Black, entrepreneurial, success, entrepreneur

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

July 24, 2024

Dream, Achieve & Thrive: 4 Tips For Black Entrepreneurial Success

Taking the leap into entrepreneurship demands not only courage but resilience.

By Talisha Bekavac, Executive Vice President, U.S. Black Chambers

Taking the leap into entrepreneurship demands not only courage but resilience. Business owners must embrace uncertainty while finding ways to become stable and grow, often learning as they go. Yet, for Black business owners, this leap often requires more. Racial disparities, harmful biases, and increased socioeconomic factors that create a more challenging path compared to our non-Black peers can often threaten the progress and financial success of our entrepreneurial pursuits.

These barriers can manifest in a number of different ways. According to data from the Intuit QuickBooks Black History Month Survey, 79% of Black small business owners have experienced racism from a customer in the last year. Adding to this, nearly half of respondents say the fear of having to overcome racial stereotypes almost stopped them from starting their business.

While these realities may discourage us at times, they make for an even greater accomplishment for the community when we succeed against these odds, and today, many Black small businesses are finding ways to overcome the challenges at hand. At a time when most small businesses are lagging in employment, Black-owned small businesses are showing a surge. Despite accounting for only 3% of U.S. employer firms, 71% of Black-owned businesses reported they hired additional full-time or part-time staff in the past year, reinforcing our importance to the larger economy.

As Black business owners continue to make significant strides, here are some tips to consider as we work to cultivate businesses that are not only stable but thriving, and ultimately build wealth for our communities.

Don’t Be Afraid to Start Small

Every big achievement often starts with a single small stride. Whether that means deciding to open a business or gaining one new customer, these are not insignificant steps to future success. This holds true for Black business owners, many of whom are already taking risks and breaking new ground in their local communities and industries.

Data shows that 70% of Black small business owners say they’re the first in their family to own a business. They’re also innovating, with more than 2 in 5 (46%) noting they’re the only or part of a few businesses in their community offering their specific products/services.

These steps are something to be celebrated, and they’re milestones that ladder up to personal and communal success that can inspire others in our community to pursue their passions. Each milestone is a testament to what hard work and a clear vision can achieve. It’s OK to start small, focus on quality, and gradually expand your business. This will lay a solid foundation for lasting success.

Set High Standards

When building your business, professionalism is key to establishing trust and reliability with your customers or clients. You deliver exceptional quality and service and deserve compensation for that gold standard. However, more than half of Black small business owners say they’re undercharging for their products and services, and with economic uncertainty still looming, nearly a third say they don’t plan to increase their prices within the next year or aren’t sure if they should given inflationary pressures.

It’s important to articulate the purpose of your business and the value you bring to the table. Researching what your peers are charging is also a great start to avoiding underselling yourself. But don’t undervalue the full extent of your business costs, including your time, materials, and overhead, when setting prices that reflect your value. Understanding these costs will help you build a realistic but transparent pricing model to educate customers about the quality and craftsmanship of your products or services.

Tap into the Power of Community

Don’t underestimate the strength of the Black community as you build entrepreneurial success. As a business owner, you hold a powerful opportunity to help boost our economic empowerment. But that impact can be even greater when you act as a conscious consumer. Nearly 9 in 10 (88%) of Black small businesses recognize the buying power of Black consumers—more than larger corporations (83%).

By supporting other Black-owned businesses, we can revitalize our local economies, and ensure the Black dollar circulates longer within our community while we reach entrepreneurial success.

Find a Balance Between Your Personal and Business Finances

More than half of Black small business owners are using personal funds to cover business expenses, postponing their personal wealth as a result. There’s no definitive playbook for starting and growing a business, but there are resources and tools to help you manage and stay on top of your business finances, ranging from fintech products to organizational support. Nonprofits like the U.S. Black Chambers, and our national network of over 160 local Black chambers of commerce, have a wealth of educational tools and financial resources to help you gain financial access and manage your finances effectively on your journey to entrepreneurial success

The entrepreneurial journey starts with a vision and a dream. But it takes determination and resilience to succeed. Successful Black businesses serve as a powerful reminder that with the right mindset and financial resources, loyal customers will follow—and it’s the support of the Black community that will propel us all forward.

by Daniel Johnson

July 24, 2024

Leah Chase’s Lafayette Academy Still Needs Qualified Educators Before Opening

According to Orleans Parish School Board member Olin Parker, the number of positions the school needs is based on an enrollment figure of 300 students, but since the school currently only has around 200 students, the extra positions might not have to be filled after all.

In February, New Orleans’ NOLA Public Schools was awarded the opportunity to run a school directly for the first time in decades on the site of a low-performing charter school, Lafayette Academy. The school would be renamed in honor of Leah Chase, the legendary New Orleans chef who died in 2019 and would include grades K-5 initially, with a plan to expand to pre-K through eighth grade.

According to NOLA.com, the Leah Chase School is now two weeks away from opening and still needs to fill approximately 13 jobs, four of which have pending offers, including a first-grade teacher, two second-grade teachers, an art teacher, a Spanish teacher, and a physical education teacher. In addition to those faculty positions, the school also needs to find four classroom aides, an operations manager, and a maintenance worker.

According to Orleans Parish School Board member Olin Parker, the number of positions the school needs is based on an enrollment figure of 300 students, but since the school currently only has around 200 students, the extra positions might not have to be filled after all.

“It’s not concerning,” Parker told the outlet before, adding that the smaller number of staffers is helpful for the school’s budget. “The number of vacancies is helpful from a deficit perspective.”

In February, Tulane University professor and director of the Education Research Alliance in New Orleans, Douglas Harris, provided context on the school system in New Orleans to Fox 8. New Orleans’ public schools were drastically altered post-Katrina.

“I think there has been pressure for a while for the district to act more directly within the school system. With charter schools, they’re acting indirectly. They’re waiting for the contracts to expire, and they’re trying to get new schools open through charter organizations. But you get to the school board meeting, and people say, ‘Well, what about this school?’ And, ‘This school over here isn’t doing what we’d like them to do.’ It was a big shift that happened in the system after Katrina that was really reducing the district’s responsibility over day-to-day management of schools.”

Harris continued, acknowledging the challenges that were ahead of the district, given its financial restrictions.

“They’re trying to govern this system of charter schools and have this separate operation of running schools at the same time. The district doesn’t have a lot of funding at the district office. They don’t have a lot of people. It’s already a challenging thing to try to govern this charter school system. Now, you’re adding another very different kind of responsibility by trying to actually manage these schools on a day-to-day basis.”

Similarly, Dr. Avis Williams, the NOLA-PS Superintendent, acknowledged to the outlet that it would basically be an all-hands-on-deck situation. “It’s going to take the whole community,” Williams said. “We’re going to need partnerships and support. And so, I do look forward to all those folks who were here, cheering on this movement and wanting the board to move forward with this. I’m going to be looking to you all to support.”

The stakes for the success of the Leah Chase School are high, as the success or failure of the school could signal whether or not the NOLA-PS system will be able to follow the direction of board member Leila Jacobs Eames, who told the board at a meeting in January, “Since I campaigned for this position, people were saying, ‘We need direct-run schools, we need our schools back.’ So that’s the direction we’re trying to go in.”

The community, represented at the meeting by Pastor Gregory Manning, who is the Pastor of Broadmoor Community Church, regards the charter school movement as a failure. “The charter school program is a failed experiment. Let’s put more direct-run schools in place so we can go back to where we used to be as a city.”

by Shanique Yates

July 24, 2024

12-Year-Old Girl Charged With Murder Of 8-Year-Old Cousin

The two girls were reportedly arguing over an iPhone.

A 12-year-old girl has been charged with first-degree murder after being accused of suffocating her 8-year-old cousin to death, WREG in Memphis reports.

Prosecutors in Humboldt, Tennessee, applied the charges after video footage reportedly showed the 12-year-old using bedding to suffocate her younger cousin. The victim’s mother, Rayana Smith, identified her daughter as Demeria Hollingsworth. According to the mother, the girls were staying with their grandmother for the summer.

She said the two were arguing over an iPhone before the incident occurred. Investigators responsible for reviewing home security footage of the incident say that the older girl cleaned up the victim following the suffocation and then repositioned her body.

Since she is set to turn 13 next week, District Attorney General for the 28th District in West Tennessee, Frederick Agee, said his office is petitioning for Juvenile Judge Mark Johnson to transfer the 12-year-old girl to Circuit Court to have her tried as an adult. At this time she has been charged with first-degree murder as well as tampering with evidence.

“I consider this to be one of the most disturbing violent acts committed by either an adult or juvenile that my office has prosecuted,” Agee wrote in a statement shared on the office’s social media page.

According to Smith, her daughter was always cheerful.

“She liked to read books, go swimming, play outside, ride her bike every day, play with the kids in the neighborhood, play with my friends’ kids,” said Smith. “My baby was sweet.”

Smith also admitted to having a hard time grasping what really happened to her daughter. She said she should have picked up her child after being told that the two girls were arguing over an iPhone, “but they were having fun for the summer and I didn’t think she would kill my baby.”

“She did nothing to deserve her life to be taken,” Smith added. “Last time I seen my baby, she was smiling, giving me kisses, telling me she will see me when it’s time for her to come back home. She never coming back home. She never coming back home.”

Smith said she hopes the 12-year-old girl receives the highest sentence possible.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 24, 2024

White Women Mobilize For Kamala Harris In Virtual Fundraiser, Aim To Match Success Of Historic Black Women-Led Event

White women will follow Black women and men in their own call to fundraise for Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.

Another demographic will step up to get Kamala Harris elected. A virtual meeting for white women to “Answer the Call” is underway following Win With Black Women’s historic Zoom call.

Harris supporters of this demographic have the opportunity to join the fight on July 25. The event, “White Women: Answer The Call!,” seeks to have a similar outcome as the Black-led fundraising event. During Win With Black Women’s Zoom, 44,000 participants raised over $1 million for the politician’s campaign.

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Stating its “their turn” to show up, white women will get the chance to further this impact, as Harris’ win would be a stride for gender equality as well. If elected, the 59-year-old would become the first woman elected as U.S. President.

While white women make their mark to support Harris, they also significantly helped former President Donald Trump win years ago. However, new data debunked the original “52%” statistic typically attributed to the voter group.

According to Time, approximately 47% of white women voted for Donald Trump during the 2016 Presidential election. On the other hand, only 45% chose to support his female opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Despite this, white women Democrats hope to remedy the past through this endeavor. Their Zoom call will contribute to other race and gender groups who took inspiration from Win With Black Women to bring more funding to the campaign.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the “Black Men For Harris” Zoom occurred on July 22. Hosted by Roland Martin, over 53,000 Black men joined the virtual event to raise over $1.3 million. Moreover, Latina women advertised their own call to action for July 23, making it clear Harris’ support extends beyond race and gender.

On the July 21 call, Black women lawmakers, such as Reps. Joyce Beatty and Maxine Waters, rallied attendees to carry Harris over the finish line. Joined by activists like Bernice King, the group claimed to secure over $1.5 million for Harris in just three hours.

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While no speakers are confirmed for the call as of yet, white women hope to carry the torch that Black women first lit.

by Stacy Jackson

July 24, 2024

Kamala Harris Launches Presidential Campaign With Fiery Milwaukee Rally, Challenges Trump’s Agenda

During the Milwaukee campaign rally, Harris emphasized her former efforts against predators, fraudsters, and cheaters.

Vice President Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign with a rally in Milwaukee, taking aim at former President Donald Trump’s alleged attempt “take the country backwards.”

The rally marked her inaugural campaign gathering since President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race. Addressing the Milwaukee crowd, Harris pledged to “do everything in her power” to foster unity within the Democratic Party and across America. She drew on her background as a prosecutor, recounting her battles against “predators, who abused women; fraudsters, who ripped off consumers; cheaters, who broke the rules for their own gain.”

“So hear me when I say,” Harris said, “‘I know Donald Trump’s type.'”

Harris’ campaign has quickly gained momentum, securing backing from over 64% of Democratic delegates, according to The Independent. This support surge followed Biden’s endorsement, which came immediately after he stepped aside due to ongoing concerns about his age and health. The campaign has already seen record-breaking financial support: $81 million within 24 hours of Biden’s announcement.

As Harris steps into the spotlight, speculation swirls around potential running mates, with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly emerging as frontrunners.

Hillary Clinton lent her voice to Harris’ cause in a New York Times op-ed. However, the campaign trail is not without its challenges. House Republican Andy Ogles has filed articles of impeachment against Harris, alleging high crimes and misdemeanors. Trump intensified his verbal assaults, painting Harris as an extreme extension of Biden’s policies, claiming she’s “the same as Biden but much more radical.”

Former President Barack Obama’s statement following Biden’s withdrawal notably lacked an endorsement for Harris, hinting at possible alternative candidates despite Biden’s support.

The former BE Woman of Power is fighting to further solidify her position as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee ahead of the Democratic National Convention, scheduled for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.

Hijack, Gwinnett County, High-Speed Chase, Chad Irish, Minneapolis

by Shanique Yates

July 24, 2024

Atlanta Woman Claims An Unlawful Eviction Led To Cops Pointing A Gun In Her Face

A DeKalb woman is accusing her former landlord of unlawful eviction and claims that the courtesy officer on site pointed a gun in her face.

A DeKalb County woman is accusing her former landlord of unlawful eviction, adding that a gun was pointed in her face during the time of her removal, WSB TV reports.

Cherise McMoore said she was forced to vacate her home at Cavalier at 100 Apartments, located on Panola Road in Stonecrest, Georgia, by a courtesy officer on duty at the complex. She alleges that the official, a police officer, illegally evicted her from her home at gunpoint.

“As I opened the door and stepped out, I just seen a gun just in my face,” McMoore recalled. “It was traumatizing. It really was.”

McMoore said that both a leasing manager and the courtesy officer carried out an unlawful eviction without any paperwork from the DeKalb County courts. Active attorneys in the area report that there has been a spike in illegal eviction cases since 2020. However, landlords are required to follow the court process, which means only a judge has the right to order an eviction.

“A landlord can’t simply decide that they don’t want you in their property anymore,” said Atlanta Legal Aid attorney Erin Willoughby. “The way the law is set out in Georgia, there’s one person and one person only who has the right to tell you that you no longer have the right to live somewhere, and that person is a judge.”

She added that illegal evictions are on the rise across Metro Atlanta and that, in McMoore’s case, the presence of a DeKalb police officer at the time of the incident was a major no-no.

At the time of the encounter, the DeKalb woman used a cell phone to capture video footage. In the clip, the courtesy officer on duty can be heard telling McMoore that she has the right to take legal action if she opposes management’s action.

Per court records, in Oct. 2023, a magistrate judge granted Cavalier at 100 Apartments the right to evict McMoore. However, the case was dropped against her without prejudice by the complex a month later. Additionally, management refiled the eviction later that month, seeking $1,703 in rent, but the case was dismissed after attorneys and apartment management officials did not appear in court.

Daniel Crumby, an attorney for McMoore, said that there was no official court order on file for his client’s eviction. However, court records show that in May, Cavalier at 100 was granted a $16,000 judgment in the case. Per the documents, both parties agreed that if the tenants moved out, they would not have to adhere to the judgment. The apartment complex notes that the tenants—McMoore and her family—did indeed move out at the time.

By turning in the keys, which records say McMoore did on May 29, the case was “dismissed, and the lessee granted the property with possession on May 28th before a writ was issued.”

The DeKalb Police Department launched an internal affairs investigation after McMoore filed a complaint, citing that the officer pointed his gun at her during the time of the reported eviction. Detective Winston Simms said that when he was told the complex needed help removing “aggressive squatters,” he informed Cavalier at 100 Apartments management that he did not have the authority to evict as a police officer.

Instead, he agreed to assist the manager in ensuring her safety. The internal investigation found that Simms violated the department policy by assisting with the McMoore’s removal from the property as well as their rifle policy.

A corporate representative for Cavalier at 100 Apartments said that this was not an eviction but an occupancy check since McMoore reportedly turned in her keys in May.

Alton sterling, Philando Castile, Michael Sabbie, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner

by Kandiss Edwards

July 24, 2024

A Senseless July: Remembering Alton, Eric, Michael, Philando, Sandra, And Now, Sonya Massey

The present should never forget the past.

Sangamon County State’s Attorney released video camera footage of Sonya Massey’s death at the hands of former police officer Sean Grayson. The video shows how quickly a Black life can be taken without any provocation.

As Black Americans grapple with this senseless, systemic violence that plagues the United States, Sonya Massey’s name and the images associated with her death are added to the growing list of Black lives that have been impacted by police brutality and what some call modern-day lynchings by rogue cops.

We cannot ignore that there seems to be an uptick in police shootings as the temperature rise. It is not lost on us that several Black lives have met their eternal sunset under the scorching July sun. As we stand in the face of an ominous presidential election, Massey’s death feels like a deja vu, one the Black community has experienced far too many times. Feelings of anger, concern, dismay, resentment and sadness loom.

The present should never forget the past. As such, BLACK ENTERPRISE joins the Massey family in bereavement as we remember Alston, Philando, Michael, Eric, and Sandra.

Alton Sterling

June 14, 1979-July 5, 2016

Alton Sterling, 37, was approached by police after someone made a call about a man selling CDs. Sterling was shot while being subdued on the ground by an officer of the Baton Rouge Police Department. All charges were dropped against the arresting officer, Blane Salamoni, despite witness testimony and cellphone video.

Eric Garner

Sept. 15, 1970-July 17, 2016

Eric Garner, a 43-year-old married father of six children, was suffocated at the hands of a New York City police officer. Garner, a chronic asthmatic gasped the words “I can’t breathe” before becoming unresponsive and dying at the scene. Daniel Pantaleo, the officer responsible was not convicted in a criminal court. Garner’s family was awarded a $5.9 million settlement. His death led to New York evaluating its procedures and holding officers criminally responsible for death by choking with the passing of the “Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act.”

Sandra Bland

Feb. 7, 1987-July 13, 2015

Sandra Bland was taken into police custody during what should have been a routine traffic stop. Bland was later found dead in a Texas jail cell. It is alleged that racial profiling and a lack of proper procedure led to Bland’s arrest, which led to her death. Officer Brian T. Encinia was found guilty of falsifying reports and was subsequently fired.

Philando Castile

July 16, 1983-July 6, 2016

Philando Castile was the victim of racial profiling by Jeronimo Yanez. Castile was misidentified as a robbery suspect due to “his widespread nose.” After alerting officers to his registered firearm in the vehicle, Castile was shot five times in the chest. Castile’s girlfriend, daughter and a host of viewers on Facebook Live watched as he took his last breath.

Michael Sabbie

Michael Sabbie, police brutality, remember the times

Nov. 17, 1979-July 21, 2015

Micheal Sabbie, 34, was a stay-at–home dad. While in the custody of Texarkana for-profit jail, Sabbie’s complaints of respiratory issues was ignored by the prison guards. Sabbie died in his cell. His death was ruled as a result “natural causes.” Video camera footage revealed that before Sabbie complained of pain he was a victim of assault at the hands of correctional officers. Sabbie’s family sued the facility for use of excessive force and settled for an undisclosed amount in 2019.

by Daniel Johnson

July 24, 2024

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore Not Interested In VP Nomination, Endorses Kamala Harris For President

'I have expressed that I love my job and I have no intention of leaving.'

Although Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president, he remains deeply uninterested in accepting a vice presidential nomination—even though Moore has been floated as a potential running mate for Harris.

“I have expressed that I love my job and I have no intention of leaving,” Moore told CBS Mornings. “I think that where (Kamala Harris) goes is going to be a very personal decision for her. I think she’s going to have wonderful options to consider.”

Moore further cemented his commitment to his current job. “I want to stay as the Governor of Maryland,” he said. “I love the momentum we are seeing right now in the state of Maryland. I want to be the leader that helps to continue pushing forward that momentum. My decision to stay in Maryland is because I still have work to do.”

When asked to provide an idea of Harris’s ideal running mate, Moore offered the following advice: “I think the number one thing the Vice President needs to think through is who’s the person that she’s comfortable with? This is a deeply personal decision, and not one that you need to approach with box-checking or looking at well, what does this person give me or that person give me.”

According to WMAR 2, following Moore’s appearance at the Horizons Conference in Washington, D.C., on July 22, Moore was asked what he thought about his name coming up in preliminary conversation about potential running mates for Harris.

“It’s very humbling,” he said. “And I think it’s humbling because people are paying attention to the work that’s happening in Maryland right now, and that we’re getting really big things done in our state, and getting them done in a bipartisan fashion. I’m very, very comfortable with being the governor of the State of Maryland. I’m not interested in doing anything else.”

Today, I am proud to voice my full support and offer my full endorsement to Vice President @KamalaHarris to be the Democratic Nominee for President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/rnsl34PWN6
— Wes Moore (@iamwesmoore) July 22, 2024

On July 22, Moore issued a ringing endorsement of Harris as the next President of the United States of America, posting it to Twitter/X with the caption, “Today, I am proud to voice my full support and offer my full endorsement to Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Nominee for President of the United States.”

Tessie Prevost Williams, New Orleans, Civil Rights

by Stacy Jackson

July 24, 2024

New Orleans To Unite For Funeral Of Civil Rights Icon Tessie Prevost Williams

A casket lying in state will precede funeral services, followed by a final salute for the civil rights icon at the New Orleans TEP Center.

Funeral services for New Orleans civil rights leader Tessie Prevost Williams will take place Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Branch Bell Baptist Church.

Prevost Williams, one of four Black girls who bravely integrated New Orleans public schools in 1960, died on July 6. She was 69 years old. According to the Associated Press, her death followed a series of health issues.

The civil rights icon’s funeral in New Orleans will be preceded by her casket lying in state at Gallier Hall on Friday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. A jazz brass band will lead the funeral procession, culminating in a final salute at the Tate, Etienne and Prevost Civil Rights Interpretive Center.

On November 14, 1960, Prevost Williams and her classmates, 6-year-olds Leona Tate and Gail Etienne, faced jeering crowds as they entered McDonogh No. 19 Elementary School. “It’s an experience that I had with her that I will never ever forget,” Etienne told WWL-TV. “I’m truly going to miss her.”

“My daddy told me in the car, he said, ‘Look straight ahead, take my hand, and I’m here.’ And I wasn’t afraid,” she told CBS News. “For some reason, I just wasn’t afraid. I felt protected with my daddy.”

The girls endured isolation and constant police protection in their covered window classroom after white parents withdrew their children. In recent years, Prevost Williams and Etienne established the New Orleans Four Legacy Collection to preserve their historic role.

Congressman Troy A. Carter commemorated her life, saying “her courage and profound impact on New Orleans and our nation will never be forgotten.”

Prevost Williams dedicated her life to equality. In 2022, she participated in the opening of the TEP Center, celebrating the former McDonogh 19 Elementary School building’s new role as a community hub and living museum of civil rights history. Her death follows the New Orleans 4’s recent honor in Washington, D.C., commemorating the 70th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education.

by Stacy Jackson

July 24, 2024

Historic First: African-American Woman Buys Entire Baltimore Waterfront Block

Dr. Vonnya Pettigrew, CEO of Root Branch Media Group, acquired an entire block in Baltimore.

Root Branch Media Group’s CEO, Dr. Vonnya Pettigrew has acquired an entire block in Baltimore to house her media hub in one building. Pettigrew’s landmark purchase establishes her as the first African-American woman in Maryland to own a waterfront block.

The 14,400-square-foot building housing RBMG’s expansive operations, formerly owned by Barcoding, Inc., spans the length of a full block in Canton Harbor. According to The Baltimore Times, Pettigrew, a University of Maryland College Park alumna, owns all four sides of the commercial building. She financed this media hub, known as “The Root Branch Multiverse,” through the Reinvestment Fund without external investors or grants.

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Under the RBMG umbrella, the building houses multiple entities, including the award-winning media production firm, a soon-to-open coffee shop (Root Branch Press Coffee & Co.), a property management company (Root Branch Office Solutions), and a nonprofit supporting education and training initiatives (Root Branch Arts and Outreach Institute Inc.).

RBMG’s website describes the media hub as a “100% African-American owned, certified woman-owned full-service media production firm.” Since 2006, the media company has offered a wide array of services, from video production and creative development to motion graphics and web design. RBMG’s mission targets students of color and through its notable Film Academy, has committed to giving them “the voice they deserve and the chance to use media in a meaningful way that rewrites the narrative of how they are seen in and depicted by the media.”

Pettigrew brings 27 years of media experience to this venture, with a background spanning filmmaking, TV production, directing, and casting. Her work has been featured on networks like Discovery and TV One; clients also include government agencies and corporations. The former White House intern is a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, National Association of Black Journalists, Baltimore Association of Black Journalists, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Women Business Owners DC.

The Root Branch Media Group building is named after Pettigrew’s family property in South Carolina.