Social impact: how does your business help the community or the world?

We are so inspired by the businesses in our community because of how many of them are committed to helping to make the world better than it is today. Check out some great businesses below and how they are helping others.

Naomi McCoy | Yoga Instructor, Photographer, UX Designer

My goal as a yoga + movement teacher is to help teach students tools to live a empowered, joyful life. I love to highlight the process of, critical thinking, self-understanding and the importance of discovering one’s inner teacher. Yoga’s introspective nature inspires me to cultivate compassion towards myself and others, and reminds me to remain inquisitive, exploratory and open hearted. The more I can hone in on and embody those things in my own practice, the more I’m able to share them with students / the world. Read more>>

Lahoma Abdus-Salaam | From Childcare Professional to Spiritual Coach

My business goal is to change the world one family at a time. I coach people for a variety of reasons and in different areas of their lives. Some of the main focus areas are releasing anxiety, manifesting desired outcomes, healing relationships, and conscious parenting (or parenting challenges). I help people create a life they love. By listening to my clients, I’m able to show them their beliefs, or rather blueprint for their life, and whether it matches what they desire. If it doesn’t match, then I work with them to change it so they get the outcome they desire most. In addition, I have partnered with others to speak to groups, host healing circles and to create a podcast to assist with shifting consciousness within the black community in regards to worthiness, racism, wealth and health. It’s important that we start changing the current narrative and creating a new story. My desire is to help create a world that works for everyone. Read more>>

Brittney Lee | US Air Force Reserve, USDA Financial Specialist, Stylistik Creations Owner

For hundreds of years African Americans have faced trials and tribulations. From slavery to segregation to states and agencies having to pass laws that allow black men and women to wear their hair the way it naturally grows from their scalp. Laws shouldn’t have to be passed in order for people to be able to look the way they were born in the workplace, African Americans shouldn’t have to conform to the European society. My business is about empowerment and awareness. Racisim is a sensitive topic in the United States of America. It’s something that many feel no longer exists. However, every time we turn on the news there are black men, women and children being shot and killed by police for sleeping in their beds in their own home, sitting on the couch watching television in their own home, playing with toy guns at the park, or getting pulled over for a warrant and being shot instead of tasered. This is the life that African Americans live. Read more>>

Braylon Smither | Wedding & Event DJ and Entrepreneur

I am showing my community what it means to be a black man in the wedding and event space in Texas. And, I am doing so as an entrepreneur and sole business owner, without the backing of a [DJ or entertainment] company. Just because I’m black doesn’t mean I can only DJ at “the club.” Kids in my community (my kids and nieces and nephews especially) are getting to see something different from what I saw growing up. You don’t have to go to the 9-to-5 job you don’t like. You can chase your dreams and be successful–I tell my kids all of the time, ‘you can be anything you want to be in this world,’ because it’s true. People are seeing my success and cheering me on. It’s so cool to be in this era of technology, to be able to have the resources for people to follow your business and life on social media. I connect with people very different from me, all because of a post on Instagram. People come to weddings like , “Braylon! I feel like I’ve known you for years!” And it’s because they have. Read more>>