On The Ground Level S2E5-How to Ask for Help
Intro
For Us Podcast
https://pinecast.com/listen/edc94bdb-258b-4737-baeb-37cb72e4598c.mp3
Welcome to the For Us Podcast. Created by Tahyira and Ashley (Perky).
This podcast was created through our For Us organization which aims to uplift our movements and bring access to our communities regarding Education, ownership, business opportunities, and more.
You can donate to our cause via forusnation.com
Welcome to On The Ground Level
Thank you everyone for tuning in. Please follow us on social media.
@forusnation
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And go check out our website and subscribe to our mailing list ForUsNation.Com
Check out our Blog Post: Listen to Him: Male Victims of Domestic Violence
Perky
@perkysexycool and @perkyperspectives
Also check my campaign to raise funds to send feminine hygiene kits to women and girls in need.
GUEST: Rob Lohman
Sober since 2001, after a suicide attempt, Rob has helped thousands of people find FREEDOM from substance abuse and feeling "stuck in a rut" to living a transformed life at LiftedFromTheRut.com. He does this through sharing his testimony, Interventions, Coaching, Speaking, and being the host of both Beyond The Bars Radio and Addiction, Freedom & Faith Podcasts.
Rob invests in the lives of those wanting to see positive change, whether it is coming out of addiction, prison or just wanting more for their lives. He is a dynamic speaker who shares an extremely powerful message of “Restoring Hope, Identity & Purpose”. Rob is also the Author of The Addiction Intervention Book (#1 in 14 categories for Bestseller and New Release on Amazon).
Mission: Restoring Hope, Identity & Purpose
Rob Lohman
Lifted From The Rut
Interventionist, Coach, Speaker, Podcaster
@Roblohmanliftedfromtherut
Tahyira
@iletthegoodtimesroll Writer, Activist, Entrepreneur
youtube producer Tahyira’s Show - Lifestyle talks and trends
Live Hangouts: Tahyira Keeps It Too Reel Podcast for Black mental health
Twitter @TAsterisk
Today’s topic: How to Ask for Help
Utilize this resource:
Visit FreeRecoveryBook.Com
On The Ground Level Podcast s2e4
This podcast was created through our For Us organization which aims to uplift our movements and bring access to our communities regarding Education, ownership, business opportunities, and more.
Today’s topic: Male Perspectives on Violence, Emotional Outputs, and overall expression
GUEST: Shaka Zulu
Shaka Zulu originally from Los Angeles, Ca is an author, and the book title is “One Block: A Self-Help Journey Thoughts Quotes And Theories”, he is also a Pro Creator, Pro Gamer, Elite Artist, Media Influencer, Entrepreneur, Aspiring International World Leader & Business Mogul.
Tik Tok: @gmystictv @zulugod
Tahyira @iletthegoodtimesroll Writer, Activist, Entrepreneur YouTube producer Tahyira’s Show - Lifestyle talks and trends Live Hangouts: Tahyira Keeps It Too Reel Podcast for Black mental health Twitter @TAsterisk
Perky @perkysexycool and @perkyperspectives Also check my campaign to raise funds to send feminine hygiene kits to women and girls in need.
ABOUT FOR US NATION
You can donate to our cause via forusnation.com
We are coming from places of action. We have no more time to waste.
For is an acronym for:
F E A R L E S S L Y
O R G A N I Z E D
R E V O L U T I O N A I R I E S
Why We founded For Us: For Us 4 Us is a platform to bring together like-minded millennial marginalized folks. We are pushing back at cultural appropriation and bringing access to our people.
For Us was established to be that voice in the crowd, to get you that seat at the table, join us as we grow our community of marginalized voices everywhere.
Fearlessly Organized Revolutionaries of the United States is a new social class system that works on creating safe spaces for millennial souls who have done everything right, and still got everything wrong.
We will bring tools into our communities to help engage our youths, courses to help grow our businesses, classes and events that promote mental health wellness and positive thinking, as well as advocate policy changes regarding Sustainability, Criminal Justice Reform, Equity, and Women’s Rights.
Welcome to On The Ground Level
Thank you everyone for tuning in. Please follow us on social media.
Male Victims of Domestic Violence
We will speak with, and discuss, topics surrounding men and their vulnerabilities, emotional outlets, and forcible silence around certain topics. This blog focusing on Male Victims of Domestic Violence.
Happy Fall and October to the For Us Nation,
Thank you for being a part of our community and nation building efforts. Please keep in touch with us over social media and through our website for updates, and ways to be involved.
For the last quarter of the year we wish to focus on men and their health (mental and physical), wellness, and abilities to express. Before we address the topic of the blog we wish to highlight the different awarenesses of the month of October. Of course we have the most known, Breast Cancer Awareness, yet there are others such as Emotional Intelligence and Wellness Awareness, Antidepressant Death Awareness, National Bullying Prevention Awareness, and National Domestic Violence Awareness month to name a few. Here is a list of other October National Awareness subjects.
During the month of October, For Us Nation, as well as our podcast, On The Ground Level, will focus on Men and will specifically talk with them about Domestic Violence or other emotionally heavy occurrences that they have experienced but often do not have the opportunity to express.
Warning: This topic is a sensitive topic and may bring up emotional reactions or distress for the reader or viewer. Videos, images, and statistics will be used surrounding the topic of Domestic Violence. Do not engage further with this blog if this may be intense for you as a consumer. Resources are provided below as needed.
Also, this blog is mainly focused around heterosexual relationships, but resources will be provided for all dynamics of relationships.
In the video seen above you see two popular social figures, recording artist Blueface and reality tv star Chrisean Rock, speaking with TMZ about their relationship issues. This couple has often made headlines for Domestic Violence issues that have resulted in bald spots, black eyes, arrests, destroyed property, and more. The reason why we wish to use this video for this month, is because you can clearly see that Blueface was trying to express his distress within the relationship and his partner was not allowing or trying to mute his expression. Now specifically to this couple there have been reports of domestic abuse on both sides, but we wanted to highlight how men are sometimes taken less seriously or muted when they try to express their distress in relationships.
This topic is a very sensitive and hard topic to speak on and we wish to provide more education on the topic in order to have an open discussion. The Domestic Violence statistics show that women are often the abuse victims, whether this is because they are more willing to report compared to men or simply because it is just the truth of the situation; there are less men reported to be victims of domestic violence. Below are some statistics from NCADV.org:
1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, etc.
1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. This includes a range of behaviors (e.g. slapping, shoving, pushing) and in some cases might not be considered "domestic violence."
1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner.
1 in 10 women have been raped by an intimate partner. Data is unavailable on male victims.
1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence (e.g. beating, burning, strangling) by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime to the point in which they felt very fearful or believed that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed.
Sadly, sometimes men endure the abuse within relationship for long periods of time due to the societal influences of what roles men should play in relationships, and the idea that women “cannot” abuse men due to possibly size, height, or simply their gender. Yes it has been shown that victims of domestic violence are slow to leave the relationship, mainly due to fear, and also because the departure, or attempted departure, is the most intense and volatile phase of the relationship (It takes an average of 7 attempts for a survivor to leave their abuser and stay separated for good. Leaving is the most dangerous time in an abusive relationship). But can men have different reasons for not leaving an abusive relationship? On Bonobology.com, they list some of the reasons that men stay in their domestic violence relationship being because:
They think its not that bad: possibly due to being taught that they are emotionally stronger than women, or that adjustments can always be made to fix the situation
They are Silent Sufferers: mostly in an attempt to uphold their self image
Low Self-Esteem: possibly have begun to question their self-worth and capabilities and believe they deserve punishment.
Find more of the reasons here.
In August 2022, we learned of Christian Obumseli, who tragically died at the hands of his then girlfriend who had frequently engaged in violent behaviors against Christian before ultimately stabbing him to death. Below is a photo from an elevator incident between the two, where in the video Courtney Clenny can be seen punching, grabbing his head and hair, and jumping on Christian multiple times. Initially, Courtney tried to plea that she was the victim of violence instead of the perpetrator, and was almost believed due to the overwhelming numbers of women being the victims, yet thankfully due to footage and evidence they were able to start viewing her as the abuser and would later arrest her.
Within DV relationships there exists dynamics of power and control that can encompass physical, financial, emotional, and sexual aspects of the relationship. Power and control is not solely given to Men in heterosexual relationships. We would also like to note that it can also be dangerous for our loved ones who try to get involved in order to help or protect when they notice that power and control, and specifically violence, is occurring within a relationship of someone they love. So we urge everyone, whether they are primary, secondary, or other type victims to the DV relationship to seek help. There are hotlines available, as well as shelters that can be contacted to receive help. Below we have listed some resources for you to utilize to stay safe or to share with someone you believe may need them. Also, please note if you do not see resources below that address your area of residence you can simply type your state or city with the phrase “Domestic Violence Resources”, and some links shall pop up.
Again, we hope that this blog begins to open the discussion for men to discuss their experiences with being a victim of DV, and to express themselves. We know this does not cover every aspect of such a lengthy topic, and wish to continue speaking on this through our podcast, On the Ground Level, as well as our social media platforms, @forusnation. Please let us know your thoughts and reach out to us if you wish to share your perspective, whether it is anonymous or not (please let us know), and we can either share it in written form on our website and social media, or we can read it or speak with you about it via podcast.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Hours: 24/7. Languages: English, Spanish and 200+ through interpretation service
800-799-7233
https://ncadv.org/dynamics-of-abuse
https://www.thehotline.org/resources/the-myth-of-mutual-abuse/
https://www.womenagainstabuse.org/get-help/resources/resources-for-lgbtq-relationships
https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/health/lgbtq-ipv/
https://lacity.gov/residents/community-assistance/domestic-violence-resources
Juneteenthis Here! Why Black Americans are Honoring Their Ancestors Lost
In reality, the working class, 98% of Americans are slaves, and the owners own everything. It is a corporation. Ever wonder why a political movement ends at the stock market? Because it is all connected. Why did they Blackout a Tuesday last year, #theshowmustbestopped in the entertainment industry? Because those who RULE the money throughout production companies do not reflect the audiences
Well, the title was a mouthful already, right? Clearly, it is the job of the 4th generation of Americans to change the course of history for the next set of Black Americans through storytelling. Any form of language is passed down. Latin is the language of organized religion. I just watched via HBO Max, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and my love of demonic worlds has taught me that Catholic Priests and Priestesses speak the same tongue as those who scribed the Torah and the Bible. I am not religious, so I don’t pay that much attention to the fine lines of it all, but the word “incarnation” means in the flesh. Our flesh is Black. Our flesh has been promoted as “BAD” or as “SLAVE” within the borders of what we call The United States of America.
In reality, the working class, 98% of Americans are slaves, and the owners own everything. It is a corporation. Ever wonder why a political movement ends at the stock market? Because it is all connected. Why did they Blackout a Tuesday last year, #theshowmustbestopped in the entertainment industry? Because those who RULE the money throughout production companies do not reflect the audiences, they attempt to market to. Y’all know that The Lion King is about Black families killing their own, Black crimes, right? It explains the plight of the Afro-American male through leadership, death, and legacy. They were trying to awaken white audiences, so they used animals instead of people. Somehow I think, they lost Black people along the way. Good job, Disney!
I know it sucks to feel like “it’s all on us,” and it is a very tiring space to live in, but what about the passage that brought us from Africa. We are not from here; our people were stolen. What about the theft? Should we act like this is our home blindly, or is there a responsibility to revamp, rebuild, and what I learned from the Jewish community, relearn everything before the oppressors killed off our culture? I grew up in a predominantly Jewish community in Brooklyn. The Holocaust would never happen again. America sat idly by as Hitler murdered poor religious people, let the record reflect accurately is all I am trying to say. But the killings of Black Americans on the streets by Police Officers, the removal of marks of history, the mainstream media propaganda-like promotion of our strife, and, well, January 6th, 2021, puts a lot into perspective for me. The Black American was broken as a human spirit to survive in a country that hates them. Why do Black soldiers go to war? Why do Black doctors care for white males? Because people like Abraham Lincoln existed in a time that was necessary with a power that would be transitionary. POTUS.
Que, Barack Obama. He, like Trump, held transitionary power. They both created a world where protesting and insurrections collide on the streets of America, all in the name of freedom? How can we ignore what Juneteenth means when we’re living in a current time that still seems like we aren’t freed. Not just Blacks, everyone.
People protested against a safety precaution that cost them and their loved ones their lives. People protested against police overreach, murder, and unlawfulness, costing them their jobs, livelihoods, and safety. Armed people charged the US Capitol to stop legal representatives from certifying an election because their choice lost the election. All this just happened. Think about it. Do you feel free? Education and mental health is the key to unlock the safe havens in our mind bodies and souls. The passage that brought our people here cannot live on much longer. We are tasked with finding our way back while staying connected to our new home, America. This land is your land, but my ancestors built it, so I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.
Respectfully.
Juneteenth 2021 Celebration & Pitch
For Us Nation started in 2018, with the mission to recognize and uplift Juneteenth in order to celebrate our Freedom. Since then the country has begun acknowledging the date, and some states have officially declared Juneteenth a recognized holiday.
Juneteenth, officially known as “National Freedom Day”, was the first and oldest African American holiday to be observed by the United States. The 19th of June is a day that we encourage the people of California to reflect on the impact and significance that African Americans have made in the United States.
This year, 2021, we are also recognizing 100 years since the Tulsa Massacre, also known as Greenwood or Black Wall Street Massacre. The Tulsa Massacre occurred between May 31 and June 1st in the GreenWood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The massacre supposedly started because a 19 year old Black man named Dick Rowland Roda an elevator with a white teen named Sarah Page. Stories began circulating about what happened in the elevator and the real events are still not known today, but quickly the story got exaggerated to the point where the white citizens of Greenwood were ready to form a Lynch mob against him.
The mob destroyed over 35 square blocks of Greenwood, injured over 800 Black residents, and historians say about 300 people were killed during this act of white supremacist violence that was aided and abetted by the local white government.
ForUs Nation recognizes the hateful attack and calls for justice 100 years later, where the land of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, OK was never restored to its full glory. ForUs is fighting for a world where Black people are allowed to grow our communities in peace. 100 years later we are tying to rebuild Black Wall Street and regrow the wealth and prosperity that was stolen from our ancestors.
For Us Nation wants to do our part in helping to rebuild Black WallStreet, and take full advantage of our freedom. Therefore we wish to uplift you and your business! Please follow us on Instagram @Forus4us and send us your IG Reels pitch with #ForUsBWS
If you need any resources, advice, or to be linked to other businesses that can help you to build please fill out the form below.
A Fourth Stimi May Hit Your Account In May
The Biden Administration is rolling out the final payments of the $1.9T Covid Relief Package and a fourth check might show up in your account. These payments are apart of the American Rescue Plan. In March, Biden sat with Senate leaders from both parties to discuss how future payments should be dispersed. See the entire plan here. Senators Warren and Sanders are leading the charge for working-class Americans and direct payments are being added to the Infrastructure Bill which is in the works as well as the American Family Plan which is designed to put America at the level we were financially before the shutdowns. Employment also remains well below pre-pandemic levels as unemployment rates are high in cities like Los Angeles and New York City.
Representatives like Ilhan Omar have said this, “Recurring direct payments until the economy recovers will help ensure that people can meet their basic needs, provide racially equitable solutions, and shorten the length of the recession.” These new payments will be tied to specific economic situations similar to what we saw during the Recession bailouts. College students were able to stay on their parents’ medical insurance until the age of 26 years old for example but it had only applied to students who had recently graduated in the economic recession.
Americans who earn less than $75,000 were able to be eligible for the first 3 rounds of payments yet due to fraud, broken online systems, and delays under the Trump Administration millions suffered. The Democrats are attempting to hard reset the middle-class family. There is a lot of information regarding which bill, what plan, and how it all affects your wallet. We know that we voted for a new President and so far, so good. There is still more to come so stay patient. Help is on the way.
Stay-At-Home Moms Can Start A Successful Business With This Guide
Written by Eva Benoit
Starting a business from home may seem like a far-off dream to some, but it’s actually quite attainable these days. For many moms, becoming an entrepreneur is the perfect way to find success doing something they love while taking care of their families; however, it does require balance.
First, it’s necessary to look for resources and support as you get started, and For Us Nation is a great place to begin, as we offer mentoring, a marketplace, and a blog to help spread the word about Black-owned businesses. You’ll also want to think about how to achieve the best business model for your needs and create a plan for working from home, which takes a little finesse. Read on if you’re considering a leap into entrepreneurship.
Looking to reach out and make connections with other business owners? Check out the directory below
Plan for Legitimacy
Many small business owners have come to realize the benefits of forming an LLC, or Limited Liability Company, which can help protect your personal assets. The process of formalization may sound complicated at first, but you can find step-by-step instructions on how to get started with LLC company guidelines and all the advantages that come with formation online. Different states have different rules, so keep this in mind and check out the regulations for your specific area. The costs associated with filing paperwork can vary, but you can save yourself some money by taking care of it yourself or going through a formation service rather than an attorney.
Identify your Business Model
Just as important as protecting yourself from liability is making sure you have a sustainable, successful business model. Do some research online to find out more about your potential competition and pin down a customer base. Learn all you can about your target demographic and what their needs are, then think of ways to corner that market. Crunch the numbers to figure out what it will take to run your business for the first year and whether you have the funding to do so without keeping your day job. This part takes some creativity and patience, but it’s essential if you want to run a successful business.
Network as much as possible
In a post-COVID world, it’s a little trickier than it used to be to network and show support to other business owners. However, it’s possible with social media and online resources, and it’s a crucial part of getting your name out there and building up a team of allies who can help you down the road. Like planning for your business model, this part takes some research as well. Utilize several social media platforms and share thoughtful, relevant content everyday to garner followers, and reach out to local business owners who might have advice or connections that will benefit you. If you have something to offer them in return or are interested in a partnership, let them know! Running a business is hard work, and every entrepreneur needs a little help now and then.
Give yourself the tools to succeed
As a parent who will largely be working from home, you’ll need an area that prevents distractions and has all the tools and resources for you to stay focused on your business. This may be an office with a door or just a corner of your bedroom, depending on your living situation, but it’s an important part of the process to set up your own workspace. Once you have a plan in place for how you want to run things, think about what you’ll need to realistically make it happen so you can create work/life balance.
Becoming an entrepreneur as a stay-at-home mom is attainable, but it does take a lot of planning and thoughtful execution. Look for free and low-cost resources that will help you make the most of your time as you set out on your small business journey.
Finance Friday 3.26
IG Live Recap
Visit the For Us Instagram page to watch the IG Live with Bryan Spencer where we discussed generational wealth, financial literacy, self-education, and mindfulness.
Bryan Spencer has a background in finance, specifically sales and marketing, and gave many helpful tips on how to align one’s habits and thoughts to reach success. Check out Bryan’s books under his company, Mya’s World Press, LLC (named after his daughter). We also discuss the importance of planting seeds within your community, such as putting businesses in your child’s name, and household that will continue to grow even after you are no longer here.
Overall, this was a very meaningful discussion that highlighted the power of thought and attraction. We found that at the root of success and failure, is discipline. Discipline does not just mean to try hard, but to also train your mind to believe in its own ability to accomplish one’s goals.
Links to Resources/Information mentioned during the Live:
As we continue to share Finance tips, we urge you to give us feedback on what areas of finance, or business, you have interest in learning more about.
Please visit our past Finance Friday Blogs to learn more about grants, the PPP loan and more.
Announcements
For Us Nation, On the Ground Level Podcast released the newest episode featuring Aaliyah Hudson. The episode speaks about entrepreneurship, being a woman, and Aaliyah’s unique dance style called The Hudson Technique.
Listen to the apple podcast audio link here.
Looking to be a guest on our platform? Or do you simply wish to further support the On the Ground Level podcast?
If so contact us today, and visit our Patreon. We will utilize your donations towards hiring mentors, creating curriculum, and building scholarships for our community.
Want to showcase yourself or your Brand?
Go live on our Facebook or Instagram and promote yourself to our audience.
Contact us to get started so that you can Takeover the For Us Nation this Spring!
Watch the IG TakeOver from Pretty Girls Pole here.
Finance Friday 03.12
Its Finance Friday and we keep checking our accounts for our stimulus, and here’s why!
President Joe Biden has had a tough first 100 days and we can only assume that the rest of 2021 will be a steady climb. Yet, he is already hard at work to assist the United States people with relief and assistance that comes in many forms. These forms include unemployment assistance, stimulus relief checks small business loans, and more.
If you are part of the For Us community, or had a chance to peruse our past Finance Friday blog posts, then you may already be keen to other ways to earn money through this recession. Yet, we all can use some more help.
Globally, we are still experiencing setbacks, business shutdowns, and the ever growing need for us to adjust to our new world. We held out hope during the first part of 2020 that things would return back to normal, but by Fall 2020 it was apparent that a rebirth was taking place.
Therefore it is more important than ever to keep abreast of the news regarding relief, financial assistance, grants, loans, etc. Visit the IRS.GOV website to learn more about the Economic Relief stimulus that may release, as soon as this weekend.
Join our community, and join others if you have the capacity. We are still being asked to social distance in many places, and as we take our vaccines and other precautions we still need to be mindful of our need for social interaction.
Join us Today, 3.12.2021, at 12pm EST on Instagram Live @Forus4us & @Pyro2sick
Co-Founder, Ashley Perkins is speaking Finance with Jarrell “Pyro” Johnson.
If you have an apple product than you can download the Clubhouse app to join a larger community of people speaking on any topic, at any given time.
Follow us @Perkyperspectives and @Teeslaves
Please contact us if you wish to be interviewed on our On The Ground Level Podcast, and become a patron at Patreon.Com/Forusnation. We love to uplift our community, promote businesses, and share information.
OTGL Interviews: Tiana Phipps 3.8.21
Hope everyone is having a lovely and refreshing Women’s History Month. We have experienced so many events, revelations, and celebrations of women already! But we are not stopping yet! We have interviews, IG Takeovers, Events, and other announcements to bring to you this month to celebrate Women and our herstory!
For those of you new to the family, For Us Nation has a podcast called “On the Ground Level”, and we would love to have you as a viewer/listener! Please subscribe to our Youtube channel.
Become a Patron
Our first guest for Women’s History Month was, Tiana Phipps,.
Tiana Phipps, Co-Founder of TotallyPhreshFarms, LLC and Co-Founder and COO at HerbanHempCo. Tiana holds a B.A. in Human Services and was honorably discharged from 8 years of service in the U.S. Army. Tiana has an entrepreneurial heart and when not wearing her other multiple hats, including being a full time mother, she is working these two businesses, on a quest to help as many people as she can through herbs and hemp, music and creativity.
Please watch our interview with Tiana below, and leave us your thoughts and comments regarding this episode. Also, please support Tiana.
TotallyPhreshFarms.Com
If you are a Phenomenal woman, or know of Phenomal women, that would be interested in speaking with us on our podcast, then please contact us today!
Thank you for your support and please become a Patron!
If You’re interested then please contact us!
Finance Friday 3.5
Happy Women’s History Month!
Women we have come a long way from the suffrage movement or domestic work being our only means of financial freedom. Yet we are still feeling the gender gap in many areas, especially in the ways we get paid.
Although Bill Burr makes light of the wage gap we can still feel the effects everyday. Not only with our pay but also through the “glass ceiling” that we sometimes feel looming above our heads. Yet we persevere as we women do. But if you have ever been a businesswoman or even a corporate woman, then you will understand that sometimes the hardest part of your job is getting people to invest in you. This can include building a network, finding available funding, and knowing where relevant resources exist.
Before moving on For Us Nation would like to honor some of the few Black Women CEO’s of major companies and organizations, with many more emerging as we speak. We honor you and your success, and thank you for leaving your mark and legacy on society.
Candace Reels, Founder of Female Collective
Oprah Winfrey, Harpo Studios/Own Network/etc
Ursula Burns, Chairman & CEO of Xerox
Dara Richardson Heron, M.D., CEO of YWCA
Robin Rihanna Fenty, Fenty Brand
Beatrice Dixon, Founder of Honey Pot
Beyonce Knowles-Carter, BeyGood Foundation/Ivy Park/Icy Park
Please check out Create Cultivate for a more exhaustive list, and support Black Woman Entrepreneurs!
iFundwomen is one of the many resources available to assist women in precuring funding for they business ventures. Check out past blogs for more resources.
As stated above, funding is most times the most difficult part of starting a business. Then the next hurdle is “How do I manage this funding properly?”, which can be scary with IRS looking over your shoulder. Do you hire an accountant, download accounting software, or try to manage your books yourself?
If you decide to have someone else, such as an accountant, oversee your books then we suggest you still have an understanding of what is going on with your business finances.
Please watch below with Fat Joe speaking of a financial nightmare he experienced with his accountant. Fast Forward to 1:08:00 or click here
Listening to this interview with Fat Joe brought chills down my spine, because he not only had to serve jail time for his negligence, but also had to pay for his mistakes about 3x over. Is it worth it?
Let’s educate ourselves early, so that we can avoid certain mistakes. But know, as is life, you will make financial mistakes, but the key is to know your money as well as, always prepare for a rainy day, and have multiple streams of income.
Please join us tonight around 8:30 est on clubhouse.
Announcements
Looking for Guest
On The Ground Level Podcast is Looking to Interview with amazing, talented, like-minded women in order to honor them for Women’s History Month. Please do not miss the opportunity to speak with us on our platform, and let us highlight you and your talent, business, or ideas.
Also, check out our most recent interview with the hosts of “Dating My Best Friend” podcast
2. Book Club Announcement
For Us Nation has joined the #SmartBrownGirls bookclub. We have been working to create a For Us Nation bookclub, to further assist our community in educating ourselves more about our history, bodies, culture, science, etc. We still plan to have our own Book Club, but have decided to support another group that is doing amazing work in the book club arena.
Not only does the #SmartBrownGirls book club do monthly readings, but they do interviews with authors such as Toni Morrison and Michelle Obama, as well as offer discounts, and provide newsletters. They have two tracks that includes a more basic level and a more academic/advanced level.
Please Join us! We will do Instagram live reviews, and blog about our take on the readings as well!
America Is Getting What It Deserves: Reactive responses don’t yield new results
Written By: Tahyira Savanna
This land is your land, this land is my land…. unless a racist from Anytown U.S.A. thinks otherwise. Are we going to sit here and pretend that white folks didn’t try to take away legal votes from Black people in Georgia? Modus operandi resulting in an insurrection against the Senators on the House floor, set to make those same Black voices…I mean votes… legitimized. If there was ever a terrorist group in America, it is these new-age anarchists’. An anarchist does not believe in governmental authority and generally disregards its overreaching power as it relates to an individual’s right. They are the biggest threat to our national security and we could even argue internationally as well, as many of the Qanon believers have high-security clearances — like military level clearance, plus training. Some of them are U.S. representatives, ran their campaigns on Qanon beliefs and keywords — and still won. Are you afraid yet?
So when we start discussing arms and the right to carry automatic assault riffles, do you envision the Black kids coming to your suburban neighbor still? Would they be wrong to do it? This is not meant to encourage more violence in America but to ask you to think about what fear really means in our country. Trump et al ran his reelection campaign against the Black family essentially sending so many dog whistles a lot of us now speak in woof woof.
As most GOP ticket headers do — they can’t just go based on merits because, well… they looked and they haven’t found any. They got a gift in 2020 with the murder of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by government agencies which sparked INTERNATIONAL outrage during a Global pandemic. They were killed by cops. The eight-minute video of Floyd’s death still haunts its non-Black viewers up until now. Many white Americans were slapped with a hard dose of “are they kidding me” when they heard Floyd yell out for his momma. They took to the streets as well, more of them than folks that look like me. So I was really shocked and appalled to see the burning buildings in Louisville. Not really appalled but definitely shocked. I was shocked to see a 16-year-old white girl yelling in front of the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY about how she’s tired of living in a racist country and she doesn’t care if they shoot her too. There was also a white kid in Kenosha who killed a protester with a long-range rifle. They’re ticketing him as a “hero”. America reacts like a racist.
“This isn’t your Grandparent’s GOP party,” is a term I heard countless times during election season and it was tossed around by folks on Twitter who were Maga supporters; turned to stop the steal supporters; turned insurrectionists, it is hard to buy the whole no one saw this coming nonsense when it is all on camera. In the night leading up to Election Day, we heard stories about poll-workers safety. We heard rumors about militias going to “make sure” that everything was being handled properly. We saw some of them on-site at polling locations during the early voting period in states like Florida, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. We heard Trump tell us directly that “it won’t be a change in power, but a continuation.” As a storyteller, I’m always looking at ways to incorporate foreshadowing elements into the work but this takes the entire cake and recipe. America waits to react. In the weeks after the final electoral votes named Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the winner of the election, we heard stories about State Secretaries and their safety. We saw the dude from Georgia have a complete mental breakdown because of threats sent to his staff, his family, and neighbors. These people are doing their jobs. That’s like if you working at a Starbucks as a barista and you get thrown hot coffee on your because Starbucks changed a flavor. I mean this is America, people were running into glass doors two seasons ago because they were offended by mask rules, but I digress. There was even an entire plot uncovered by the FBI to kidnap the Governor of Michigan. At the same time, Trump refused to publicly denounce known white supremacy groups such as the Proud Boys, as well as refusing to tone down the rhetoric on his social media feeds. As I write this, I’m watching the DC police chiefs give testimony on the Hill regarding the events on January 6th. Why did this happen? “Amid threat, more than just an email is needed” is the headline shown by CNN. Americans on duty deliberately let this happen. A reminder that the label “cop” is an acronym for Citizens on Patrol. Back in June 2020, BLM protesters were attacked for peacefully protesting outside of the White House, it has since then been renamed Black Lives Matter plaza. Do you want to give a plaza to the insurrectionists too?
January 6th could be the day white privilege in America met its impending fate. A full-on display of white hate, white anger, and the freedom to behave illegally. But who knows what troubles lie ahead. As a Black 30 something woman in America who studied Criminal Justice I already knew the country was heading down this road, you could’ve seen it from Charlottesville, you could have seen it during the Guantanamo Bay holding sites when we arrested Muslims as terrorists, and you could see it during the 1940s when America sat quietly by as Hitler murdered religious folks because…they were religious. We react. How many times does history have to repeat in real-time before we change the way we live? It is a current and active threat in a country whose demographic is changing to include a lot more than just White males and females, and their kids. Asian Americans are facing unprecedented amounts of victim accounts of hate crimes in major cities like New York and Los Angeles. That’s not by accident. Calling it a China virus created that ideology. We deserve to lose everything, which is happening in real life as reflected by the Stock Market. In a capitalist corporation, this is how we grade our country, by how much money we have. Does anyone want to trade their 401K? Working for the corporations didn’t protect 500,000 Americans from death. Some of us believe voting is our only way forward, and as I write this, more voter suppression laws are being signed into effect in Georgia and South Carolina. Let’s do a slight recap. They did nothing to stop fake news from spreading through the internet during the 2016 election cycle. They did nothing when Trump lied publicly along with his staff countless times. They did nothing when he was Impeached the first time for interfering with another election. They did nothing when reports of hydroxychloroquine use were listed as the cause of death in Trump towns during the pandemic in 2020. They did nothing when Trump supporters began the Stop the Steal campaign against Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. They did nothing when Republican-led states pleaded with the executive branch to tell these people to chill out. They did NOTHING to protect the US Capitol on January 6th.
If we continue to be reactive we will never be World-leading, that dear friends require innovation, not fear. If this land is going to be for all of us then white America needs to be un-privileged and that is why so many of them voted for Trump. Out of fear of people like Kamala Harris and a white guy named Joe. Maybe a change is on the horizon but for today, we stand in reaction.
Written by: Tahyira Savanna
Valentine’s Day Recap
For Us Nation has a podcast called On the Ground Level, which is available on all streaming platforms. We are interesting in speaking with more of our For Us members, as well as others who are “on the ground” with their activism and movements.
Recently we spoke with The Bashes from the '“Dating my Best Friend”! Below is the bio and link from their podcast, so please follow and support.
Dating My Best Friend Podcast is a bi-weekly conversation where the art of friendship leads the relationship. Your hosts Barry (aka Coach Coop) and Shantini affectionately known as the Bashes chat about love, life, trials, triumphs and practically everything in between. As two souls trying to figure things out, they dive deep and explore aspects of relationships in a thought-provoking, reflective, and candid way. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-bashes/support
This Valentine’s Day, we not only brought recognition to Black Love, but also Self-Love, with an emphasis on being a whole person (before joining union with another). The discussion explored thoughts on divorce, blended families, the effects of Covid on relationships, and more. Please watch, share, comment, rate, and subscribe to our podcast on youtube, spotify, apple podcast and other podcast streaming platforms.
Finance Friday 2.12
Self education is important in 2021
Latest News
Jeff Bezos steps down as CEO of Amazon Feb 2. and handed his role over to Andy Jassy
Rumors of an Apple Car begin swirling 2.10
Cannabis Stock drops 2.11 due to over excitement prompted by Gamestop tweets
Bitcoin to come to BNY Mellon Bank
Global demand of oil accelerates
Walmart buys ad tech to promote small businesses
PPP Loan help for small businesses to come
Network
Join the For Us Finance Friday network and continue to build with us. We are meeting via clubhouse and zoom, in order to learn and build our financial literacy. Most importantly, bring your business pitches as well as your investment opportunities, and let us grow together.
We meet on clubhouse every Friday at 8:30 est and 5:30 pst. Follow @PerkyPerspectiv @Teeslaves
Finance“Black”Friday
Buy Black For Black Friday
The earliest recorded African and Native American contact occurred in April 1502, when the first enslaved Africans were taken to Hispanola; some Africans escaped to Santo Domingo. The first Black Native Americans emerged from these groups.
Finance "Black" Friday
We here in the For Us Nation love giving tips on how to save or make money. Yet some of us are still struggling to lower the outgoing payments and boost our credit. So we are adding some tips on how to dispute Late Payments and boost your credit score.
1. Do Not dispute the Late Payment Online
2. Print your Credit Report and Cirle Late Payments (AnnualCreditReport.Com)
3.Write a certified dispute letter to Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian.
4. The bureaus have 30-45 days to respond!
**The Pandemic has caused most Bureaus to miss the deadline and therefore remove late payments**
Dispute Letter Templates available at SkillHouseEU.Com
Visit @Keziamw on Instragram for more tips.
Benefits of having Good Credit:
The Balance lists 9 benefits to having good credit, but know that this list is not exhaustive, but rather a good idea of some of the ways the financial world opens to you when you are more financial stable. Visit the website to see the full list. Here are some of the benefits:
1. Low Interest Rates on Credit Cards and Loans
2.Better Chance for Credit Card and Loan Approval
3.More Negotiating Power
4.Get Approved for Higher Limits
5.Easier Approval for Rental Houses and Apartments
Something that we do not speak too much of within the our communities is how to buy an existing business. The process can be tedious, and costly, but comes with many perks. We will revisit this topic in a future Finance Friday newsletter, yet wanted to make the process known as this is another option that opens to you with good credit. Peruse this article to better understand the process.
Native American Support
Yesterday some of us celebrated Thanksgiving, while others mourned their ancestors. The For Us Nation would like to acknowledge our Native American ancestors and bredrin on Natinal Native Ameican Heritage Day.
The Cut touches on ways that you can support Native Americans during National Native American Heritage Month, as well as on Thanksgiving. See some of these tips below:
Native Land is an interactive map that you can use to search your home address and find out which Indigenous tribe and/or nation originally lived on that land. This is good knowledge to have in general; you can start incorporating land acknowledgements into your life.
• Contact your reps
On a local level, your calls and emails can really make a difference. That means calling your city councilmembers, your state representatives and senators, the mayor’s office, et cetera. It’s important to look into the specific local issues in your area — the Land Defenders’ actions to reclaim the Black Hills in South Dakota, for example, or the ongoing legal battle against the Dakota Access Pipeline in Standing Rock — but there are also nationwide issues that specifically affect Indigenous communities.
The Houston Public Media Site writes about the upcoming Native American Cultural Center.
The Houston region is home to about 68,000 Native Americans from all tribal nations, according to the 2010 Census, and Native American history is deeply embedded in Texas' frontier past.
The city now has a platform to celebrate and educate the public about Indigenous histories. The virtual Southern Plains Museum and Cultural Center in Houston was launched by the nonprofit Southern Apache Museum — which had formerly existed as a physical museum until 2017 — with a $10,000 grant from the Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs.
The announcement comes during Native American History Month and in the wake of City Council's vote earlier this fall to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day in Houston as the second Monday in October.
The public can access the Southern Plains Museum and Cultural Center here.
Job Opportunity: Spark Charge
Visit SparkChange.IO to apply for the positions:
Lead Mechanical Engineer; Senior Power Electronics Engineer; Test Engineer II
Contact Michael Cummings, SparkCharge COO
Michael@SparkCharge.IO
Job Opportunity: Halt Solitary
Positions:
#HALTsolitary Campaign Associate (Full or Half-Time) and Part-Time Organizers
Term of Positions: Temporary, January 2021 through June 2021
Contact: Caichiring@gmail.com
General Description:
Led by people who have survived solitary or had family members inside, the
New York Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement (CAIC)’s #HALTsolitary campaign is a
grassroots campaign pushing to end solitary confinement, promote more humane and effective
alternatives, and build on these changes – and their pursuit – to help dismantle the racist punishment
paradigm and the entire carceral state. We are currently carrying out in-person and virtual actions,
education and organizing forums, media and social media campaigns, and direct advocacy toward
policy-makers.
We are looking for both a Temporary Full-Time or Half-Time Campaign Associate and a Temporary
Part-Time Organizer (equivalent of two days a week) who can help support all of these efforts, including
organizing, press engagement, campaign coordination, digital communication, social media, and
leadership development. These positions will be temporary, 6 month positions from January 2021
through June 2021. The positions come at a pivotal moment, in the midst of the largest uprising to end
racist state violence against Black people and other people of color in at least a generation, and as we
prepare to go all out to push New York State to enact the HALT Solitary Confinement Act and New
York City to abolish solitary confinement completely.
Key Responsibilities:
The persons in these positions will work directly with the campaign’s two
statewide lead organizers and team of core volunteers in order to help support campaign efforts to:
1. Organize, Mobilize, Build Community, Build Power
a. Set up strategic public actions and events in key geographic areas, including with
communities most harmed by solitary and incarceration, and other allies.
b. Pursue in-depth follow-up with participants and key allies after events, including building
relationships, engaging people in campaign efforts, and leading trainings.
c. Connect HALT’s efforts with broader efforts challenging racist state violence.
2. Engage with Media, Social Media, and Digital Communication
a. Help lead and carry out press engagement strategies and rapid media responses
b. Draft campaign statements, press advisories & releases, op-eds, LTEs, e-blasts
c. Carry out social media for the campaign (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, other)
3. Help with Campaign Coordination
a. Support the campaign’s general operations and behind-the-scenes work, including
planning meetings and committee efforts, supporting organizers and volunteers,
maintaining databases, organizing actions, and coordinating policy-maker advocacy.
Key Qualifications: The ideal Campaign Associate and Part-Time Organizers will have some or all of
the following:
● First-hand experience of being in solitary confinement or incarcerated, or of having had a loved
one in solitary or incarcerated.
● Experience engaging in grassroots organizing & policy advocacy, particularly in New York State
● Strong organizational skills, from organizing events and carrying out one-on-ones through
utilizing google spreadsheets and leading volunteer phone banking .
● Strong writing skills in a variety of contexts from campaign statements and op-eds to e-blasts.
● Experience engaging with the press, and experience with social media
● Strength in digital communications & using tools like google docs, emails, zoom, microsoft suite,
doodle polls, spreadsheets, mailchimp, social media (twitter, FB, Instagram), and other tools.
● Ability to work independently and as part of a large campaign, and to run with ideas and tasks
● Experience training others and engaging in leadership development activities.
● Being based in, or able to regularly travel to, key geographic regions of the state, including a
preference for at least one position based in Albany and/or other key regions of the state.
How to Apply:
Applications are due by Tuesday, December 1. Please submit the following by email
to CAIC at caichiring@gmail.com. No phone calls.
1. Cover letter describing why you are interested and why you are well suited for the position
2. Resume
3. Brief writing sample, such as a blog post or op-ed or anything that is equivalent
4. A list of 3 references (with daytime phone numbers and email addresses)
Finance Friday 11.13
It’s Finance Friday
Lets Beat the Procrastination Monkey-Tim Urban
Tim Urban encourages us to think harder about what we're really procrastinating on, before we run out of time.
“The aggregate barriers to starting and sustaining a Black-owned business translate structural bias into less access to capital, lower revenue, and dimmer prospects for business growth,” the McKinsey report states. “The mainstream financial system’s role in those barriers has helped to maintain Black Americans’ distrust of the financial sector as well as fear of debt.”-Written by Roya Sabri
Looking for a Black Owned Marketplace to start advertising your business! Or...are you looking for a platform to support Black Business!
Visit WeBuyBlack.Com
Finance Friday
What Now!
The world has let out a sigh of relief as President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris won the race to 270 on 11.07.2020. Special shoutout to Stacey Abrams for helping win over our votes.
Now we are in a mode of transition as we all wait, impatiently, for Trump to leave office. This gives us the perfect opportunity to start building our teams and gearing up for 2021. Additionally, with all of the heartache and strife that we have endured during 2020; we will enter 2021 fully prepared for life's surprises (we hope)!
So adhering to the advice given by Tim Urban above, we will get rid of our "instant gratification monkey" and start immediately. Therefore, we are sending out a call to action for YOU to join the For Us Nation.
How to Join the For Us Nation
Join the For Us Nation Directory through the Button Below
Email Us to do an IG Takeover to introduce yourself, and your business, to the For Us Nation network
Showcase your talent on the For Us Nation Website, newsletter, podcast, and more!
Grants
Visit AfricanAmericanGrants.Org for more information on grants available to Black Businesses. Check out one of the Grants below:
1. The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
The U.S. Treasury Department has programs designed to help under-funded minority groups to kickstart and grow their businesses. The Community Development Financial Institutions Funds (CDFI) was created exactly for that purpose. The CDFI Fund not only provides funding for businesses, but it also extends its services to tax credits to help with minority business projects and investments. The process to apply for this program is a very streamlined one, and can be completed in as little as ten minutes. The program encompasses different tools and business resources that you need to help grow your business.
Finance Friday 10.30
Learn about finance and add your business to our For Us Directory!
“We have a tendency of trying to network up, but it’s really about networking across.” -@IssaRae
“As a fact, the capitalist of today was the labourer or worker of yesterday…. Hence, the man who wants to go into business commercially, industrially or agriculturally, and win a fortune for himself, cannot and should not be a Communist, because Communism robs the individual of his personal initiative and ambition or the results thereof. Democracy (interchangeable with capitalism), therefore, is the kind of government that offers the individual the opportunity to rise from a labourer to the status of a capitalist or employer.” -Marcus Garvey”
Finance Friday
One of the issues that we have within our community is making money with our community. But take a breath and relax, because it is definitely easier than we believe.
We here at the For Us Nation want to assist in creating, and promoting investment opportunities, grant opportunities, and financial tips so that we can grow together. The key is ownership and the lock is financial literacy.
So lets start by uplifting some community members that are leading by example and creating opportunities.
Check out The Freedom Georgia Initiative. This group consists of 19 Black families who have purchased 97 acres of land in Georgia in an effort to build a safe Black-owned community. Freedom Georgia hopes to be an innovative model for self-sufficiency, environmental sustainability, and cooperative economics among BIPOC communities across the African Diaspora globally.
Lets support our Business Community
Investment Clubs
Typically consists of 10–20 people, most often comprised of family members, friends and or people from all walks of life who meet regularly to learn investment principles, portfolios ( a combination of stocks , bonds and investment properties.
Principles
-Invest a set sum once a month in common stocks regardless of general market conditions. This helps obtain lower average costs.
-Reinvest dividends and capital gains immediately. Your money gains faster if earnings are reinvested. This is the 8th natural wonder in effect (compound income).
-Buy growth stocks. These are companies whose sales are increasing at a rate faster than industry in general. The companies should have good prospects for growth. In other words, they should be stronger companies 5 years from now.
-Investment in different fields. Diversification helps spread risk and opportunity.
Despite the fact that investment club members may be considered non-professional among money managers, the overall performance of the stocks that they select for investment is remarkable as noted by Black Enterprise magazine. They aim growth and regular investing.
Investment Clubs can be engaged in entrepreneurial ventures. Though traditionally conservative Investment Clubs, particularly African American clubs may cautiously invest in fledging Black-owned corporations are well established Black-owned corporations seeking public financing. Through investing in Black-owned companies African American and Pan African Investors may help to initiate and sustain the growth and development of African American and Pan African enterprises as well as earn acceptable returns on their investments.
Through an investment committee or an asset management organization large Black organizations may form an investment consortium as a way of investing a relatively large sum of money regularly and earning sizeable ventures to be reinvested or invested in part in economic development projects. There now exist enough persons and corporations in the African American and Pan African community with the means and wealth for founding mutual funds initially worth at least $100–200 million.
Whether as small intimate clubs of investors or large formal clubs Pan African community as investors are crucial to the economic development and polito-economic empowerment of the Pan African community as a whole. Deep knowledge of how the markets works, the development of a keen ability to invest in and use it , are not only vital for long-term personal or small group gain but crucial to the expansion of the Black-owned business establishment into the broader and international market place.
Grants
Finding funding within your community may still be an issue, even after beginning an investment club. Business grants are always a great option as well. Below are some resources for small and minority businesses.
CARES Act: Coronavirus relief and SBA loans for small businesses.
Please visit African American grants and NerdWallet to see the full list of small-business loans for minorities.
Grants.gov allows grant seekers to find and apply for federal funding opportunities. It contains information on more than 1,000 grant programs across all 26 federal grant-making agencies, including the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
USDA grant for the development or expansion of small businesses in rural areas — minority-owned or not. To qualify, you’ll need to have 50 or fewer employees, less than $1 million in revenue and be located in an eligible rural area. Grants typically range from $10,000 to $500,000, and can be used for a variety of purposes, including training and technical assistance, acquisition or development of land and long-term business planning. Applications are accepted through the USDA’s Rural Development’s state offices once per year.
Nonprofit trade association provides educational resources and grants for small businesses and entrepreneurs. To apply for a grant of up to $4,000, you’ll need to become an active member of the association, provide a detailed explanation of how you’ll use the funds, show how the grant will support your business growth, and provide supporting documentation.
The Minority Business Development Agency. This development agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce promotes the growth of minority-run small businesses by connecting owners to financing resources, federal contracts and market opportunities. You can contact a local MBDA business center for more information.
The Amber Grant for Women was created to help minority women achieve their dreams to start an entrepreneurship. This was an initiative by the government in which every month a winner is selected and given $500. At the end of the year, one of the twelve monthly winners will be given $1000. These enhanced grants for minority women enabled them to get their lucky angels in the form of investors and mentors. The lucky part is that you don’t need any form of capital. The application only demands an introduction of the idea you have in your mind.
The Halstead Grant is especially for the women who are in love with the jewelry and have plans to start a business in the same field. The grants awarded by this program are in large numbers. Every year a winner who is selected will be receiving $7500 and another $1000 in supplies. The program also offers other perks for these minority women. The finalists will be receiving $250 for the top ten placements and $500 for the top-five placements.
The New Voice Fund is a funding program established by the SheaMoisture haircare and skincare products founder Richelieu Dennis which is worth about $100 million. The fund is geared for women entrepreneurs of color at the annual Essence Festival.
The funding was established to help bridge the gap of female entrepreneurs and create opportunities for minority women who may be interested in learning more significant changes the world of women business funding is going, particularly in the wake of the challenges that minorities face when it comes to anding an idea getting approved for funding.
Again please visit the NerdWallet and African American Grants website for the more extensive list. Also, please continue to check our newsletters every Friday for more resources on grants.
Visit PointedSpaces.com
For Us:Business Highlight
For Us wants to bring light to our members and make sure that we assist our Nation in networking across in order to build up.
We would like to uplift Open Market by PointedSpaces!
PointedSpaces.Com
Email: PointedSpaces@gmail.com
Follow: @PointedSpaces and use #letscreatemagic
Register for their Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday Live Virtual Market.
Open Market is the epicenter of creativity, community, innovation, and social impact.
"We are a LIVE curated marketplace that cultivates conscious consumerism. We create opportunities for BIPOC businesses to showcase their products and services, including but not limited to beauty, wellness, fashion, business, and life coaching, consulting, and lifestyle remedies."
"Our driving mission is to curate spaces for underrepresented people that encourage and inspire financial equity, wellness, and creative expression."
If you are in the NYC area come to our Creative Kickback Meet Up 10/31
Church on Sunday 10.25.2020
Church on Sunday via StationHead!
Tune in Every Sunday at 12pm EST!
Subscribe to our Spotify Channel to find the playlist we create for our Broadcast.
Hey everyone this is Tahyira and Perky from the For Us Nation and this is The Official Newsletter for:
Church on Sunday
October 25th
This newsletter is released alongside the Church on Sunday broadcast that includes more information and links to relevant resources of information referenced.
Please visit our website ForUsNation.Com and join our mailing list to keep up with everything that we are planning and creating for you!
Another reason to visit the website is if you're a business person, because if you have a business we would like to uplift you and your business.
Submit your business to the For Us Directory
We have also built a podcast: On the Ground Level listen to episode 1 here.
Keep an eye out for updates on our IG and Twitter @ForUs4Us
We are also having our For Us Nation takeover our IG page for self promotion and visibility. See more details below.
Shoutout to StationHead
This week’s spotify playlist is in honor of the Scorpio’s of the world and the political songs that we have had throughout time.
Follow both Tahyira and Perky on StationHead @PerkyPerspectives @TahyiraSavanna
Welcome to October 25th, 2020 for Today’s Sunday Service. We are speaking about the state of the country (USA), which with the publicity that the United States is receiving it very well feels like a worldwide conflict. When we look at it there is a lot on the stack. We have COVID19 gearing up for a strong second wave, economic disasters, natural disasters, and much much more. So many of us are rushing to the mailbox to go vote, drive through, in person, or if you’re paranoid about your vote being received then you’re rushing to the post office.
No You’re Gonna Lose…No You Are!
Taking a quick glance at the polls on CNN we see Joe Biden at a lead of 52% to Donald Trump’s 42%.
Angela Rye and Snoop Dogg
Angela Rye interviewed Snoop Dogg via Instagram Live and spoke about voting with the hip hop mogul. Snoop Dogg was voting for the first time, and through research realized that he could vote despite having a criminal record in California. Snoop Dogg stated that he would be voting at the Inglewood Forum and also made a mention to Maxine Waters who is also up for re-election for US House Rep for California. Maxine Waters has served in the U.S. House since 1990. Read up on some more of Maxine Waters here.
Black Actors have also been involved in the elections through live table reads. Recently Gabrielle Union hosted a “Zoom Where it Happens” table read for a Friends all black cast to uplift the whenweallvote.org campaign
Following up on the Ice Cube involvement within this 2020 election it seems that Ice Cube is starting to become affected by the backlash from his conversation with the Trump campaign. Just to recap, Ice Cube made a “Contract with Black America” back in March 2020, and called out both Biden and Trump for their lack of “real work” to assist the Black community. Through this call to action he received calls from both the Biden and Trump campaign, and according to Ice Cube only the Trump Campaign spoke of immediate action. Through Ice Cube’s personal plan for Black people he was able to give points to the Trump Platinum Plan, yet the Black Community (or at least Black Twitter) has disagreed with Ice Cube speaking with Trump.
Ice Cube recently went on Hot 97 and spoke about his decision to work with Trump and also his work with Diddy’s “Our Black Party. For more information about the party visit Our Black Party.
Ice Cube spoke about helping to pass the AB3121 assembly bill to begin research for reparations for Black People, and the campaign’s and the economic justice actions that Ice Cube was working on to fight for equality. Ice Cube states that his and his team’s heavy push for justice attracted both campaigns, and that is how he led to do work with Trump.
VOTE
Thoughts for people who believe voting doesn’t matter.
We both understand that there are many levels of politics and how they play into our everyday life. When it comes to loans, business opportunities, real estate, and much more. Some of the fear that has been upheld within the Black Community is that our vote doesn’t matter. But what is the truth, and what has been the problem up until today. Find out what matches your interest, because maybe you dont agree with the Republicans or Democrats, and possibly identify more with Independent Party beliefs. Take a free course online to enhance your knowledge and understanding of politics if needed.
TREMG has also created events and articles to promote voting, especially with Black Men.
Despite your personal beliefs regarding voting, it is your right, and your life will be affected by this campaign. So please go vote, and seek information and clarity if needed. Here is a resource for voting to get you started via vote.org.
IG TAKEOVER
ShowCase your business, talent, and/or cause. We would like to offer our ForUs4Us Instagram to our network so please contact us to get started.
First Takeover held by Tahyira Savanna!
Date TBA!
Follow us @ForUs4Us
For US Nation Book Club
Join our book club, held virtually through the ForUsNation.Com website.
We will provide links to the books chosen, and also (if wanted) we will provide an audio version read by a For Us Nation member.
Support Black Literature, and help protect the education for our people.
Below are some examples of books that we wish to read with you!
