Black History Month is in full swing and numerous corporations have launched unique initiatives to celebrate the achievements of the Black community along with its pioneering figures.
This week, UPS unveiled its new limited edition artwork to commemorate Black History Month along with a new business grant program aimed toward uplifting Black entrepreneurs. The company hired Brooklyn-based Black and South Asian artist Sophie Yeshi, who owns Yeshi Designs
, for the project. The artwork for the Express boxes is a part of the company’s “Proudly Unstoppable” campaign made to amplify Black voices and provide aid for Black-owned small businesses.“I wanted something that felt inspiring and was about unity and people coming together to help one another,” Yeshi said in an interview with CNN Business. “It was really important that it have that unstoppable energy, something that felt like we’re powering through and persevering.”
She also shared the news on her Instagram page with the campaign video for the initiative. “I’ve spent the past few months partnering with @ups in support of small Black-owned businesses by designing a limited edition Proudly Owned Express box inspired by my community,” she wrote in the caption.
The company also unveiled their 30 Day Fund to invest in Black-owned businesses in addition to making a donation of a $5,000 forgivable loan to a Black-owned small business every day during the month of February.
“UPS is dedicated to breaking down barriers standing between small business owners and their goals,” the company wrote on their website. “COVID-19 has impacted small businesses across the board, and the Black-owned small business community has been especially hard hit.”