The FBLA Marketplace took place on April 29, during both A and B blocks. The event was one of the largest annual activities run by the Jefferson Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).
“The FBLA Marketplace is an annual fundraiser held by Jefferson FBLA and it’s used to promote entrepreneurship from our members,” sophomore Jonathan Choi said.
Students can purchase tickets and join booths run by FBLA students, who offer food and board games.
“Jefferson isn’t really known for business and a lot of their business classes are limited,” Choi said. “As one of our biggest business clubs in Jefferson, we want to help share business and entrepreneurship skills.”
The marketplace also aims to introduce business skills in a school. The FBLA club uses the event to help students learn how to plan, market, and sell products in a real-life setting.
“As well as fostering, sharing cultural diversity, because a lot of people who sell, also bring their cultural foods and that can share cultural diversity among Jefferson,” Choi said.
Since many vendors, who are FBLA members, bring foods or items connected to their cultural backgrounds, the Marketplace highlights cultural diversity.
“If vendors have different preferences, they can bring whatever they want, it’s very flexible,” Choi said.
Some groups sell traditional foods, while others offer games that students can pay to participate in. The flexibility allows vendors to choose what they want to create each year.
“It’s a way for us to gain profits and use those funds for future events and supplies for the future, “ Choi said.
Marketplace continues to bring in strong participation each year and one of the most important fundraising events.
“This is an annual one time event, it’s one of our biggest events of the year where we usually get 200 people across Jefferson to come to the event,” Choi said.