Albany's Capital Center welcomed African-American business owners, artists, and educators for the very first Black Expo in the Capital Region.

The event aims to grow minority-owned businesses, celebrate culture, and create a forum for the black community.

More than 500 people attended to check out 82 vendors, along with several dance performances.

One of the start-up projects being showcased, Tinker and Fiddle, has big plans to teach young people more about STEM fields and computer coding.

"It really empowers them. At first it makes them nervous, they don't know what it means, and coding sounds hard. Some of them have had some level of success, and some have had some failure with trying those exercises in a school environment. So really taking them through it, step by step, having a very hands-on approach,” said Hilary Lashley-Renison, Tinker & Fiddle CEO.

Organizers say they hope the Capital New York Black Expo can become an annual event in Albany.