We had the good fortune of connecting with Myesa Arora and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Myesa, what do you want your legacy to be?
I hope that my community will remember the positive change JeeJi-Hood helped bring about. By employing and empowering my Indian sisters financially, I hope to have made a difference in their lives. I strive for a more equitable world and am committed to doing everything I can to bring about that future. I want to leave a legacy of being a someone who supports my community and inspires everyone – no matter their age, gender, or status – to do good in the world.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
During the pandemic, I started a JeeJi-Hood, a social enterprise to support tribal women in the Indian state of Rajasthan, who had lost their livelihood on account of the lockdown. These women relied on tourists to sell their crafts and were struggling to feed their families. I collaborated with my mother’s friend who lived locally to provide the women with an avenue to sell their products online. Rather than wait for the tourists to come to them, I wanted to take their products to consumers across the world. I wanted to give them the chance to use their embroidery, hand sewing, and beading skills to manufacture cotton handbags using block designs, hand embroidery, and stitching in their homes. I sent funds to my liaison in Jaipur, bought materials on Zoom conversations, and designed the product in Photoshop and PowerPoint. I used Zoom to work with the women, explaining to them the need to adapt to the changing global situation. Over the past two years, JeeJi-Hood has found a very strong sense of purpose. Our vision and tagline (for our sisters) guides our decision-making and inspires us each and every day. We push for gender equality and empower Indian tribal woman financially. We hope that by working they are able to gain independence. We prioritize ethics, sustainability, and social responsibility in our operations and strive to make our little, yet positive impact in our home country. We are very proud of our impact and yearn to be able to employ more women!
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Day 1: ART DAY!
Breakfast at Oddfellows in the Bishop Arts District.
Visit the DMA and walk around the Arts District.
Check out the Reunion Tower to see Dallas from the best angles!
Dinner at Pecan Lodge in Deep Ellum, the BEST place for BBQ.
Day 2: MAVS!
Morning walk at the Dallas Botanical Garden.
Visit the Sixth Floor Museum – President John F. Kennedy Museum.
Lunch at Mi Cocina in the center of Klyde Warren Park.
Mavs Game at American Airlines Center.
Day 3: STOCKYARDS!
Go to Fort Worth Stockyards, see TX cowboy culture.
Then the Fort Worth Zoo.
Dinner at Joe T. Garcia’s, good Fort Worth Tex-Mex.
Day 4: PEROT!
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Visit the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, and see the Nasher.
Dinner at Rosewood Mansion.
Day 5: MUSICAL!
Breakfast at the Pancake House
Go to Grandscapes in Frisco
Watch a Musical at Fairpark
Day 6: GRAPEVINE!
Breakfast in Downtown Grapevine.
Visit the Grapevine Vintage Railroad.
Dinner at Del Frisco’s Grille.
Day 7: LIBRARY!
Bike on Katy Trail.
Go to George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
Dinner at Uncle Julios.
These are FOR sure the top things to do in Dallas!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Mom, I want to dedicate this shoutout to you, as you have been an integral part of my life and JeeJi-Hood journey. Your unwavering love, support, and guidance have shaped me into the person I am today. You have always been there for me through thick and thin, offering words of encouragement, lending a listening ear, and providing a shoulder to lean on. Your selflessness and sacrifice have been a constant source of inspiration to me. I am beyond grateful for everything you do for me, and I want to thank you with my whole heart. I love you more than words can express.
Website: https://www.jeejihood.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeeji_hood/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jeeji-hood8487