BLAACC Magazine - Women, Wealth & Power (Issue 2)

Featuring: The Power of Black Women

Queens Village Page 33

P6 Letter from the staff

African American Chamber of Commerce

PRESIDENT & CEO

Eric H. Kearney, Esq.

DIR. OF TRANSFORMATIVE INITIATIVES & RELATIONSHIPS

Briston Mitchell

DIR. OF MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

P10 The Wealth of Health

Teenager, Phoebe, discusses her journey to create products to improve health.

P12 Brackeen on Black Tech

Brackeen’s love of Cincinnati as a tech hub is what brought Black Tech Week here.

P13 Power of Giving Back

Non-profit’s mission to prevent student loan debt.

P15 Fashion at the Fountain

Turning Cincy onto high-fashion.

P16 Power of Persistence

Dr. Posey talks career motivation.

P19 Restoring Carthage Arts

The William Francis Theater is a thriving artistic presence Carthage needed.

P20 In Memoriam: Dr. Owens

A tribute to the late Dr. O’dell Owens.

P25

Advice: Entreprenuership & Long-Term Wealth

Willie Hill from GCMI gives insight on building wealth by being your own boss.

P28

Power of Perspective

Gen Z students discuss life lessons and career aspirations.

P31

The Power of Black Women

Queens Village proves Black women can irradicate maternal and infant mortality.

P34

Building Wealth Begins with Discipline

A conversation with Fifth Third’s Stephanie Smith on leaving a legacy

P37

P43

Beyond the Headlines

Gregory Parker

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Cheniece Wilson

CONTACT AACC

2303 Gilbert Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45206 513-751-9900

info@african-americanchamber.com african-americanchamber.com

© 2023 Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce. The contents of this magazine, and any related materials, may not be reproduced, republished, rewritten, or redistributed without written permission of the AACC.

FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF The Cincinnati Herald

PUBLISHER

Walter L. White

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Briston Mitchell

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Brittany Love Fletcher

DIGITAL ART COORDINATORS

Cheniece Wilson & James Pullins

PROMOTIONS COORDINATOR

Gregory Parker REPORTERS

Ashlee Cook

Jayvon Howard

Dr. Valencia Moses

Fashion at the Fountain

Valor & Virtue put on a high-stakes, highfashion scene at Fountain on the Square.

Photo Essay: P40

P46 FWIW Directory

The AACC directory supports entrepreneurs in our region for specific products and services.

Spring 2023

Reflections of the legacy

Jim Clingman wishes to leave.

Finding Your Sparkle

Morgan Angelique Owens gives insight on finding your purpose through business.

Nahamani D. Yisrael

PHOTOGRAPHER

Pete Coleman

CONTACT THE HERALD

513-961-3331

thecincinnatiherald.com

Photographs by Shanghai Imaging (Cover), Pete Coleman (Inside Cover), Lightship Capital (TLDR), Morgan A. Owens (BM), Virtue & Valor (PO).

From the AACC President

We declare 2023 to be a year of opportunity and wealth creation!

There are a number of exciting and transformative projects and initiatives happening in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region and your African American Chamber of Commerce is there advocating on your behalf. It is vitally important that our businesses fully participate in the economic bounty of the region.

The Convention Center is being remodeled. A convention center hotel will be built. Forest Fair Mall and Tri-County Malls are being transformed. Intel is coming to Ohio. Ford is building the largest battery plant in the US in Kentucky. Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Association has numerous ongoing projects. Bellisio Foods is expanding its production facility. AND the Brent Spence Bridge project is set to begin.

These large scale projects offer opportunities for subcontractors, suppliers, professional services, marketing, food service, transportation, logistics, legal, accounting, and more. We will continue to advocate for more opportunities.

Combine these opportunities with the work of Lincoln & Gilbert. The AACC with the Urban League, GCMI, MORTAR, Lightship, and the Regional Chamber provided approximately $1 million in grants and hours of technical assistance through funding provided by the City of Cincinnati.

Beyond current opportunities, we believe 2023 will spur new businesses. These new businesses will be fueled by technology and science and innovation.

It is the right time for growth! We have transformative projects. The leading economic development organizations are working cooperatively. There are many young entrepreneurs with new, fascinating ideas.

Let’s work together to make 2023 a great year!

Sincerely,

Eric H. Kearney President & CEO

P10 P12

Teenager’s journey to healthy products

Brackeen on Black tech-xcellence

P16

Power of persistence with Dr. Posey

P19

P13

Power of giving back

Thriving arts at The William Francis Theater

P15

Fashion at the Fountain

P20

Tribute to Dr. O’Dell Owens

Phoebe’s Finest: Improving the wealth of health

stress and pain

By Dr. Valencia Moses

Phoebe decided she was not going to wait until she was 18 to help people. Diagnosed with a condition that involves chronic pain on top of battling anxiety, Phoebe found relief when her cousin suggested she try some essential oils. The difference Phoebe experienced is something she wanted to share with others. Phoebe’s Finest exists to improve lives by helping people enjoy the wealth that is their health.

Science and math are Phoebe’s favorite sub jects in school. She is definitely a creative and curious scientist. One time, while her mom was away but dad was around, she conducted a sugar-scrub trial in the microwave. It came out looking like the most unappealing mashed potatoes ever! One ingredient impacted the consistency, so back to experimenting she went.

Trial and error are

part of the game. What is most important is learning as you go and using what you learn to grow. This is exactly what Phoebe has done and continues to do: research, take notes, figure out what works, and test out products on her brother.

How many drops of oil? What smells would help

lines: white or brown sugar scrubs, roller balls to apply oils, mood dough, bug repellant, bar soap, whipped body butter, a sample pack of everything, or a gift set. Not bad for anyone, yet Phoebe will be 15 on her next birthday!

Phoebe uses her sales to donate to charities like The Ronald

In fact, for her 10th birthday instead of receiving presents,

times you need to step back when things feel overwhelming. Phoebe believes entrepreneurs are those who go after it, don’t rush, and have a good social media presence instead of relying on passing out flyers.

She is excited to have learned that avocado and olive oils are natural sunscreen. In the meantime, you can follow Phoebe’s Finest on Instagram where the link in her bio will point you all to her oil-infused products for reducing pain and anxiety. Phoebe is back to researching. This young scientist/entrepreneur is back in the lab so to speak. Phoebe has fresh ideas to explore which means new products are loading, so stay tuned.

(TOP) Phoebe works hard creating new products.

(LEFT) Phoebe shows off a couple of her sugar scrubs, like IMMUNity. Photos by Pete Coleman

Teenager’s products feature aromatic oils to combat

Brackeen curates Black tech-xcellence

By Nahamani Yisrael

Candice Matthews Brackeen is the cofounder of Lightship Capital and CEO of Lightship Foundation founders. Her foundation provides educational programming to empower founders from diverse backgrounds including people of color, women, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and individuals with disabilities.

Recently Lightship Capital acquired Black Tech Week, an annual conference that brings together founders, funders, and tech enthusiasts from around the globe. After 7 years of celebrating black excellence in Miami, Florida, Brackeen and her team moved Black Tech Week to Cincinnati. As a result, over 2,000 individuals convened upon Cincinnati to attend the week-long programming at venues throughout Over the Rhine and Downtown Cincinnati.

During the opening ceremony held at Cincinnati’s Music Hall, officials celebrated the major impact Black Tech Week has on businesses large and small. Dozens of workshops, panels, and fireside chats were conducted to educate and elevate the minds of attendees regarding the future of technology, while also providing opportunities to participate in mindfulness and meditation, creating mobile apps, and minting their first NFT.

Renowned tennis champion turned venture

capitalist, Serena Williams, was Black Tech Week’s keynote speaker sharing her experience of creating SC Ventures, a $111 million fund. During their conversation, Williams and Brackeen discussed everything from parenting philosophies to disparities in fundraising, wherein Williams indicated that 98% of venture capital funds are awarded to white men, while the remaining 2% is spread between women and people of color.

Since the inception of Lightship, Brackeen and her team have continued making strides to level the playing field for entrepreneurs of color. In the Spring of 2022, Lightship Capital joined forces with other black-led organizations to form the Lincoln & Gilbert Fund. In addition to providing relief grants to minority-owned businesses, this collective group provides ongoing technical assistance with a goal of doubling the number of individuals the firm employs.

Brackeen is not shy about demonstrating her love for Cincinnati and all that it has to offer. She touted Cincinnati’s low cost of living (as compared to other tech hubs), access to top talent with its strong academic infrastructure and professional sports teams. When asked why she chose Cincinnati as the host city for Black Tech Week,

she emphatically stated, “I love my city!”

Brackeen hopes that by “showing off” her city to tech founders, this will inspire more tech startups to choose it when deciding where to form or relocate their headquarters. “For many years here in Cincinnati, Black Business has meant brick and mortar. Many times it has been an afterthought that we can build high-growth venture backable businesses. One is not more important than

the other, but we do need both. I wanted to bring it here so that [the minds of] folks here can be opened.”

This year’s Black Tech Week will be held July 18 through July 20, 2023 at Cincinnati Music Hall. For tickets please visit www. blacktechweek.com.

“MANY TIMES, IT HAS BEEN AN AFTERTHOUGHT THAT WE CAN BUILD HIGH-GROWTH VENTURE BACKABLE BUSINESSES.”

-CANDICE MATTHEWS BRACKEEN

Mayor Aftab Pureval (right) and Liz Keating, Cincinnati Councilmember, (left) presents Candice Matthews Brackeen with a proclamation for Lightship Foundation Day on July 21.

Photo by Lightship Capital

The power of giving back

By Dr. Valencia Moses

Would you rather pay a bill of $25,000 or $1700? What if you could get that bill down to $0?

Zet Hydrick’s oldest son got accepted to attend the University of Rochester. In the 1990s, the tuition bill would be $25,000 per year. Zet had a year to figure out how to NOT pay that much money. By the time her son started college, their family would owe only $1700. From his sophomore year until graduation, her son would owe the university no money for schooling!

How did Zet do it? She started by believing there had to be money available in a city as large as Cincinnati. She used her breaks while she was at work to search for information. She attended workshops around securing finances for college and gained an understanding of the process.

With a true story like what she accomplished for her oldest son, it is no wonder that Zet’s neighbors and co-workers wanted to know more about how she secured financial support for her son’s post-secondary education. Zet got talked into offering a workshop on how to pay for college, and to her surprise, 60 people showed up. A friend helped her form an official non-profit, and Zet has been making a difference ever since. Since 1992, when she started her non-profit Reaching Self Reliant Students, Zet has saved students an estimated $3.5 million!

Zet encourages parents/guardians to expand their thinking about who wants to fund their student’s degree or career interest and which high schools offer scholarships. What about places of worship? Zet wants to eliminate students getting finan-

cially strapped by loans. She does not want people gaining a degree only to be financially crippled by an average of $30,000 worth of debt. This is why her non-profit has the name that it does. Zet wants students to rely on their ability to continue the hard work they put into being able to go to college without the stress that comes from relying on loans.

Zet is short for Zethree. Her mom would often visit New York City and loved unusual things, which explains the uncommon

name. However, Zet is undeniably unique in that she has accomplished so much good for students over the years with very little support from grants. Zet has tried and plans to keep trying to secure funding to support the time she puts in to be the best steward of the donations she does receive. In fact, one of her friends who retired from P&G, along with his wife, have been ardent supporters of Reaching Self Reliant Students from the start.

No matter the students’ cultural background and whether they plan to attend a public or private school, Zet knows how much any financial amount can be a blessing. This is why she often uses her own money to offer $1,000 scholarships to help bridge the gap for certain fees, books, and other incidental expenses that students encounter.

Zet lives out the advice she received from her grandmother as a child: when you get, give. When you learn, teach. You can find out more and lend your support to Reaching Self Reliant Students by connecting with Zet over email at rsrsfreemoney@ gmail.com!

(TOP) Zet Hydrick discussing a project with a student. (LEFT) Zet Hydrick.

Photos provided

Support this non-profit’s mission to prevent student-loan debt

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Cincinnati’s historic fountain draped in high fashion

By Nahamani Yisrael

Cincinnati has a reputation for eye-catching art installations and creative performance art, but most do not associate Cincinnati with the world of high fashion. One local group is seeking to change that. Valor and Virtue Productions is committed to making Cincinnati the midwestern hub for fashion. Co-founders, Myra Wallace-Walker and Davide Stennett have taken great strides in shifting the world’s perspective of the Queen City by tapping into the city’s creative talent pool and robust artistic educational system to foster growth among Cincinnati’s up-and-coming fashion designers and clothiers.

Founded in 2021, Valor and Virtue Productions set the stage for Black excellence with their inaugural fashion show, Fashion at The Fountain. On Juneteenth 2022, the pair treated Cincinnatians to our first-ever high fashion runway experience hosted at the historic Tyler Davidson Fountain on Fountain Square.

Wallace-Walker recently relocated to Cincinnati. She brought with her over 30 years of fashion experience and her visionary approach to creating memorable fashion experiences. Wallace-Walker and her business partner, Stennett saw that Cincinnati had all the raw ingredients necessary to transform the city into the world’s next fashion hub.

Fashion at The Fountain was just the beginning for Valor and Virtue. In late October, the group joined forces with local and internationally renowned thought leaders to curate a day-long symposium coined Minding Your Fashion and Beauty Business. During this event, a panel of experts from the fashion, film, banking, branding, marketing, and merchandising industries imparted their knowledge upon all in attendance.

During the symposium, the team at Valor and Virtue Productions announced the expansion of the Black Design Collective to include a Cincinnati Chapter. Both Wallace-Walker and Stennett, who have several decades of experience creating their own fashion lines, expressed the importance of the collective support one needs to successfully break into the fashion industry. Through the expansion of Black Design Collective, Cincinnati fashion entrepreneurs will have untethered access to a vast pool of knowledge, resources, and networking opportunities.

“This is not just for fashion designers, the fashion industry needs all types of creative services including hair and makeup artists, stylists, sound, lighting, and stage professionals, audio and visual professionals and so much more,” advised TJ

Walker, Co-founder of Cross Colours and one of the founding members of the Black Design Collective in Los Angeles. “We’re excited to branch out into the Cincinnati market and expose locals to the resource our LA Chapter has to offer.”

Valor and Virtue Productions has already

begun planning a series of events for the 2023 season including two business seminars, as well as their upcoming Fashion at The Fountain runway show on Sunday, June 18 at 6pm. Individuals interested in learning more about elevating their creative enterprise are encouraged to visit Valor and Virtue’s website, vandvproductions. com, where they can learn about upcoming events and join the Cincinnati Chapter of the Black Design Collective.

Check out the Photo Op on page 48 for more Fashion at the Fountain photos and behind-the-scenes glimpes of action.

“THIS IS NOT JUST FOR FASHION DESIGNERS, THE FASHION INDUSTRY NEEDS ALL TYPES OF CREATIVE SERVICES.”

-TJ WALKER, CROSS COLOURS

(TOP) Runway design by Oshovre’ from Inspired Fashion Boutique (LEFT) Myra Wallace-Walker (right) poses with Mariah during Fashion at the Fountain.

The power of persistence

By Dr. Valencia Moses

Originally from Philadelphia, Dr. Monica Posey earned a full ride to attend college at Cornell University. She changed majors a few times before getting her degree in design and textiles. Posey decided she could benefit from getting an MBA to help her go into the world of work with confidence. Majoring in Marketing from the Wharton School of Business helped Posey secure her first job in market research. In a few years, a friend introduced her to the man who would become her husband and he was from Cincinnati. According to those in Posey’s circle, Cincinnati might have been on the west coast because it was so far from Philly!

The move to Cincinnati meant that Posey would be away from family and friends. On top of being in a new city, the job market was rough. Posey decided she would start a PhD program where she could continue honing her strengths in math by studying quantitative analysis. She had completed the major-

ity of her coursework when Posey’s previous employer reached out to her about an open project manager position in Cincinnati. She took the position, yet doing so meant she did not finish her first doctoral program.

The coursework she did complete qualified her to teach business statistics in the evenings as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Cincinnati. The experience put a career in higher educa-

tion on her radar and led her to take the pay-cut plunge out of corporate to work in UC’s career center. One day, Posey saw an ad from Cincinnati Technical College for serving as an Assistant Dean over Co-Op and Graduate Placement. She applied, got accepted, and for the

past three decades has stayed at the institution now known as Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.

Posey transitioned from corporate to college administration because she desired to have a mission-based job where she was able to directly help people. However, being in higher education, she knew having a doctorate would make her a strong candidate for future job opportunities. In the 1990s, Posey embraced starting over: retaking the GRE, writing a new essay, and submitting a fresh grad school application. Posey worked full-time and took classes at UC’s College of Education.

At one point Posey thought she was too old to go back to school, but today, she would say, “You are never too old to go after any degree.”

Certifications and de-

grees can help someone financially move out of poverty into the middle class, start a new career, or gain greater comfort with the prevalence of technology. To Posey, power is rooted in being able to get things done, to complete things, and to achieve one’s goals. Education increases a person’s knowledge base, ability to problem solve, and openness to be a life-long learner in order to overcome the challenges of change. Posey is an active, powerful leader in Greater Cincinnati who is truly passionate about serving the students, staff, and faculty. The mission of places like Cincinnati State, as an open-access institution, is driven by the power that education has to impact lives. Her journey to becoming Posey, President of Cincinnati State, is another testament to the power of persistence.

Dr. Posey speaks at the WCPO 1 Night, 12 Kitchens event. Photo provided

Dr. Posey takes part in an Anxiety Support Group meeting at Cincinnati State. Photo provided

The right motivation keeps you from giving up

Bu il d ing Com m un it y.

Ronald Williams restores a Carthage relic creating space for a thriving artistic community

By Nahamani Yisrael

Ronald Williams began his career as an Electronic Technician for Duke Energy. Williams’ father worked as an electrician for the Environmental Protection Agency and introduced young Williams to the field at 12 years old. Originally, Williams wanted to become a musician, but his father encouraged him to pursue a trade to insulate his son from the nefarious practices that plagued the musical industry.

While working as an electronic technician, Williams continued to pursue his gifts by writing and producing songs.

In 2005, Williams co-founded a nonprofit entity, Arms Around Media, an organization dedicated to helping area youth learn about musical production. Arms

Around Media teaches young adults how to work audio and video equipment and use their skills to tell their unique story, through songs and television shows. The goal of Arms

Around Media is to help young people create revenue streams and understand the business side of the music industry.

After retiring from Duke Energy, Williams took his passion for the arts even further. In 2018, he purchased a former Masonic Lodge and began renovations on The Williams Francis Theater, a 3,000-square-foot venue located at 6819 Vine Street, named in honor of his parents. While working on renovations, Williams became heavily involved in the Carthage community, a diverse

community that is home to one of the largest Hispanic populations in Greater Cincinnati.

According to Williams, the Carthage community lacked a significant arts and cultural presence. In 2020, The Williams Francis Theater opened in the heart of Carthage, Ohio’s business district. “I looked around and I couldn’t find any cultural or communal space. I was looking for somewhere, other than a bar or night club, where community members could come together, be comfortable and enjoy arts entertainment.”

Williams has continued to expand the venue’s offering to include multiple rentable spaces where the community can conduct business. Spaces for networking, workshops, and community marketplaces. The immaculately-preserved

space includes audio and video capabilities, which organizers can utlize to enhance gatherings such as theatrical and musical performances, comedy showcases and more. The space can also be utilized for personal events such as intimate weddings, family celebrations and private events hosting up to 120 guests.

Inside the Williams Francis Theater you will find a theater with an enclosed stage, a fullyoperational recording studio, and the newly activated Artists Gallery. The newly-opened

gallery includes video streaming capabilities and a podcast studio where local creative entrepreneurs can create television quality productions.

Ronald Williams continues to work with the Carthage Business Association. Through the group efforts, a collaborative agreement with local community organizations has led to a thorough market study and a $250,000 parking facility that will help the district thrive for many years to come.

www.thewilliamsfrancestheatre.com

(LEFT) The William Francis Theatre. (RIGHT) Interior setup for an event. Photos provided

“I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE, OTHER THAN A BAR OR NIGHT CLUB, WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS COULD COME TOGETHER, BE COMFORTABLE AND ENJOY ARTS ENTERTAINMENT.”

-RONALD WILLIAMS

A TRIBUTE TO O’dell Moreno Owens, MD, MPH

Dr. O’dell M. Owens was a man of great insight and wisdom. His illustrious career reflects his enormous impact on the Greater Cincinnati community and beyond. The accolades and tributes he received in life, and upon his death, echoed the deep feelings held by many. In addition, his legacy highlights the roles he played as a devoted husband and father.

His service as a pioneering physician, Hamilton County coroner, president of Cincinnati State, health commissioner for the Cincinnati Health Department, president of Interact for Health, member of several boards of trustees, and recognition as a Great Living Cincinnatian, speak to the breadth of his influence.

Dr. Owens was a man of his time and an example of a great and gracious leader whose commitment to the Cincinnati community was evident in everything he accomplished. He was a stalwart champion for children and teens and believed education was a game changer for every child.

There is no doubt that his absence is deeply felt. There is a void now that others must fill. Yet his goal to be an agent of social change is left as a model for all of us. Dr. Owens was a truth-teller whether on the streets of Cincinnati or in corporate boardrooms.

Determined to make a difference, his life’s work spanned nearly 50 years and broke barriers set by others. Dr. Owens took nothing for granted. He is often quoted

as saying, “I had to be better just to be equal.” From his modest beginnings in the West End of Cincinnati to his impact as a medical practitioner and widely respected leader in his hometown and worldwide, he remained humbled by his experiences.

Some people may not know that Dr. Owens was an entrepreneur as well. He owned businesses ranging from a restaurant to a printing company. His tireless work to make our city better was evident in his community service, business and civic attainment, awareness of the needs of others and distinctive accomplishments. Dr. Owens was a tireless worker for our community as an advocate for better health, education and for equal resources for all.

Photos provided by the Owens’ family and AACC

P25

Entreprenuership & long-term wealth

P33

Building wealth with discipline

P28

Power of perspective

P31

Power of Black women at Queens Village

Jim Clingman: Beyond the headlines

Finding your sparkle

Is entrepreneurship the answer to building long-term wealth?

By Nahamani Yisrael

Innovation and entrepreneurship have the power to transform lives. For over two decades the Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative (“GCMI”) has been helping low-to-moderate income individuals and disadvantaged business owners throughout Greater Cincinnati discover, develop, and transform their ideas into successful businesses. As a small business and a Community Development Financial Institution (“CDFI”), GCMI offers startups access to the capital they need to realize their dreams of owning a business. Willie Hill III serves as the Executive Director of GCMI, a vital part of the Cincinnati small business ecosystem since 1998.

Aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the Tristate are looking to leverage their business idea to lift themselves out of poverty and build a lasting legacy. These individuals need comprehensive support to foster their problem-solving skills and strengthen their entrepreneurial muscles. According to Hill, the primary focus for individuals looking to turn their entrepreneurial aspirations into a steady source of revenue should be centered around taking meaningful action.

Hill warns that often the hardest part for most startups is determining which action to take and when to make certain moves. Many struggle to evaluate their business model because often they are too busy working in their business and trying to juggle the many jobs that need be done. GCMI helps small business owners evaluate their business concepts and understand how their transferable skills can lead to a profitable enterprise.

According to Hill, actionable entrepreneurs have a greater chance of long-term success because they refuse to let their fear of failure stop them from pursuing their entrepreneurial endeavors.

“You can’t be afraid to fail, as long as

you’re working toward your goals or objectives. Initially, you’re going to experience more failures, but you cannot let that stop you!” advises Hill.

Entrepreneurs must learn to reinvest their earnings, this will allow them to scale and expose their business to even greater opportunities. Hill and his team of entrepreneurship educators and small business coaches guide local business owners through intensive mindset training, business plan development and provide ongoing technical assistance to ensure these entrepreneurs have the tools they need for long-term sustainability.

Hill encourages entrepreneurs to expand their knowledge base by surrounding themselves with subject matter experts. According to Hill, this goes beyond the standard startup advice of having a lawyer, an accountant, and a banker on speed dial. Hill recommends that early entrepreneurs start

Willie Hill. Photo by Pete Coleman.

Boss Moves

by building relationships with advisors and mentors. While many cannot afford to hire a lawyer or accountant in the early days, Hill encourages entrepreneurs to build relationships with individuals with these specialized skills. “You’re not going to grow your business talking to yourself. Your job is to find opportunities. These folks can help you explore choices and identify the actions that’ll lead to your goals.”

Asking for and accepting help can be difficult for some, however successful entrepreneurs learn to push beyond the discomfort for the success of their business venture. Unlike their counterparts, successful entrepreneurs learn to accept growth of all sizes. Even the smallest growth, if it leads toward their ultimate goal is worth reveling.

If you are looking to transform your entrepreneurial endeavors into substantial wealth generation, Hill recommended these tips:

1. Clearly define your wealth goals and objectives. When setting goals, be specific and make sure you have a compelling “why” that will drive you to take necessary action even when you feel like giving up. Utilizing the SMART goals methodology is the best way to ensure the long-term success of your business.

2. Take action. Action from success and failing forward is an essential part of entrepreneurial growth. Be sure to learn from each of your failures and apply these learnings as you reposition your business for future endeavors. Do not waste time and energy feeling sorry for yourself or blaming others, instead take these learning opportunities to maximize your growth potential.

3. Put yourself in rooms with other business leaders and thought leaders. Being present in these spaces provides you with the opportunity to share ideas, celebrate each other’s success and practice collective problem-solving. Some best practices include being active in your industry’s professional associations, joining your local chamber of commerce, as well as attending entrepreneurship clubs and meetups.

4. Be the boss of your time. You must invest time working toward your goals. The activities and tasks you perform daily should be in alignment with your overall goals. Take time to learn new skills and focus on your personal and professional development.

5. Learn to delegate. It can be challenging to ask for help. but you must allow others to assist you in your entrepreneurial quest. Assign tasks to individuals who are best suited to perform said task. As the business leader, you should focus solely on tasks that leads to your business’ success. Understand the jobs that need to be done in your business and in your life and ask your self who can get them done for you, with you and delegate those tasks.

Hill began his leadership at GCMI over 19 years ago. Since then, Hill has been working directly with startup entrepreneurs looking for financing. GCMI provides access to capital through its various collaborations with local government, small business resources, and lending institutions. Currently, GCMI is one of only 65 Black-led CDFIs in the United States.

With over two decades of experience working with individuals in their quest to find funding, GCMI decided to join forces with other local organizations that support minority business owners. As part of the Cincinnati Minority Business Collaborative, GCMI works in conjunction with organizations including the African American Chamber of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, the Minority Business Accelerator, Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council, SCORE, Mortar Cincinnati, Lightship Capital, the Urban League of Greater Southwest Ohio and many more.

When COVID-19 caused a major disruption in business operations, GCMI, along with their community partners led the initiative to provide microgrants to minorityled businesses throughout Greater Cincinnati. These microgrants sought to level the playing field as the group recognized that black-owned businesses were not receiving their fair share of federal funding offered through programs such as the Paycheck Protection Plan.

GCMI and members of the collaborative community of small business resources came together to pursue and distribute several rounds of funding designed to help locally owned, Black-led businesses keep the doors open. In addition to providing monetary support, small business owners received dedicated technical assistance ensuring that those hit the hardest had the resources necessary to overcome the challenges caused by decades of racial disparity in traditional lending practices and traditional small business support.

Hill and his team have a proven track record of helping more than 1,200 local individuals realize their dream of owning and operating their own businesses since GCMI’s inception in 1998. Through collaborations and collective initiatives, Hill hopes to see the number of Black-owned organizations in Cincinnati double within the next five years. If you are an aspiring entrepreneur looking to leverage small business ownership to improve your quality of life, GCMI has the resources to help you too.

Willie Hill. Photo by Pete Coleman.

The power of perspective

Life lessons and career aspirations from members of Gen Z earning degrees at UC

By Dr. Valencia Moses

Noura Ata President @ Neo | MLT CP ‘24 | Business Fellow

University of Cincinnati ‘24

Lindner College of Business, Marketing & Information Systems

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nouraata/

As I started my career at UC, I had one goal in mind; to gain the skills necessary to obtain an internship. So, that’s exactly what I set out to do. I got involved in a multitude of organizations both inside and outside of UC. Those organizations involved Business Fellows, AMA Agency, The Neo Initiative, the AACRC, MLT, and more! As I continued to get more and more involved, I began to work my way up into leadership roles in 5 different organizations all at once. In doing this, I ultimately was able to build my resume with some extensive experi-

ence through my involvements and some great recognition came with that. While I chose to “grind” at the end of the day, what was the cost? I ended up spreading myself very thin in terms of output which impacted my mental health in the end. The reason behind me mentioning this is that while everyone saw my successes in the end, what people didn’t know was the struggle I faced throughout the process. In saying all of this, I believe that my generation is filled with a whole lot of hustlers which I would see as a strength of ours, but it’s important for us to not lose sight of the grace we need to give ourselves throughout the process.

Ebun Obisesan

Carl H. Lindner Honors-PLUS Scholar at University of Cincinnati | Information Systems

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebunobisesan/

I am most concerned with finding somewhere where I would love to start working full time while being satisfied in the role and motivated to move forward professionally. For me, working wouldn’t be just a way to make money. It will be a means by which I can serve people by being a good steward of the gifts and talents I have been given by God. I have yet to find a role or industry that I think suits me and my skills specifically. However, I am hopeful that this is a journey I don’t

have to travel alone. I am hopeful that with this lens I will find ways to provide value in the lives of those around me in every endeavor, and lead and encourage them to discover purpose in theirs. There has been pressure for me and my peers to plan out our next 5 years in terms of career and plans in life. I think that while planning is good, it is important to be where you are now. I have amazing opportunities to impact people around me in school right now and prepare for the future. I am excited to step into the unknown and gain new skills,

“IT’S IMPORTANT FOR [MY GENERATION] TO NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE GRACE WE NEED TO GIVE OURSELVES THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.”

-NOURA ATA

Noura Ata. All photos provided by individuals

Ebun Obisesan

meet new people, and have new and unique experiences.

Julian Hill (He/Him/His)

Lindner College of Business

University of Cincinnati | Class of ‘23 Business Fellows | Vice President of Recruitment

https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-hillco23/

Everyone is always asking college students, “What’s next?”. Some of us know exactly what’s in store for the next chapter of our lives but for many of us, answering that question starts the onset of a miniexistential crisis because we don’t know what’s next…we can’t. As we approached the intersection of adulthood and independence, we were thrust into a global pandemic in which nothing was certain. We were quite literally in “unprecedented times”. For me, this brought on a paradigm shift that took some time to come into. My thinking became less focused on planning and my “end goal” but more about my ability to adapt, overcome adversity, and provide direction for myself. I, like many other students, stumbled my way into the university and fell into an academic track. There was never a defining moment that led me to the University of Cincinnati to study Marketing & English but a bunch of choices and experiences that helped define

and shape my path. I think that’s what I’m most hopeful about life after graduation– continuing to have life experiences that will shape what my future has in store for me. If there’s anything I’ve learned during my time in college, it’s that I can plan everything ‘to a T’ but life happens, and I have to be able to accept that and adjust accordingly. My college experience hasn’t just prepared me for a successful career through education, but it has prepared me to successfully navigate the circumstances and situations that life throws my way.

Hailey Rose Bell

BBA Marketing | Carl H. Lindner College of Business ‘23

Electronic Media | College Conservatory of Music

Business Fellows, MLT Career Prep ‘23, Neo Initiative, Bearcast Media, American Marketing Association, AMA Agency https://www.linkedin.com/in/haileyrosebell/

My generation is used to having what we want, whenever we want. Being used to having everything at our fingertips makes it hard to sit around and wait for results. If we are not happy with something, we are not afraid to speak our minds and demand change. Some generations have described us as soft or entitled, but I find it admirable how we are able to stick up for what we believe is right. I also think that being a Gen-Z woman of color can be advantageous at times since we are so sought after within some industries. Even if you are the “diversity hire”, take advantage of the opportunity of the open door and make the most of it. With Millennials and Gen-Z reaching management levels

within companies, the corporate culture is bound to change.

The pandemic brought on a lot of selfreflection but ultimately taught me to value myself. Although I never pursued the idea of “quiet-quitting”, it is something that has crossed my mind. Going above and beyond for an employer that does not return the favor can get stale. Setting boundaries in the workplace is not always easy, but it is important to feel comfortable saying “no”. I quickly learned the importance of a healthy work/life balance and how much I personally value it. It is imperative to take time for yourself to do the things that you enjoy because work should not consume your life.

Julian Hill

Hailey Rose Bell

“WHAT I’M MOST HOPEFUL ABOUT LIFE AFTER GRADUATION [IS] CONTINUING TO HAVE LIFE EXPERIENCES THAT WILL SHAPE WHAT MY FUTURE HAS IN STORE.”

-JULIAN HILL

Queens Village proves that Black women possess the power to irradicate maternal and infant mortality

health care disparities. Members of Queens Village boldly take up space to ensure that Black women hold leadership roles in the rooms where decisions impacting the Black woman’s physical and mental health occur.

Queens Village formed when 5 Black women met at Dr. Shockley-Smith’s kitchen table. The organization has grown significantly, today there are five Community Advisory Boards in six Cincinnati neighborhoods and Queens Village is taking measurable strides to spread its supportive network of resources nationally.

By Nahamani Yisrael

According to the Center for Disease Control, Black women are 300% more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts. The CDC attributes the risk of maternal death among Black women directly to structural racism and implicit bias toward Black women.

The issues plaguing Black women have an equally alarming impact on Black babies. In Ohio, the infant mortality rate among the Black community is more than 2 times higher than the rate of infant deaths in the white community (Source: 2020 Infant Mortality Annual Report, Ohio Department of Health).

Racism is a public health crisis and undoing centuries of oppressive tactics and their impact on the Black Community takes a village. Luckily, for Black women in Cincinnati and beyond, Queens Village is

taking a strong stance to support, uplift, and repower Black women.

Queens Village, an uplifting arm of Cradle Cincinnati, was formed to create an ecosystem wherein Black mothers can support and be supported as they work together to eliminate racial disparities in birthing outcomes and the conditions that drive inequality in maternal and infant health.

This Black women-led organization, founded by Dr. Meredith ShockleySmith, is proving that Black women are best suited to drive meaningful change for themselves and their peers. Together, with her team of powerful Black women, Shockley-Smith strives to restructure the power system that created the

Currently, Queens Village has 13 chapters throughout the United States, from Fresno to Baltimore, including 8 chapters in Ohio. The group’s Expansion Specialist, Marchè Gendrew, supports her fellow Black women leaders as they work to create safe spaces in their respective locations for Black women to thrive. “We are removing the barriers for supporting Black women and showing them that it is okay [for us] to have exclusive spaces.” Gendrew sees the growth of Queens Village as an extension of the kitchen table.

“We are a big part of the bigger conversation”, advised Dr. Shockley-Smith in a conversation about shared power and

“WE WANT TO BE INVITED TO THE ROOM WHERE WE ARE THE DECISION-MAKERS.”

-DR. MEREDITH SHOCKLEY-SMITH

From left to right: Danyelle Bush, Dontrice Matthews, Marchè Gendrew, Josselyn Okorodudu, Dahlia Gulley, Crystal Brown, and Dr. Meredith Shockley-Smith. All photos by Pete Coleman

Boss Moves

how Queens Village is driving policy change. Shockley-Smith shared how Queens Village’s Advisory Board recently exercised its collective power by serving as the deciding force for Ohio Medicaid. The advisory board was tasked to evaluate every proposal related to maternal and infant health dollars in Hamilton County and determine which proposals were funded. As a group, they ranked each proposal and were given the opportunity to share their personal experiences and voice their concerns. “This is evidence that the systems have bought into seeing us as a leader in the health and equity space,” adds Shockley-Smith.

Working in the Black community has shed light on the fact that disparities impacting Black mothers and infants exist in all socioeconomic subgroups and among various health behaviors. “Needing help is not just limited to the working poor but impacts birthing and non-birthing mothers of all walks of life”, shared Danyelle Bush, the Media and Communications Specialist at Queens Village. Bush shared how her group went into action when the COVID-19 pandemic cut off everyone from their support network. Before the shutdown, most of the Queens Village programming was in person, which led to a sense of connection. “Black women already felt isolated, unheard and unseen,” added Bush. In early March 2020, Queens Village moved its entire platform online and began offering programming through virtual platforms including its Facebook Lives where it hosted art, cooking, and exercise classes. They hired Black women to teach workshops on everything from financial literacy and voting to how to style your natural hair at home. Through their virtual interactions, the group doubled its reach.

New community strategies were formulated during this time, caused both by the isolation of the pandemic-related shutdown and the impact that the criminal justice disparities and social unrest had on mothers.

Community Strategist, Josselyn Okorodudu, saw a rise in mental health inquiries and took immediate action to find resources that could support the mental well-being of Black women in the community. As a result, Queens Village has formed a partnership with Poppey’s Therapeutic Corner to provide 6 months of free mental health counseling to those in need.

Queens Village also strengthened its relationships with UC Women’s Health Center. They recently hired Dontrice Matthews, a recent University of Cincinnati graduate and new mother, to support women who come into the Women’s Health Center. Through her facilitation, Matthews con-

ear, other times its help with a Duke bill.” Because they support mothers at various stages, Brown gets to work with mothers both young and old. She teases that sometimes she has to drag it out of them as often members of the Black community are taught not to openly share their personal struggles. Yet with a group of powerful, approachable, and caring Black women fighting and advocating on their behalf, the data shows that maternal and infant mortality are declining among Black women in Cincinnati.

Allyship is strongly encouraged, and members of the community at large must continue to use their influence to open doors and ensure that Black women’s voices are elevated. “We don’t just want to be in the room,” adds Dr. Shockley-Smith, “We want to be invited to the room where we are the decision-makers.”

nects new moms and invites them to join her Post-Partum Support groups. Matthews has found facilitating the groups mutually beneficial, “Because I didn’t have that support when I gave birth.” In addition to working hands-on with the women at UC Health, Matthews connects new mothers, those with infants less than 12 months of age, to additional supportive resources.

The support that Queens Village offers is extended through the valiant efforts of Crystal Brown, Program Coordinator. Brown checks in on the mothers daily to offer support and help them find resources. Brown’s warm demeanor and compassionate spirit allows mothers to be open and express what meaningful support looks like to them. “Sometimes it’s a listening

Queens Village provides a variety of programming throughout Greater Cincinnati year-round. Their primary focus is on the 6 neighborhoods with the highest infant mortality rates: Avondale, North College Hill, Price Hill, Roselawn, Westwood and Winton Hills. Program Coordinator, Dahlia Gulley, works tirelessly to coordinate meaningful and impactful events where Black women can come together, educate themselves and learn the power of restorative rest.

In addition to Queens Village’s exclusive events for Black women, the group offers two annual events where allies are welcome, Through Her Eyes and In Her Eyes. You can learn more about these events and the group’s efforts on their website www. blackwomenforthewin.com. Those looking to provide monetary support for the impactful work that Queens Village does are encouraged to donate on their website and purchase merchandise that represents the movement. Most importantly, the group asks that the world believe and support Black women!

Proud Sponsor of Business Leaders-African American Chamber of Commerce

Building wealth begins with discipline: A conversation with Fifth Third Senior VP Stephanie Smith

By Dr. Valencia Moses

For Stephanie Smith, her great-grandmother was the first banker in the family—someone who saved a dime out of every dollar. This matriarch, who was born to slaves, worked for International Harvest (now known as Navistar) as one of the few African-Americans serving as a supervisor within the company. Her savings helped her invest in what would become a powerful legacy: owning a two-family home in

Fort Wayne, Indiana where her five daughters were able to live. Born in the same city, Smith was able to learn first hand from her great-grandmother who had significant assets upon her death and no debt because she paid for everything in cash.

“There was a pride around frugality then that is frowned upon now.” In fact, Smith could still sing the lyrics from the advertisement for the shoes that she and her siblings wore: “Buddies, they make your feet feel

fine, Buddies, they are a dollar ninety-nine!” Smith shared. Buddies had the Converse emblem on them without the brand name of Converse itself on the gym shoes.

This reality is a stark contrast to the way the culture is “inundated with materialism today”. Instead of buying today’s equivalent of Buddies, some prioritize spending $250-$300 for a pair of sneakers. “People are constantly in front of us selling products,“ so Smith invites us to stop to think in order to answer these questions: Do you need them? Can you afford them?

Smith has heard her daughter sharing stories about people who take pictures in front of cars they don’t even own or pretending to go on vacations to places they can’t afford to go because of the pressure to look affluent or wealthy. Smith sees this as “withdrawals people are taking to make a false deposit”! To put it another way, what is the real cost of trying to “keep up with The Jones’s?”

There was a time when Smith was a single mother after a divorce who had to return to work after being a stayat-home mom for five years. She knows what is it like to have a master’s degree and to work for $10/hour. Smith went through times where she could not spend a dime beyond her necessities. Her great-grandmother’s example reminded her to prepare for a rainy day, be a

good investor, and start with what is affordable.

However, part of her journey involved leveraging credit cards. At one point, Smith had amassed $100, 000 of debt. She used her tax refunds to pay down the debt and when she experienced pay cuts while a salaried employee, she went to the back of her closet where she had her coin collection and cashed them in to help her buy Fifth Third stock when it fell to 89 cents a share. That stock bounced back to produce a 300% gain in three years and enabled her to put a down payment on a home in Over The Rhine (OTR) many years ago. She has paid for every car she has ever owned and though her son teases her about her vehicle choices, Smith is quick to let it be known what she values more. “Don’t ask me what I drive; ask me where I live”. Now, being debt free is part of the legacy Smith is extending to her children.

Building wealth from investing and home-ownership takes the ability to do something that counters popular culture. Smith has this advice — “Discipline is number one. You have to say ‘no’ to a lot of the things you want in order to have a full, bountiful life.”

This is one way to think of wealth, in terms of bounty or what can help you enjoy a full life. Smith’s background in Urban Planning brings an incredible perspective on wealthbuilding and life in general. Really focus on these powerful words. “What you zone for is what you can build…plan it out, grid it out, zone it out, and invest [accordingly]”. This is what has happened over time in areas like OTR. It has taken a

vision, plans, and strategies to reinvest into such a community to make it even more viable and vibrant.

For the people—especially small business owners—Smith offers the following advice. “Have a strategy and a plan for your life and your business… know directionally where you are trying to go.” She is aware that many entrepreneurs are motivated by not working for anyone else, yet “working for yourself is one of the hardest [people] to work for”! Know your skillset and have a direction. What Smith is talking about has come from what she has walked out.

In 2002, while working at Fifth Third Bank, the company provided copies of the resumes of each banking executive. Smith read every one and saw a pattern. Every senior leader had gone through commercial banking. It took over a year, but Smith identified who could be

her ally, an ideal advocate to help her reach her goal of becoming a senior leader. She intentionally networked and found a mentor. She made a plan and worked her plan. As Smith puts it, “prayer without action steps and discipline is the lottery” and we know that most winners are broke within a year.

Wealth is also achieved through what we do for others. Smith challenges us to “live up to the level we want to receive”. We should learn to listen. It is part of being listened to and part of being a leader. Be open to experiences that stretch you, may even make you a bit uncomfortable, as these create chances to hone your talents that will propel you or your organization forward.

Stephanie Smith is the Senior Vice President and Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer at Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati,

OH. Dr. Valencia Moses is the Founder of Vibrant Coaching in Cincinnati, OH.

While this article is a representation of an hour-long conversation between Dr. V and Senior Vice President Stephanie Smith, please invest the time to reflect upon these powerful questions to put in the work to build wealth in your life!

What does wealth mean to you?

Which financial habits are helping or hindering your wealth-building goals?

How can what you know and who you know help you build wealth?

What legacy do you want to leave to your family and/or the community?

What changes can you make in the next 30 days to enjoy a more bountiful life?

Stephanie Smith. Photos provided

“DISCIPLINE IS NUMBER ONE. YOU HAVE TO SAY ‘NO’ TO A LOT OF THE THINGS YOU WANT IN ORDER TO HAVE A FULL, BOUNTIFUL LIFE.”

-STEPHANIE SMITH

Jim Clingman: Beyond the headlines

By Terri M. Bolds Wilkinson-Hill

This is no ordinary article, but an exclusive invitation to see a legend through the eyes of a loved one. We thank the family for allowing us to see the founding AACC President beyond his well-earned accolades.

Recognition generally comes with listing one’s contributions, accolades, and successes. Recognition is the effect of a person’s efforts, but not intently enough is the depth of the person shared. It’s my honor to step behind the larger-than-life person that is James E. Clingman, Jr., my Uncle Jimmy, and the person behind the books, awards and fame. A story worth the read.

I requested quotes from Uncle Jimmy of what he wanted his legacy to be, the school of thoughts or works he hopes will stand the test of time, and a scripture that

captures who he is. In true Jim Clingman form, he made sure he got the job done by any means necessary. His disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), has stripped him of the ability to use his hands and almost completely of his voice. This did not stop him from completing his goal. Using his special device to communicate electronically by using his eyes to create messages, he was able to finish the task in true form. That’s the kind of man, the man behind the headlines, that will be exposed in this article.

Let’s get up close and personal with Jim Clingman. He is a strong and true believer in God. I recall his response as we both sat in the physician’s office on the day of his confirmed diagnosis. My heart was breaking while the doctor explained his illness. After the doctor left, Jim said, “Well, not what I wanted to hear, but I trust God.”

“What?!” I spoke. I asked him is that it, was he not mad or scared? He responded that God is his source for everything he needs.

“15Suppose a brother, or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?, James 2:15-16”

(https://www.biblegateway.com) The scripture in its simplicity is how he has lived his life. “Helping others is not limited to money, but includes the full spectrum of time, talent, and treasure.” Jim is that person that notices a need and makes every effort to fulfill it, even if it means putting his family in situations blindly. We always oblige because of who he is, what he stands for, and who he serves, God.

I’ve accompanied him on several speaking engagements where he received little to no compensation. He did this because of the need he saw in the black community that encompassed more than the status quo. We have the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce due to his efforts and those of others. Jim understood what the community needed, a VOICE, and set his feet, money, time, and resources to the pavement and produced a great asset that has helped and continues to benefit so many.

Another aspect of his teaching he hopes will live on forever is, ‘after all is said and done, much is said and little is done’,

Jim Clingman with his niece, Terri M. Bolds Wilkinson-Hill.

Jim Clingman. Photos provided

Boss Moves

‘things don’t change simply because they ought to, they change because someone does something’, ‘multiply your blessings by sharing them with others’. He really believes this. I recall countless times wondering why is it always him? Why does he always have to be the one to take care of things? Why was he the one to be ridiculed in the headlines? It’s because he was the “someone” he is talking about. He lived his words, walked the walk, was not a man of just words and no action. Not always were his actions appreciated, and sometimes slandered, but he still stayed true to the cause. My uncle loves black people and has fought, even in his degenerative state, for our economic and psychological advancement.

“My third quote is one that encapsulates the essence of Jesus in our lives. Our lives will not be measured by what we had. We will know what our lives were worth when we answer the question: What did I do with

what I had.?” When he shared that quote, it reminded me of how he encouraged me to start my own business. He told me that I was wasting my degree. He believed that I had more to do when I didn’t see it in myself. His daughter is a result of his push. His nieces and nephews are a result of his push. He has helped countless individuals execute ideas that became their reality. He advocates for a life of purpose. Things depreciate, but your gifts and talents can live generations past your existence. Look at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man of action, a man that at times sacrificed his family and personal needs to stand on the frontline of a battle that we still fight today. For me, Uncle Jimmy is my Martin, Malcom and Marcus. He is my real-life hero. He is their ideas, their sweat, tears and works personified.

The man behind the headlines is an amazing human. The man that had a tall slender frame, that rode his bike literally 2000

miles, still lives on. The man that stood tall in the pulpit claiming the word of God, is one of God’s greatest creations and the world has been even better because of him. Sure, he is an incredibly accomplished man, but it’s his works and his desire to constantly work that really defines him.

It’s his love for his wife and daughter, for his family that defines him. It’s his faith and service to God that drives him and the reason we reap the rewards of his actions. I struggled with rising to the occasion of writing about someone so fantastic, but felt him in my heart and just started writing. No gimmicks or fancy phrases, just my genuine love and admiration for the man I hope others will forever remember, not only for what he has done, but for who he is, the man behind the headlines. Jim Clingman is a gem whose light will never dim and whose legacy will live on forever.

Board members of the Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce from the year 1996.

Finding your sparkle: Morgan Angelique Owen’s guide to finding your purpose

By Ashlee Cook

Morgan Angelique Owens, the woman who found her sparkle and has been breaking glass ceilings ever since, is an influential pioneer on a mission to help other women find their sparkle too. She is an influencer, blogger, author, and beauty editor that has not only inspired women and young girls to grow within their confidence, but she continues to educate them on becoming boss babes in their own light, whether that is in their 9-5 jobs or if they are entrepreneurs themselves. As a ten-year veteran in the game of self-discovery, she has become an unstoppable force of nature.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Morgan to get a glimpse behind the spark inside of a woman that was once insecure and shy, that has blossomed into a power-

ful, confident Black woman that uplifts her community by just being the best version of herself.

Here’s what Morgan had to share about her journey:

Ashlee Cook: What does Morgan A. Owens stand for? What is her purpose?

Morgan A. Owens: Everything that I do is rooted in uplifting those who are usually underserved and underrepresented to encourage them to do whatever it is they want to do, but to have realistic goals and place those goals into action.

AC: Morgan, how did you find your sparkle?

MAO: I found [it] at the age of 27 when I wrote my book, “Finding My Sparkle.” That’s the day I decided to love myself no matter what and ultimately I did find my

sparkle.

AC: So, what’s your secret? How did you go about finding your sparkle? How can we find our own?

MAO: The first step is admitting that there is something missing about yourself. Why aren’t you confident? Why aren’t you loving yourself? Why are you attracting negative energy, or why you’re just stuck? That’s the first step, and the second step is actually putting in the work to work on it, whether it is going to therapy. If you don’t love your job, seek a better one. If you need education, take those classes. If your business is stagnant, invest in it and take a class or invest your time and put the research in for it, but ultimately you have to find what that spot is that your aching inside that is keeping you from blooming and for me it was not fully loving myself truly.

All photos provided by Morgan Angelique Owens

AC: Ok, so what about “self-care,” that’s a lot to work through? How do you take care of yourself in the meantime?

MAO: Self-care to me means putting the phone on “do not disturb,” going to bed early, taking days off when needed and really just saying “no” and being ok with that.

AC: OK let’s get into the money, how did you educate yourself as a new and now seasoned entrepreneur to ensure your business would thrive?

MAO: *little laughter* So, financials are actually the non-sexy side of business for me, but it’s a very important thing, so I actually went through Streetwise EBA program with the African American Chamber. I learned really how important financials are to my business, not only knowing them but knowing projections, knowing what’s going in and what’s going out, but also taking a monthly audit of things and also asking should I hire help, especially if that’s not my ministry. I have learned to outsource that so that I continue to grow within my finances.

AC: Sometimes all we see is the glitz and glamor of business. Can you talk about the ugly side of it for a moment? Yes, you’re able to make thousands of dollars now, but it wasn’t always like that, how did you keep yourself motivated?

MAO: Yeah, so, I don’t think you enter into entrepreneurship for the money. You do it for your purpose; you see a need and you also see a vision that others can’t see yet. So, I’m going into my 10th year as an entrepreneur, my fifth year also fulltime and a lot of people say to me “oh you became successful so quick.” No, actually I did not. You know, some years I didn’t make a profit and when I started making a profit you know you have to take that audit of what are you doing well and what can you be doing better. Like I said, most successful entrepreneurs don’t have a certain blueprint, right? We’re just going out here and we’re doing it and seeing what works and what doesn’t work, and we are constantly working in the business to see the growth potential.

AC: Let’s talk about the pandemic for just a second. How much of a loss did you take,

and how were you able to bounce back from it?

MAO: Well! I lost 80% of my revenue with the pan demic! I was depressed. I stayed in bed majority of the week, but hey, as an entrepreneur you have to pivot and know how to hustle. So, I really had to lean on relationships I made already and just let people know that I was going in a different direction. I had my English creative writ ing degree; however, I invested in a blog course because blogging was not in my ministry. So, I had to pour into that and immerse myself into the culture but also getting out of my comfort zone and going to other cities to see how other influencers move. In the beginning I couldn’t afford a photographer, so I had a ring light and did my thing. Now I shoot with a photogra pher two to three times a week. All that work I put in helped me have a successful year in 2021.

AC: OK GEM! Where do you see yourself in the next few years?

MAO: A lot of people have been asking me this question, and I have just reprogrammed myself to enjoy the ride at the moment. I am always pushing myself past my comfort zone and thinking of innovative ideas, but if I had set limitations or goals on myself these past two years, I would have never been in the

position that I am in right now. I

Deborah R. Davis | she/her/hers Cincinnati MBAC Regional Director deborah@african-americanchamber.com

To find information or services, please complete the MBAC online application at http://odsa.force.com/mbac/.

The MBAC looks to aid small, minority, and disadvantaged local businesses through these programs and encourages eligible businesses to seek assistance. Given how challenging and demanding the COVID-19 pandemic has been on small businesses, the MBAC will work tirelessly to create a plan fitting for whatever state the client’s organization is in, ensuring the client the opportunity to cross any barrier and unlock their full potential.

• Business plan assistance

• Contract procurement assistance

• Marketing plan development

Fashion at the Fountain The high fashion runway experience

Behind the scenes on the runaway and in perfect view, Fashion At The Fountain set the scene for a New York Fashion Week style show. Drawing overwhelming support from the City’s Mayor Aftab Pureval, take a peek at highlights of the incredible team of make-up artists, hairstylists, and a team of 10 all Black designers.

This year’s stellar line-up included: Myra Wallace Collection, Collezione Davide, Cross Colours, Cynata Turner, Anthony Hill, Oshuvre’ (Inspired Fashion Boutique), Am-A-Line, Kyissa Bacus, Nina Parker (Macy’s).

Photo Op

Business Directory

Merrill Lynch - Jonnie Byrd

5905 E. Galbraith Rd., Ste 7000

Cincinnati, OH 45236

(513) 985-5811

jonnie.byrd@ml.com

OwnerLand Realty

3230 Jefferson Ave. Ste A

Cincinnati, OH 45220

(513) 543-2333

shhrealtygroupllc@gmail.com

Making A Difference Staffing

300 E. Business Way, Suite 200 Cincinnati, OH 45241

(513) 807-9658

melody@makingadifferencestaffing. com

Northern KY Community Action Commission

717 Madison Avenue

Covington, KY 41011

(859) 581-6607

cbowman-thomas@nkcac.org

CyberSure

151 West 4th St. #26

Cincinnati, OH 45202

(513) 991-2220

ewiilliams@cybersurellc.com

Soul-well Health and Beauty LLC

PO box 37195

Cincinnati, OH 45222

(513) 896-0741

sbarleston093@gmail.com

Be Brown Brave, LLC

1287 Timberland Drive

Cincinnati, OH 45215

(513) 307-0613

Michelle@bebrownbrave.com

The Williams Francis Theatre LLC

6819 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45216

(513) 252-6248

sales@thewilliamsfrancestheatre.com

Market Direct Inc.

690 Northland Blvd

Cincinnati, OH 45240

(513) 563-4900

mdirect@marketdirectinc.com

Natural Shea Care, LLC

1854 Lemontree Ln

Loveland, OH 45140-2619

(513) 307-5426

mannyaddo@gmail.com

NAMI Urban Greater Cincinnati Network on Mental Illness

1558 Blair Ave.

Cincinnati, OH 45207

(513) 238-7788

ugcnomi.nami@outlook.com

Firm StartUp LLC

3171 Preserve Ln Apt 3B

Cincinnati , OH 45239

(513) 378-5200

Ceoshonetinabenson@gmail.com

Exclusive Services

11134 Lushek Drive

Blue Ash, OH 45241

(513) 827-9273

admin@xservices.org

Saturday Morning Vibes

Cereal Bar

3539 Reading Road, Suite 101

Cincinnati, OH 45229

(513) 801-6058

eat@smvcerealbar.com

SunnyBlu Art Agency

7887 Ramble View, Unit 104

Cincinnati, OH 45231

(513) 748-0966

kailahware@sunnybluartagency.com

To be considered for a feature in our business directory, join the African American Chamber of Commerce by visiting african-americanchamber.com/aacc-join-the-chamber