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b y A R N O L D + H AVA S M E D I A B O S T O N
In partnership with
@d_irvin
#THISMONTHINBOSTON
THE BLACK OWNED EDITION
WELCOME Thi s Mo nt h In B o s t o n wa s creat ed by Ar no l d in 2017 wi th a si m p l e m i s s i o n : ce l eb rat e a nd s u p p o r t o u r Bo s to n com m un i t y by p rov i d i n g a p u b l i catio n of al l thing s fo o d, dri n k , ar t , cu l t u re , m u s i c, a n d m ore to the p eo p l e who l ove our ci t y. Fo r thi s i s s u e, we p a r t n ered w i t h Bl ack Owned Bo s ., dedi cated t o h i g h l i g ht i n g a n d cel e brating Bl ack owned b us i n e ss e s a n d creat i ve s i n a n d a ro u nd Bo s to n. We e n co u ra ge a l l w h o exp l o re t h i s is s u e to do s o wi th the i nte nt t o a ct — t o s u p p o r t Bl ack owned bu s ine s s e s an d c reat i ve s i n o u r ci t y. T h i s p u bl icatio n aim s to he l p reade rs t a ke a s m a l l s t ep t o en s u re Bl ack vo ice s are m ore tha n j u s t s een a n d h ea rd , b ut al s o beco m e p ar t of dai ly p u rch a s i n g , l i s t e n i n g , a n d hir ing net wo rks in Greate r B o s t o n . C l i c k on t h e l i n k s b el ow t o n av i g ate to a s p ecif ic s ecti o n w i t h i n t h i s i s s u e , a n d d o n’ t fo rget to check o u t Bl ac k O w n ed Bo s . o n In s t a g ra m fo r a m o re ex te ns ive and conti n uo u s ly u p d at ed l i s t of Bl a ck owned bu s ine s s e s to s uppo r t .
CLICK TO R EA D T HI S M ON T H I N :
Fo od & D r i n k Retai l & Se r v i ce s A r t & C reat i v i t y M us i c Heal th & We l l n es s C om m un i t y
@evanjaccodine
Take A ct i o n
Photo Courtesy of Jae'da Turner
A CON V ER SAT I ON W I T H JA E ' DA TU R N E R , F O U N D E R O F B L AC K OW N E D B OS .
B
lack Own ed Bo s. l aun c h ed i n M arc h of 2 0 19 a s a
s p a ce s t h at cat e r t o Bl a ck p eo p l e . I wa nt ed t o c reate a
platfo rm an d resource to h i g h l i g ht a n d l i f t Bl a c k
p l at fo r m t h at h i g h l i g ht ed t h e s e s p a ce s a n d s how that they
own ed bus in esses, pl a ces, spa ces, a n d th e p eo p l e
ex i s t , a n d t h e re a re l o t s of t h e m !
movi ng the culture fo r ward i n th e G reater B oston a rea . Black Own ed Bo s.’ goa l i s to con n ect peopl e i n si d e a n d
To d at e , o u r co m m u n i t y h a s g row n t o ove r 1 6,0 0 0 p eo p le
ou t si d e of the Black com m un i t y w i th a l l th at th es e
o n In s t a g ra m . T h e co m m u n i t y h a s s ee n s t ea dy
bu si nes ses have to of fer, n ot th roug h c h ar i t y but by
g row t h s i n ce i n ce p t i o n , b u t t h e " m a i n s t rea m" s u rge
creati n g oppo r tun i ties an d exposure.
of i nt e re s t i n s u p p o r t i n g Bl a c k ow n ed b u s i n es s es has b ee n ove r w h e l m i n g .
W H AT INSP IRED YOU TO STA R T BL AC K OW N E D B OS . ? W H Y DID YOU WANT TO P R OV I D E T HI S R ESOU R C E TO
W H Y D I D YO U C H O OS E TO MA K E TH I S R E SO URCE
T H E BOSTON COMM U N I T Y?
C R OW D - S O U R C E D VS . C U R ATE D BY YO U AND YO UR
T he i d ea fo r the page cam e from a conver sati on w i t h a
O R G A N I Z ATI O N A LO N E ?
fr i e nd about a lifest yl e IG page th at sh e h ad stum b l ed
Eve n a s a B o s t o n n at i ve w h o h a s b ee n h e re my entire life,
up on that was tho ug htful , wel l put togeth er, a n d f u l l of
my n et wo rk a n d rea ch h a s i t s l i m i t s . It i s i m po r tant fo r
stor y tellin g an d com pel l i n g i m a ger y of food , sh op s , s t yl e s ,
p eo p l e t o s e l f- i d e nt i f y a s Bl a ck , a n d fo r p eo p le to b e ab le
and location s in their h om etow n . Wi th a n ew h ob by of
t o s h a re t h e Bl a c k ow n ed b u s i n e s s e s i n t h e i r own net wo rk
phot ography an d professi on al ba c k groun d i n m a rket i n g
t h at t h ey k n ow a n d l ove . My re s o u rce i s a hy b rid of c rowd
and g raphic design , I bega n pl ot ti n g on h ow to bri n g
s o u rced a n d d eve l o p ed t h ro u g h p e r s o n a l co nnectio ns .
my ve rsio n of this visi on to l i fe for my h om etow n a n d
Howeve r, I h ave m a d e i t a p o i nt t o co n f i r m a nd reac h
t he ci t y that I love. As a Bl a c k entrepren eur a n d B o s t o n
o u t t o b u s i n e s s e s t o i nvi t e t h e m t o jo i n my net wo rk. My
nati ve I have a keen un d er stan d i n g of th e v i si bi l i t y, o r
p a ge s e r ve s a s a n o b ject i ve p l at fo r m w i t h h i nts of my own
lack thereof , of Black busi n esses i n th e a rea or eve n ju s t
p e r s o n a l ex p e r i e n ce s a n d b u s i n e s s e s t h at I a ctu ally have
Black peo ple. A lot of peer s i n col l ege an d as a yo u n g
d o n e b u s i n e s s w i t h my s e l f . I u s e my au d i e n ce to s o u rce
profe s sio n al of ten com m ent on th e l a c k of busi n e s s e s a n d
reco m m e n d at i o n s a n d co m m e nt a r y o n t h i n g s that o thers
THE BLACK OWNED EDITION | VOL. 28
T H I S
M O N T H
I N
B OSTO N
A CON V ER SAT I ON W I T H JA E ' DA TU R N E R , F O U N D E R O F B L AC K OW N E D B OS . shou ld tr y. Oppor tun i t y a n d exposure are i m por ta nt . J u s t
C a p t u r i n g t h e m o m e nt , eve n i f i t wo u l d b e f l eeting , was
li ke wi th any bus in ess you patron i ze, you won’ t co nt i n u e
i m p o r t a nt fo r m e t o d o . Wi t h g reat p owe r comes g reat
to p ay for a ser vice you d on’ t l i ke a n d before you t r y
re s p o n s i b i l i t y, — Un cl e B e n
somet h in g yo u do res ea rc h , c h ec k rev i ew s, etc . W H AT C A N P E O P L E DO N OW, A N D CO N TI NUE TO W H AT STEP S HAVE YOU TA KEN (OR N EED TO B E
D O, TO E N S U R E TH E B U S I N E SS E S A N D S E RVI CES
TAKEN ) TO HELP BLAC K OW N ED BU SI N ESSES I N
YO U ’ V E L I STE D R E C E I V E S U P P O R T F R O M T HEI R
T H E WA KE OF COVI D -19 ?
CO M M U N I TI E S?
Pe r son ally, I believe th at suppor ti n g Bl ac k Ow n ed
A few t h i n g s . I b e l i eve fo r s u s t a i n ed c h a n ge and p ro g res s
b u si ness es s ho uld be en gra i n ed i n your n or m a l h a b i t s
i n a ny t h i n g i t i s i m p o r t a nt t o h ave a p u r p o s e o r a why.
to create sus tain ed success. However, i t i s n ot l os t o n
T h e m o n ey f ro m t h e m a ny p eo p l e t h at f l o cked to Blac k
me that thes e bus in esses n eed our h el p an d at tent i o n
ow n ed b u s i n e s s e s a s t h e i r fo r m of “ch a r i t y ” was nice to
now mo re than ever d ue to bei n g d i spropor ti on at e ly
kee p b u s i n e s s e s go i n g d u r i n g t h i s cr u c i a l t i me of f inanc ial
and adversely impacted by COV ID-19. As suc h , I h ave
h a rd s h i p . Howeve r, t o s u s t a i n t h i s i t i s i m p o r tant fo r
creat ed hig hlig hts of c i t y, busi n ess, an d pr i vate re s o u rce s
p eo p l e t o a ct u a l ly co n ce p t u a l ly u n d e r s t a n d why they
avai lable to bus in ess es, I c reated d i gesti bl e l i sts of fo o d
s u p p o r t Bl a ck ow n ed b u s i n e s s e s p e r s o n a l ly a nd why i t is
and d rin k locatio n s t h at I h ave per son al ly exper i e n ced fo r
i m p o r t a nt t o d o s o at a m a c ro l eve l .
p eop le to tr y for them selves, an d to am pl i f y, I h ave a l s o i ncreas ed the level of content I am sh ar i n g si gn i f i ca nt ly
O n ce yo u h ave i d e nt i f i ed t h i s w hy, m a ke s u p po r ting thes e
d u e to in creas ed en g a gem ent.
b u s i n e s s e s a n o r m a l o cc u r re n ce . S ay yo u d ecide to take t h at f i r s t s t e p a n d t r y o u t a Bl a ck ow n ed cof fee s ho p
H OW HAVE THE RAC I A L I N J U ST I C ES OF L AT E
a n d yo u l ove t h e s e r vi ce a n d t h e cof fee . Yo u have g iven
IMPACTED OR CHA N G ED T HE M I SSI ON OF BL AC K
t h at b u s i n e s s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o g a i n yo u a s a reg u lar
OW NED BOS.?
c u s t o m e r n o t b ecau s e yo u fee l b a d b u t b ecaus e they
T he whole purpos e an d n eed for th i s page i s a d i rect re sult of sys temic rac i sm an d segregati on th at re s u l t i n the racial wealth g a p, entrepren eur s l eav i n g th e tradi ti o n al workfo rce, busi n ess l oa n d i spa r i ti es, a n d lack of representation . In i ti a l ly th i s page was c reat ed t o connect Black people w i th Bl a c k busi n esses. In th e wa ke of the recent heig hte n ed foc us on ra c i al i n equi t y, a n opp or tun i t, has emerged to n ot on ly con n ect Bl a c k p eo p l e wi th thin gs fo r us by us but to expose oth er peop l e t o the se bus in ess es as bei n g v i abl e opti on s. I have been workin g on an outl et to sh are busi n es s e s outsi de of us in g In s ta gram as a pl atfor m espec i a l ly s i n ce not all of these businesses or our ta rget aud i en ce i s o n Inst agram. In the las t m onth , a s our pa ge fol l ow i n g h a s see n a 500% in crease th ere h a s been a l ot m ore i n b o u n d req ue sts an d des ire for busi n ess recom m en d ati ons . It wa s i mp or tant fo r me to b r i n g my d i rector y proj ect to m a rket ASAP, even if i t was n ot th e pl atfor m I i nten d ed to u s e .
#THISMONTHINBOSTON
p rovi d ed yo u w i t h s o m et h i n g t h at yo u l i ke a nd are willing t o p ay fo r. Us e yo u r re s o u rce s (t i m e , m o n ey, s k i l l s , n et wo rk) to b e a n a dvo cat e fo r t h e s e b u s i n e s s e s . Fo r ex a m p le, hav ing a cat e red m ea l at wo rk ? Su g ge s t o rd e r i n g cat e ring f ro m a Bl a ck ow n ed re s t au ra nt t h at yo u h ave e njoyed p rev io u s ly. Yo u w i l l b e c u l t i vat i n g n ew c u s t o m e r s i n s p a ces s o me b u s i n e s s ju s t d o n’ t h ave a cce s s t o re g u l a rly.
" Perso nal l y, I bel iev e that suppo rting Bl ack o wn ed businesses sh o ul d be eng rai ned in yo ur no rmal h abits to create sustained succes s ."
T H I S
M O N T H
I N
B OSTO N
W H AT’S YOUR VISIO N F OR BL AC K OW N ED BOS . ? H AS
W H AT WO U L D YO U L I K E TO S E E OTH E R NO N-B LACK-
T H AT VISION CHA N G ED I N T HE L AST F EW M O N TH S?
OW N E D B U S I N E SS E S , CO R P O R ATI O N S , A ND O UR
My v i s io n an d miss ion for Bl ac k Ow n ed B os. rem a i n s
E L E C TE D O F F I C I A L S D O TO S U P P O R T TH E B LACK-
the sam e. I have alway s h oped to bui l d my of fer i ng of
OW N E D B U S I N E SS E S O F B OSTO N ?
re sou rces to bus in esses a n d patron s i n ti m e. Howeve r,
He l p cl o s e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y g a p a n d fo r t h e m to als o
the recent ex po sure a n d con n ecti on s I h ave m ad e h ave
u n d e r s t a n d a n d e m b ra ce t h e co n ce p t of s u p p o r ting
allowed me to ex ten d th e reac h of my pl atfor m and go a l .
Bl a ck ow n ed b u s i n e s s e s . M a ny of t h e s e t h i n g s are a l rea dy h a p p e n i n g b u t t o a c k n ow l ed ge t h at Blac k owned
ARE THERE A N Y BL AC K-OW N ED BU SI N ESSES I N
b u s i n e s s e s i n t h e c i t y h ave u n i q u e c h a l l e n ge s in the Small
PAR T I CULA R THAT HAV E D ON E A N OTA BL E J O B
Bu s i n e s s s p a ce a n d creat e re s o u rce s t o h e l p c lo s e the g ap
O F REACTIN G AND A DA P T I N G TO OU R C U R R E N T
t h ro u g h ed u cat i o n , f u n d i n g , a n d s u s t a i n ed s up p o r t.
C L IMATE? Fr ug al Bo oks to re is o n e busi n ess th at com es to m i n d .
W H AT C A N W E E X P E C T TO S E E F R O M B L ACK OWNED
T hey are the on ly Bla c k ow n ed i n d epen d ent book s t o re
B OS . I N TH E CO M I N G W E E KS O R M O N TH S? WHAT ’S
i n Bosto n an d due to th e n ature of th ei r busi n ess t h ey
N E X T F O R YO U R O R G A N I Z ATI O N ?
we re sign if icantly im pacted by th e COV ID-19 c l os u re s .
Yo u ca n ex p ect t o s ee t h e p a ge t o co nt i n u e t o p rov ide
T hey pivo ted to focusi n g on on l i n e sa l es a n d even b e g a n
a n o u t l et a n d p l at fo r m fo r Bl a ck ow n ed b u s i nes s es in
req ue stin g crowd fund i n g suppor t to keep th ei r b u s i n e s s
t h e a rea . We w i l l co nt i n u e t o a g g re g at e m o re and mo re
ali ve . Throug h many d on ati on s th ey were abl e to s t ay
re s o u rce s fo r t h e s e b u s i n e s s e s . We a re wo rk ing to develo p
af loat , an d they als o exper i en ced a wave of th ous a n d s of
re l at i o n s h i p s w i t h m o re b u s i n e s s e s t o fo s t e r a co mmu ni t y.
ord e r s seemin g ly over n i g ht. Peopl e were d i scover i n g t h e i r
A d d i t i o n a l ly, a s t h e b ra n d g row s we w i l l l o o k to s hare
st ore an d buyin g anti -ra c i sm a n d w h i te frag i l i t y b o o k s .
m o re ow n ed/o r i g i n a l co nt e nt i n a d d i t i o n t o ou r b randed
T hey have n ever o perated i n th i s capa c i t y, a n d th ey h ave
m e rc h , we h o p e t o p rovi d e b l o g co nt e nt , m e m b ers hip
handled the s hif t wi th grace w h i l e stay i n g tr ue to t h e i r
s e r vi ce s a n d t o g row o u r e - m a i l l i s t a n d rea c h. Lo o k o u t
mi ssi o n of “chan g in g m i n d s on e book at a ti m e.”
fo r m o re !
BLACK OWNED BOS. RESOURCES BOSTON GLOBE MEDIA– SUPPORT BLACK OWNED
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Black OWNED BOS. || IG: @Blackownedbos
THE BLACK OWNED EDITION
T H I S
MON T H
I N
F O O D & D R I N K
Courtesy of Rhythm 'N Wraps
ST R EN GT HEN I N G A COM M U N I TY TH R O U G H F O O D: R H Y TH M ' N W R A P S
I
n 2020, the largest growing demographic of vegetarians
characterizes our modern thinking about diet. African-
and vegans are African Americans. Hip-hop artists
Americans are now witnessing a reclamation of our bodies
like Rakim, Jay-Z, BeyoncĂŠ, and Guru, have played an
and ourselves, of the foods we choose to eat and, most
enormous role in this movement to integrate health and
importantly, of our freedom to determine our identities.
wellness into our diets. The evolution of this plant-based lifestyle is not a new construct among Black and Brown
Rhythm ‘N Wraps, with its hip-hop connotations, began seven
people; historically many minority cultures have been
years ago when two best friends, one Black the other Jewish,
vegan or vegetarian without the self-consciousness that
decided to start a food truck. The business was launched with
#THISMONTHINBOSTON
M O NT H
I N
FO O D
&
D R I N K
the goal of providing high quality plant-based options to the community in an innovative way that embraced the musical culture of the food they were serving. Today, two years into a brick and mortar location in Brighton, with new chefs, staff, and business partners, our prof ile has been expanding and getting closer to realizing the vision that motivated its founders. We have had open-mic nights for rappers
"We are reminded daily that we are working in the midst of a civil rights movement catalyzed
R hy t h m N Wra p s
T H I S
by the murder of George Floyd."
and poets, musical performances, and exhibits by local minority artists. We even hosted a community meeting for a neighborhood politician. At Rhythm ‘N Wraps, we’re using the tools that we have to do the most good. We have been encouraged by the enthusiastic outpouring of take-out and delivery orders from people of color that has def initely made a difference in our viability as a restaurant with Black owners. We also know that it takes more than a village to sustain our efforts. Organizations like Community Kitchens, Local Initiative Support Corporation, the City of Boston, and Santander Bank’s Cultivate Small Business Program [in conjunction with Babson College] have all been instrumental in sustaining us during this Covid-19 crisis. We are reminded daily that we are working in the midst of a civil rights movement catalyzed by the murder of George Floyd as well as a global pandemic in which more than 70% of the deaths are accounted for by are Black and Latino lives. In the post-COVID world, we believe our culinary and political passions will continue to ignite and reimagine our efforts to connect to our community. We want to build a
Courtesy of Rhythm 'N Wraps
welcoming restaurant in which our multicultural team can create delicious plant-based meals. We envision an internship program to train young students of color to work in the food industry, a place that unapologetically supports the music and culture of local Black and Brown artists; a place where the vegan curious can join us on a meatless Monday or the month of Veganuary; most of all, we hope that for Black and Brown people we can be a meaning ful option as they freely and radically choose the foods they want to eat and enjoy the full and unequivocal freedom of the lives they deserve.
RHYTHM 'N WRAPS || 1096 Commonwealth Ave., Boston IG: @rhythmnwraps
Courtesy of Rhythm 'N Wraps
THE BLACK OWNED EDITION
T H I S
M O NT H
I N
FO O D
&
D R I N K
D OW N TOW N B OSTO N & MATTA PA N
RESTAURANTE CESARIA || 266 Bowdoin St., Boston | IG: @restaurantecesaria BRED GOURMET || 2255 Dorchester Ave., Boston | IG: @bredgourmet FOOD FOR THE SOUL || 651 Warren St., Boston | IG: @foodforthesoul9 WALLY'S CAFÉ || 427 Massachusetts Ave., Boston | Facebook: @wallyscafeboston CAKED BOSTON || no address | IG: @cakedboston CLARKE'S CAKES AND COOKIES || 196 Quincy St., Boston | IG: @clarkescakesandcookies SWEET TEEZ BAKERY || 196 Quincy St., Boston | IG: @sweetteezbakery FLAMES RESTAURANT || 469 Blue Hill Ave., Boston | IG: @f lamesrestaurant FRESH FOOD GENERATION || 196 Quincy St., Boston | IG: @freshfoodgeneration SAVVOR RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE || 180 Lincoln St., Boston | IG: @saavorboston ZAZ RESTAURANT || 1238 River St., Boston | IG: @zaazrestaurant OASIS CAFE || 630 Hyde Park Ave., Boston | Yelp: Oasis Restaurant MIDA RESTAURANT || 782 Tremont St., Boston | IG: @midaboston URBAN GRAPE || 303 Columbus Ave., Boston | IG: @urbangrape CAFÉ JUICE UP || 1290 Blue Hill Ave., Boston | IG: @cafejuiceup BLUE MOUNTAIN JAMAICAN RESTAURANT || 884 Morton St., Boston | IG: @bluemountainjamaicanrestaurant FARMER HORSE COFFEE || 374 Massachusetts Ave., Boston | Facebook: @farmerhorse DISCOVER VEGANS || no address | IG: @discovervegans FARAH'S CAFÉ || 1158 River St., Boston | Facebook: @farahs-cafe-boston NATIF NATAL || 830 Blue Hill Ave., Boston | No social media NU FLAV RESTAURANT || 1100 Blue Hill Ave., Boston | IG: @nuf lavrestaurant
#THISMONTHINBOSTON
T H I S
M O N T H
I N
FO O D
&
D R I N K
D OW N TOW N B OSTO N & M ATTA PA N (CO N TI N U E D)
RIGHT TASTE JAMAICAN RESTAURANT || 522 River St., Mattapan | IG: @righttastejamaican ON THE EDGE NUTRITION || 283 Old Colony Ave., Boston | IG: @ontheedgenutrition NECTAR LAB BOSTON || No address | IG: @nectarlabboston MILLENIUM RESTAURANT || 3094 Washington St., Boston | No social media MERENGUE RESTAURANT || 160 Blue Hill Ave., Boston | Facebook: @merenguerestaurant
D O R C H E STE R
OASIS VEGAN VEGGIE PARLOR || 340 Washington St., Boston | IG: @oasisvvp JP ROTI SHOP || 482 Washington St., Boston | IG: @j.protishop COUNTRY KITCHEN || 838 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester | Facebook: @countrykitchen838 50 KITCHEN || 1450 Dorchester Ave., Fields Corner, Dorchester | IG: @chef_50 M&M BBQ || 1250 Massachusetts Ave., Dorchester | IG: @mandmbbq FAMILY AFFAIR RESTAURANT CATERING || 554 Columbia Rd., Dorchester | IG: @famaffairboston BON APPETIT || 1138 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester Center | Facebook: @bonappetitboston WINGZ & TINGZ || 388 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester | IG: @wingzandtingz DOWN HOME DELIVERY || 2 Bowdoin St., Dorchester | IG: @downhomeboston ONLY ONE JAMAICAN RESTAURANT || 160 Norfolk St., Dorchester Center | IG: @onlyonejamaicanrestaurant TASTE OF EDEN || 38 Norfolk St., Dorchester | Facebook: @tasteofedan7 ISLAND STYLE JAMAICAN RESTAURANT || 183 Washington St., Dorchester | Facebook: @islandstyle183
Due to COVID-19, location and hours of operation for Boston's bars and restaurants may have changed. Refer to business websites and social media accounts for updates.
THE BLACK OWNED EDITION
I N
FO O D
&
D R I N K
@evanjaccodine
M O NT H
@evanjaccodine
T H I S
A CON V ER SAT I ON W I T H KA MI L SY LVA I N , OW N E R O F TH E L I TTL E C RÊ P E C A FÉ
T
he Little Crêpe Café is a Parisian style café
l i t t l e s o m et h i n g fo r eve r yo n e . T h i s s p a ce , p rev io u s ly the
and crêperie, in Cambridge's Agassiz-Baldwin
Ox fo rd Sp a , t o m e wa s a d i a m o n d i n t h e ro u g h, b u t was
neighborhood. Little Crêpe Café's mission is to
i n n eed of s o m e re n ovat i o n s a n d T LC . T h e ca fé is lo cated
provide quality food, drink, and service all in a comfortable atmosphere. The Little Crêpe Café aims to serve their community café to the best of their abilities. W H AT IN SP IRED YO U TO OP EN T HE L I T T L E C RÊPE CAFÉ? I re member tr yin g a c rêpe for th e f i r st ti m e on a t r i p t o France wi th my father, I th i n k I fel l i n l ove w i th c rê p e s at that moment. Now, a l m ost t wo d ecad es l ater, w h i l e look i ng to create a s ustai n abl e busi n ess, som eth in g u ni qu e, s omethin g th at th e com m un i t y woul d a pp reci at e , I thoug ht that a café & c rêper i e woul d work wel l i f exec u t ed cor rectly. My mother, w h o passed away from can ce r b e fo re the p roject was comp l eted , wa s i n fa ct my f i r st bu s i n e s s p ar tner, helped create Th e L i t tl e Crêpe Ca fé, an d wa s i t s b i g ge s t s uppor ter. W H AT DREW YOU TO T HE P OR T ER SQUA R E NE IG HBORHOOD? I am a n ative Cantabr i g i a n , a n d a m fam i l i ar w i th t h e a rea . C ambridge has always h ad an ec l ecti c c ul i n a r y sce n e , and the ci t y i tself is k n ow n for bei n g a l i vely c i t y w i t h a
#THISMONTHINBOSTON
q u a i nt ly i n t h e A g a s s i z B a l dw i n n e i g h b o rh o o d, a s ho r t wa l k i n g d i s t a n ce f ro m b o t h Ha r va rd Un i ve r s i t y & Les ley Un i ve r s i t y ca m p u s e s , a n d r i g ht a c ro s s t h e s t reet f ro m the B a l dw i n E l e m e nt a r y S ch o o l . It ' s a g reat f i r s t lo catio n fo r our business model. TH E L I TTL E C R Ê P E C A F É O P E N E D I N TH E M I DST O F MU C H U N C E R TA I N TY A N D VO L ATI L I TY. HOW A R E YO U STAY I N G F O C U S E D O N YO U R R E STAURANT ’S M I SS I O N ? W H AT’ S K E E P I N G YO U O P TI M I ST I C TH E S E DAYS? A f t e r a b o u t t wo yea r s of wo rk , t h e C a fé o p e ned in Janu ar y, a n d rece i ved a wa r m we l co m e f ro m t h e n e i g hb o rho o d. T h e f i r s t few m o nt h s s h owed p ro m i s e . It t a ke s ab o u t 3 m o nt h s fo r a n ew o p e rat i o n t o i ro n o u t a l l the kinks , a n d t h e t ea m wa s get t i n g a d ju s t ed t o t h e n ew o p eratio n. We we re l ea r n i n g a n d m a k i n g i m p rove m e nt s daily. C o n s i d e r i n g t h e f a ct t h at Ja n u a r y a n d Fe b r u ar y are s lower m o nt h s of t h e yea r, we we re a n ew b u s i n e s s , and mo s t of t h e c u s t o m e r s fo u n d u s t h ro u g h wo rd of m o uth, we were a ct u a l ly d o i n g ve r y we l l . O bvi o u s ly we h a d n' t antic ip ated a g l o b a l p a n d e m i c . T h e s e u n p reced e nt ed t i m es are
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"Consciously choosing how to spend, or not to spend your
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t h i n g s co m e t o m i n d ; b u t d o i n g away w i t h red-lining , c h a l l e n g i n g t h e p r i s o n i n d u s t r i a l co m p l ex , c l o s ing rac ial wea l t h g a p s by m a k i n g re s o u rce s eq u a l ly a cces s i b le, and re - eva l u at i n g t h e l e g a cy of co l o n i a l i s m a re ju s t a s elect
dollar can make a very powerful
few p o i nt s re l eva nt t o t h e ch a l l e n ge s f a ced t oday. At
statement and is often times
a n d b e l i eve t h e d i ve r s i t y of t h e h u m a n ra ce is p ar t of
impactful."
T h e Li t t l e C rê p e C a fé , we h ave a p o l i cy of i n c lu s iv i t y, w h at m a ke s i t b eau t i f u l . D e s p i t e s o ci a l d i s t a nc ing , this i s a t i m e w h e n p eo p l e s h o u l d rea l ly b e get t i ng to know a n d u n d e r s t a n d o n e a n o t h e r w i t h e m p at hy, rep lac ing
af fectin g ever y s in g le on e of us, so th e on ly th i n g t o d o i s re mai n res ilient, an d a d a pt. We, at Th e L i t tl e Crê p e C a fé are g ratef ul for having suc h a suppor ti ve com m un i t y. At T he Li t tle Crêpe Café, our m ot to i s " Cof fee, Crêpe s , a n d
i g n o ra n ce w i t h t r u t h a n d ju s t i ce . I 'd l i ke t o s ee a s o c iet y i n w h i c h t h e d i s t i n g u i s h i n g m a rk of a p e r s o n is no t their ra ce o r eve n t h e i r eco n o m i c s t at u s , b u t t h e qu ali t y of their c h a ra ct e r a n d d eed s .
C ommun i t y", but wi th out th e com m un i t y, we h ave n o t h i n g . I 've watched The Li t t l e Crêpe Ca fé m an i fest, a n d i t h a s t h e p ote ntial to beco me som eth i n g great, espec i al ly w h e n we make i t throug h all of th ese c h al l en ges. H OW HAVE YOU HA D TO A DA P T YOU R BU SI N E SS TO T H E TIMES WE A RE L I V I N G I N ? T he team has learn ed to ad apt, an d we rem ai n rea dy t o cont i nue adaptin g as n oth i n g r i g ht n ow i s stati c . Eve r y few weeks that pas s, we' ve h ad to rea d j ust, a s I' m s u re soci et y as a who le ha s h a d to. Our foc us i s on kee p i n g @evanjaccodine
our g uests an d s taf f safe a n d h ea l thy w h i l e prepa r i n g fo r the "new n o rmal." We' ve got a sm a l l team of l ess t h a n 5 e mployees that currently keep th e ca fé operati on a l , a n d I 've got f ai th that we can weath er th e stor m . W H AT CAN WE EX P EC T F R OM T HE L I T T L E C R Ê P E C AF É IN THE COMIN G M ON T HS? A N Y SP EC I A L PROJECTS YOU WA N T TO SHA R E? As a new bus in ess , we, at Th e L i t tl e Crêpe Ca fé are a lway s look i ng fo r ways to expa n d a n d i m prove th e c usto m e r expe r i en ce. Before th e COV ID sh utd ow n s, th e ca fé h a d scheduled s everal events i n c l ud i n g poetr y read i ng s , b o o k clu bs meetin g, an d even a str i n g quar tet per for m a n ce . Bu t for now, we are improv i n g th e outd oor d i n i n g exp e r i e n ce , get ti ng creative wi th th e m en u, work i n g on cateri n g , a n d
@evanjaccodine
of fe r i ng promo tio n s. H OW CA N THE LA R G ER BOSTON COM M U N I T Y CO NT INUE TO SUP P OR T YOU A N D OT HER BL AC K OW NED BUSINESSES? W HAT C HA N G ES WOU LD YO U L IK E TO SEE IMP LEM EN T ED? C onscious ly cho os in g h ow to spen d , or n ot to spe n d your d ollar can make a ver y power ful statem ent a n d i s of te ntimes impactful . W h en asked about th e c h a n ge I 'd li ke to see comin g ou t of th i s m om ent i n h i stor y, s o m a ny
THE LITTLE CREPE CAFÉ || 102 Oxford St., Cambridge IG: @littlecrepecafe
THE BLACK OWNED EDITION
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C A M B R I DG E & S O ME RV I L L E
ASMARA RESTAURANT
SUNRISE CUISINE
PETSI PIES
739 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
76 Middlesex Ave., Somerville
285 Beacon St., Somerville
Facebook: @asmara-restaurant
IG: @sunrise.caribbean.cuisine
IG: @petsipies
BYTES CAFE
PIKLIZ INTERNATIONAL KITCHEN
FASIKA ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT
64 Sidney St #1, Cambridge
288 Broadway, Somerville
145 Broadway, Somerville
Facebook: @BytesatrestaurantparkMIT
IG: @piklizointl
IG: @fasikasomerville
LA FABRICA CENTRAL
HIGHLAND CREOLE CUISINE
MUQUECA RESTAURANT
450 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
2 Highland Ave., Somerville
1008 Cambridge St., Cambridge
IG: @lafabricarestaurant_central
IG: @highlandcreolecuisine
IG: @muquecarestaurant
THE COAST CAFÉ
OGGI GOURMET
TIPPING COW
233 River St., Cambridge
30 Dunster St., Cambridge
415 Medford St., Medford
IG: @coastsoulcafe
Facebook: @bostonoggi
IG: @tippingcowicecream
TANAM
MORROCCAN HOSPITALITY
SHEGER CAFE & ETHIOPIAN
1 Bow Market Suite 17, Somerville
585 Somerville Ave., Somerville
RESTAURANT
IG: @tanamsomerville
IG: @moroccan_hospitality12
2376 Mass Ave., Cambridge Facebook: @Sheger-cafe-andethiopian-restaurant
Courtesy of Rhythm 'N Wraps
#THISMONTHINBOSTON
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JA M A I C A P L A I N & R OX B U RY
SUYA JOINT || 185 Dudley St., Roxbury | IG: @suyajoint ANSHUR RESTAURANT || 291 Roxbury St., Roxbury | Facebook: @anshurrestaurant THE BREAKFAST SPOT || 651 Warren St., Roxbury | Facebook: @tbs617 FORT HILL BAR AND GRILL || 2805 Washington St., Roxbury | IG: @forthill barngrill IDEALS SUB SHOP || 522 Dudley St., Roxbury | Facebook: @subshopideals1 SOLEIL || 2306 Washington St., Roxbury | IG: @soleil boston617 NOS CASA CAFE || 475 Dudley St., Roxbury | IG: @noscasacafe DAYIB CAFE || 722 Shawmut Ave., Roxbury | No social media BINTIMANI RESTAURANT || 1127 Harrison Ave., Roxbury | IG: @bintimaniboston BLUE NILE || 389 Centre St., Jamaica Plain | Facebook: @bluenileethiopianrestaurant JAMAICA MI HUNGRY || 225 Centre St., Jamaica Plain | IG: @jamaicamihungry TOP MIX BAR AND KITCHEN || 257 Norfolk Ave., Roxbury | IG: @topmixbar DARRYL'S CORNER BAR & KITCHEN || 604 Columbus Ave., Roxbury | IG: @dcbkboston FASIKA CAFÉ || 51 Roxbury St., Roxbury | IG: @fasikacafe
HELP SAVE BOSTON'S BARS & RESTARUANTS BOSTON BLACK HOSPITALITY COALITION || IG: @blackhospitalitycoalition COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted Boston's Black owned bars and restaurants, and The Boston Black Hospitality Coalition is on a mission to preserve and protect these gathering spaces for Boston's Black residents. Through economic and community developtment, the Boston Black Hospitality Coalition is fighting to ensure a prolonged and successful future for our city's Black owned institutions. Head to their website for a detailed description of their declared "state of emergency," including key stats and figures about Boston's Black owned bars and restaurants during the pandemic and the ways you can get involved to support their mission. Click here to contact their organization and make a donation here.
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Courtesy of Meaka Brown, Pure Oasis
A CON V ER SAT I ON W I T H M EA KA B R OW N , I N TE R I M G E N E R A L M A N AG E R O F P U R E OAS I S
P
ure Oasis is Boston’s f irst recreational cannabis
p red o m i n a nt ly Bl a ck s i n ce t h e 5 0/60’s . P u re O as is of fers
dispensary, offering a variety of boutique and high
o p p o r t u n i t y fo r t h e co m m u n i t y t o b e i nvo lved in the
quality cannabis products. Their user-friendly shopping
i n d u s t r y f ro m t h e g ro u n d u p , by p rovi d i n g ca nnab is acces s
experience with help from a knowledgeable staff makes Pure Oasis the perfect place to fulf ill all your cannabis needs while giving back to the local community. C AN YOU TELL US A BOU T HOW P U R E OASI S WAS FOUNDED? Pu re Oas is was fo un d ed by t wo Afr i ca n Am er i can m e n from Bo ston , Kevin Har t a n d Kobi e Evan s. Kobi e i s a li fe lon g Bo ston res id ent, a n d Kev i n h a i l s from th e DM V re g i on but set tled in B oston af ter at ten d i n g Suf fo l k U ni ve rsi t y. Both men saw a voi d i n th e can n abi s in d u s t r y, whi ch is predo min antly, w h i te an d m al e r un . U p u nt i l Pu re Oas is was o pen , m ost d i spen sar i es were i n u p p e r/ mi d d le clas s s uburba n c i ti es a n d tow n s. Bl a c k an d Brow n p eop le had yet again been exc l ud ed i n th e for m at i o n of a new in dus tr y. Kevin a n d Kobi e set out to c h a n ge t h at . Pu re Oas is is on the bord er of Roxbur y an d Dorc h e s t e r i n Hi sto ric G rove Hal l , a n ei g h borh ood th at h as b ee n
#THISMONTHINBOSTON
t o re s i d e nt s t h at wo u l d o t h e r w i s e b e fo rced to p u rc has e f ro m t h e s t reet o r jo u r n ey i n g t o a s u b u r b a n neig hb o rho o d. T h ey a l s o p rovi d e jo b s a n d m e nt o r s h i p t o u r b an p rofe s s i o n a l s l o o k i n g t o l ea r n m o re a b o u t t h e indu s tr y. W H AT W E R E S O ME O F TH E C H A L L E N G E S T HE B U S I N E SS FAC E D D U R I N G I TS I N C E P TI O N? HOW HAVE TH E S E C H A L L E N G E S S H A P E D TH E B U S I N ESS TO DAY ? It h a s n o t b ee n a n ea s y ro a d fo r P u re O a s i s . Mas s ac hu s et ts h a s s o m e of t h e m o s t s t r i n ge nt s et of r u l e s , reg u latio ns , a n d co m p l i a n ce i n t h e co u nt r y. Fed e ra l p ro h i b i tio n m a ke s i t n ea rly i m p o s s i b l e t o get a l o a n o r a cces s to ca p i t a l . Fu r t h e r m o re , t h e p ro ce s s t o a p p ly for a licens e i s d au nt i n g . Yo u m u s t s ee k a p p rova l at b o t h the s tate a n d l o ca l l eve l , h o l d co m m u n i t y m eet i n g s , a nd meet ver y s p ec i f i c q u a l i f i cat i o n s . Mo s t of t h e s e ro a d b l o c ks s to p l i ce n s e s i n t h e i r t ra c k s a f t e r t h e f i r s t yea r. T here is s o m u c h co m p et i t i o n f ro m h u ge m u l t i - s t at e o p erato rs that
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have mo re access to ca pi ta l a n d exi sti n g k n ow l ed ge o n how to run a dispen s ar y, th ei r sh eer si ze an d k n ow l ed ge b ase can kn o ck o ut a l i t tl e guy ver y ea si ly. Th ere a re s o many barriers to entr y i nto th e ca n n a bi s i n d ustr y. H OW HAVE THE REC EN T A N D ON G OI N G R AC I AL INJUSTICES EFFECTED P U R E OASI S A N D I TS B L AC K EMPLOY EES? WHAT WAS YOU R R ESP ON SE TO O U R B OSTON COMMUNITY? It d e f i ni tely has been a d i f f i c ul t ti m e for our store , a s we open ed t wo weeks pr i or to th e COV ID sh utd ow n . T h e Massac hus et ts G over n or, Ch arl i e B aker, d eem ed ca n n a b i s non-e ss ential durin g th e sh utd ow n , w h i c h resul ted i n o u r
Courtesy of Meaka Brown, Pure Oasis
d oor s clos in g s o s oo n af ter f i n al ly open i n g. Next, P u re Oasi s was loo ted in Jun e d ur i n g th e protest m arch e s fo r Black equali t y af ter th e m urd er of G eorge F l oyd by p o l i ce of f i ce rs . Althoug h th ere were n o r i ots i n th e Dorc h e s t e r or Rox bur y area, the store wa s l ooted by w h at see m ed t o b e some fo lks who were n ot from th i s area . Th i s wa s a n economic an d morale busti n g i n c i d ent th at we we re a b l e to recover f rom wi th th e h el p of our resi l i ent sta f f a n d t h e cannabis co mmun i t y, w h i c h ral l i ed aroun d our co m p a ny by d onatin g product a n d com i n g out publ i c ly i n su p p o r t . We also had an o utpo ur i n g of suppor t from th e G rove Ha l l commun i t y. A gro up of a n ony m ous youn g wom en f ro m Dorchester go t togeth er a n d h el d a fun d rai ser for u s , whi ch really made o ur staf f h appy to see th e com m u n i t y come out in so lidari t y. Th e outpour i n g of l ove and s u p p o r t was really amaz in g. W H AT ACTIONS CA N T HE C I T Y OF BOSTON A N D I TS INDIVI DUALS TAKE TO CON T I N U E TO SU P P OR T B L AC K OW NED BUSINESSES L I KE YOU R S? We , at Pure Oasis , love th e suppor t th at we h ave go t t e n from Bo ston res idents a n d real ly fol k s from al l ac ro s s t h e cou ntr y. How folks ca n conti n ue to suppor t us and o t h e r Black own ed busin es ses i s rea l ly si m pl e; take ti m e o u t t o fami li arize yourself w i th n ei g h borh ood s i n B oston o t h e r than D owntown Bo ston , th e S eapor t Di str i ct, a n d C o p l ey.
T h e re i s s o m u c h g reat d i n i n g , s h o p p i n g a n d general exc i t e m e nt h a p p e n i n g i n n e i g h b o rh o o d s l i ke Do rc hes ter, Rox b u r y, a n d M at t a p a n . T h i s i s ve r y d i f f i cu l t b eing that B o s t o n i s s u ch a s e g re g at ed c i t y i n t e r m s of race and s o c i o - eco n o m i c s t at u s b u t s i m p ly t a ke a few mo ments and co m e t o o u r n e i g h b o rh o o d , s p e n d s o m e t i m e wi th p eo p le, t r y t h e ec l ect i c fo o d s a n d I g u a ra nt ee yo u w ill enjoy yo u r s e l f . T h e s i m p l e a ct of o p e n i n g yo u r m i nd u p to new p eo p l e a n d p l a ce s ca n b e t o t a l ly rewa rd i n g . I have lived in Rox b u r y m o s t of my l i fe , a n d t h e re i s n o p l a ce els e I wo u ld wa nt t o l i ve a n d wo rk W H AT’ S N E X T F O R P U R E OAS I S? A R E TH ERE ANY U P CO MI N G P R OJ E C TS O R E V E N TS YO U ’ D LI KE TO S H A R E W I TH O U R R E A DE R S? P u re O a s i s h a s l o t s of g reat p l a n s a n d i n i t i at ives co ming s o o n . We a re p l a n n i n g a vo t e r d r i ve fo r t h e f a ll, we h ave s ch ed u l ed a co m m u n i t y c l ea n - u p d ay r i g ht in t h e n e i g h b o rh o o d w h e re t h e d i s p e n s a r y s t a nds , in co o rd i n at i o n w i t h t h e C i t y of B o s t o n . We a l s o wo u ld l ove t o creat e a n ed u cat i o n s e r i e s fo r t h e co mmu ni t y, re i nt ro d u c i n g ca n n a b i s t o fo l k s w h o m ay h ave s o me m i s co n ce p t i o n a b o u t ca n n a b i s a n d ca n n a b i s pro du cts . Peo p l e of co l o r h ave b ee n d i s e n f ra n ch i s ed f ro m this a m a zi n g p l a nt s i n ce t h e 1 92 0s . C a n n a b i s wa s u s ed as a t o o l t o d e s t roy co m m u n i t i e s a n d f a m i l i e s of co lo r, whic h
" B la c k & B row n p e op l e had y e t a g a i n b e e n exc l u de d i n th e fo r ma t i on of a n e w
l ed t o a l a rge s ca l e d i s t r u s t of t h e p l a nt . We wo u ld like to h o l d i n fo r m at i o n s e s s i o n s t h at ex p l a i n ca n n a b is ’ s to ried h i s t o r y, i t s u s e s , a n d a n i n d e p t h l o o k at t h e war o n dru g s . Reed u cat i n g t h e p eo p l e w i l l p u t a n e n d t o t h e war o n d r u g s o n ce a n d fo r a l l .
In d u str y. Ke v i n a nd Kob ie se t o u t t o ch a nge t h a t ."
PURE OASIS || 430 Blue Hill Ave., Boston | IG: @mypureoasis
THE BLACK OWNED EDITION
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JEVELA JEWELRY LLC || Twitter: @jevelajewelry Jessenia's jewelry is inspired by her travels, and her pieces become a time capsule of the memories she creates. For Jessenia, she wants you to feel good knowing that "the piece you wear is a gift for you and also to someone else." DOLLZ BLINGED ACCESSORIES || Twitter: @blinged_accessories Founder Cassandra sells a variety of accessories on her website, including bracelets, bags, handmade sandals, "glossy bundles," and mystery glam boxes. Her vision is simple: help people feel like royalty and be conf ident and empowered by their beauty. FABUL EYES SUNGLASSES || IG: @fabuleyes Fabul Eyes sells the brightest and boldest sunglasses around. If you're a free spirit, fashionista, or someone looking to break away from the norm, do yourself a favor and pick up a pair. TRUE9_ACCESSORIES || IG: @true9_accessories Boston native Nikia Holmes set out to create accessories that "bridged the gap between the urban and corporate world," drawing inspiration from her love of city, music, fashion, and memories of her great grandmother. LA BOUTIQUE MONIQUE || IG: @laboutiquemonique1 La Boutique Monique creates handmade custom jewelry for men and women, creating pieces that are different from eveything else and uses creative ways to turn the simplest of materials into beautiful pieces of art. SCHNELLECARES || IG: @schnellecares SchnelleCares is a Black women-owned social good pop-up shop founded in 2020 and dedicated to keeping the Boston community safe! To date, they have donated over 100 masks to our essential workers and donate a portion of their mask sales to the Boston Resiliency Fund. ROOTED WRAPS || IG: @rooted_wraps A proud Sierra Leonan and Southern Sudanese, Ludia founded Rooted Wraps as a way to share her love of African culture through bold and vibrant head wrap prints. For Ludia, each wrap tells a story of celebration and identity. HOPE DESIGN || IG: @_hopedesign Hope Design began in Roxbury, MA in 2017 as a small project to help build and bond the local community. Through clothing, collaboration, and conversation, Hope Design is on a mission to help celebrate our differences and come together with purpose. POISED CLOTHING || IG: @poisedclothing Poised seeks to depict the def inition of the word through our ideas and designs. Each new design starts with simplicity, but quickly infused with subtle hints of detail and complexity to reaff irm their brand ethos: "self-possessed and in full control of your faculties" BLACK MONARCH CLOTHING || IG: @blackmonarchclothing Black Monarch Clothing has a simple mantra: Greatness is Contagious. Their mission is to not only create high-quality designs and fabrics, but also inspire others to seek out greatness within themselves to improve the world.
#THISMONTHINBOSTON
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ACC ESSOR I E S & A P PA R E L (CO N TI N U E D)
KOR || IG: @kingdomofroyal Kingdon of Royal (KOR) sells a variety of products on their website and at their Norfolk Ave. storefront, including hats, shirts, jackets, vests, bandanas, and more. Check out their blog for regular updates, lookbooks, and new product drops. 69 || IG: @69brand_ Founded by three African American engineers in 2017, CDJ apparel makes high-quality and bold clothing and accessories with a commitment to help aspiring designers get off the ground. ZOOHILL CLOTHING || IG: @zoohill.co Zoohill clothing was born out of stories, struggle, and adversity in the hood by a group of young adults who shared a passion for exclusivity and design. Their clothing isn't just limited — it thinks outside the box. DLACHAE || Facebook: @dlache Founder Dannelle Matier's brand is at the crossroads of fashion and culture, inspired by African prints and silhouettes with a fresh and modern f lare. LE TRAP COUTURE || IG: @letrap_couture Le Trap Couture is an online boutique started by Felicia 'Feeva' Daniel. Her limited-edition clothing caters to a variety of styles and helps fashionpreneurs get started on their trendsetting journey. KADOKÉLÉ || IG: @kadokele Kado, meaning gift in Haitian-Creole, and Kelé, designer Marie-France Merisier Noel's uncle combines to make Kadokélé, a lifestyle brand selling both clothing and hand-crafted accessories helping inspire women to Live Artfully. I AM KRÉYOL || IG: @iamkreyol Founder Joelle Fontaine believes in a woman's power to choose and create the life she envisions for herself. Her custom-made to measure clothing, editorial publications, and theatre costume designs uses fashion as a catalyst for change. PINK SHOE LOUNGE || IG: @pinkshoelounge Pink Shoe Lounge and PSL Marketplace are two community-dedicated retail spaces that sell clothing, accessories, shoes, and more. Owner Keisha Glover's passion and commitment to the women of her community is nothing short of impressive! I.AM APPAREL || IG: @i.am_apparel I. AM_Apparel’s wants their customers to think positive, wear positive, and be positive, and their clothing ref lects that message beautifully. With catchy graphics on a variety of t-shirts, hoodies, and more, I. AM_Apparel will undoubtably elevate both your style and attitude. BGM APPAREL || IG: @bgmapparel Founded on the platform of presence and purpose, BGM Apparel is a lifestyle brand that offers a collection of apparel, headwear, accessories, and stationary.
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ANIQUE NICOLE HAIR STUDIO || IG: @aniquenicolehairstudio Anique Nicole Hair Studio started "with love for hair and a dream." The salon opened in 2015 and quickly became one of Boston's most prominent — catering to all hair styles and textures. Their business is currently in transition and had to close their physical shop, but you can still purchase at home hair care packages by emailing them here. HAIR GARDEN SALON || IG: @myhairgardensalon As told at Hair Garden Salon, hair really enhances a person's facial features and like a plant it should be nourished and cared for, to grow beautifully. A passion for plants and hair was a great inspiration to open a salon where the knowledge can be used to help men and women look and feel their best. EMERALDLUXHAIR || IG: @emeraldluxhair Emerging from an already saturated market littered with adulterated and counterfeit extension products, Emeraldluxhair presents top-notched authentic, quality tested and value driven brands that have subdued the competition. STYLLISTIK HAIR SALON || IG: @styllistik Located in the heart of Dorchester, Styllistic is a Black owned salon specializing in all hair care with a vast variety of beautiful and trending protective styles, dredlocks, twists, updoes, and more. WAEVE || IG: @thewaeve Let Waeve help you become the you you are today. Switch up your look, protect your natural hair, and do you — whatever that means to you. HAIR IT IS BARBERSHOP || IG: @hairitisbarbershop A Black-owned and vibrant unisex shop, Hair It Is prides themselves on being a place for both cosmetic needs of the Boston, MA community and a platform for a therapy session. Experience a place where customers can express themselves freely. BOSTON FAUX LOCS || IG: @bostonfauxlocs95 Pain free and light weight faux locks with accessories included at Boston Faux Locs.
S K I N C A R E & B E AU TY
LAYO HANDMADE || IG: @layostore LAYO, a company created by a concerned mom and her family, uses 100% natural and plant based ingredients fused with essential oils and herbs to create sea butters, soaps, oils, and more. KRIO || IG: @krioskincare Krio skin care products are plant-based and inspired by their founders's ancestors in Africa who used natural botanical ingredients to produce a luxurious skincare routine. On their website, you can purchase individual face, body, and hair oils, or purchase kits.
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BARE SKIN + BEAUTY || IG: @bareskin.beauty Bare Skin + Beauty has opened once again to help you look your best this summer. You can choose from a number of services, including waxes, facial treatments, lash and brow tints, laminations, and more. You can also purchase facial oils, spot treatments, and serums from her online shop. BEAUTY N SIMPLICITY || IG: @thebeautynsimplicity Beauty N Simplicity began when founder Mavis Elmyra Hicks needed an escape from her 9-5 job and decided to turn her passion for creativity and beauty products into a business. Hicks now sells small batch natural skincare and wellness products designed to give you a "total body sensory experience that allows you to slow down, relax, and pamper yourself." SWEDISH JEALOUSY LIPSTICKS || IG: @swedishjealousey Founded by two Mompreneurs of different ethnic backgrounds, the women of Swedish Jealousy sought out to bridge the gap usually found in makeup when they realized they couldn't share a tube of lipstick. The only two lipsticks you'll ever need were just featured in Vanity Fair! EMPRESS OASIS || IG: empress.oasis Founded by a young, Black entrepreneur in 2019, Empress Oasis aims to cater to your specif ic skincare needs by utilizing modern technology, holistic treatments and natural remedies to give you an overall meaningful, tranquil, and delightful experience.
L AS H & N A I L SA LO N S
BIA'S BEAUTY & BROW BAR || IG: @biasbeautyandbrowbar Sabbia Roberts of Bia's Beauty & Brow Bar offers over 30 different beauty treatments and packages to help you look your best. They specialize in brows, Brazilian wax & facials, but make sure you have an appointment as they are no longer accepting walk-ins due to COVID-19. BOUJIE BLINKS BY ASH || IG: @boujieblinksbyashllc Ashley J is a highly sought-after Boston-based lash artist that has a passion for makeup and beauty. Her popularity since opening shop in 2018 has grown so much that her appointments often book out over a month in advance. In addition to providing quality service to her many loyal customers, all her products are vegan and cruelty-free. At Boukie Blinks, "being boujie is a lifestyle and we're here to enhance you." PARAGON NAILS || IG: @paragonnails Paragon offers a variety of gel services and nail art to keep youlooking fresh this summer! They aren't currently accepting new clients, but keep checking back to their booking site and social media for updates. DANI NAILZ || IG: @daninailz Dani Nailz is a pop-up manicure shop with a cause, offering Danicure mobile kits to those who want the best looking nails from the comfort of their own home. To order your kit, email danimamipedi@gmail.com, and visit her site to make an appointment.
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@d_irvin
@g.ortizphotography
@g.ortizphotography
A R T & C R EAT I V I T Y
A BOU T T HE A R TI ST: R O B "P R O B L A K " G I B B S
R
ob “ProBlak” Gibbs is a visual artist that has helped
art, it’s a way to pay homage to and document the
transform the cultural landscape of Boston since 1991.
underserved communities of Boston. One of his most
He grew up in Roxbury during the Hip-Hop Golden
notable projects, however, is the co-founding of Artists for
Age, and from there saw the power of graff iti as a form of
Humanity, a non-prof it that teaches creative skills to the
self-expression. For ProBlack, graff iti is more than just
city’s youth population.
ROB GIBBS || IG: @problak
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MIND OVR MATR || IG: @mindovrmatr617 MinD OvR MatR is a design company, musical artist, visual director, and curator of the MoM Mix YouTube and Soundcloud series. Founder Michael Muyuwa started his company in Dorchester but has expanded operations to 16 other cities in 10 different states and has no plans to slow down. NOBLE IS THAT GOO || IG: @le_goolord Noble is that Goo is content creator and founder of The Museum TV, Boston’s premiere VLOG that looks to help rising creatives expand their audience through their platform. The Museum TV has interviewed some of Boston’s most creative f igures, including folks from Dorchester Art Project, Happy Planet Studios, Rick Fleur, Luke Bar$, and many, many more. MADE BY ADGE || IG: @madebyadge What started as a way to relieve some stress, Adge has funneled her surplus of creativity into designing custom canvas banners, event name tents, greeting cards, custom portraits, and more. Adge is also a middle school math teacher who loves her students, but was looking for another way to express herself, distract her mind, and move her hands. STEPHEN HAMILTON || IG: @theartofstephenhamilton The Itan Project by Stephen Hamilton incorporates a series of artistic techniques from both the West and Africa. Traditionally trained in West African artforms, Hamilton treats woodcarving, dyeing, and weaving as “ritualized acts of reclamation.” His experience is diverse, having spent time at the Nice Center for Art and Culture, as an Adjunct Illustration Faculty member at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and the Director of Apprenticeship Training at Artists for Humanity. ILL-DIGITAL LLC || IG: @illdigitalllc This creative team believes in collaboration and storytelling to help their client’s vision come to life. Through videography, photography, and animation, they’ve helped everyone from bloggers to restaurants create a brand aesthetic that beats out the competition. Watch their demo reel to see all that Ill-Digital is capable of doing to take your brand to the next level! AMBROJAH || IG: @ambrojah Through paintings, graphic designs, and other creative projects, Ambrojah’s work portrays an unapologetic depiction of women. She is a self-taught artist who uses her own personal experiences and interactions with the women she meets to inf luence her work. Her mission gets right to the point: “encourage women to do whatever the F*$?! they want.” Trust us, it shows in her work. CHANEL THERVIL || IG: @chanelthervil Fueled by a lack of representation of people of color on both sides of the canvas, Chanel Thervil decided to pursue a career in art to create change. She holds a bachelor of fine art in painting from Pace University and a master’s in art education from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Thervil has many projects to her name, including a quarantine self-care series, Artists of Inspiration with the Boston Children’s Museum, among others. Head to her website for the full list of both past and ongoing projects. AYANA MACK || IG: @ayanamack.co A senior graphic designer, Ayana Mack oversees the marketing and design department at the Greater Boston Real Estate Board. Her portfolio is vast, working with clients on brand development, social media marketing, and more. Her latest and more notable projects include work for the Boston Arts and Music Soul Festival and with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. Outside of design, Mack is a talented painter who often sells her work outside the city of Boston.
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DORCHESTER ART PROJECT || IG: @dorchesterartproject Dorchester Art Project is a community-driven art space in Fields Corner with a mission to provide affordable studio, performance, and gallery spaces to the artists of Dorchester and the Greater Boston area. They are a multicultural organization that has taken great strides to stand in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Get involved with their organization to ensure creative independence for systematically undervalued communities. NATIONAL CENTER OF AFRO-AMERICAN ARTISTS || 300 Walnut Ave | Facebook: @ncaaaboston The Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Art is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing a range of historical and contemporary exhibitions by Black visual artists, including painting, sculpture, graphics, photography, and decorative arts. Since 1968, the NCA A A has been committed to the preservation and fostering of Black heritage for the continued enjoyment of the Boston community. ARTISTS FOR HUMANITY || IG: @af hboston Since 2004, Artists for Humanity has dedicated itself to addressing the lack of arts experiences within the Boston Public School system. Though training and employment, AFH has provided our Boston’s families and communities with solutions to economic disenfranchisement. They employee more than 350 Boston teens and place over 500 children in art exploration experiences each year through Visual Arts Residencies and other partnerships with the Boston Public School system. THE FRONT PORCH COLLECTIVE || IG: @thefrontporcharts The Front Porch Arts Collective, a residence at the Central Square Theatre, is a new Black theatre company committed to advancing racial equity in Boston through theater. Using their values to promote cultural inclusion, community advancement, and create an impactful legacy, the Front Porch Arts Collective is helping to ensure that Boston becomes a city welcoming of all audiences to inspire tolerance and inclusivity.
P H OTO G R A P H E R S
KAT’S WORLD || IG: @kat_concep Katiria Concepcion’s love for photography began in 2007 when her and a friend split the cost of a Nikon camera. Her work is very much a ref lection of the people she meets and the experiences of her everyday life and makes sure to capture the true beauty of everything and everyone she works with. Concepcion’s photography is inspired by fashion, music, art, and travel. J.R. PHOTO || IG: @j.r._photo Above all else, Jovi Ripert enjoys capturing authentic pictures of people. His love for documenting special moments and helping people express their creativity and individuality is what makes photography a serious hobby. All Ripert’s work is stunning, but his Boston cityscapes are especially beautiful. MALAKHAI PEARSON || IG: @malakhaipearson If you’re a fan of streetwear and fashion, Malakhai Pearson is the photographer for you. Pearson’s resume is stacked, having worked with the streetwear retail giant Bodega, the Converse House of Hoops, Nike Softball and Red Bull. He is also a founding member of the creative collective ALLYOUCANEAT where he serves as the project manager and collaborations lead.
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P HOTO G R A P H E R S (CO N TI N U E D)
GIOVANNI THE PHOTOGRAPHER || IG: @giovannithephotographer Giovanni is one of Boston's best wedding photographer, and he has the awards to prove it. He’s won Wedding Wire’s ‘Couple’s Choice Awards’ in both 2019 and 2020 and was voted best wedding photographer in Quincy by Expertise.com. While his expertise is weddings, Giovanni has experience shooting fashion, landscapes, maternity, and corporate. Head to his website for a full list of services and packages for sale. HARRY SCALES || IG: @harryscales A recent graduate of the New England School of Photography, Harry Scales is a photographer based in Boston and New York. His work is heavily inf luenced by other photographers’ experiences on the streets of cities and towns and channels that inf luence into his work. Scales’ most recent project is called The Clover’s Shadow, exploring Boston’s neighborhoods of color with a special recognition of Irish identity. From fashion to portraits to editorial, Harry Scales has a photography eye you need to check out. BRED HAMPTON || IG: @bred_hampton Bred Hampton is a photographer, videographer, and storyteller with an impressive resume of clients, including Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics. His capabilities are vast, with experience shooting in the sports, music, lifestyle and portraiture categories. Head to his website to see his full portfolio of work and to book your next photoshoot. DAVID HD PHOTOGRAPHY || IG: @davidhdphotography David Hill is a photographer specializing in maternity, family, children, and special events. He also has a YouTube channel with day-in-the-life videos of him and his family exploring Boston. Whether your off ice needs some new headshots, you need to capture that special proposal, or you need some photos of the little ones to hang, contact David Hill to get the job done. KOUBRITT PHOTOGRAPHY || IG: @kourbittphotography KouBritt has been a photographer for three years and says it’s the “BEST” job ever. Meeting new and interesting people, hearing their stories, and capturing their truest selves is what makes photography so special to her. While she is based in Massachusetts, KouBritt is always down to travel for her clients. If you’re looking for someone who does more than just takes pictures, but wants to connect with you, KouBritt is your best choice. KREATIVE FHOTOGRAPHY || IG: @kreativef hotography Kevin L. Fisher of Kreative Fhotography (no, that’s not a typo) began his professional career as a kid when he became fascinated with the idea that our life stories could be told entirely in pictures. Fisher says it best himself: “I see life through a different lens, I don’t see a picture, I see memories, a story untold.” Whether it’s a simple headshot or your special wedding night, contact Fisher for your story to be preserved for a lifetime of memories. EMMI'S IMAGES || IG: @emmis.images Bethany Emmi is a food photographer with a degree in baking and pastry arts from Southern New Hampshire University. Her passion for photography started when she took a class in high school with some friends and has since merged her two loves into her current business, Emmi’s Images. If you visit her website, be prepared to leave hungry. But don’t worry, she has a number of delicious recipes available for free.
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C A P T U R I N G BOSTO N S C R E ATI V I TY: DA N I E L I RV I N
D
aniel is an editorial and commercial photographer, specializing in people and fashion photography with an artistic style consisting of imagination, vibrant colors, textures, and lines. He began this journey working for a radio station where
he had the opportunity to capture some celebrities such as Damian Marley, Raphael Saadiq, Rakim and many others. He has had the pleasure to shoot for companies like Converse, Champion, and other smaller brands. Most recently he has done work for Hot 96.9 and Country 102.5, capturing the morning hosts for their promotional photos.
Daniel Irvin Photography || IG: @d_irvin
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@lisabellomusic
M US IC
A CON V ER SAT I O N W I TH MU S I C I A N J O R DA N C A R TE R
J
ordan Carter is a professional drummer from Cleveland, Ohio
felt right. There was a part of me that wanted to fully give
currently based in Boston providing musical entertainment
myself to a music career. With all of the odd jobs I held, I
for many different audiences. Whether it’s playing to support an
was neglecting the thing I loved the most, which was music!
artist, putting together an eclectic band for your birthday party,
I wanted to give more time to that part of myself and focus
or providing groovy tunes at your favorite bar, Jordan not only
on nurturing my creative talents and passion. I applied to
provides music for your specific needs, but he also provides
different music schools and being accepted into Berklee was
much needed laughter and joy.
the conf irmation I needed to push forward and pursue a career as a musician.
H OW DID YOU GET I N TO M U SI C ? HOW OL D WE R E YO U W H EN YOU DECIDED YOU WA N T ED TO M A KE MU S I C
W H AT A R E S O ME O F TH E D I F F E R E N C E S YO U’VE
YO UR CAREER?
N OTI C E D, A N D E X P E R I E N C E D, AS A B L ACK M USI CI AN
Well, legend has it that I started playing drums at the age
I N B OSTO N ? W H AT D I F F E R E N C E S H AV E H AD T HE
of 5. My great aunt was the drummer for our church and
G R E ATE ST I M PAC T O N YO U R C A R E E R ?
one day after service I screamed “my turn.” I ran to those
There is a bit of a racial divide. I say a bit because I don’t
drums, grabbed the sticks and started making noise that
know why it exists due to the legacy of Black musicians in
slightly resembled church music. I say legend because my feet
Boston. And for the most part, what I do know is that no
couldn’t even touch the pedals then! From there, I focused my
one wants this divide. It’s been like this for years, not just
attention on educating myself in order to fuel my newly found
in recent light of the country's current political and racial
passion. I decided to become a professional musician around
climate. I must say there’s a lack of trust from booking
2010 about 2 years after I graduated high school. So I would
agents/talent buyers, and the artists/musicians of color. I’ve
say, I was about 19 or 20 years old.
yet to understand why, but I will say that artists that are not considered POC get bigger, better, and more consistent work
I played drums for a world renowned children’s choir named
while I’ve witnessed POC artists get overlooked f irsthand. I
“Singing Angels,” local churches, and many local recording
have the pleasure of being a musician for people of various
artists and bands, but I always had a regular job. Nothing
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"Th e g rea test i mp a c t i s t ha t I' v e
I N
M U S I C
W H AT STE P S H AV E YO U TA K E N , O R N E E D TO B E
le arned ho w t o wo rk ha rd e r a s a
TA K E N , TO H E L P OTH E R B L AC K M U S I C I A NS I N
B lack a rtist. Ha rd wo rk do e s n’ t
At the start of COVID, there were a lot of people who started
B OSTO N I N TH E WA K E O F COV I D-1 9 ?
h u r t a nyone, s o i t ' s k i nd o f a
doing live stream shows, or would play for churches’ live
bitter sweet l e s s o n."
decline them. WHY you ask? I’m glad you asked that. 1: I was
stream service. I would get the calls to play, but I would legit afraid to go outside and see anyone and do anything. I didn’t want to go to a grocery store so going to play music with someone just wasn’t appealing. 2: I recently started a job working for Boston Public schools so I was still getting paid and was able to pay my bills and splurge a bit on food from Darryl's Corner Bar every other week. I say that to say that I was doing OK f inancially so I decided to decline the gigs so those gigs could go to someone else who actually needed the money. W H AT WO U L D YO U L I K E TO S E E OTH E R NO N-B LACK OW N E D B U S I N E SS E S O R I N D I V I D UA L S D O
Courtesy of Jordan Carter
TO S U P P O R T B OSTO N ’ S B L AC K CO MM U N I T Y ? Out of all the questions you’ve asked me this one is
ethnic and racial backgrounds, and I’ve benef ited from
the simplest.
certain things/gigs and been bummed at not getting the recognition they should have. I think the greatest impact is
I, Jordan Carter, believe that we need to see ACTIONS from
that I've learned how to work harder as a Black artist. Hard
EVERYONE. I don’t want to see the “We stand with you,” “we
work doesn’t hurt anyone, so it's kind of a bittersweet lesson.
are with you,” “we hear you,” “we see what you saying.” That’s
There’s some GOOD talent out here, and the work still isn’t
cool that they acknowledge what’s happening, but now we
spread out fairly.
need to put forth actions to move this train in the right direction of progress. Donate money to any and all causes. It
W H AT’S KEEP IN G YOU M OT I VAT ED OR OP T I M I STI C
doesn't even have to be a lot but DO SOMETHING. Hire POC
T H ES E DAYS? HAVE YOU F OU N D A N Y SI LV ER L I N I N G S
in higher positions. Create some internships to help younger
OVE R THE LAST FE W M ON T HS?
people of color so they can gain experience and education
The biggest thing is that I started recording drums anywhere
in different f ields. Invest in the youth! Period. And at the
I can! Normally, I have my drums set up in one location — it
very least act on any racial prof iling and injustice that you
never moves and I have all the mics set up already. Now, I
see! Call it out. Stop it. At the end of the day, I want to see
keep the mics on me at all times. I can record in a park, I can
ACTIONS!!!!!!!!! DO SOMETHING, DO ANYTHING. DO.
record at a friend's house, I can record ANY WHERE. Now that I’ve started creating and pushing out content, I can f inally
H OW C A N P E O P L E S U P P O R T YO U A N D OT HER
build my online presence! *COUGH-COUGH - follow me
M U S I C I A N S DI R E C TLY ?
@fatbeats27 COUGH*
The simplest and easiest thing to do is simply promote the artist and or musician! Share their music or their post! Tag
I’ve researched tools that help me do better with putting out
them and send that post to a friend! If they have anything
content. I’ve gotten a new logo/ social media identity from
for sale — BUY it. Merch. Music. Shirts. Whatever they are
@woodshedstageart. I’ve planned all of my content a month in
selling, buy something. If you can BUY THEIR MUSIC!!!!!!
advance so I can focus on creating music. I started doing my
it's easy to just stream music nowadays but go and actually
own video editing and within that I’m still recording drums
PURCHASE THE MUSIC! Now, if you can’t that’s understandable,
for different clients. I’ve started learning different musical
just go ahead and stream the music A LOT. RUN THOSE
computer programs like Ableton. I’ve also started to put
NUMBERS UP!
more time into my second love of playing bass. The silver lining is that I now have time to devote to my passions.
Jordan Carter || IG: @fatbeats27
THE BLACK OWNED EDITION
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l ac k musi c i s o n e of t h e m o s t v i s i b l e fo r m s of ex p re s s io n fo r Bl ac k exce l l e n ce a n d cu l t u re. T h i s Month In Bos ton wo u l d l ike to i nv i te yo u t o exp l o re a va r i et y of p l ayl is ts e ntire ly co m p o s ed
of Blac k ar ti s ts that re p res e nt t h e d i ve r s i t y of the Bl ack co m m u ni t y. C urat ed by a m e mbe r of t h e A r n o l d + Hava s Media Bo s to n f am ily, o u r ver y own Studi o M a n a ger M i ch a e l Ho u s t o n , the s e p l ayl is ts are de s ig ned Journey f rom Th i s Mo n th In B o s to n. Follow M i c hae l o n In s t a g ra m : @ o h h eym i g s
A C U R ATE D MU S I C A L J O U R N E Y
AMPLIFIED BLACK VOICES || Listen here Black Music Matters. Black Voices Matter. Black Lives Matter. This Month In Boston presents a collection of amplif ied, beautiful, powerful and extraordinary Black voices.
BLACK DANCE ARTISTS || Listen here The dance world is massive. This Month In Boston invites listeners to experience the music of some amazing Black dance music artists. From house to disco to techno, these artists are creating Black joy in the form of dance. Come dance with us.
BLACK GIRL MAGIC || Listen here Black Womxn are our sisters, our mothers, our creators, our leaders. They are spectacular, unstoppable, unapologetic and must be protected at all costs. This Month In Boston invites you to celebrate their magic with some of these gems.
BLACK MUSIC OF THE 80S || Listen here The '80s was a dynamic decade and Black music made the '80s memorable. This Month In Boston presents the Black pioneers of the '80s. From Michael Jackson to Prince to Stevie Wonder, the 80's was a groundbreaking moment for Black music.
#THISMONTHINBOSTON
@ohheymigs
t o t ake yo u on a m u s i ca l e s ca p a d e . Wel co m e to yo u r  Cu rated Mu s ical
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THE COOKOUT || Listen here The Cookout is a moment for the Black community to come together and rejoice. It's a moment where Black people can embrace joy, eat amazing food, dance, and enjoy good company. It's a moment to be Black and proud and be one with the Black community. This Month In Boston welcomes you to The Cookout.
HIP-HOP CLASSICS || Listen here Hip-Hop is Black culture. These classics are Black nostalgia. Check out this curated playlist of songs that helped shape the power and f ire that is the Black community. This Month In Boston presents Hip-Hop Classics.
LOWKEY VIBIN' || Listen here This Month In Boston invites our listeners to take a journey into Black music that is designed to help you unwind gently, bringing you into a chill experience. Get into a lowkey vibe.
THE REALNESS_BLACK & QUEER EXCELLENCE || Listen here Black, queer and trans folx are magnif icent and precious. This community of innovators bring a power and a light to a harsh world. Being Black is strength. To be Black and trans or Black and queer is to be a warrior. This Month In Boston presents Black excellence of the LGBTQ+ community.
THE BLACK ALTERNATIVE || Listen here Black people were the f irst to create rock music and break barriers. This Month In Boston presents Black artists that continue to break barriers in the Black community and celebrate the art of rock. From Punk-rock to folk, these artists are changing music.
YOGA & SELF-CARE VIBES || Listen here Black trauma, especially during these times, is real within the community. Self-Care and Meditation are vital and should be embraced, not shamed. This Month In Boston has created an experience for our listeners to indulge in relaxation, self-care, and peace with this playlist.
THE BLACK OWNED EDITION
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os to n is hom e to a w i d e ra n ge of m usi cal t a l e nt
by cl i c k i n g " Li s t e n He re" t o s t rea m o n Sp o t i f y, and fo llow
an d creativi t y. From h i p-h op to soul to d a n ce
t h e m o n In s t a g ra m t o s t ay u p t o d at e o n a l l up co ming
electron ic, th e gen res of our c i t y ' s Bl a c k a r t i s t s
p ro ject s .
have made Bos to n a m usi ca l force to be rec kon ed w i t h . Be low is a list of 10 ar ti sts w h o togeth er a re on a m i s s i o n
T h e s e feat u re s o n ly s c rat c h t h e s u r f a ce of w hat Bo s to n' s
to soli dif y their place i n m usi c a n d conti n ue to el evat e
Bl a ck a r t i s t s h ave t o of fe r. Fo r a m o re co m p l ete lis t, head
the Bo s to n commun i t y a n d beyon d . Suppor t th ese a r t i s t s
t o Bl a c k O w n ed B o s .' d i rect o r y h e re .
BOSTO N A R TI ST F E ATU R E S
SHELLZ || R&B | IG: @shellzwithaz | Listen here Massachusetts native SHELLZ, is a Hip Hop Soul songwriter. She has made her mark with honorable features with lyricists like King Crooked and Dutch Rebelle. She has recently dropped her brand new Visual EP titled Soulz. Both on screen and off, this video shows just how powerful women can be when they take control of their own voices.
DRE ROBINSON || Hip-Hop | IG: @drethe_god | Listen here The Jamaican born and Boston, MA bred MC has seen success with the combination of impassioned delivery and personal lyrics about the raw side of life. With wordplay and honesty, Dre brings you a mix of the East Coast hardcore, underground music with the aggressive trap music.
ZAMA || Caribbean Neo-Soul | IG: @rebeccazama | Listen here A songstress and songwriter, ZAMA has had a lifelong love of music, and began singing and performing as a child. Having grown up inf luenced by American, Caribbean, Latin, and African musical styles, ZAMA’s music is a fusion of all of these different worlds that have inspired her music today; it can best be described as a Caribbean Neo-Soul.
ANJIMILE || Folk | IG: @anjimile | Listen here Anjimile is a queer and trans songwriter based in Boston, MA. Named an NPR Music Artist to Watch, his fresh take on folk resounds with vulnerability, spirituality and self-ref lection. Anjimile's new al bum Giver Taker is out September 18 on Father/Daughter Records.
DZIDZOR || Storytelling/Performative | IG: @dzidzorazaglo | Listen here Dzidzor (Jee-Jaw) is an African folklore/alternative performing artist, author and entrepreneur. Dzidzor's style of call and response, has reimagined poetry and story-telling as a way to include the audience in an experience to challenge, inspire and encourage self beyond traditional forms. Dzidzor released her f irst EP, entitled, "Bush Woman" on all streaming services.
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LYDIA HARREL || Jazz/Soul | IG: @lovelysinger | Listen here Lydia "LovelySinger” Harrell's sultry, soulful voice and evocative songwriting have garnered her the attention and respect of some of the nation’s f inest musicians and venues. Jazz/Soul is where her heart is, however, Lydia has shown an unbreakable ability to mold herself into any musical situation. Lydia is also a f ilm/TV and theatre actress as well as voice coach.
GUYCLAUDE || R&B | IG: @guyclaude_ | Listen here Guyclaude is Boston-bred and uses his music to not just provide vibes for a variety of moments, but as a means to help his community. His biggest belief is that honest music can allow people to tap into their deeper selves.
LEE WILSON || R&B/House/Pop | IG: @leewilsonmusic | Listen here East Coast singer/songwriter Lee Wilson has such a passion and has taken the House Music world by storm since his f irst release 4 years ago with his Dopewax single, presented by four-time Grammy Award nominee Kenny Dope, "Turn You Up." Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee Wilson spent most of the year in the studio and touring around Europe playing shows. The hard work has paid off and he was crowned #4 on Traxsource's Top 100 Vocalist of the year.
EVA DAVENPORT || R&B/Hip Hop | IG: @lyricsbyeva | Listen here "A voice that not only gains your attention, but soothes your soul" — BNN’s Farenheight TV. Boston based songstress Eva Davenport uses her soulful vocals and inspirational lyrics to create a unique blend of R&B. With the philosophy of inspiring mindfulness and growth, Eva transcends through consistent performing, writing music, organizing events, and supporting the local creative community.
TREVA HOLMES || R&B/Pop | IG: @trevaholmes | Listen here Treva Holmes, recording artist, producer, and engineer. Born and raised in Roxbury, he stands 6 ft 5 in, has a captivating voice and illuminating stage presence. Treva Holmes, AKA Big Trev, wants to leave his mark on the music industry, the city and the world by bringing people good vibes through music. Treva Holmes also works with local churches to help feed homeless on weekends.
RED SHAYDEZ || Hip-Hop | IG: @redshaydez1 | Listen here Red Shaydez is a multi-faceted, boxer robe-wearing bully of a hip-hop artist and the queen of cool, whose lyrical prowess leaves nothing standing in its wake. She has a track record to prove that she is not only next but is now: the Boston-born lyricist, f ilmmaker, and mentor has been featured on MTV, FOX 25, HOT 96.9FM and Sirius XM as well as performed at A3C, Hubweek 2018, BAMS Fest 2019, headlines her own local shows, and is taking the college circuit by storm with her live show and consistently empowering brand.
THE BLACK OWNED EDITION
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@increativeco
HEALTH & WELLNESS
T HE IMP ORTA N C E OF A F F I N I T Y SPAC ES: RAC H A E L J U N A R D & JAY L E E MO M P L A I S I R O F YO U G OO D, SI S?
W
hat COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter
have safe spaces dedicated to our healing. Nine times out
movement have shown us is that we need aff inity
of 10, yoga studios do not showcase Black or Brown yoga
spaces now more than ever. These two pandemics
instructors. Instead, they promote the same type of person
didn’t create new problems, they just exposed what was
and body type which can be very disheartening and non-
missing to a broader scale. That’s why community is needed
welcoming for people of color. Wellness spaces that offer a
now more than ever — especially aff inity spaces.
variety of different bodies, abilities, and ethnic backgrounds will be helpful towards making people of color feel welcome.
Generally, an aff inity space is a place — virtual or physical — where informal learning takes place, and where people are drawn together because of a shared interest or engagement in a common activity. Such spaces encourage the sharing of knowledge or participation on a specif ic topic, and informal learning is a common outcome. You Good, Sis was created out of a need to be among others like us: Black and Brown women and femmes. We wanted to experience wellness through our own lens with our own people. Why are aff inity spaces important? POC face tremendous societal pressure and ancestral trauma, and live with discomfort every single day. It’s essential we
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" We’ re c al l i n g for w el l n ess sp ac es an d studios to b reak d ow n sy stem i c b a r r iers for PO C an d p rovi d e th em w i th w h at th ey n eed ."
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So, what’s now? We’re calling for wellness spaces and studios to break down systemic barriers for people of color and provide them with what they need. It might be resources, free training, paid exposure, or more. It might even be as simple as hiring a diverse team of instructors and allowing them to shape the space, and being intentional about POC feeling safe, welcomed, and celebrated in those spaces. What f irst needs to happen is that you listen carefully and don’t assume what a specif ic community may need from you — let them tell you. From here, you need to come up with a plan together to create spaces that are not just for the moment in this great race awakening, but that stay and evolve for years to come. Aff inity spaces are necessary for community well being. We must go within or we’ll go without. Start today by listening and learning: what does your community need? How can you help support, offer resources, or simply use it wisely. YOU GOOD, SIS? || IG: @yougoodsis
@increativeco
move out of the way to create space? This is your call in,
THE BLACK OWNED EDITION
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THE F.I.T.T. PIT || Open for in-person training | IG: @thef ittpit Voted Boston's Best Boot Camp, the F.I.I.T Pit is results-driven f itness and fat loss workout facility in Hyde Park on a mission to help you achieve the results you never thought were possible. LIT2LIFT FITNESS INFLUENCERS || Fitness videos via YouTube | IG: @lit2lift LIT2LIFT is a lifestyle f itness brand to help inspire and motivate individuals, reassuring people that on the path achieving their goals will include failure. Their latest instructional videos focus on at-home workouts as well as nutrition guidance. MISFIT FITNESS BY MISSFITWOODS || Personal training sessions | IG: @missf itwoods Kayla Woods, aka "Miss Fit Woods," is a Boston-native with a degree in exercise physiology and a minor in nutrion from UMass Lowell. Miss Fit Woods helps her clients through a holistic wellness approach to f it any lifestle. MELI || TrillFit f itness instructor | IG: @missmelivaldez Meli is a "movement coach," Director of Talent at TrillFit, and professional dancer helping to lead a mix of at-home workouts as well as live daily workouts via Zoom. JET BOSTON || Virtual and in-person classes | IG: @jet.boston JET Boston wants to break barriers by challenging limitations and exceeding expectations. They have a team of four trainers located in Back Bay and are open for booking virtual training, in-person training, and nutrition/dietary consultations.
C A R D I O DA N C E
PORTIA'S FITNESS + LIFESTYLE || Online classes | IG: @bosschickportia Portia Singh, owner of Belle Physique and Executive Master Trainer for Boss Chick Dance Workout, is offering livestreamed classes via Mind Body online. KAYLA - MOVEMENT & MINDSET || Online classes | IG: @kaylaleemills Kayla Mills is an instructor at TrillFit and owner of her own lifestyle brand Working Woman, helping the Boston community maintain a mental and physical balance in their life. She also has her own podcast called Worry About Your Own Journey. SHAMIKA RUCKER || Online classes | IG: @bosschickshammy Shamika Rucker is a personal trainer and wellness entrepreneur offering a variety of f itness class packages. She also sells body butters, facial scrubs, and other beauty products on her website. TRILLFIT || Online classes | IG: @trill.f it This award-winning boutique f itness studio in the heart of Mission Hill is now selling digital memberships as well as their traditional studio memberships for when it is safe to participate in-person.
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BODY PRIME FITNESS || In-person group and personal training | IG: @bodyprimef itness Travis Gray opened BPF in 2014 in Dorchester and has since moved to Canton. His gym helps push people out of their f itness comfort zones while fostering an environment of accountability, motivation, and above all else, family. NICK FRANCOIS || Personal training | IG: @onlygettnbetter Nick's Instagram bio says it all: If you want to get in shape, send him a direct message. ALLEN ABXGOD || 1-on-1 personal training | IG: @bodyprimef itness Allen's Instagram and YouTube page are full of motivating exercises and personalized shake recipes. He also hosts ab challenges via Zoom for $10-20 depending on the session. UNRIVALED PERFORMANCE || Online personal training | IG: @kennyvertus Kenny Vertus, founder of Unrivaled Performance based in Brookline, has a degree in exercise science and aims to use his own experiences of obesity and self-esteem issues to help his clients reach their mental and physical goals.
CYC L I N G
REPS || Open for limited-capacity classes | IG: @repsstudio With locations in JP and Beacon Hill, Reps is now open with limited capacity (5 people) for people of all ages and abilities. REV'D INDOOR CYCLING || Open for limited-capacity classes | IG: @revdcycling Rev'd has 6 locations across MA and RI, and starting July 22 has opened for outside classes available for sign up now.
YO G A
AFRO FLOW YOGA || Online classes | IG: @afrof lowyoga Founders Leslie and Jeff Jones offer a variety of virtual classes every Sunday at 1:30 p.m., as well as training programs and anti-racism resources. YOGA UP IN SMOKE || Online classes | IG: @bhangyoga Jacqueline Ortega is certif ied in Hatha Yoga who combines her love of f itness with marijuana to offer Pot & Flow classes for an enhanced yogic experience. HIVE SOUL YOGA || Online classes | IG: @hivesoulyoga Hive Soul Yoga wants to make wellness more accessible and affordable by creating a space that is aff irming and body-positive. Use this linktree to register for their upcoming classes. 4 CORNERS YOGA + WELLNESS || Online classes and community connection | IG: @4cornersyw 4 Corners Yoga + Wellness's classes are free and open to all (donations encouraged) and can be registered for here. You can also purchase a 5, 10, or 30 class card to support the studio.
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Courtesy of Queens Company
A CON V ER SAT I ON W I T H J ESSI C AH P I E R R E , P R E S I D E N T & C E O O F Q U E E N S CO MPA N Y
Q
ueens Company is a professional network for women
where our members get access to events and resources
of color looking to advance their lifestyles. Founded
around professional development, personal growth,
in 2016, their mission is to promote personal growth,
f inancial empowerment, and health/wellness. We invite
health and wellness, and f inancial empowerment to foster a community of accountability and sisterhood. W H Y DID YOU START QU EEN S CO.? WAS T HER E A S PECIFIC IN STA N C E OR EX P ER I EN C E T HAT MOT IVATED YOU TO STA R T T HE OR G A N I Z AT I O N ? I started Queens Co. back in January of 2016 because as a f irst-generation college graduate trying to navigate the professional world, I was looking to build a network of professional women of color. When I went to networking events, I was frustrated by the lack of women in attendance who looked like me and shared similar lived experiences. Since I couldn’t f ind a space that represented that, I decided to create it so that I could start to build my own network of like-minded women of color. W H AT A RE THE COR E SERV I C ES OR OP P OR T U N I TI E S Q UE EN S CO. P ROVI D ES TO I TS M EM BER S? W H O S H O ULD JOIN QUEE N ’S CO A N D W HY? At Queens Co., we provide a private online community
#THISMONTHINBOSTON
entrepreneurial and professional women of color to join our organization if they’re looking for mentorship, support, and the information they need to become their best selves. D O YO U F E E L MO R E R E S P O N S I B I L I TY TO SUPPO RT YO U R ME MB E R S I N TH E C U R R E N T E N V I R O NM ENT ? H OW H AV E YO U A DA P TE D O R E VO LV E D YO UR M I SS I O N O R O F F E R I N G S? To be honest, a lot of the issues that are being highlighted during this current environment are issues that women of color have faced all of our lives. Because of systemic racism and sexism, women of color face unique challenges and barriers in the workplace and in business, which is why the work that we do at Queens Company is so important. We provide a safe space for women to connect with one another and sometimes that means just venting about the many issues we face because of our identity. However, given the recent media attention around these issues, we’ve pivoted to providing more support around mental and emotional support to our members during these times.
T H I S
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" We a re p ow e r fu l b e y ond m e a su re a nd i t ’s i mp or t ant t ha t w e c ont i nu e t o s hi n e o ur lig h t b e c a u s e w hi l e doi ng th at, we’ re li g h t i ng t he f l a me s t h at ex i s t i n ot h e rs ."
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H OW A B O U T TO O U R L A R G E R B OSTO N COM M UNI T Y ? To the larger Boston community, I would challenge everyone to really ref lect on how we show up and hold space for others who may be hurting. No matter what our differences are, we must stand united and grounded in our humanity. Let’s work together to debunk our implicit biases, release negative stereotypes we’ve been taught, and make room for relearning, growth and genuine community. D O YO U H AV E A N Y E X I STI N G O R N E W P ROJECTS YO U ’ D L I K E TO S H A R E W I TH U S? On Sunday, August 2nd, we hosted a socially distanced
PROVI DING A SEN SE OF COM M U N I T Y TO T HE
version of our annual event, Queens Hike Too!, where we
WO MEN OF YOUR OR G A N I Z AT I ON I S OF OBV I O U S
invited women of color to hike with us at the Blue Hills to
IMPO RTANCE. P ERS ON A L LY, W HAT HAS T HE I MPAC T
connect with other link-minded women enjoying the healing
O F STA RTING QUEE N ’S CO. HA D F OR YOU ?
powers of nature. Usually, we host a picnic after the hike,
The network we’ve fostered through Queens Co. has
however given the current pandemic, we hiked together
personally empowered me to truly pursue my professional
with masks and at a distance so that we could all stay safe.
and entrepreneurial endeavors whole heartedly. I’ve met so
Also, this fall we’ll be hosting our f irst ever Virtual Wellness
many incredible women that I have been blessed to nurture
Festival!
genuine friendships with. These genuine friendships have allowed me to gain powerful opportunities throughout my
A N Y TH I N G E L S E YO U WA N T TO S H A R E ?
career and have given me a platform to help women of color
We’re grateful for the relationship we’ve been able to build
in the Greater Boston area in so many ways. It’s truly amazing
with Arnold + Havas Media Boston and look forward to
to see the mutual support system we’ve been able to create
continuing to work together to empower women of color.
along with the participation of commitment of our members. W H AT A RE YOUR P E R SON A L SOU R C ES OF INS PIRATION A N D ST R EN GT H? My personal sources of inspiration f irst come from my family. My mother who passed away when I was nine years old was a serial entrepreneur, and although I didn’t understand much about what it meant to be a businesswoman when I was younger, I believe I inherited her entrepreneurial spirit. In addition to my family, I’m always inspired by the resilience and grit of my community. It’s amazing how people of color have been able to turn our pain into power and art that really inf luences the American culture. I believe it is my duty to ensure that I am playing my part in continuing to inf luence American culture in a positive way as well. W H AT A DVICE CA N YOU G I V E TO T HE WOM EN O F CO LO R IN THE BOSTON COM M U N I T Y? I would tell women of color to never feel the need to shrink
Courtesy of Queens Company
even if they are the only one in the room. Always bring your whole self, even in spaces where no one looks like you or it may seem like no one understands you. We are powerful
QUEENS COMPANY || IG: @queens.company
beyond measure and it’s important that we continue to shine our light because while doing that, we’re lighting the f lames that exist in others.
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P R O F E SS I O N A L & B U S I N E SS
BOSTON YOUNG BLACK
THE COLLIER CONNECTION:
BLACK ECONOMIC COUNCIL OF MA
PROFESSIONALS
BOSTON WHILE BLACK
Contact the organization here
Contact the organization here
Contact the organization here
Learn about their new Black Mass
See their upcoming events here
See their upcoming events here
Coalition here
IG: @boston_ybp
IG: @collierconnection
IG: @becma_
NATIONAL SOCIETY OF
MA BLACK & LATINO CAUCUS
NAACP BOSTON BRANCH
BLACK ENGINEERS
Contact the organization here
Contact the organization here
Contact the organization here
Learn about their work for our
See their 2020 meeting schedule here
See their upcoming events here
community here
Learn how to become a member here
IG: @nsbeboston
IG: @maBlacklatinocaucus
Facebook: @naacpboston
ED U C ATI O N & G R E E K L I F E
BLACK EDUCATORS ALLIANCE
IOTA GAMMA CHAPTER OF ALPHA
NORTHEASTERN UNIV. GRADUATE
OF MASSACHUSETTS
KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY
STUDENTS OF COLOR COLLECTIVE
Contact the organization here
Contact the chapter here
Contact the organization here
Learn more about their committees here
See a list of their programs here
Learn more about their initiatives here
Facebook: @BlackeducatorsallianceMA
IG: @iotagammaaka
IG: @neuscc
GREATER BOSTON MOREHOUSE
SGRHO KAPPA NU CHAPTER OF
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA
COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOC.
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
PSI OMEGA CHAPTER
Contact the organization here
Contact the chapter here
Contact the chapter here
See their upcoming events here
See their upcoming events here
See their programs here
IG: @morehouse_boston
IG: @kappanusgrhos
IG: @psiomegaaka
BOSTON UNDERGRADS OF SGRHO
RHO EPSILON OMEGA CHAPTER
THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE MA
Contact the chapter here
Contact the chapter here
Contact the organization here
See a list of their national projects here
See a list of their programs here
Learn how you can help here
IG: @kappanusgrhos
IG: @reo1988_aka
IG: @theteachersloungema
PSI IOTA OMEGA GREATER
DELTA SIGMA THETA
BOSTON CHAPTER
BOSTON ALUMNAE CHAPTER
Contact the chapter here
Contact the chapter here
See a list of their programming here
See their upcoming events here
IG: @pio.aka1908
IG: @bostondst
The Boston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta is a member of the local chapter of the National Pan Hellenic council which is comprised of the 9 Historically Black Greek Lettered Organizations. For more information click here.
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P ROFILE: DR . I N G R I D T U C KER , P R ESI D E N T O F DE LTA S I G MA TH E TA S O R O R I TY, B OSTO N C H APT ER
D
elta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (DST) was founded in 1913 on the HBCU campus of Howard University, where 22 women wanted to create their own
organization to “promote academic excellence and provide assistance to those in need.” They made their f irst public appearance during the 1913 Women’s Suffrage March, despite being forced to the back of the parade due to the color of their skin. The organization has nearly 200,000 members and 1,000 chapters worldwide. The Boston Alumnae Chapter was chartered on March 12, 1945 and is celebrating 75 years since its charter this year. Dr. Ingrid Tucker is Head of School of Montessori Cambridge School, a role she’s held for the last nine years, and has been President of the Boston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. since 2019. Tucker was born and raised near Roxbury before she moved to Ohio to study journalism at Ohio Wesleyan University and where she discovered DST. In 1988, Tucker was selected for an exchange program for her Cour tesy of Dr. Ingrid Tucker
f inal year of undergrad at Spelman College, an all-women’s historically Black institution.
“Our role is to make sure we are at the poll and engaging After completing her degree at Spelman College, Tucker
the community and non-prof its. It’s important to be as
“couldn’t get enough of the Black experience” and decided to
collaborative as possible. It’s one way to use our phones and
pursue her master’s in public administration at Clark Atlanta
record what’s happening but we also have to collectively
University. She f inished her master's in two years and knew it
gather to eradicate racism through actions in policy and
was time to come home to pursue a PhD at Boston College.
petitions.”
For Dr. Tucker, being in a Black sorority meant more than
Since its charter, DST has worked with the Women’s Suffrage
having a network, she also relied heavily on the sense of
Boston Chapter, the NA ACP, the Boston City Council, and
community and support from Black women who, like her,
other non-prof its to f ight systematic racism and promote
strive for success. She knew that sense of community was
equal opportunity. The chapter also holds programs for Black
especially important in Boston, where the city lacked the
youth such as Delta GEMS, Delta Academy, and International
acknowledgment of Black struggles.
Day of Coding, where they expose Black children to computer science and coding.
“I’m sure there was a rub about bussing discrimination in the 1970s. I can only imagine the role BAC played in
“When describing my sorority to people I always make it
protesting and how brutal that might have been. It’s unique
clear we’re a group of college educated women that are trying
and interesting how racism in this city has existed for a long
to make an impact by being the voice and impact for social
time. As a New Englander, I think I can say the racism is more
justice, economic literacy, and health and wellness. We are
pervasive.”
the drum majors of change that Dr. King talked about.”
Since the death of George Floyd and the protests that
For more information about Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and
followed, Dr. Tucker f inds these unprecedented times a
how you can get involved, visit their website here.
necessary evil to promote change across the country.
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@d_irvin
T A K E A C TIO N
YOUR VOTE HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW. We need to stay engaged, we need to stay vocal, and we need to hold our political representatives accountable. Register to vote here and apply for an absentee ballot here.
The in-person early voting period for the MA State Primary runs between August 22-28, and between October 17-30 for the General Election.
STATE PRIMARY: SEPTEMBER 1
GENERAL ELECTION: NOVEMBER 3
deadline to receive your absentee ballot
deadline to receive your absentee ballot
August 31st @ 12PM
November 2nd @ 12PM
#THISMONTHINBOSTON
@d_irvin @D_irvin
THANK YOU, to the Bl ack ow n ed b u s i n e s s es a n d i n di v i dual s t h at co nt i n u e t o keep o u r com m un i t y s a fe , h ea l t hy, a n d h a p py. If yo u or s o m eo n e yo u k n ow h a s a b us i n e ss th at yo u wo u l d l i ke t o feat ure i n an upco m i n g ed i t i o n of T h i s Mo nth In B o s to n , pl ea s e e m a i l : thi sm onth@ a r n . co m
C L IC K H E RE F OR AN INT E RAC T IV E T RIPADV IS OR MAP OF T H E B U S INE SS E S AND S E RV IC E S F E AT U RE D
BLACK MARKET NUBIAN || IG: @blackmarketnubian
IN T H IS ISS U E .
THE BLACK OWNED EDITION
#THISMONTHINBOSTON
b y A R N O L D + H AVA S M E D I A B O S T O N
THE BLACK OWNED EDITION