We’re wrapping up Black History Month by shining a spotlight on some of our talented and successful Black Northeastern entrepreneurs. Supporting minority-owned local businesses and ventures throughout the year is a great way to uplift traditionally marginalized communities. From a digital marketing agency to a health support collective, here are some incredible Black-owned businesses created by fellow Huskies:
1. BDY Consult LLC by Adebukola Ajao
This is a digital marketing agency aiming to help small businesses strategize and develop their brands. Former Northeastern graduate student, Adebukola, realized the importance of crafting a digital marketing presence for small businesses long before social media became the norm. Her revolutionary thinking led to the birth of BDY Consult LLC, which has helped 300+ small businesses achieve their marketing goals! If that wasn’t enough, Adebukola is also an adjunct professor at Northeastern’s College of Professional Studies. To learn more about BDY Consult, visit their website or follow their Instagram handle to stay connected.
2. Miixtapechiick LLC
Tahisha C. started her Boston based venture 10 years ago. Miixtapechiick is a media platform showcasing current events in music and entertainment both locally and nationally. The platform is also a marketing driver helping talent gain visibility. Tahisha received her master’s degree from Northeastern and has since served as a digital media manager at several organizations while running her own business. Curious about Miixtapechiick? Visit their website for the latest news – we spent hours on here!
3. Black Owned Bos
Jae’da Turner is another trailblazing Black Northeastern alumna who created Black Owned Bos to support and lift other Black-owned businesses. Her platform amplifies the visibility of small businesses and provides them with consultation and development resources to help them thrive. Moreover, Black Owned Bos also hosts events and markets featuring local vendors and their products. From Specialty Foods to Clothing and Accessories, we recommend scouring through the incredible directory to find some Black owned businesses to shop from!
5. Culture Care collective
Cynthia Orofo, a first generation Nigerian-American and nursing science Ph.D candidate, is trying to change the face of public health for marginalized communities with her initiative, Culture Care collective. It is described as a “hybrid health support program (face-to-face and interactive digital app) where community health workers (CHWs) are integrated into clinical care teams to communicate with and coordinate care for marginalized groups in order to increase access to socially supportive healthcare at low costs.” This venture addresses a major challenge faced by healthcare and takes measure to resolve some of the biggest operational challenges to alleviate the needs of marginalized communities. You can learn more about Cynthia’s venture here.
If you’d like to learn more about Black History Month and systemic racism or unlearn any biases, here are some resources to start with:
- ‘Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Survived Slavery and Became Millionaires’ by Shomari Wills
- ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ by Maya Angelou
- ‘The Vanishing Half’ by Brit Bennett
- ‘Small Great Things’ by Jodi Picoult
About Black History Month
According to the NAACP, Carter. G. Woodson, the co-founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, first proposed the concept of “Negro History Week” in 1926 to celebrate renowned African Americans and their contributions to society. Later, this week turned into an entire month designated for us all to remember and get inspired by the incredible contributions the Black community has had and continues to have.