Note #5

Hello,

Last week I got to spend some time back in the UK which was a nice way to close out the summer as we head into fall. During my time I was able to catch-up with a few friends including a childhood friend who is building out their side project. We sat in the pub, walked down the river,and discussed striking the ‘right’ balance when it comes to using your own money to execute a project or to invest to kickstart momentum.

It got me looking this week into what grants or funding opportunities are available. Depending on your location, local governments and banks sometimes run programs to support early ideas with small amounts of money in return for participation in schemes. Here are a few I came across:

🇺🇸 The Fifteen Percent Pledge is a call to action for major retailers and corporations to join us in creating sustainable and supportive ecosystems for Black-owned businesses to succeed. We work with companies to comprehensively re-evaluate their org structures, ways of working, funding, and resourcing in order to implement meaningful change and create greater equity for Black businesses. Check out their Instagram where they share updates of grants available for Black founded businesses

💄Sephora Accelerate Program is a brand incubation program dedicated to building a community of innovative, inspirational brand founders in beauty. With a focus on founders who are people of color, in line with our commitment to the 15 Percent Pledge, our goal is to ensure there are brands in the beauty industry representative of the colors, races, and ethnicities that make up the Americas. Deadline is Sep 25th 4.59pm PST.

🇬🇧 JAMII, a UK marketplace for black-owned businesses has teamed up with Liberty Global’s Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Harmony Group (REACH) to launch a grant fund for Black-owned businesses for the upcoming Black History Month. One winner will receive £5,000* and two runners-up will each get £2,000 (These grant amounts are before tax, so please keep this in mind when applying). Applications close on Friday 22 September at 6pm. 👉🏾 Learn more here.

Once season two preparations are further along, I will think to efficiently share funding and grant opportunities real-time with you.

• Girls United Essence: The Evolution Of Black Hair Styling On The Runway

• ABC News: Black high school student suspended in Texas because of dreadlocks

• Gifts & Dec: This New Collection From Purpose Toys Celebrates Black Hair and Barber Culture

• SLATE: It’s Time to Retire the Black Woman Hair Trope in Film and TV

• Afrotech: Angel Reese Focuses On Being Intentional When Signing NIL Deals — 'All Money Isn’t Good Money'

• Black Ballad UK: Why Don't Black Women Own Black Hair & Beauty Shops?

Something to watch

This weekend I’m going to check out The Other Black Girl on Hulu. Having read mixed reviews pre-watching the trailer I look forward to seeing how I interpret this body of work. The beauty about creative is that it’s existence changes depending on the outlook it’s being experienced through.

Protect your mind.

Tyesha