Southern Methodist University To Present ‘Grandmother Of Juneteenth’ Opal Lee, With Honorary Degree
Lee will receive her honorary degree during the university's commencement at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 11, in Moody Coliseum, 3009 Binkley Ave.
Trailblazing civil rights leader Opal Lee, renowned as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” will be honored by Southern Methodist University (SMU) with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during its May 11th commencement ceremony.
“Having Ms. Lee join us at commencement and share her work through a symposium is a signal of honor for our university,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said, according to the university. “Her life’s work is most deserving of this recognition, and our students will be inspired by her.” Prior to the commencement, Lee’s remarkable achievements will be recognized at a free symposium on May 9. According to SMU, she will attend with her granddaughter, Dione Sims, the founding executive director of the National Juneteenth Museum.
A momentous milestone in Lee’s journey will be realized in 2025 with the opening of the $70 million, 50,000-square-foot National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth’s South Side, where Lee has operated her own modest museum. Beyond serving as a museum and cultural center, the complex will include a business incubator and a mixed-income residential community.
Lee, the honorary chair, and Sims, a legacy board member, have been instrumental in bringing this vision to fruition. As previously mentioned by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Lee has dedicated her activism to the memory of the formerly enslaved people of Texas. Lee’s vision to commemorate Juneteenth in the state and establish it as a federally recognized holiday was achieved on June 17, 2021, when President Biden signed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
Lee’s unwavering dedication has garnered numerous accolades, including seven honorary doctorates. She was named 2021 Texan of the Year by the Dallas Morning News editorial board, Fort Worth Inc.’s 2022 Person of the Year, and nominated for a 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. Remarkably, in 2023, she became only the second African American to be honored with a portrait in the Texas State Senate chamber.
5 Tips To Refresh Your Entrepreneurial Brand From Dr. Stacia Pierce
There is tons of talk about branding these days. Your brand is massively important as an entrepreneur, but how do you discover what that is?
Originally Published May 19, 2018
There is tons of talk about “branding” these days, making it the new trendy buzzword in the entrepreneurial space. Well, the truth of the matter is that your brand is massively important as an entrepreneur; thus, you want to be very clear on how the world sees you. The question that lingers for many is, how does one discover what their brand is?
Black Enterprise caught up with Entrepreneurship Coach and Brand Expert Dr. Stacia Pierce to find out what she feels we need to do to connect to our brand. A little background on Pierce: she’s not just a coach; she is indeed a doctor who takes a holistic approach to helping you discover and foster your entrepreneurial brand.
“Everyone goes through stagnant periods in their work—even me!” said Pierce. “I believe having a self-care routine that reduces stress and opens your mind to new possibilities is the most important step to finding that inner drive again.”
Here are Pierce’s 5 Tips for Finding and Re-energizing Your Entrepreneurial Brand:
Read, Read, Read!
Books, magazines, and even X, formerly known as Twitter, are limitless sources to draw ideas, gain insight, and learn more about an industry you’re interested.
Get Outside
Fresh air, sunshine, and flowers awaken the senses and are a revitalizing way to calm the mind and slow down.
Focus on Gratitude
Being grateful is good for the soul and the mind. It encourages positive thoughts and can open up new opportunities when you share that gratitude with your clients.
Make a Plan
If you are unsure of your next business steps, try following a roadmap. (Check out Piere’s Success Journal if you need guidance. It has a place for every goal, challenge, and task alongside helpful prompts and tips.)
Renew Your Mind
Read an inspirational biography, listen to an informative podcast, or enroll in a course. Consider how you can apply what you learn in your own life.
Lama Rod Owens Wants To Create ‘New Saints’ Through Buddhist Teachings
Owens has gone from “breaking up with God” in college to reconciling with God and refining his image of God.
Lama Rod Owens, a 44-year-old Black Buddhist educated at the Harvard School of Divinity, blends teachings from Buddhism and Judeo-Christian religions to nurture what he terms “New Saints” among his students. Raised in the Black Baptist and Methodist traditions, Owens departed due to unwelcoming attitudes toward gender and sexuality, seeking personal religious autonomy and a more inclusive spiritual path.
As the Associated Press reports, Owens credits much of his spirituality to his mother, Rev. Wendy Owens, whose path as a United Methodist minister inspired his spiritual journey. “Like a lot of Black women, she embodied wisdom and resiliency and vision.” Owens told the outlet, “She taught me how to work. And she taught me how to change because I saw her changing,” he shared.
After graduating from Berry College, a non-denominational Christian school, Owens redoubled his commitment to service, which he told the AP was his new religion. Owens trained as an advocate for sexual assault survivors and also volunteered for projects focusing on HIV/AIDS education, homelessness, teenage pregnancy, and substance abuse. “Even though I wasn’t doing this theology anymore, what I was definitely doing was following the path of Jesus: feeding people, sheltering people,” Owens told the AP.
Shortly after graduating from Berry College, Owens joined Haley House, located in Boston, where he would meet people from all walks of faith: Christianity, Buddhism, Wicca, Islam, and even Monasticism. He credits a friend who gave him a copy of “Cave in the Snow,” written by Vicki McKenzie, which tells the story of Tibetan Buddhist nun Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s search for enlightenment that set Owens on his spiritual path.
True compassion involves acknowledging suffering and taking a solemn oath to alleviate it.
“When I started exploring Buddhism, I never thought, ’Oh, Black people don’t do this, or maybe this is in conflict with my Christian upbringing,’” Owens said. “What I thought was: ’Here’s something that can help me to suffer less… I was only interested in how to reduce harm against myself and others.”
His exposure to various religions only deepened at Harvard Divinity School, where Owens met a member of the Satanist faith. According to La Carmina, the author of the “Little Book of Satanism,” despite the moniker, most Satanists are non-theists.
“There are many different kinds of Satanists, but most don’t actually believe in Satan and don’t worship him as either a god or as a force of evil. For the most part, Satanists are non-theists and view Satanism as a personal liberation from traditional theistic beliefs.” La Carmina told Columbia Magazine. “We value nonconformity and revolt against the ideas of superstition and arbitrary authority. Modern Satanists are nonviolent and interested in the pursuit of reason, justice, and truth.”
Owens has gone from “breaking up with God” in college to reconciling with God and refining his image of God, as he told the AP, “God isn’t some old man sitting on a throne in the clouds, who’s, like, very temperamental. God is space and emptiness and energy. God is always this experience, inviting us back through our most divine, sacred souls. God is love.”
Owens continues to find inspiration from figures as varied as James Baldwin, Harriet Tubman, Alvin Ailey, Andre Leon Talley, Toni Morrison, Tony Kushner, and Beyoncé. This wide-ranging group of influences motivates him to continue to be fluid, as he told the AP, “I want people to feel the same way when they experience something that I talk about or write about.”
Owens added, “That’s part of the work of the artist — to help us to feel and to not be afraid to feel. To help us dream differently, inspire us and shake us out of our rigidity to get more fluid.”
Beyoncé Shows Off Long, Natural Hair In Cécred Hair Care Tutorial, Leaves Critics On Mute
Beyoncé is giving fans a new look at her natural hair in a new video for the #CecredWashDay trend.
Beyoncé is letting fans into her personal hair care routine, showing off her extra long locks while giving a tutorial on her new haircare Cécred products.
The superstar posted the intimate video in the early morning of April 22. Known to wear many luscious wigs, she revealed the state of her natural hair to take part in the #CecredWashDay trend on social media.
“Being disruptive and challenging everything people feel should be the process has always been exciting to me. My hair and music seemed to do that a lot over the years…,” shared the brand founder.
In the video, Beyoncé was shown using many of her hair products, including the conditioner and fermented rice and rose treatment. She referred to the creation of Cécred stemming from her own experience protecting her hair despite keeping it constantly dyed blonde, pointing out that she has chosen color over other chemical processes like relaxers. The 42-year-old emphasized the brand’s use of quality ingredients to ensure even a superstar’s mane remains healthy.
She wrote in the video’s caption, “Maintaining 25 years of blonde on natural hair through all the experimenting I do has played a huge part in developing @cecred’s products. It’s the hardest to keep color-treated hair healthy and strong, but @cecred is here. All quality, with NO shortcuts. Congratulations to the entire CÉCRED team for contributing to developing award-winning products. “
Beyoncé is not only breaking barriers in hair care, but continues to impact other avenues in media as well. Her latest country music-inspired project, Cowboy Carter, called back to Black artists’ history and place in the genre. Despite racist backlash, the “Texas Hold Em” singer made history as the first Black women to top the country charts.
What is one strategy that you can use to avoid some of the issues that plague your physical and mental health as an entrepreneur? Here are just five suggestions
Originally Published Jun. 27, 2016
It’s hard to take time for oneself, especially when you are trying to run a business and so much needs to get done. It always feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day or not enough hands on deck to assist you. Or, you may have trouble delegating even if you have enough able bodies around you. A number of issues affect the mental state of entrepreneurs—from depression to substance abuse. What strategies can you use to avoid some of the issues that plague your physical and mental health as an entrepreneur? Here are some suggestions.
Meditate
Studies show that meditation is good for your mental health because it helps fight depression, stress, and anxiety. Taking time out to be centered, still, and quiet pays huge dividends toward reducing stressors and keeping your mind right.
Sleep
It is important to get enough rest and keep yourself healthy. Sleep deprivation can also cause poor judgment. As the sole decision-maker for your business, it is vital that you make those decisions with a clear, focused, and well-rested mind.
Exercise
Many workout plans take less than 20 minutes and can be done by people at all fitness levels. If you feel tired and burned out at the end of the day, try getting your workout in before you start work in the morning.
Create a support group
Meet and talk with other entrepreneurs to understand how they feel and cope. Your listening and their encouragement could be equally beneficial. You will see that other people are facing similar things, and you don’t have to remain in your silo.
Take breaks
When the stress of the daily grind starts to get to you, take a break. Studies show that microbreaks between 30 seconds and 5 minutes can increase mental activity by up to 13%. A 15-second break every 10 minutes can reduce fatigue by 50%.
Reclaim your weekends
Entrepreneurs can get caught in a cycle of never-ending work, but we all need to recharge now and then. Set aside your weekends to spend away from work—also, schedule hobbies, meetups, or other fun things to do. You’d be surprised at all the activities you can think of when you allow yourself to get bored.
Book vacations
It is essential that entrepreneurs schedule vacations—real ones that last a week or more outside of a 10-block radius. Block out vacations on your calendar, and book them for an entire year in advance.
Detroit Churches Vow To Serve Detroit During NFL Draft
Some of the area’s historically Black churches, like Ebenezer AME Church, located in Detroit, have been in the city for over 100 years.
As the NFL Draft approaches Detroit on April 25-27, Detroit area churches are dedicating themselves to serving the community. Some of the area’s historically Black churches, like Ebenezer AME Church, located in Detroit, have been in the city for over 100 years.
As the Detroit Free Press reports, Gena Williams McClanahan is focused on helping the city recover from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as keeping the parishioners of the church focused on the lessons and application provided by the Bible. “The Bible is your study guide for life. And regardless of what comes at you, there is something in the Bible that speaks to it,” Williams McClanahan said, ahead of teaching a “survey of the Old Testament” to eight church members using Zoom.
Williams McClanahan continued, “This neighborhood in northwest Detroit has been hard hit by COVID-19; we’ve had economic difficulties and other issues, so we try to bring light into the community and uplift everybody. You can’t uplift one person and leave three behind — everyone should be uplifted. So, it’s not just downtown Detroit that needs to be uplifted, it’s the whole of Detroit that needs to be uplifted. The draft is only here for three days and then they’re gone — we’re here always.”
William Burke, the director of the Ministry of Christian Education at First Baptist International, spoke about the city’s synchrony with the NFL and what he sees as the city’s connection to the tourists heading into town for the NFL Draft. “One of the first things that people coming into our city will see are a whole bunch of churches on different corners, and for me, that’s a good thing.”
Burke continued, “That tradition does not take a break, even during the draft. So our work must not stop, including Bible study on Thursdays, because it’s all about helping people to be fully equipped for life when they step outside of these doors. But as we also look at the great landscape being created downtown and think about all of the tourists that are coming in, it’s important for us to ask how does that impact not only how we evangelize, but more importantly, how do we do what God asks us to do, and that is to serve.”
Other churches, like Ebenezer AME Church in Detroit’s historically Black neighborhood of Nardin Park, will be engaging in community service outreach by the time the draft kicks off.
Edna Walker, a member of the church, told the Detroit Free Press that the work of the church in the community is important to her. “The draft is important because there are people in Detroit that will be helped by it, and I wish I could take some people down from our church to see everything that will be happening, but what we do as a church to support people in our community on a regular basis is extremely important as well.”
Walker continued, “The church represents the people and the community, and when our people had nowhere else to go, the church was there. Our reason for existing is to serve our fellow man. Providing food is something that we have been doing for just the past two or three years, and we didn’t do it with the idea of trying to replace any existing agencies, but the need for food among our vulnerable populations has increased. From what we have seen, that need for food is increasing. And when the draft is over, there will still be many people in need.”
Before the vote for unionization, the Tennessee plant was the only Volkswagen plant in the world that did not have worker representation.
The United Auto Workers is hopeful to spread its influence throughout the South, a region that has been historically hostile to unions. Why the optimism? For the first time, the union group won an election vote in an assembly plant located in the South run by a foreign automotive company.
As U.S. News & World Report reports, the UAW won its election with 73% of the vote after being stonewalled in 2014 and 2019. Notably, before the vote, the plant was the only Volkswagen plant in the world that did not have worker representation, that is, union representation.
After the historic win, UAW President Shawn Fein celebrated with organizers in Tennessee, telling the group, “We’re going to carry this fight on to Mercedes and everywhere else.”
The Mercedes fight Fein referred to is two Mercedes-Benz plants located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, which experts like Harry Katz, a labor relations professor at Cornell University, believes it will be more difficult to unionize because it is deeper in the South than Tennessee.
“They are going to have a much harder road in work sites where they are going to face aggressive management resistance and even community resistance than they faced in Chattanooga,” Katz told U.S. News& World Report. “VW management did not aggressively seek to avoid unionization. Mercedes is going to be a good test. It’s the deeper South.”
To Katz’s point, already six Southern governors had already warned workers against joining UAW, including Alabama’s Gov. Kay Ivey. The other governors who signed onto the joint statement were Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee.
Governors in the South, as NPR reports, often use incentives to lure foreign automakers to the region and provided some assurances that they wouldn’t have to deal with UAW unless they chose to.
Mostly, those auto worker jobs had paid well enough in the past that workers have traditionally felt a union doesn’t really benefit them, but with the UAW’s $40 million investment into the South, that sentiment may be changing. Quinton North, a Black worker at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant, said that Fein’s leadership is a reason he switched his vote from no to yes. “He’s (Fein) really showed what he is—he’s for the workers.”
President Joe Biden also weighed in on the attempts of the Republican governors to use fear-mongering tactics, releasing a statement affirming the right of American workers to choose whether or not a union represents their best interests.
“Let me be clear to the Republican governors that tried to undermine this vote: there is nothing to fear from American workers using their voice and their legal right to form a union if they so choose.”
The Building of A Black Community: Inside Wilmington, Delaware’s Black Business Boom
Wilmington, Delaware, has a booming Black business scene that amplifies the city's rich Black history.
Wilmington, Delaware, is a quaint northeastern city with charm, a nearly 200-year history, and a constantly evolving business and residential community. With a Black/African American population of over 50%, the city serves as the perfect breeding ground for a Black-owned business to thrive.
BLACK ENTERPRISE was recently invited to tour Greater Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley’s Black business scene and saw firsthand how eager the predominantly Black community was to receive visibility on their thriving entrepreneurial pursuits. From food, hospitality, and the arts to education and community building, Wilmington offers Black businesses of all sizes the opportunity and resources needed to blossom. Whether Black-owned or Black-led, there are very few businesses in Wilmington where Black Excellence isn’t at the forefront.
As one of the last stops to freedom on Harriet Tubman’s Underground Railroad, Wilmington holds deep African-American history and culture that can be traced and experienced through a simple walk or drive through the city. With rich Black heritage, community, and infrastructure, many out-of-towners have started to catch on to why Delaware was deemed a top state to live this year.
Ranked 16th on a top 20 list of most sought-after states to live in, 2022 saw the city receive 12,500 more residents than it lost, with 29% of the 125 people who moved to the state being millennials and 18% baby boomers. Most of its transplants come from Pennsylvania (26%), Maryland (22%), New Jersey (12%), New York (7%), and North Carolina (7%), and a majority of the newbies make the move to benefit from Wilmington’s good school districts, strong job economy, beautiful city, and access to opportunity and quality of life.
Boomers in retirement have the luxury of enjoying nontaxable income, with Delaware being among the few states not to tax Social Security benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits. Retirees age 60 and older can also exclude up to $12,500 of pension or retirement income from a qualified retirement plan in the state.
Once settled in Wilmington, there are a variety of businesses and services to provide locals and visitors with a warm welcome and a look inside the community-driven spirit of the city. BLACK ENTERPRISE learned about 15 Black-owned businesses located throughout Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley, all of which spoke highly about the growth of the city’s Black business trail in recent years.
Delaware’s premier Black woman-owned photography and podcast studio Haute The Studio serves as a creative space with creators in mind. Owner Leslie Eugene curated an innovation-forward hub where locals and visitors can host maternity shoots and live podcasts or use it as a home studio to brand their company. She takes pride in serving as one of Wilmington’s first multi-content studio spaces. With plush decor, a variety of luxury-inspired sets, and a private recording studio, Haute is quickly becoming the go-to center for creative expression. A monthly subscription starts at $4.99.
As a Miami native who moved to Wilmington 10 years ago before investing in the city’s thriving economy, Eugene notices how much “bigger” the Black business scene is getting, with a Black-owned event space and more art-focused events in the area.
Town & Shore Handcrafted is a premier Black-woman-owned custom luxury leather atelier in Wilmington’s heart. Each piece is designed by Liv McClintock, a self-taught craftswoman who transitioned from corporate IT to a world of independent design. A native of Rehoboth, Delaware, McClintock’s childhood summers with family in New York, Philadelphia, and Wilmington often included sewing activities. After honing in on her lifelong hobby as a profession, McClintock sought to fill the void in American-made leather goods and established Town & Shore Handcrafted in 2013.
With her luxury goods, she has amassed a diverse clientele that spreads far beyond the local Wilmington area. To offer a “different perspective of Made In The USA,” as she told BLACK ENTERPRISE, McClintock also aims to expand the vision for other Black business owners and inspire them to think big when it comes to appealing to consumers beyond the Black community.
Imagine scheduling a meeting with your girls, planning a unique date night, or craving a posh arts and crafts experience over wine and good eats. Delaware’s first candle and craft cafe Cabernet Candles was curated to meet those needs and bring home and garden to the Black community.
Created by Diante Simmons and located in Wilmington’s Historic New Castle district, the Cabernet Candle journey began when Simmons acted on her belief that every individual should have a safe space and opportunity to express their creative side. To provide an exclusive environment tailored for individuals whose creativity and craving for human connection were being suppressed and constrained by the limitations of quarantine lockdowns, Simmons launched Cabernet Candles in September 2020. Her initial vision was to offer new and soon-to-be brides the opportunity to celebrate their big day with small intimate gatherings for their bridal parties. However, as her clientele grew, so did her innovation and reach.
Since its launch, Cabernet Candles, with representation from Purpose PR Agency, has hosted Delaware’s first candle-making and wine-tasting events at many surrounding wineries and even accommodated non-profit events at community organizations such as Shepherd Place homeless shelter for women and children. With customary candle and perfume-making, soap pourings, and succulent planting experiences, Simmons is helping locals and visitors reconnect with their inner creative spark.
Other curated experiences include poetry nights, Art in the Garden, plant and sip, and wax and wine events. Up next, Cabernet Candles will host its annual Sunflower Retreat for women ages 25 to 60, aimed at celebrating the everyday woman and the efforts she has made through her endeavors.
Any Divine Nine Greek-lettered organization member knows firsthand how important a piece of quality paraphernalia is. It’s part of a new initiate’s introduction to their respective org. A customized jacket, cardigan, or T-shirt will show the world how proud a member is to serve and represent their fraternity or sorority.
Couture Greek Store is the premier custom Greek paraphernalia shop for the state’s local HBCU Delaware State and beyond. D9 members from far and wide come to this Black woman-owned business that uses the help of her family to create custom pieces for the D9 community.
Janelle Bowman, a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., decided to turn her side hustle into a full-time career and launched her brick-and-mortar store in Middletown in 2019. Born out of a void she noticed with PWI-focused stores barely servicing the D9 community, Bowman sought the help of her mother (another proud Delta) her father (a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.), and her husband (a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.), to organize a family-run operation for Black Greek members.
Elite Feet
Elite Feet is Delaware’s premier footwear company, specializing in a shoe-fitting experience that pairs customers with the perfect pair of sneakers to live a more active and healthier lifestyle. Owned by the husband-and-wife team of Jason and Joy Hunt, the duo trained their staff in their “Elite Fit Process,” which helps educate customers on shoe fitting. Elite Feet’s use of the gait analysis system helps them choose the right shoe for walking, running, and organized sports backed by science.
To complement a customer’s physical activity with improved nutrition, one of a few Black-owned specialty footwear companies also has an ISSA-certified specialist in fitness nutrition on staff for assistance. Community-focused, Elite Feet enjoys taking its mobile store on the road to marathons or to give out shoes to the homeless. To amplify other Black-owned businesses, the Hunts proudly sell accessories like anti-inflammatory ointment and bulletproof book bags designed by Black entrepreneurs.
As conservative-led states pass policies to ban and censor books written by or about members of the Black and LGBTQ+ community, businesses like Wilmington’s Books & Bagels represent the importance of Black-owned bookstores.
This community-based bookstore sells books and food and serves as a safe space for after-school programs, book signings, or a peaceful reading session. This Black-woman-owned and operated bookstore puts the community at the forefront of its operation model with breakfast and dinner servings, an afterschool program, free book offerings, and its bring-a-book take-a-book model. Owner Eleanor just wants her local community to read. Her decision to partner with the Black woman-owned food truck The Stand to offer food and beverage services to patrons highlights her drive to bring locals in and get them to stay. With food, good vibes, and a community feel, Books & Bagels has quickly become Wilmington’s new go-to neighborhood bookstore.
Network Connect is on a mission to create a brighter future for youth and families across Delaware and beyond. It was founded by Cierra Hall-Hipkins, a mom, wife, and Wilmington native who felt compelled to launch an afterschool program that works with schools and community members to help educate and uplift the local community. Her non-profit background aided her decision to return to her hometown and fill a void she noticed was impacting inner-city youth. To reverse the effects of trauma, Network Connect serves as a safe healing space with its programs implemented in eight schools throughout Delaware and counting.
Programs include The Future Culture Creators Employment Program, which provides youth ages 14-19 enrolled in school with 12 weeks of training on workforce development, trauma-informed care, design thinking, financial literacy, and community engagement ahead of job placement. The Dual School Program offers a 12-week curriculum focused on social impact initiatives to inspire youth to be agents of change. The RACE to Wellness Campaign puts mental health at the forefront with programs that use the CDC’s six strategies to prevent adverse childhood experiences. Through Network Connects’ RACE Kits, students are provided with positive affirmations, stress balls, creativity books, and more to remind them of their worth and paths to greatness.
Code Differently
As more companies work to amplify diversity and inclusion in the workplace, Wilmington’s Code Differently prepares the next generation of diverse talent in tech. Through hands-on training and coding classes for youth to adults, Code Differently gives participants technical and cognitive abilities in technology-driven work environments. Founded by Stephanie Eldridge who used her years of work as an engineer to fill a void and feed the tech pipeline for diverse talent, she has the only Black woman-owned tech company focused on tech workforce development in Delaware.
With technology at the forefront of most prominent companies, the need for qualified talent grows daily. Regarding diversity in tech, data show that diverse teams exhibit greater innovation, performance, and profitability.
With four key programs in place, Code Differently is helping to put students on paths to success in tech. Programs include the 1000 Kids Coding, which exposes New Castle County students to computing and programming, a workforce training initiative to help participants underrepresented in tech reinvent their skills to align with the changing workforce, a youth work-based learning program, and job readiness program that “teaches kids how to get high-skilled jobs,” Eldridge tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Working with experts in the field to serve as teachers and mentors, Code Differently has enlisted tech professionals like Google alum Anthony Mays to lead classes on coding. Tech Talk Thursdays allow students to meet with a Black tech professional who shares their experience in the field. Many of their participants go on to work with JP Morgan Chase with its adult cohort program being 100% free and providing stipends.
While many businesses struggled to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, the Black-owned beauty studio Bitterfoxx expanded to a bigger and better location in Wilmington’s Trolley Square. Owner India Brooks prides herself in the “professional, punctual, personable, and consistent” service she and her team provide to everyone who enters the posh hub. With high-grade waxing, brow, and makeup services and a line of pre and after-wax products, Bitterfoxx is giving some bigger chain wax studios a run for their money.
As a licensed esthetician with six years specializing in waxing and brow-shaping services, Brooks decided to bank on herself. She launched Bitterfoxx in 2015 to create a safe space where people feel comfortable being authentically themselves. As a Wilmington native, Brooks is excited to see the growth of Black entrepreneurship and Black-owned brick-and-mortar locations.
“When I first got into aesthetics, there weren’t that many Black people that had a studio. I think it was just me and one other girl in Delaware,” Brooks tells BE. “I’ve been in the field seven years and now there’s about 10 to 15 Black-owned wax studios.”
There’s a growing Black vegan food scene sweeping Wilmington and Greenbox Kitchen is among the restaurants leading the charge. Owned by Bronx native Jason Aviles, Greenbox has become a staple to the community with its award-winning fast-casual, plant-based menu and authentic approach to green eating.
Its menu consists of signature smoothies, super fruit bowls, juices, and munchies like avocado toast, PB&J toast, Belgian waffles, and a chickpea tuna salad that will leave your mouth watering for more. With community at the forefront, Aviles uses Greenbox Kitchen to connect people to nourishing, delicious, nutrient-dense food and provide free meals to those in need.
Aviles’ desire to combat food deserts in the community following a spiritual retreat that helped him go vegan led him to create Greenbox Kitchen. Initially a non-profit, it quickly grew into a restaurant at the request of Wilmington locals. Located on Wilmington’s business-booming Market Street, Greenbox withstood the COVID-19 pandemic after its 2019 launch.
“It was the people that kept us open,” Aviles tells BE. “And making smart business decisions.”
Even as Greenbox Kitchen thrives with patrons filling the restaurant during its Monday-Saturday operating hours of 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aviles notes the barriers many Black business owners face in Wilmington due to the lack of owning the land they operate on. While it’s relatively easy to get financial support to open a brick-and-mortar in the city, Aviles is hoping to see more opportunities when it comes to infrastructure and development.
“The missing piece here is culture. Trying to convince the powers that be that this is where the market is going,” he says. “Supporting Black businesses shouldn’t just be a check in the box.”
Aviles is committed to guiding and supporting clean eating, health, and wellness. When he’s not running Greenbox Kitchen, he returns to his hometown of New York City to the Bronx and Harlem to teach kids meditation, mindfulness, and nutrition.
What happens when two brothers leave their corporate jobs to combine IT and real estate skills? A soul food restaurant named after their mother is born.
Connie’s Chicken & Waffles is the Black-owned chain restaurant dominating the restaurant food hall scene in their native Baltimore and neighboring Wilmington. With various delicious chicken and waffle combos and signature sauces, Shawn and Khari Parker enjoy incorporating customer ideas to add new menu options and keep patrons coming back for more. Combinations include the Oreo waffle with two pieces of chicken, the Red Velvet waffle with two chicken breast tenders, and the popular Crunchberry waffle with chicken.
They are located in Wilmington, DE.CO food hall, but growing. Connie’s has three locations in Baltimore and one in Delaware, along with the Parker brothers’ pizza shop, Last Slyce.
“Wilmington is an emerging Black-owned food scene and that’s one of the amazing things we see when other Black-owned businesses pop up and grow,” Khari says while noting how “D.C. started the trend, then Baltimore, now Wilmington. We’re watching the growth of African Americans who are grabbing market share.”
Not bad for two Black restaurateurs who never saw themselves entering the food and beverage industry. Khari had taken time off from his IT job to write a book on personal finance and pursue his passions when he met with his brother Shawn, who worked in real estate, and decided they wanted to grab a bite to eat.
With a craving for chicken and waffles, the brothers realized there weren’t any spots to satisfy their urge, so they decided to create their own. Owning locations in food halls within predominantly Black communities, the Parker brothers pride themselves in the job and mentorship opportunities they offer local youth. They’ve hosted company trips to Miami and used their daily team meetings to inspire their staff to enter business and entrepreneurship. With a goal of franchising or licensing their growing eatery, the Parker brothers hire to motivate their team to be great and hopefully help bring Connie’s Chicken & Waffles to another city.
If you’re spending time in Wilmington, there’s one question almost everyone will ask you. “Have you gone to Oath ’84?”
In its two years of operation, Oath ’84 has become the go-to for those seeking an inviting, stylish, and sophisticated dining and drinking experience in Wilmington. The tapas-style menu offers tasty small plates of new American cuisine, expertly crafted cocktails, sports entertainment on flat-screen TVs, and cigars for those on the move. Founded by Wilmington native and sports fanatic Justin Womack, Oath represents truth and integrity, ’84 is considered one of the best years in sports history.
Womack learned how to cook from his grandmother and continued to work on his craft into adulthood. He studied the business of operating a restaurant. He worked his way up a major Italian restaurant chain from a line cook to a sous chef and eventually the executive chef who opened and trained staff at more than 40 locations. After developing 20 executive chefs for another restaurant, Womack was ready to use his skillset to launch his own business in his hometown. He opened Oath ’84 on King Street in Downtown Wilmington in a building he dreamt of operating in as a kid. With a mission to open another 83 locations, keeping Oath ’84 as the flagship, Womack is expanding with Oath ’83 opening on Market Street on April 29.
Going vegan isn’t for everyone. But veganism would be the standard way of life if all vegan food tasted how it does at Rooted AF. From mouth-watering empanadas to chopped cheese, tacos, loaded sweet potatoes, a jerk cheesesteak dubbed “The Pinky Cole,” Rooted AF has a taste and energy that will captivate your soul and leave you craving more.
The popular vegan food spot was founded by Nikita Thomas, who started the restaurant to provide healthy food options without sacrificing flavor or quality. Culture and natural herbs combine with Rooted’s traditional Spanish-style empanadas, New York-style chopped cheeseburgers, and hibiscus-rose tea. The empanadas are so good, that they’re even offered in local grocery stores.
“How do I create something that’s good but also good for you?” was Thomas’ thought process when she decided to start a business.
Thomas is so passionate about her craft and the Black women who helped pave the way in the restaurant industry she was intentional with naming a menu item after Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole. With a goal of “being the change I wanted to see in the people,” Thomas started a plant-based apothecary in 2019 under the name God’s Green Earth RX, where she sold vegan soaps, vegan candles, sea moss, and mushroom capsules to help people battling depression.
Thomas had no restaurant background when she went into business with a former partner who backed out just days before launch. Conflicted on whether she should continue as a solo owner or give up, Thomas moved on faith and has operated Rooted AF on her own in Wilmington’s Chancery food hall. The demand is so high for her menu items, that some of her competition has attempted to replicate her style, to no avail.
“My food is really good. My heart is really sincere. People can sense I’m doing something bigger than just the food,” Thomas says.
Word -of-mouth continues to be the source of Rooted AF’s success. But like many others, Thomas wonders if big businesses will continue to drive out Black-owned businesses and prevent them from achieving longevity.
“I need to level up to owning the building,” she says.
An all-day vegan breakfast and lunch menu awaits at Delectablez in Wilmington’s DE.CO food hall. From soft and sultry house-made cakes to delicious dairy-free shakes and burgers, Delectablez will have you second-guessing why you have yet to go vegan.
Founded by vegan chef Tamara Earl, Delectablez grew after selling small plates to salons and barbershops with her 1-year-old son in tow. After winning a pitch competition, Earl’s menu expanded from waffle to cakes and hot pockets, burgers, pizzas, and specialty wraps. Her vegan pizzas are also available in local ShopRites.
FUNDING/INFRASTRUCTURE
Speaking with these founders highlighted one of the biggest concerns facing Black business owners in Wilmington and nationwide. While opportunities for funding and brick-and-mortar might be available, the lack of access to ownership of the land and infrastructure development can see a small Black-owned business close its doors quickly after opening.
The dark cloud lingering over the Black business ecosystem is an area Christopher “CJ” Bell aims to address as the Economic Development Director at the New Castle County Office of Economic Development (OED).
“There’s so much to say on providing support to Black Business owners, commonly referred to as MBEs but I’ll highlight three key things our office is doing,” The Connect founder tells BE.
Here is what he told us:
1.) “Lack of access to capital has been a common theme for far too long for minority-owned businesses. One way to address this—providing prize money for several pitch competitions that are designed for underserved populations (woman-owned, minority-owned, etc.). We have sponsored the top prize for both the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce and New Castle County Chamber of Commerce pitch competitions. This provides minority businesses with the initial funding needed to grow and expand their business.”
2.) “Secondly, our Public Works Department conducted a disparity study that indicated low utilization of minority businesses in construction projects. In response, we have introduced a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) program which has several elements; hired an SBE consultant to validate our existing vendor database; increased our bid limits to match the state (which allows for more first-time companies to receive government contracts); and hired an SBE Program Coordinator. These initiatives will result in a significantly higher minority-business utilization rate in our government contracts and the number of minority-owned businesses eligible for various bids in government contracts.”
3) “NCC’s Economic and Community Development Committee found a common interest in revitalizing blighted neighborhoods hindered by substandard or deteriorating conditions. These commercial corridors reflect the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on underserved communities that were already disadvantaged before COVID-19. By creating a program designated to revitalizing targeted commercial corridors, we’ll be able to provide real-time relief to businesses that will thrive in better-supported environments.”
With support from the local community and a community of Black business owners, along with resources to help small businesses last and thrive from advocates on the government level, Wilmington’s Black business scene is alive and well and is available for residents and visitors from all backgrounds and walks of life. Whether you’re looking to retire in peace, relocate to a more budget-friendly city, or take a tour of Black business hub, Wilmington has you covered.
Reparations Bills Pass First Hearings In California Senate
The multiple bills would establish agencies to oversee the allocation of reparations as well as correcting the injustice of eminent domain.
New reparations bills made it through their first hearing in the California Senate. If passed, the bills would implement reparations policy and address systemic eminent domain that displaced primarily Black residents.
The author of the bills, State Sen. Steven Bradford of Gardena, said the policies are “overdue” to correct racially-motivated displacement by the state’s government.
“This is not a handout or a charity of any sort,” Bradford said, according to The Sacramento Bee. “It’s what is owed, what is promised, what is 160 years overdue.”
California historically took private property owned by its Black and brown residents for racially-motivated reasons. Senate Bill 1050 means to correct this injustice, and passed 6-1 during a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“The power of eminent domain has been repeatedly used to move Black and brown people off their land, to destroy homes and to devastate the opportunity for families to build generational wealth,” explained Bradford.
Cities from San Francisco to Los Angeles used eminent domain to take away minorities’ ability to build wealth through homeownership. Bradford intends for the bill to establish a path of restitution or returning of land to their former owners.
Bradford is also the vice chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. The caucus proposed the bills as part of its 2024 Reparations Priority Bill Package. Bradford also serves on the first-ever Reparations task force in the state and nation.
“This is a debt that is owed to the people who helped build this country,” shared Bradford. Reparations is a debt owed to the descendants of slavery.”
California has been relatively progressive in implementing reparations. Senate Bill 1403 specifically would establish the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency, which would oversee the implementation and allocation of reparations to those eligible.
“This agency will be the necessary foundation for the implementation and success of reparations,” Bradford said during a committee hearing in April. “The most important responsibility of this agency will be determining which individuals are eligible for reparations programs and services—the descendants of chattel slavery.”
Other state legislatures have also initiated conversations on reparations, such as New York. While the actual implementation has occurred, with Evanston, Illinois, being the first, these new bills making the rounds in California are a significant stride toward the effort.
The cost of manufacturing EVs has gone down, making them more affordable for consumers.
Valerie Labi, the co-founder and CEO of Wahu Mobility, the ebike manufacturer and delivery service provider, spoke at the University of Michigan’s William Davidson Institute in April, highlighting that the average age of vehicles in Ghana is approximately 14 years old. She emphasized her company’s dual mission of addressing two critical challenges: designing vehicles tailored for African conditions and offering reliable transportation solutions.
Mobility, particularly e-mobility, can help supplement a lack of a public transportation system with vehicles that private citizens can use. According to a recent scholarship from the World Bank, the cost of manufacturing EVs, mainly two- and three-wheeled EVs, has gone down enough to make them a significant portion of a country’s movement toward sustainable mobility.
In February 2024, Wahu Mobility of Ghana inaugurated the country’s inaugural electric vehicle (EV) assembly plant. Established in 2022 through the merger of Cargo Bikes and Mana Mobility, both enterprises operated by African women, Wahu Mobility primarily specializes in electric bicycles tailored to Ghana’s terrain. This initiative forms part of its broader mission to empower riders across Ghana.
As Innovation Spark reports, Wahu Mobility received a significant investment from Blue Lion in 2023, which allowed the company to expand production, invest in research and development, put more effort into marketing, and expand distribution. Though most discussion of EVs is tethered to the automotive industry, implementation of the technology in that sector has been disjointed, particularly from American manufacturers.
Wahu brings together talent from Ghana and experienced engineers and designers from global brands like BMW and Audi. Labi is a serial impact entrepreneur who holds degrees from the University of Southampton and the University of Cambridge.
Once a rider makes their initial deposit, the bike is delivered within 2-3 business days as long as e-bikes are available. Registration for the bikes is completed via a mobile app, the Wahu Rider App. Maintenance on the bikes is not free, but the maintenance is subsidized, meaning riders will only pay part of the cost of repairs.
— William Davidson Institute (@WDavidson_Inst) April 3, 2024
Ghana also needs the charging infrastructure for EVs, which Dr. Aruna Sivakumar, the director of the Urban Systems Lab, said is a problem in many developing countries.
As Sivakumar writes for Energy Futures Lab’s website, “Therefore, the transition to electrification of road transport must be accompanied by appropriate policies to ensure that accessibility (especially for the poor) is not compromised. Aggressive electrification without consideration of transport planning principles of equitable access will result in major setbacks for the low-income populations in these countries.”
In 2023, Impact Hub Accra, a social entrepreneurship and innovation center in Ghana, partnered with Siemens Stiftung to implement a Made In Ghana project to help facilitate, among other things, the creation of charging infrastructure in Ghana, the decarbonization of transportation in Ghana, and bringing stakeholders into the funding equation.
According to Will Senyo, the CEO of Impact Hub Africa, the hope is that the investments into Wahu Mobility and other companies in the EV space will translate to more sustainable and inclusive transportation in Ghana.
“Collaboratively, we are working with regional institutions, businesses, academics, and administration on technical issues to foster more sustainable, accessible, inclusive, and efficient urban transportation in the country,” Senyo said.
