Lifestyle
How Two Black Entrepreneurs Defy Philly Adversity to Open a Bacon Restaurant
Justin Coleman’s business idea got here to him in a dream. After the tragic death of his brother Derek, Justin struggled with grief but felt a glimmer of hope when Derek’s image appeared in his sleep one night.
Coleman teamed up together with his friend Kelvin Alexander, one other culinary talent who loved cooking and baking his entire life, to develop the concept. Both men took a leap of religion, quitting their day jobs. What began as a food truck concept grew into multiple food trucks and a restaurant—the primary of its kind in Philadelphia—called Baked bacon which has made the household staple of bacon a focus.
“I always like to say that if you think of Beyoncé and she’s the main character, you have your background dancers, your background singers, your lighting people, your stage crew. That’s how I created the menu where the bacon is the star of the show. That’s something we’re really proud of,” Coleman says.
Bacon has hit the front pages of newspapers becoming an increasingly popular dish within the United States.
Bake’n Bacon has tapped into that love while also having a lineup that makes foodies in every single place clap their hands in delight. From bacon mac and cheese to buffalo chicken sandwiches with bacon, traditional bacon, egg and cheese to homemade French toast with bacon caramel sauce, Coleman and Alexander set out to create a number of dishes while sticking to their core, savory bacon theme.
Food fans find it irresistible, generating an engaged Instagram following for the restaurant and a whole lot of positive online reviews through platforms like Google Reviews. The brand has even branched out into catering and dessert creation, offering treats like chocolate-covered bacon. But Bake’n Bacon’s success does not imply the 2 entrepreneurs have not had to fight for each win they have.
As black men, Coleman and Alexander must also rise above any stereotypes about their business abilities.
“When it comes to city or Philadelphia rules and regulations, tax issues, different things that people deal with on a daily basis, we need to… smile and then deal with them intelligently to show that we know what we’re doing and we’re smart people,” Alexander added.
Both men are aware of the rare position of power they hold as restaurant leaders, they usually report that they often encounter resistance from individuals who feel uncomfortable with it. According to National Restaurant AssociationOnly 9% of restaurants are black or African American owned. The organization reports that blacks are also underrepresented as chefs and culinary leaders in high-end restaurants.
“When we hold people accountable to what’s written or what the contracts say, it’s almost like, ‘Well, how dare you call me names?’ So we’ve run into that a lot,” Coleman says. “But I think one thing for us is that if God says yes, there’s no one who can say no. That can slow the process down a little bit. But it all comes down to how you position yourself, how you position yourself in those waiting moments when God is there, really trying to show you who you are and who you should be in Him.”
As Black Business Month comes to a close, Coleman and Alexander are grateful for the support they receive from the Black community, they usually encourage people to proceed to find out about what entrepreneurs face as they fight to break down barriers — even when it looks as if your corporation is already doing well.
“People will look at Instagram and they’ll see, ‘OK, we have people in the restaurant, but there’s another side to the business… There’s payroll, there’s managing people, there’s making sure the quality of the food is consistent and still good every time it’s served,’” Coleman adds.
“We’re making sure that people who look like us can feed their families. We’re making sure that they’re in a safe environment where they feel seen and heard every day. They’re not a number. So it’s more than just, we’re serving you food. We’re creating a culture in our establishment that’s safe for our people. We want it to be like, ‘I support because these are two young black men doing their thing. And I want to support this venture because they stepped out on faith. They believe in God, they’re good people, and they have great food.'”
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Lifestyle
What is GiveTuesday? The annual day of giving is approaching
Since it began as a hashtag in 2012, Giving on Tuesdaythe Tuesday after Thanksgiving, became one of the largest collection days yr for non-profit organizations within the USA
GivingTuesday estimates that the GivingTuesday initiative will raise $3.1 billion for charities in 2022 and 2023.
This yr, GivingTuesday falls on December 3.
How did GivingTuesday start?
The hashtag #GivingTuesday began as a project of the 92nd Street Y in New York City in 2012 and have become an independent organization in 2020. It has grown right into a worldwide network of local organizations that promote giving of their communities, often on various dates which have local significance. like a vacation.
Today, the nonprofit organization GivingTuesday also brings together researchers working on topics related to on a regular basis giving. This too collects data from a big selection of sources comparable to payment processors, crowdfunding sites, worker transfer software and offering institutions donor really helpful fundstype of charity account.
What is the aim of GivingTuesday?
The hashtag has been began promote generosity and this nonprofit organization continues to advertise giving within the fullest sense of the word.
For nonprofits, the goal of GivingTuesday is to boost money and have interaction supporters. Many individuals are aware of the flood of email and mail appeals that coincide on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Essentially all major U.S. nonprofits will host fundraising campaigns, and plenty of smaller, local groups will participate as well.
Nonprofit organizations don’t have to be affiliated with GivingTuesday in any method to run a fundraising campaign. They can just do it, although GivingTuesday provides graphics and advice. In this manner, it stays a grassroots endeavor during which groups and donors participate as they please.
Was GivingTuesday a hit?
It will depend on the way you measure success, but it surely has definitely gone far beyond initial efforts to advertise giving on social media. The day has change into an everlasting and well-known event that focuses on charitable giving, volunteerism and civic participation within the U.S. and all over the world.
For years, GivingTuesday has been a serious fundraising goal for nonprofits, with many looking for to arrange pooled donations from major donors and leverage their network of supporters to contribute. This is the start year-end fundraising peakas nonprofits strive to fulfill their budget goals for next yr.
GivingTuesday giving in 2022 and 2023 totaled $3.1 billion, up from $2.7 billion in 2021. While that is loads to boost in a single day, the trend last yr was flat and with fewer donorswhich, in accordance with the organization, is a disturbing signal.
Lifestyle
BlaQue Community Cares is organizing a cash crowd for serious food
QNS reports that Queens, New York-based nonprofit BlaQue Community Cares is making an effort to assist raise awareness of Earnest Foods, an organic food market with the Cash Mob initiative.
The BlaQue Cash Mob program is a community-led event that goals to support local businesses, reminiscent of grocery stores in Jamaica, by encouraging shoppers to go to the shop and spend a certain quantity of cash, roughly $20. BlaQue founder Aleeia Abraham says cash drives are happening across New York City to extend support for local businesses. “I think it’s important to really encourage local shopping habits and strengthen the connections between residents and businesses and Black businesses, especially in Queens,” she said after hosting six events since 2021.
“We’ve been doing this for a while and we’ve found that it really helps the community discover new businesses that they may not have known existed.”
As a result, crowds increase sales and strengthen social bonds for independent businesses.
Earnest Foods opened in 2021 after recognizing the necessity for fresh produce in the world. As residents struggled to seek out fresh food, Abraham defines the shop as “an invaluable part of the southeast Queens community.” “There’s really nowhere to go in Queens, especially Black-owned businesses in Queens, to find something healthier to eat. We need to keep these businesses open,” she said.
“So someone just needs to make everyone aware that these companies exist and how to keep the dollars in our community. Organizing this cash crowd not only encourages people to buy, but also shows where our collective dollars stand, how it helps sustain businesses and directly serves and uplifts our community.”
The event will happen on November 24 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 123-01 Merrick Blvd in St. Albans. According to the shop’s co-owner, Earnest Flowers, he has partnered with several other Black-owned brands in the world to sell his products at the shop. Flowers is comfortable that his neighbors can come to his supermarket to purchase organic food and goods from local vendors like Celeste Sassine, owner of Sassy Sweet Vegan Treats.
At the grand opening three years ago which was visited by over 350 viewersSassine stated that the collaboration was “super, super, super exciting” to the purpose that the majority of the products were off the shelves inside hours.
Lifestyle
Keke Palmer Recalls the Key Advice Will Smith Gave Her as a Child: “It’s Hard to Be First”
Like many young people, actress Keke Palmer went through a phase wherein she clashed along with her parents. Recently in a performance at “Toast” podcast.Palmer revealed that fellow actor Will Smith helped her take care of the situation along with her family.
As a child star who has appeared on Nickelodeon and Disney productions, the “Akeelah and the Bee” actress explained how juggling fame has affected her and her family relationships — a lot in order that she admits she once considered emancipating herself from her parents.
Although her lawyer tried to get her into counseling, Palmer said it was Smith’s words that ultimately modified her mind.
“A couple of weeks go by, I’m on the set of ‘True Jackson, Vice President’ and I get a call from a very, very unknown number. And I said, “What? If it was strange, I would not answer,” she said, mentioning that she simply went back to work. Later, while retrieving her phone, Palmer received a voicemail from the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star.
“Hey Keke. This is Will. We’re here filming ‘The Karate Kid’ with (my son) Jaden and I just want to let you understand that I’ve talked (to your lawyer),’ Palmer continued, impersonating Smith. “He let me know every little thing you are going through and I need you to know that sometimes it’s hard to be the first, but you may do it. Just stay focused, love your loved ones and every little thing shall be high-quality.
Palmer remembers struggling as a child with the attention and fame that got here with climbing the ladder in the entertainment industry. While trying to adjust to the demands of her burgeoning profession, the actress recalls feeling that fame meant she would have to “throw (her) family away.”
“It’s something that happens when you leave and you can become a child artist, you can be the first person in your family to go to college, or you can be the first person in your family to get married,” Palmer said: explaining her feelings at that moment. “There are so many firsts that can happen as the generations of your family grow and evolve.”
Ultimately deciding not to undergo the emancipation process, Palmer emphasized the importance of getting a healthy community when navigating the entertainment industry.
“I think I’ve always felt like a lot of people, whether they’re big names or whether they’re my lawyers, have been a good community,” she added. “Also, my parents made sure I was around (people) who would encourage community rather than discord and separation.”
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