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Community stories: The importance of local media outlets

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Community stories: The importance of local media outlets

By CASEY CAWTHORN

In October 2021, after lending nearly $23 million to Indy’s small business community, the Indy Chamber embarked on a media partnership with the Indianapolis Recorder. Little did we know then, this partnership would yield exponential value in ensuring that small, diverse businesses—navigating a rebounding business climate with ever-changing fluctuations—would prove to be one of the most important vessels for business awareness, resource-sharing and collective corporate calls for equity.

Through our partnership with the Indianapolis Recorder, over nearly the last two years, the Indy Chamber’s marketing and communications team has worked with minority, small-business owners in various industries and communities across the nine-county, Indy region. These individuals have trusted us to help them share stories about their business ownership journeys while also calling attention to the critical resources—capital, coaching and connections to a regional network of businesses—available through the Indy Chamber. At the end of 2022, data showed that through these articles, we’ve reached over 300,000 people (about half the population of Wyoming) across Indiana and beyond. Equally as important, we’ve reached them authentically.

Between 2020 and 2021, the Indy Chamber was immersed in initiatives to advance equity. Develop Indy, the front door to economic development for the City of Indianapolis and Marion County, was already leading equity efforts through inclusive incentives. However, in 2021, the Indy Chamber partnered with the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and the Indianapolis Urban League (IUL) to form Business Equity for Indy (BEI), an initiative fully committed to advancing equity and economic opportunity for the region’s Black residents and other people of color. In addition to that work, the Indy Chamber’s Entrepreneur Services department, which includes the Central Indiana Women’s Business Center (CIWBC), Hispanic Business Council (HBC), Enterprise Corps, the Re-Entry Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (REDi) and Business Ownership Initiative (BOI)—a certified community development financial institution (CDFI), houses an entire team dedicated to ensuring diverse, small businesses have support at every stage of business growth.

As the longest-running African American-owned newspaper in Indiana and the fourth largest in the United States, a partnership with the Indianapolis Recorder was a true dream for our marketing team. Our team, which is tasked with amplifying the impact of our equity work alongside the success stories of our small, diverse members and clients, quickly began working with these individuals to guide their storytelling efforts. While we continue to expand our partnership with the Indianapolis Recorder, we’re excited to announce that we’re also launching a new, free event series to connect a greater number of businesses to storytelling support and opportunities.

A three-part Indy Chamber Masterclass series will take place virtually this summer. Each Masterclass will feature a specific, communications-related topic and invites business owners and community members to log in ready to learn. The first event, which takes place on June 27 from 1-2 p.m., is Storytelling 101 presented by Deana Haworth, chief operating officer with Hirons. Individuals interested in attending are encouraged to register online at IndyChamber.com/Events. The July session will feature Travis Brown, founder and CEO of Mojo Up Marketing, and the August session will feature Jennifer Dzwonar, managing principal of Borshoff. Specific dates and topics to be announced soon.

While we continue to expand our programs and services to support diverse small business owners, we hope to continue leveraging diverse media partnerships to increase the visibility of services, connections with the community and ultimately, the impact that the Indy Chamber has on our regional business community. If you are interested in learning more about services available to support your business, I invite you to learn more at IndyChamber.com/Entrepreneurship.

Casey Cawthon is Indy Chamber’s vice president of marketing and communications.

Black-owned Open Kitchen Restaurant offering Italian-style recipes  

Jade Jackson
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Black-owned Open Kitchen Restaurant offering Italian-style recipes  

The name of Toni and Dexter Smith’s restaurant, Open Kitchen Restaurant, is befitting of their mission to create an open atmosphere for customers.   

Officially launched in September 2020, during the pandemic they offered carry-out, which performed well with customers. They moved into their brick-and-mortar location at 4022 Shelby St. on the south side of the city in March. 

“We focus on comfortability. Anyone can come here, relax and be themselves. We serve American and Italian food. You don’t have to feel uptight,” said Toni Smith.  

She said they maintain an upscale beat at the restaurant, but they allow people to come as they are.  

“There’s been places and times at the restaurants where we really wanted to try the food, but we didn’t feel like ourselves. You feel like you’re rushed through, or you feel like your money isn’t appreciated and you’re not welcome,” said Smith.  

Bringing Black owned Italian style recipes with Open Kitchen Restaurant
Dajuan Morris prepping inside Open Kitchen Restaurant (Photo/Jade Jackson)

Dexter is the chef, and he offers American and Italian dishes on the menu. 

“Italian food is great. It’s so many different flavors and so many different cooking techniques,” said Chef Dexter. 

While he has worked as a professional chef for the last five years, he has been working in a kitchen since he was 16. His first job was serving patients at Community East.  

“This is nowhere near what I thought I would be doing in the future. I’m a math person. I thought I was going to do actuary for sport, but I love the work that goes into figuring out a recipe to make a dish great,” said Chef Smith.  

His math skills come in handy when he is figuring out and experimenting with the right measurements and proportion sizes for each meal. 

He changes the menu every season to always offer new items.  

Contact & hours

Address: 4022 Shelby St, Indianapolis, IN 46227

Phone: (317) 974-9032

Tuesday-Thursday 9AM-10PM

Friday 9AM-11PM

Saturday 10AM-11PM

Sunday 10AM-5PM

Bringing Black owned Italian style recipes with Open Kitchen Restaurant
Open Kitchen Restaurant is located at 4022 Shelby Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46227 (Photo/Jade Jackson)

If you have a minority-owned and operated business you’d like to be featured in the Indiana Minority Business Magazine Directory, visit Indiana Minority Business Directory to register.

State grant funding available to boost recycling markets and support job creation 

JAYDEN KENNETT
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State grant funding available to boost recycling markets and support job creation 

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is accepting proposals for grants up to $500,000 for recycling projects. Local government, businesses, solid waste management districts and nonprofit organizations located and doing business in the state are eligible to submit proposals now through June 21.  

The proposals must show a need for the funds, how the project would increase recycling collection or consumption, a reduction in municipal solid waste shipped for final disposal or improved partnerships with communities through tangible outreach and education efforts. 

For a complete guideline on proposal requirements and submittal, visit here.  

Projects should demonstrate sustainability and an economic understanding of the state’s recycling market. Final funding determinations will be made this fall. To apply visit idem.IN.gov/recycle/2358.htm.  

For additional information, please contact 800-988-7901 or RMDPGrants@idem.IN.gov. 

Contact staff writer Jayden Kennett at 317-762-7847 or by email JaydenK@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @JournoJay.

IndyPL to host free patent and trademark information event 

JAYDEN KENNETT
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IndyPL to host free patent and trademark information event 

The Indianapolis Public Library and speakers from the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) are hosting a free event to help small business owners and individual vendors with the patent and trademark process. 

Speakers from the USPTO will present information to explain the process and answer questions at Central Library on May 25. The program will include a morning presentation on the trademark process and the benefits of federal trademark registrations, networking session and panel discussion where attendees can ask speakers from USPTO questions. 

Ryan Donnely is one of the librarians at IndyPL helping inventors and entrepreneurs better understand their intellectual property needs. The program’s specialized training involves patent and trademark research and can help entrepreneurs answer questions about the patent and trademark process. 

Books on these topics are available at select branch locations.

“The process can be expensive and complicated,” Donnelly said. “The resources we provide are free and low cost.”

The program is free, but space is limited and registration is required. Search “Demystifying Patents and Trademarks” on Eventbrite to register.

Information can be found on the library’s website or by calling the Central Library at 317-275-4100

IF YOU GO:

Who: Indianapolis Public Library and U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

What: Demystifying Patents and Trademarks

When: May 25, 2023, 10:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. 

Where: Indianapolis Public Library – Central Library, 40 E. Saint Clair Street

Cost: Free; registration is required. Register here.

Minority Business Highlight: The Botanical Bar

CHLOE McGOWAN
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Minority Business Highlight: The Botanical Bar

Plant aficionado Victoria Beaty is the proud owner of The Botanical Bar, Indy’s first Black- and woman-owned plant shop.

Beaty’s shop, which opened as a brick-and-mortar store near the Bottleworks district in June 2022, carries everything from pet-friendly houseplants, to low-maintenance beginner plants and a few rare beauties. Her store also features other goods, such as stationary, coffee and mugs; art and candles from other local Black women-owned businesses.

Beaty said her shop started as a way for people to connect with plants and foster their own green spaces at home, even before the pandemic kept everyone inside for weeks at a time. Beaty also said it was important that the Botanical Bar be a welcoming and positive space, especially for women of color who, like her, may not have felt welcome in other plant shops around the city.

One of the ways Beaty strives to spread positivity and uplift the community is through monthly wellness events and plant workshops where people can come together and learn how to check in with their plants and check in with themselves. Beaty said she also has plans to launch a speaker series and more programming called “Let it Grow Sis” sometime in 2023.

READ MORE: Black-owned botanical shop adding green to the community

In addition to a vast selection of greenery, The Botanical Bar also offers repotting services in-shop — which include soil and fertilizer; plant care tools, such as pruning shears, moisture meters, plant food and misters; as well as pots and vessels.

The Botanical Bar is located at 1103 N. College Ave. More information about plant selection, upcoming events and services can be found at thebotanicalbarindy.com. Get in touch with The Botanical Bar by email at info@thebotanicalbarindy.com or call 317.319.959.

If you have a minority-owned and operated business you’d like to be featured in the Indiana Minority Business Magazine Directory, visit Indiana Minority Business Directory.

Contact staff writer Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @chloe_mcgowanxx.

Minority Business Highlight: We Kutz Barber & Beauty Studio

Noral Parham
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Minority Business Highlight: We Kutz Barber & Beauty Studio

Indianapolis native and master barber Pamela Jean ‘PJ’ Alexander has a powerful story to tell about how her barbershop We Kutz came to be on the west side of the city.

Alexander, 69, originally picked up barbering during her time in California. She relocated near Tinseltown as a task for her then employer Carrier. After her position dissolved, Alexander quickly pivoted to entrepreneurship. She began selling merchandise and apparel in popular social circles across Los Angeles, Hollywood, and Inglewood, CA.

“I believed that becoming an entrepreneur offered me job security in L.A.,” Alexander said.

As her entrepreneurial endeavors began coming to fruition, Alexander wanted more for herself and her family. She decided to put herself through barber school.

We Kutz Barbershop & Beauty Studio
A photograph of the We Kutz Barber & Beauty Studio storefront. (Photo by/ Pamela Alexander)

After finishing barber school, Alexander opened the first We Kutz Barber and Beauty Studio in Inglewood. The location drew the presence of many celebrities, including Queen Latifah, Kobe Bryant, Rick Fox, and Indianapolis’ own Vivica A. Fox. Her original barbershop is still open to this day.

In 2009, A family emergency would cause Alexander to return to Indianapolis for the foreseeable future. During this time, she opened an Indianapolis location of We Kutz Barber & Beauty Studios.

Today, Alexander teaches at Kenny’s Academy of Barbering during the morning and cuts and styles hair at We Kutz in the afternoon.

Located at 558 West 25th Street, We Kutz is open every day (except Sundays) from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The barber and beauty studio take walk-ins as well as appointments. For more information, visit their website here. You can also contact Alexander at (310)-497-5993.

Further, If you would like your business featured in the the minority business highlights, click here.

Contact multi-media staff writer Noral Parham at (317)-762-7846 or email at NoralP@IndyRecorder.com. Follow him on Twitter @NoralParham.

Getting down to the root of the problem with Kurlykoils

Jade Jackson
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Getting down to the root of the problem with Kurlykoils

You can find Britteny Davidson inside her shop Kurlykoils, off W. 42nd St., tending to the many clients that walk through her doors. The business launched in 2016, with its main styling services focusing on curly hair care.

“I was actually looking for somebody to cut my hair curly. At the time, I couldn’t find any Black women. I did find a white lady, and she was booked out probably four months in advance,” said Davidson.

During her eight years in the beauty industry as a licensed cosmetologist, Davidson had never heard of anyone being booked out that far. She said, at the time, there were two other curl specialists in Indianapolis, but all three women were Caucasian.

RELATED: Black representation matters: Urban Beauty Supply

Britteny Davidson is the owner of Kurlykoils, a forward-thinking salon with a mission to help people embrace their natural hair (Photo/ Jade Jackson) Getting down to the root of the problem
Britteny Davidson is the owner of Kurlykoils, a forward-thinking salon with a mission to help people embrace their natural hair (Photo/ Jade Jackson)

“So, I said if I start this business being a Black woman, I know it’s going to do well, and it definitely has,” said Davidson.

Born and raised in Indianapolis, she did not start to venture into natural hair care until she started wearing her own hair natural in her twenties.

When she was younger, she would straighten her hair often.

Kurlykoils: The beginning

According to Davidson, natural hair care is not taught in standard beauty school curriculum. It is considered a specialty training that one has to pursue on their own.

“We’re missing the mark in beauty school. It just focuses on how to straighten the hair and how to cut the hair while it’s straight. So, this is a skill you have to seek to become an expert in,” said Davidson.

She had to travel to take classes that taught her how to perfect the curly craft.

She started serving clients on Lafayette Road inside what used to be Indianapolis Hair Studio. From there, she moved inside the Salon Lofts on College and Broad Ripple Ave.

After becoming a mother, she started the recruitment process to create Kurly Koils in 2017.

Deja Parker, a stylist inside Kurlykoils (Photo/Jade Jackson) Getting down to the root of the problem
Deja Parker, a stylist inside Kurlykoils (Photo/Jade Jackson)

Deja Parker has been a Kurly Koils stylist for almost three years. She grew up around hair stylists, so doing hair came naturally to her.

Kurlykoils: The experience

“I always knew I wanted to do the natural side of hair, but I started second guessing myself because I didn’t see it here in Indiana. Then, when I finally saw Britteny, and I made my appointment with her, she reconfirmed for me to go off and set this as a goal,” said Parker.

She believes that stylists with expertise in natural hair care are scarce in the area but that their numbers will increase over time.

“It hasn’t been a part of the culture for long. Natural hair care is becoming more well known around the country, so I think it’s just taking its time to get here,” said Parker.

It is a journey, and part of her job is to help people navigate along that journey.

She said the working environment is peaceful, and the clients love to come in to enjoy the “realness” that they provide, which makes it feel like a second home.

They serve over 700 clients and style around 25 people on a weekly basis. Their clients return every three months for hair care maintenance.

“The amount of growth has been tremendous, and having stylists here now establishing those relationships and maintaining them has made the biggest difference,” said Davidson.

The goal for Kurly Koils is sustainability and changing the thought process surrounding natural hair.

Davidson wishes more stylists had a better understanding of natural hair and styling it.

“There are more textures than straight hair for sure, so it should definitely be taught in beauty school. It should be a federal guideline. I think it’s nice, especially for our younger clientele, to be able to embrace their hair,” said Davidson.

Contact staff writer Jade Jackson at 317-607-5792 or by email JadeJ@IndyRecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON

Indianapolis Recorder President and CEO Speaking at Startup Ladies Study Hall 

Jade Jackson
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Indianapolis Recorder President and CEO Speaking at Startup Ladies Study Hall 

Recorder Media Group President and CEO Robert Shegog will speak this week to an international group of women entrepreneurs on how to work with media outlets that focus on Black and brown communities. 

The Startup Ladies are hosting the special Startup Study Hall on Wednesday, May 17, from 6-8 p.m. 
 
Roughly a dozen women entrepreneurs from Argentina, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela will attend the event hosted by the International Center of Indianapolis. 

A similar event was held at the Heritage Group in 2019 before the start of the pandemic. Organizers say this is a great opportunity to meet with leaders from other countries.  

One of Shegog’s talking points will cover inclusive advertising. He will advise those in attendance on how to communicate and collaborate with minority groups.  

Recorder Media Group, which includes the Indianapolis Recorder and the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, is Indiana’s leading minority-owned communications company. The Recorder staff has won more than 60 journalism awards in the past three years. 
 
COhatch downtown Indy is sponsoring the event located in the Circle Center Mall. 
 
Register here: 
https://lnkd.in/g4Yvahd2 

Minority Business Highlights: Taste of Innova Wings + Greens

CHLOE McGOWAN
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Minority Business Highlights: Taste of Innova Wings + Greens

Taste of Innova Wings + Greens is a family business through and through. Owned and operated by mother-daughter duo Monique and Kara Hawkins, the restaurant offers homemade wings, collard greens and many more diverse flavors.

Taste of Innova first opened its doors at The Amp at 16 Tech, 1220 Waterway Blvd., Stall 8, in June of 2021 as a way to bring its family together during the pandemic. The eatery was one of many local minority-owned businesses that partnered with Gainbridge Fieldhouse Food Co. for a short mentorship and residency serving food during Pacers games as part of the Minority Guest Chef program. 

Their stint at Gainbridge, serving wings and greens to hungry Pacers fans, did so well they were invited to become a permanent fixture in 2022. Now, the Hawkins team can be found on the fourth floor Club Level.

The Hawkins’ coveted menu lists 12 original wing flavors — including Italian Parm, African Pepper Zest, Savannah Heat, Island Jerk, Pan Asian curry and Uncle Nearest Innova Chile — collard greens with smoked turkey, chicken tender waffle sandwich, Innova mac and cheese and more.

Taste of Innova is open at The Amp at 16 Tech Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Orders can be placed at tasteofinnova.com or through Grubhub, Uber Eats and DoorDash. For more information, email info@tasteofinnova.com or call 765-400-0929.

If you have a minority-owned and operated business you would like to be featured in the Indiana Minority Business Magazine Directory, visit Indiana Minority Business Directory.

Contact staff writer Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @chloe_mcgowanxx.

From hobby to hustle: Black nail tech shares journey to entrepreneurship 

Timoria Cunningham
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From hobby to hustle: Black nail tech shares journey to entrepreneurship 

When the pandemic began in January 2020, it forced people across the country to adopt various lifestyle changes, including regular COVID-19 testing, stocking up on food and following stay-at-home orders.

As a result, like many others, Indianapolis native Ciera Howleit found herself inside for most of the pandemic. While inside, Howleit picked up different hobbies, one of which was doing nails. The closure of nail salons piqued Howleit’s interest in this hobby. Howleit did her mother and sisters’ nails, and over time, she started taking more clients.  

Today, Howleit is the owner of Her Nail Diary, located on the west side of the city, where she has an array of services she provides to her clients. Listed below are Howleit’s booking website and other business information. 

Contact information:  
Nailedbycirose@gmail.com 

Booking site: https://www.styleseat.com/m/v/cieralove

You can also reach Howlett via social media direct message: 

Instagram: _hernaildiary 

Facebook: Her Nail Diary 

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