Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship holds 1st pop-up event promoting local vendors

Various vendors kept cool underneath their tents as a small group of customers explored the Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship’s grass field.

The school, on July 10, was holding its first-ever pop-up event aimed at helping to promote local vendors, including its students and alumni. Twenty-two of the 39 vendors were present during the first two hours of the event.

PHCSE CEO Wayne Jones said the event aims to showcase the talent of the young people.

“One thing we pride ourselves on is creating a platform for entrepreneurs and business-minded people to showcase their talents, and hope to bring interest and attention on our academic charter school,” Jones said.

Carmella Lee, vendor coordinator, said the school plans to hold more pop-up events.

“This first one is the tryout, so hopefully after this one they will get bigger and better,” Lee said.

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Customers had plenty to choose from, as vendors sold products such as beauty products, clothing accessories, jewelry, children’s books and henna tattoo demonstrations.

Four of the vendors were current or former student-entrepreneurs selling their products.

Jillian Lavender, a junior at Penn Hills High School, was nervous about her first time being a vendor at the event. Her business, Kaylon Beauty, sells body and skincare products, such as butters and body oils.

“I wanted to create something for Black women for us to say this is something for us and uplift Black women,” she said.

Kasia Cunningham’s bright pink tent was hard to miss as she had different lip glosses displayed at her booth, Kosmo Galore. She will be entering eighth grade at PHCSE. Cunningham said she has done many pop-up events before and hopes to open her own store someday.

“I want to be a cosmotologist,” she said, “and so I wanted to start out with something simple, and lip gloss was that.”

Taylor Shealey, a 2018 PHCSE grad, sells her beauty products in a store in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. She started her business, Girl Boss Collection, during the pandemic.

“I’m here to network and hopefully build my brand,” she said.

Terri Williams, PHCSE director of operations and innovations, said the pop-up event is a way to help continue to connect the school with the community.

“This is an attempt at our goal of being a service and partner with the community,” she said.