Something special is taking root in the heart of Anacostia. And no, this is not just one other brunch spot or nightclub.

Groundedfounded by Mignon Hemsley and Danuelle Doswell, redefines urban wellness with a groundbreaking concept that combines a plant shop, café and wellness studio in one space.

Grounded, situated at 1913 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, is greater than only a store – it’s a sanctuary where the healing power of nature combines with the art of self-care. This revolutionary third space invites guests to breathe, connect and recharge in an environment that seamlessly combines biophilic design with community-focused well-being.

Deeply rooted in reconnecting individuals with nature to advertise mental clarity, emotional well-being and creativity, Grounded’s mission began during the pandemic as an e-commerce platform. Through what is bound to be plenty of blood, sweat and tears, it has now evolved right into a physical space that embodies their therapeutic philosophy.

Says Doswell: “Our vision has always been to create a space where people can slow down, reconnect with nature to improve their well-being and feel grounded. “Opening this location in Anacostia is a dream come true as we expand this mission into the community that inspires us.”

Step into Grounded and you may immediately be enveloped in an environment of calm. Designed in collaboration with Drummond Projects, the space features natural elements similar to integrated planter boxes, concrete and rock accents, wealthy wood materials and soothing green tones. This is a masterclass in biophilic design, creating harmony between people and their surroundings.

At the heart of Grounded is the plant shop, offering a curated collection of potted plants that bring life and vitality to any space. But this is not any unusual plant shop. Grounded’s team of plant specialists are available to assist customers integrate greenery into their homes and offices in a way that enhances well-being. They even offer plantation design services, bringing their expertise on to clients’ spaces.

For Mignon Hemsley, chief operating officer and creative director, this opening is especially significant. “I went to highschool in Anacostia and launching Grounded here was a full circle moment for me. This neighborhood has shaped me in so some ways, and I’m excited to provide back by making a space where people can experience the healing power of nature and community.

Located next to the plant shop, the Grounded Café serves as each a community center and a showcase for plant-based nutrition. The fully vegan menu features artisan coffees sourced from Manos de Mujer, a women-owned farm in Guatemala, and roasted by Others Coffee. Visitors also can taste high-quality matcha from Kettl, the first Japanese tea brand based in the U.S., in addition to a wide range of herbal teas. The café offers a collection of plant-based cakes and signature toasts, including avocado, banana, strawberry and a vegan version of salmon.

But Grounded’s commitment to holistic wellness doesn’t end with plants and nutrition. The on-site Wellness Studio offers a big selection of practices designed to nourish the mind, body and spirit. From yoga and meditation to breathwork, singing bowl therapy, reiki and pilates, studio classes concentrate on developing gratitude, abundance and mindfulness.

This holistic approach to well-being will not be accidental. Hemsley and Doswell founded Grounded on Earth 2020, starting as an e-commerce platform with a mission to reconnect individuals with nature. Over the past 4 years, they’ve shipped over 30,000 plants across the United States and partnered with over 100 organizations, including tech giants similar to Google and Meta, to bring the advantages of greenery to corporate spaces.

Now, with its first physical location, Grounded is able to take its mission to the next level. This space serves not only as a retail environment, but in addition as a community center where people can work, chill out and connect. With loads of seating and Wi-Fi, it’s the perfect place for distant work or study sessions, surrounded by the calming presence of plants.

For Anacostia and the broader DC area, Grounded represents something truly unique: a Black-owned business that not only serves the community, but actively works to uplift it. By making a space that prioritizes well-being, connection and the healing power of nature, Hemsley and Doswell plant seeds of change that promise to grow into something beautiful.

Since settling a 2023 civil rights grievance alleging racially discriminatory wastewater treatment with the U.S. Department of Justice, Alabama has made frustratingly slow progress toward achieving equality in Lowndes County, the historically significant area at the middle of the lawsuit.

How BLACK ENTERPRISES As we’ve previously reported, there are concerns that Alabama cities are enacting racially discriminatory policies regarding municipal trash policies.

According to , the shortage of urgent motion from the state has inspired the nonprofit sector to take matters into your personal hands.

The nonprofit Black Belt Unincorporated Wastewater Projects, run by Black woman Sherry Bradley, hopes to speed up the equity that the state of Alabama seems determined to slowly reach Lowndes County’s predominantly black and poor population.

More than a yr after the settlement, Alabama has only officially entered the planning phase and has only signed contracts to start installing modern septic systems, that are mandatory attributable to the presence of heavy “red clay” soil in the world.

Bradley believes her company has an answer to the county’s decades-old problem.

Bradley, who was previously an worker of the Alabama Department of Public Health, told the agency that the work she now does is definitely no different than what she did on her own as a state worker.

“When I worked for the state, I did this in my spare time,” Bradley said. “I worked at night, on weekends and on holidays. In the evenings I drove to Lowndes County, talking to people. So what I do is no different from anyone else.”

Lowndes County is situated in Alabama’s Black Belt, which, based on the University of Alabama, is the world where “the richest soil and poorest people” lived. a designation that dates back to slavery.

According to the university, the world is usually characterised by “a declining population, a predominantly agricultural landscape with low settlement density, high unemployment, poor access to education and health care, substandard buildings and high crime rates.”

Due to widespread poverty in the world, Bradley’s organization set a maintenance fee that local residents could afford, $20 a month, after asking them directly how much they’d be comfortable with.

According to .

Unlike Bradley’s down-to-earth approach, the clunky bureaucracy of Alabama state government is moving much, much slower, but at a pace that Alabama’s health officer, Dr. Scott Harris, is completely satisfied with.

According to Harris, the State Department’s lack of experience installing septic tanks means it has to contract out the work, which suggests firms need to bid on the work, which takes more time.

“We have plumbing engineers who understand how these systems work, but it’s not the same as having people install them,” Harris said. “That’s why we contracted out this work, but overseeing large infrastructure projects is not something we typically have experience with.”

The department sent the survey to roughly 10,000 county residents but is awaiting responses from more residents while it analyzes the responses received.

“It’s a way for us to get a sense of the scale of the project we’re undertaking, but it also allows us to prioritize people and understand who is most at risk and who has the greatest need. Because there will always be more needs than we have the resources to help,” Harris said.

The Alabama Department of Public Health is required, under its contract with the Department of Justice, to submit a public health infrastructure improvement plan, which must receive approval from the Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

According to Harris, this plan ought to be finalized and submitted for approval soon.

Alabama’s improvements are largely funded by the Biden-Harris administration’s American Rescue Plan Act, with some outside help from the Lowndes County Unincorporated Wastewater Project, a non-Bradley nonprofit. They donated $1.5 million to put in a septic system.

“We’re just excited to finally see the fruits of all this work that’s been going on over the last year. “DOJ has always understood that this would be subject to the availability of funding,” Harris said. “We ask for what we can get and then make sure we use the resources we have responsibly. “There is no set and quick number (of systems that need to be installed).”

Veronica Woodruff went from flight attendant to founder, founding an revolutionary, technological travel agency Travel assistantwhich provides on-demand airport assistance to those needing additional travel assistance.

For greater than a decade, Woodruff worked as a flight attendant and observed the various obstacles that passengers faced at the airport, especially those with young children. So she decided to try to find an answer.

Her profession thoughts began to change when she met a technology mentor who saw potential in her. “They introduced me to the world of technology, guided me through my first pitching session, and that’s how I got to where I am now, which is my true passion – entrepreneurship.”

During this time, Woodruff was also participating in hackathons and recalled one investor telling her, “It’s time for you to solve your own problem.” Working with what she knew, Woodruff had an epiphany: “Every time I traveled with my little daughter, I spotted it was a struggle for me. There was no specialized service that might meet me and help me at the airport,” she said.

“I remember going to California to visit family and commenced connecting the dots. As a flight attendant, I remember at all times watching moms with young children struggling to board the plane and wondering, “How much has this evolved?”

Woodruff found that seeing people undergo such experiences at the airport and infrequently struggle with their very own problems made her want to do something about it, and that is how this revolutionary Afro-Latina business owner launched Travelsist in 2020.

Since then, Woodruff’s technology efforts have been backed by $1.1 million in enterprise capital, and she or he has participated in accelerators equivalent to J.P. Morgan & Techstars and The Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE) in partnership with Opportunity Collective (ROC) Rockefeller Foundation.

GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research initiative shows that Black women are “the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, with the number greater than doubling since August 2019. Black women make up a complete of 10% of entrepreneurs surveyed for the latest report, a rise in the variety of Black women by 70% of corporations that began operations before the pandemic.”

Travelsist is a synthetic intelligence (AI)-powered travel companion platform that helps streamline the entire process for those needing extra assistance at the airport, whether it is a family traveling with young children, someone in a wheelchair or someone with special requirements, someone who needs help finding directions, a senior traveler or a VIP traveler. Users can download the app and book an assistant to help them get from the airport to boarding their plane more easily.

“Our mission is to transform the travel technology landscape by using innovative solutions to improve the airport experience and make travel more inclusive,” Woodruff said. “Our main goal is accessibility. We focus on helping people with special or additional needs get through the airport safely, smoothly and on time and ensure their eligibility. With our technology, we are giving the power back so they can enhance and create their own airport experience.”

Travelsist currently serves Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson Airport and has plans to expand. For Woodruff, it was necessary to think holistically about her employees and support other women. “We hire in opportunity zones, which is around the airport,” Woodruff said, adding, “and most of our employees are single mothers,” she says.

“The airport provides one in all the safest environments for people to work. It also provides the most jobs in any city, and we offer women with flexible, protected and competitive work options. What’s more, they meet people from throughout the world.