Ahead of the two-day Chicago leg of Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour, the singer met with 100 small Black-owned business owners at a luncheon hosted by her charity BeyGOOD. At the event on July 21, 10 businesses were awarded $10,000 each as part of the charity’s Black Parade Route.
Established in 2013, BeyGOOD is an organization that serves marginalized communities through financial contributions. This comes in the form of donations, grants, scholarships, internships, and more.
A key initiative of BeyGOOD is the Black Parade Route. The initiative commits $1 million to entrepreneurs in 10 cities around the world. The route locations are London, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, Charlotte N.C. and New Orleans, with more to come. Chicago saw the first Black Parade Route Impact Luncheon.
It featured keynote speaker and former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams, networking opportunities for the businesses in attendance, and food and drinks. Each small business was given a suitcase with resources from sponsors and a letter from former First Lady Michelle Obama.
The awardees of the grant were formally recognized at the event. The Chicago winners of the BeyGOOD Black Parade Route grant include A Polished Work, Ashé Counseling and Coaching, FRWD Style, Debonair Men, The Pink Bakery, Emeraldluvsonyx, Next Innovative Clinical Research, and more.
A Polished Work
Founded in 2013, A Polished Work is a Black woman-owned and operated nail salon and spa. Founder and operator Monica Abernathy created A Polished Work to provide the South Side of Chicago with a “quality nail business” that delivers thorough service and nail care education.
Outside of the salon, the business also hosts community events such as Sip-n-Paints, game nights, Juneteenth and other holiday celebrations, pop-up shops, and more.
Ashé Counseling and Coaching
Ashé Counseling and Coaching provides affordable therapy and counseling services by diverse clinicians. Clients can receive individual or couples’ counseling online or in person. Ashé Counseling and Coaching has been verified and promoted by Psychology Today, Therapy for Black Girls, and Latinx Therapy.
FRWD Style
FRWD Style is a Black and LGBT-owned wedding planning service located in the Chicagoland area. Since 2020, owner Franklin J. and his team plan venue design and decor, styling, branding and stationary, and event management.
Debonair Men
Debonair Men is a luxury men’s underwear, self-care, and grooming company. Krave Fit magazine recognized the brand as one of the best Black-owned men’s underwear brands.
The Pink Bakery
The Pink Bakery makes an allergen-free, gluten-free, Kosher, and vegan baking mix. The company certifies its product by sourcing all ingredients. Founder Nubian Simmons is allergic to milk and wheat and was inspired to create The Pink Bakery through her own experiences with food allergies.
Being the only one of her siblings with these certain food complications, Simmons grew up not being able to eat many desserts. Through The Pink Bakery baking mixes, she strives to eliminate this experience. In an interview with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Simmons says she doesn’t want her mix to be just “good for allergen-free.”
I wanted it to be good. I didn’t want it to be if someone brought our cake mix home, only the person with a food allergy would eat it and everyone else would eat something different.
Emeraldluvsonyx
Emeraldluvsonyx is a plant-based feminine hygiene care company. Founder Emerald J. Stornes began entrepreneurship in high school and launched Emeraldluvsonyx in 2021.
After going viral on TikTok, Emeraldluvsonyx products have now reached thousands of women.
Next Innovative Clinical Research
Next Innovative Clinical Research is a Black woman-owned site management organization that assists in developing clinical studies and trials for new drugs, therapies, and devices. CEO and director LaToya Hinton-Howery is a 13-year clinical research professional.
August is National Black Business Month. It is a time to acknowledge and appreciate Black-owned businesses across the nation and all that they represent in the country’s continual striving for diversity and equality. Beyoncé’s donations and recognition of these businesses just came a little early.
Written by Elena Wilson
Sources:
NBC Chicago: Beyoncé has lunch with Black business owners ahead of Chicago concerts
Chicago Defender: Beyoncé’s BeyGOOD Foundation Empowers Businesses for Prosperity; by Kharyn Beard
BeyGOOD
FRWD Style
The Knot: FRWD Style
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: ‘I wanted it to be good’: Pink Bakery owner Nubian Simmons turned her desire for good-tasting, allergen-free desserts into a business; by Kristine M. Kierzek
Emeraldluvsonyx
The Pink Bakery
Ashé Counseling and Coaching
Next Innovative Clinical Research
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Ronald Woan’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Erik Cooper’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
