official citations to the evening’s 11 honorees — underscored his continued commitment to community recognition and economic development.
The Honorees
Eleven leaders were recognized, each representing a different dimension of Black excellence in business, community, and culture:
Kenny Brown, Aaron Barnett, Virgil & Michele Davis (Sweet Potato Kids), William Clinton (Cinnaholic), Dave Green, Andrea Kerr, Tammy Rollins, Aubrey & Lisa Revely (The Chicken Box), Shantel Mason, and Eric Sessions (South Carolina BBQ).
And speaking of Eric Sessions — his story became one of the night’s most powerful takeaways.
A BMORENews video feature on Sessions posted to Facebook generated 20,000 views in just two and a half days.
Let that sink in.
In a media landscape where Black-owned businesses often struggle for visibility, his story broke through — and the people responded.
The result? Sessions signed on as a BMORENews advertiser.
That’s not just a business win — that’s proof of concept.
When you tell the right stories, the community shows up.
And when the community shows up, real economic relationships are built.
The Business Scene Has Changed
There was a time when Black-owned dining options in Randallstown were few and far between.
That time is over.
Our host, Island Quizine — with locations stretching to Silver Spring — continues to anchor the westside as a destination. Aubrey and Lisa Revely’s The Chicken Box has built a loyal following rooted in flavor and family. And William Clinton’s Cinnaholic is quickly becoming one of Baltimore County’s newest must-visit spots for gourmet treats.
Now add Eric Sessions’ South Carolina BBQ to the list of reasons to stay close to home — and spend local.
The options are here.
They exist.
They are thriving.
The call now is simple: support them.
Because economic power isn’t just about ownership — it’s about circulation.
Every dollar spent at a Black-owned business on Liberty Road is an investment in the corridor’s future.
A Room Built for Power Moves
When you put political strategist Kenny Brown in the same room with planning consultant Dave Green and a serial entrepreneur like Donovan Murphy, you’re not just hosting an event.
You’re creating conditions for something real.
That’s what Black Wall Street MILFORD MILL felt like — not just a networking event, but a blueprint session.
The conversations were substantive.
The connections were intentional.
And everyone in that room understood the assignment.
This is what Black Wall Street looks like in 2026.
Not a symbol.
Not a slogan.
But people — right here on Liberty Road — doing the work.
And if this gathering was any indication…
The westside is just getting started.
Doni Glover is the founder and CEO of DMGlobal Marketing & Public Relations, LLC, and publisher of BMORENews.com, now in its 24th year.
