We’re all in this together. That was the theme of Saturday’s Kulture Con at the Abilene Convention Center.
Mekenzie Davis is the owner of Kulture Original in the Mall of Abilene. His store, located opposite Victoria’s Secret, just celebrated its first anniversary. His enthusiastic gathering on Saturday was a reflection of his store’s philosophy.
“When it comes to Kulture Original, our original brand name, we’re about bringing different cultures together into one,” he said. “I created Kulture Con because I wanted the same concept (by) using different businesses and also bringing different people from all around the world.”
Kulture Con shared similarities with other business expositions held at the convention center by presenting a diversity of offerings.
“So, you have a loan company, then you have a clothing company, then you have a kids party company all come together under one roof,” Davis said. “Not focusing on one genre, but letting everybody know it doesn’t matter what type of company we have, we’re all in business and we’re all trying to grow to get to that next level.”
There was also entertainment. Though a mechanical bull provider fell through, a variety of performers ranging from music to comedy to martial arts added to a festive, homegrown atmosphere.
In one corner booth, two people behind a table handed out backpacks and supplies to parents for their kids who will be going back to school later this month. Elsewhere, many of those same kids chased with abandon a large inflated ball in an organic game of Hot Potato.
Davis, 29 and from Texarkana, was brought to Abilene 10 years ago by the Air Force, and he liked it so much that he decided to stay.
“It was a little bit bigger than my hometown, but it was very family-oriented,” he said. “That’s why I ended up staying in Abilene. I felt like it was a safe place, a healthy place, to build a family.”
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Kulture Con brings diverse Abilenians together through business, play
Reporting by Ronald W. Erdrich, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ronald W. Erdrich, Abilene Reporter-News | USA TODAY Network
