We had the good fortune of connecting with Eileen Abby “STARR” Backman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eileen Abby, what do you want your legacy to be?
I want people to remember about me is my heart. Something that i put into everything I do; especially my entrepreneurship, my drive, my willingness to never give up. Wanting others to reach their highest potential is a goal for me. It’s what sets me apart. I’ve always went above and beyond in what I do. I love loving and sharing love with others. Healing is a form of self love we give ourselves that I’m dedicated in helping others do as well. Im on my own self healing journey, and I feel it’s only right to allow others to access that & heal on their own. You know right away from the gourmet touches of the candle tops, to the knife slices from my old chef knife, in each bar; my heart is infused into each product & every idea to allow others to self heal with nature.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Woke Soap Spiritual Apothecary started in 2016/2017 in West Fargo North Dakota, after jumping from cooking/baking jobs, a seriously scary stalker domestic violence relationship, getting raided, moving half way across the country with absolutely nothing. Starting over time and time again. Texas is where we have rooted ourselves and decided to grow our natural soap & candle business. A business that has carried us all the way through homelessness, trauma, generational curses & ultimately a journey of healing. I can finally say we opened up a store in December 2022 in Historic OakCliff and Bishop Arts District in Dallas Texas! I’m am ever proud of our shop. We have grown from making our soaps in a small kitchen in a trailer house in West Fargo ND, to selling out the trunk, to popping up at Traders Village, to a Traders Village shop to a store front with a jungle of plants that set the whole mood before you walk in. Woke Soap is dedicated to helping wake others up to chemicals in your commercial soaps/skincare & making that switch to a safer more clean product. We create soap, natural deodorants, body sprays, colognes/perfumes, candles, incense, a full herbal healing bar right in our shop (where you can create your own loose tea blends, tea baths, baths salts, foot soaks & herbal smoke blends), to carpet powders and crystal healing jewelry! Everything in our store we handmake right in house. If you’re walking on Jefferson, come by, take a peek. Put your nose in our business at 369 W Jefferson Suite 12 and watch us cook up a batch of organic soap, smell each bar & create your own custom skincare, designed just for you! It’s been such an amazing space I even hold every Saturday “DFWs Indigenous Woman’s Market-Hustle and Heal Market” These markets are created for other entrepreneurs to showcase off their own amazing businesses! I am dedicated to helping others grow because I know the hardships of starting over, or going without. If we all help another we can go much further!!!!!!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Dallas Bishop Arts District & OakCliff is by far one of my favorite quirky, eclectic areas of Dallas. I tend to love everything I see, eat & do in this area! La Chulas Michoacana is where i get my favorite fruit cups! OakCliff Burrito Company makes amazing burritos and quesadillas. Casa Del Vegano is becoming our top go to since we are cutting meat to become healthier! Ochos Latin Cuisine is an amazing fine dining restaurant tucked right inside Jefferson Market where my shop sits on 369 W Jefferson Blvd. That hosts quite a few shop owners with beautiful shops inside. There’s a crepe place on Bishop Avenue where they are made in one of those old silver streamline campers! Fun little shops all over, evening markets, barstools on the outside for outdoor seating. It’s such a beautiful vibe here! The energy is amazing! Come out and enjoy yall selves with these beautiful vibrations we all bring! 

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First Id like to shout out to my babies! They make me realize how blessed I am. To my best friend Joelon, youve seen me at my worst & you still love me. THANK YOU!

I’d also like to honor all the Missing Murdered & Indigenous Women & People of America and Canada. These voices go unheard, their stories go unheard. I am here to be a voice for them. To never forget them. To say their names and continue to be a beacon for others. We as Indigenous women are targets. It’s absolutely frightening knowing the statistics & there really isn’t much speaking on it outside of the Indigenous communities! Indigenous women are strong, resilient and phenomenal. I want our voices to be heard far & wide.

Website: www.BuySoapNotDope.com

Instagram: @wokesoap.spiritualapothecary

Twitter: @wokesoapco

Facebook: Www.facebook.com/wokesoap

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