As the city celebrates a major milestone, GABA reflects on its origins in Inkster and recommits to building systems of support, opportunity, and connection across African American communities.
Thursday November 7, 2025
Inkster, Michigan - This past weekend, the Global African Business Association (GABA) joined civic and business leaders in commemorating the 60th anniversary of the City of Inkster—a city whose legacy continues to shape the region’s economic, cultural, and civic identity. Held at the Pinnacle Center and sponsored by the Inkster Chamber of Commerce, the celebration was more than a ceremonial gathering—it was a reaffirmation of a community’s resilience, vision, and unwavering commitment to progress.
For the GABA Foundation, this occasion held particular significance. Inkster is more than a location on the map—it is where GABA was born. Over a decade ago, the Global African Business Association was founded in Inkster with a clear mission: to uplift African and Caribbean communities through enterprise, education, and institution-building. That mission was born from the city’s legacy of Black leadership, working-class strength, and community organizing.
“Inkster gave us more than a beginning—it gave us a blueprint,” said Akindele Akinyemi, Co-Founder of the Global African Business Association. “This city represents the kind of place where vision meets discipline, where challenges spark innovation. GABA was built with Inkster’s values in its DNA—self-determination, service, and systems thinking. We honor those roots every time we help a business grow or a community gain access to opportunity.”
The evening, led by Inkster Chamber President Kimberly Faison, brought together long-time residents, entrepreneurs, and public officials to reflect on the city’s contributions and its future. Guests were welcomed with music, food, and heartfelt tributes that underscored Inkster’s enduring role in shaping Black civic and economic life in Michigan.
Also in attendance was GABA Co-Founder O. Rerhi Onomake, who offered a deeply personal reflection on the city’s legacy. “Inkster has always been a place of quiet strength,” said Onomake. “It’s where everyday people made extraordinary contributions. As a founder, it means everything to return to the place where this work began—to celebrate, to reflect, and to continue investing in the communities that first believed in us.”
The 60th anniversary celebration was a powerful reminder that legacy isn’t just about the past—it’s about how we carry it forward. From grassroots leadership to intergenerational entrepreneurship, Inkster has played an outsized role in shaping the region’s Black economic identity. And for GABA, the city remains not only a foundational chapter in its story—but a guiding force in its future.
As the GABA Foundation continues its work in workforce development, logistics, and economic strategy across Michigan and beyond, it remains grounded in the community values it first encountered in Inkster. Those values—collaboration, accountability, and shared vision—continue to shape the organization’s path forward.
Here’s to 60 years of Inkster—and to the next chapter of Black economic leadership born from cities that build, believe, and lead.