Vice Media Group and The National Urban League announced the 12 winners for the inaugural class of Black+, their initiative dedicated to supporting Black-owned businesses and closing the Black entrepreneurship gap. From pro bono marketing and creative services to mentorship and business consultation, Black+ will offer assistance to 12 Black-owned businesses within the United States annually.
Through an application site that went live in February, Vice Media Group and The National Urban League have selected the following Black-owned businesses to take part in Black+. At a time when Black business owners have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19, Vice Media Group and The National Urban League hope to make a longstanding impact by supporting and collaborating with these Black-owned businesses at this critical time.
The Winners (in alphabetical order):
- Anima Iris: Anima Iris is a modern brand that pulls inspiration and strength from the matriarchs of its Every piece in the Anima Iris collection is carefully handcrafted by seasoned professionals in Dakar, Senegal. With centuries old African craftsmanship at the tip of their fingers, our artisans add a touch unrivaled in quality and attention to detail to create limited edition pieces.
- Black Owned Everything : Black Owned Everything is more than just a platform or marketplace. What started as an Instagram page has become a movement; a medium for creating meaningful and long-lasting participation between Black business, community, and excellence. It is not ephemeral, trend-based, or short-lived..
- Cee Cee’s Closet NYC: Cee Cee’s Closet offers beauty and heritage wrapped in Headwraps are a timeless expression of African culture and beauty – a bold and vibrant fashion statement for women of color. Cee Cee’s Closet’s headwraps were born out of a practical need to take better care of hair curls with protective yet fashionable headwear.
- Girls Vacation Club: Girls Vacation Club offers pre-planned and custom girls trips with none of the hassle.
- Glory: Glory is a new kind of skincare brand powered by women of color and on a mission to help women of every hue make better choices about their skin.
- Health In Her HUE : Health In Her HUE is a digital platform that connects Black women and women of color to culturally competent and sensitive healthcare providers, and offers health information and content that centers their lived experiences.
- My Home Pathway: My Home Pathway is helping break financial limitations through My Home Pathway provides a free-to-use app to help new and/or previously denied applicants make the necessary financial risk profile improvements that are required to get the home they ultimately want.
- On The Go Jo Coffee: On The Go Jo is passionate about providing high quality, handcrafted coffee, tea, and syrups that intrigue the senses and excite On The Go Jo has created a coffee line that empowers women throughout the supply chain. The beans are produced by women (women managed or owned coffee farms), roasted by women (only 15% of roasters are women in the US), and owned by black women.
- Perfect Blue Alchemy LLC: Perfect Blue Alchemy is handcrafted organic, vegan and natural perfumes, body products and home items made from organic essential oils and organic plant.
- Planet FWD Moonshot: Moonshot is on a mission to create delicious, carbon neutral snacks that are good for you and the environment.
- PUR Home: PUR Home is dedicated to creating natural and safe household cleaning products that can be used by anyone, giving special consideration to selecting ingredients that are plant-based, biodegradable, sulfate-free, and non-toxic.
- Soul Brew Kombucha: Soul Brew Kombucha is a refreshing and carbonated fermented beverage that is a healthy low-sugar alternative to soda and other sugary
For each of the 12 businesses chosen, Vice Media Group has committed to providing free advertising across its owned and operated websites including VICE, Refinery29 and i-D. Vice Media Group and its creative agency, Virtue, will also consult with each business on creative services such as, but not limited to marketing material creation, branding, and social media. In addition, The National Urban League will provide mentorship and business
consulting services to each of the selected businesses, helping to give them tools and resources for continued success and growth. The bespoke campaigns for each business will run across Vice Media Group throughout 2021.
For additional information, learn more about Black+ here.
