Lauren Strayhorn, MPS’ Post

Most books about celebrating Black-owned businesses might not hit the mark. These aren’t: 'Black Fortunes'—The story of the first six African Americans who escaped slavery and became millionaires. 'The Memo'—What women of color need to know to secure a seat at the table. 'Black Business Secrets'—500 tips to help African American entrepreneurs succeed. 'Our Black Year'—One family's quest to buy Black for a year. 'Powernomics'—The national plan to empower Black America. Any others you’d add? Let's lift up our local heroes! 🎉👏🏾 Discover local Black-owned businesses at SoFloBlackPages.com #BlackExcellence #SoFloPride #SupportLocal #sofloblackpages, #supportblackownedbusinesses

Celebrate National Black Business Month this August by supporting Black businesses in your community and beyond. There are more than 3.2 Million Black-owned businesses in America and Black women own 35% of those! Here are a few things you can do: 💥 Locate and shop at Black-owned businesses in your community 💥 Support a Black business by sharing a 5-star Google Review to let others know about their services and products 💥 Help amplify the voices of Black-owned businesses by sharing their stories, products, and services on your social media platforms. Use hashtags like #BlackBusinessMonth, #SupportBlackBusiness 💥 Partner & collaborate with Black-owned businesses and organizations. We can build a stronger, more inclusive economy that benefits everyone by working together. 💥 Network & share your expertise as an entrepreneur or a business professional, offering mentorship or guidance to aspiring Black business owners. Let's make this National Black Business Month a month of empowerment and growth for Black-owned businesses. We can create a more equitable and thriving business landscape by actively supporting and championing Black businesses. #nationalblackbusinessmonth #blackbusinessmonth #supportblackbusinesses

Did you know that the Black American community has a combined purchasing power of over $1.6 trillion? A core part of our 2023 strategy was strengthening the US community and understanding what they wanted from us. Rather than guess, we did what we do best and asked our stateside AMAKA Studio community. Leveraging our history of amplifying stories for Black women, by Black creators, we surveyed over 600 Black women based in the U.S. and curated an exclusive report, "Black Women in the United States," offering a profound understanding of the nuanced needs and preferences of this dynamic demographic. What's Inside: *Insights into the US Black women market and their unique needs. *Practical tips for culturally relevant marketing and communication. *Strategies to build trust and forge authentic connections. *Key takeaways for effective and diverse creator led content. In true AMAKA fashion, we’ve done all the leg work for you and we'd rather not gate-keep so we've opted to share these actionable insights for free. Let me know your thoughts and happy reading! Download the Report: https://bit.ly/3O0r0OC Beautiful report design by Sara Biatchinyi, one of our talented creators.

Let's come together this #BlackHistoryMonth to celebrate, reflect, and take actionable steps toward supporting the Black community. Here are some ways you can make a meaningful impact: 1. Educate Yourself: Learn more about Black history and culture by reading books, watching documentaries, and attending events. Understanding the past and present is key to building a better future. 2. Support Black-Owned Businesses: Make a conscious effort to shop at Black-owned businesses this month and beyond. Every purchase makes a difference. 3. Amplify Black Voices: Use your platform, big or small, to share and highlight the work of Black creators, professionals, and leaders. 4. Volunteer: Give your time to organizations and causes that support the Black community. Whether it's mentoring, tutoring, or lending a hand at local events, your involvement matters. 5. Donate: If you can, consider donating to organizations dedicated to fighting racial injustice and supporting Black communities. Every contribution counts. We love Black Girls Code, which engages girls of color with computer programming education to nurture their careers in tech. 6. Reflect on Personal Biases: Take time to reflect on any unconscious biases and educate yourself on how you can be a better ally. 7. Engage in Conversations: Discuss Black history, the achievements of Black individuals, and current issues facing the community. Open, honest dialogues can lead to understanding and change. Let's use this as a stepping stone towards ongoing support and allyship. Together, we can contribute to a world that values and uplifts every community member. #SupportBlackCommunity #BeAnAlly #EducateYourself #MakeADifference #ColorofChange #BlackGirlsCode #WeBelongInTheRoom https://www.wearebgc.org/

If you own a business, you should be passionate about it. Take a bread company, for example. You shouldn't just love the taste of bread but also understand its diverse benefits for health, wellness, nutrition, and pleasure. You should be well-versed in its ingredients, what enhances its quality, and what doesn't complement it. Be a master of your craft, possessing a holistic interest not just in your own bread company but in the entire spectrum of bread. If you inquire about my company, I'll begin by highlighting the number of black women who launched businesses during the pandemic. I'll touch on the initiatives introduced by various companies to back black women in business, and then dive into the challenges, address the wealth gap, and systemic racism that often leads black women-owned businesses to falter. Our introduction always emphasizes the crucial reasons behind our creation. That’s passion. I care deeply for the community of women we serve. I want their dreams to come true, and I want them to feel loved, encouraged and supported. That’s why Bacon Magazine exists. Find your “passion point” and build from there.

What if you gave yourself permission to live a life that sparks your SOUL? Get ready to level up your entrepreneurial journey with the return of SOULful Entrepreneurship! Our first cohort of Black women trailblazers has shown us the incredible power of collaboration, support, and joy in forging the path to purpose. Now, we're thrilled to open the doors for our May cohort, and we want YOU to join this dynamic community! ✨ If you're a Black woman seeking to expand your network, deepen connections, and foster collaboration for mutual growth, SOULful Entrepreneurship is the experience for you. Whether you're looking to transition from your 9-5 job to pursue entrepreneurship or seeking guidance to manifest your dreams, our 6-week live group course provides a supportive, structured, and transformative approach. Shed fears, identify mindset blocks, and develop a strategic plan to execute your goals in a joyful and empowering space. Don't miss out on this experience that celebrates and supports Black women on their journey to fulfillment and success. Sign up for the waitlist (link in the comments) to secure a discount and be the FIRST to register when the doors open. Let's redefine what's possible together!

Are you a Black woman with a brilliant business idea but unsure how to turn it into reality? Join us for a networking mixer and workshop designed to help you solidify your concept and build a thriving business. This event is specifically tailored for Black women and gender-expansive entrepreneurs and focuses on: ⭐ Mastering the Lean Canvas: Learn how to use this proven tool to define your value proposition, target audience, marketing channels, and path to revenue. ⭐ Connecting with Powerful People: Network with fellow Black women entrepreneurs, share experiences, and gain valuable insights from each other. ⭐ Celebrating Black Brilliance: Be inspired by Black women business leaders who paved the way and are shaping the future. Learn more and register on Eventbrite: https://lnkd.in/emGGCCRN

“Despite their growing presence, Black women entrepreneurs face disproportionate financial headwinds, specifically a lack of access to capital. Given this hurdle, Black business owners are more likely than other demographic groups to self-fund their businesses as those who apply for funding face higher rejection rates than their white counterparts. Furthermore, only a 2% of venture capital funding goes to U.S. female-only founder teams. The intersectionality of being Black and female makes the task of securing funding even more daunting.” #entrepreneurship #equity #smallbusiness #blackowned

https://lnkd.in/gpvN6Ced "Despite their growing presence, Black women entrepreneurs face disproportionate financial headwinds, specifically a lack of access to capital. Given this hurdle, Black business owners are more likely than other demographic groups to self-fund their businesses as those who apply for funding face higher rejection rates than their white counterparts. Furthermore, only a 2% of venture capital funding goes to U.S. female-only founder teams. The intersectionality of being Black and female makes the task of securing funding even more daunting." With BEAD investments, to address Digital Equity, Ensuring to open up pathways to Economic Equity is critical to achieving sustainable and thriving Dignity Equity for ALL.

This post is NOT about Black men... We just ran a survey on our Vonza platform and found a stunning statistics: - 71% of Black creators on our Vonza platform are Black women. Also... - 70% of More Black women go to church than black men. 82% of More black women start their business than black men. More Black women earn advance degrees (Masters and Phd) than black men. More black women entrepreneurs will attend business seminars and Masterminds than black men. What happened to black men? Why are black men not leading in this context and starting more online busineses? Where are the Black men creators at? Note::::: This post is NOT to talk down on black men and its not about race either. I am looking for answers so we can find solutions.