Through her More Than Peach Project, a fourth-grader creates art kits with multiple skin tones.

This is a wonderful story about a then third-grader who first admitted to herself her discomfort over an issue in her classroom.  As the only African American student, it was commonplace for other classmates to ask for the  “skin color crayon”  when they meant the Peach crayon.

Bellen’s solution was simple and brilliant: rather than talk to her classmates about diversity, she created multicultural skin tones art kits, so students could engage and learn for themselves that skin tones come in all colors. Not just Peach.

And she donated the kits to other schools because she recognized the need to educate and correct an assumption not solely confined to her classroom.

“Everyone should know they are important and included,” says Bellen Woodard.

Now that’s cool.

Sources

Cbsnews.com/fourth-grader-creates-art-kits-with-multiple-skin-tones
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/fourth-grader-creates-art-kits-with-multiple-skin-tones

More than peach.com
https://www.morethanpeach.com/

Acclaimed violinist, Rachel Barton Pine, has spent nearly 20 years searching for music written by forgotten Black composers.  And more than 350 composers spanning four centuries have been cataloged.  A lot has never been published or was published but is long out of print because of historical discrimination, says Pine.

“My primary motivation is to inspire young African American students that classical music is part of their history, and they are an important part of classical music’s future.” — Rachel Barton Pine

Music by Black Composers and Coloring Book of Black Composers can be found on her website, the Music by Black Composers website listed under sources below. An amazing list of questions about Black composers from her coloring book can be found there, too.

Cool!

Sources

Violinist inspiring others by celebrating the work of black composers – Rachel Barton Pine has spent years researching the classic musical created over the past four centuries by black…  www.cbsnews.com

Music By Black Composers.org/resources/coloring book: https://www.musicbyblackcomposers.org/resources/coloring-book/

This laugh-out-loud video hosted by Issac Harte is educational and entertaining. And it underscores the serious subject of media literacy and how to evaluate information online.

Topics such as fact-checking tools and a reminder the internet is fair game for bogus videos and information and how to spot real from phony.

Poynter.org is a resource organization for media literacy education for all age groups.

The video should also serve as a reminder to adult aspiring and established writers and entrepreneurs of the pitfalls of basing work product or making business decisions based on information found online or in emails without careful fact-checking.  Case in point: Better marketing’s article on How a blog post caused damage and led to a 5-million dollar lawsuit.

As mentioned in Finding Your Niche: Discover tutorials for non-adults is a great starting point for learning information business or self-employment skills.

Sources

Poynter.org, https//www.poynter.org, dancing robots, April 8, 2021

Better Marketing.pub/ how a blog post escalated into a 5-million lawsuit: https://bettermarketing.pub/how-a-blog-post-escalated-into-a-5-million-lawsuit-593b757a4ac5

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4JFDe-gL4c?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=675]

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;

mso-ascii-
mso-ascii-theme-
mso-hansi-
mso-hansi-theme-
mso-bidi-
mso-bidi-theme-}

According to Professor Randall Robinson, they trot out the story of George Washington Carver and his peanut discovery every February. And all the many, many, many things about the peanut discovery.

But there are an untold number of other Black inventors who are not mentioned. Focusing on George Washington Carver solely gives a false impression that there were few other Black inventors.

Recently, I came across a blog post titled Ten Black Inventors You Should Know. And while I recognized Dr. Charles Drew on the list and was glad to know the story of how he had died after an auto accident in the South was a myth.

I remembered Professor Randall’s words long ago and realized I knew maybe three names from the list of ten inventors below.

Check out the list on Triviagenius. How many names do you know?

Sources

Professor Randall’s paraphrased quote was uttered many years ago ( CSPAN)

Triviagenius.com History: 10 Black Inventors, You Should Know, 02/09/2021 – https://www.triviagenius.com/black-inventors-you-should-know/YBM74bkpEQAGVFaW

When Michelle Penczak could not find work a few years ago despite her education and experience, the military spouse and expectant mom felt disheartened. The wife of a deployed pilot, she was never able to stay in one place permanently.

As is the case with military families, moving from place to place is the norm. So, employers did not want to hire Penczak or other military moms like her.

“It’s a bad country song is what I like to say”   — Michelle Penczak.

So, Penczak started her own company to help other military mothers find employment. And today her company, Squared Away is successful and provides virtual services to CEOs with online companies.

Penczak’s story is interesting because it provides an inside look at issues many outside the military would not realize were a problem that needed solving. And highlights the motivation that inspired the startup. It also provides a blueprint that might inspire someone else unable to find work with a different set of qualifications and industry insight.

Answers to the following questions could provide many ideas:

Occupation
Skill Set
Qualifications
Experience
The problem of getting hired is as follows…
Do others have the same problem? If so, describe those people in detail
Who could benefit from and afford to pay for a pool of people described above offering such services?

Starting a company is not for everyone, but Penczak was not going to find steady work if her family remained in the military, unless she created her own work.

Source

Military spouse launches business to help others find jobs: Chip Reid CBS News May 3, 2021, 6:52 PM: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/military-spouse-michelle-penczak-squared-away/

In ancient times, brewing ale was a respectable occupation, and women made up many of the brewers in many parts of the world, which later included colonial America.  So, why did women lose domination in the beer industry from the 16th century to the present day?

Some historians believe male competitors leveled charges of witchcraft against female brewers, in part because of their attire, according to Smithsonian Magazine. But major cultural changes played a  role in dictating what housewives and young women who brewed ale at home should and should not do during their work-a-day routines. And 16th-century laws tightened food purity, which increased production costs forcing many women out of business.

What other industries were dominated by women before they were forced out?

The Hollywood film industry was once dominated by women. For more information, see the article on Bustle titled, Women Pioneered The Film Industry 100 Years Ago. Why Aren’t We Talking About Them?

Sources

Why Did Women Stop Dominating the Beer Industry? Strict gender norms pushed them out of a centuries-long tradition. Laken Brooks, March 8, 2021. Smithsonianmag.com – https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/women-used-dominate-beer-industry-until-witch-accusations-started-pouring-180977171/

Women and Beer: A Forgotten Pairing, May 11, 2017. Women’s history.org – https://www.womenshistory.org/articles/women-and-beer-forgotten-pairing

Women Pioneered The Film Industry 100 Years Ago. Why Aren’t We Talking About Them? Bustle.com – https://www.bustle.com/p/meet-the-women-who-pioneered-the-film-industry-19421012

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEy-pWeVx_g?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=675]

In the first video, CharisMagie, a social worker living in Toronto, Canada samples snack products sent by a friend from the Netherlands.

But the video below reviews snack subscription boxes from around the world and offers recommendations about choosing the best company.

Finding ideas for a new business while visiting another part of the world has long been a way food-based ventures are inspired. But restricted travel means searching for other ways to learn about the food and culture in unfamiliar places.

While both videos may offer helpful information, the first video even more so because of insights from a native.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Tqg5w2fNb0?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=675]

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnuY1IJJvYg?feature=oembed&w=1200&h=675]

As a second-grader, Maya Penn’s interest in art, saving the environment, and creating healthy clothing led her to start sewing clothing.  Now 21, Maya Penn is the CEO of her own company.

Maya not only specializes in sustainable,  eco-friendly, vintage, and organic collections of vintage accessories, clothing, jewelry, and other items, but she is an environmental activist and consultant to the fast fashion industry. Other activities include TED Talks.

How Penn has used her original talents and interests to succeed in today’s world as an entrepreneur and philanthropist is insightful.

“I started sewing little headbands out of ribbon, hats, scarves, and bags. Soon my items began selling all over the world. Then one day, Forbes called me when I was 10-years old and wanted to feature me and my company in their article.”

Sources

Forbes. Joe Imel, May 5, 2011. In Pictures: Meet 16 Grade School Entrepreneurs: https://www.forbes.com/2011/05/05/grade-school-entrepreneurs_slide.html?sh=3b983bc9d3f2

Mayasideas.com: https://mayasidaeas.com/

Maya Penn – TEDWomen 2013 – Meet a young entrepreneur, cartoonist, designer, activist …

Oakland, California, teenager, Ahmed Muhammad, has been featured in many news stories, saluted as a CNN Hero, and profiled recently on GMA3.

Not only because of his academic success as the first Black male valedictorian at the more than 100-year-old Oakland Technical High School and acceptance by 11 universities including, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford.

Rather it is his entrepreneurial talent and how he was inspired to use his time during the Covid lockdown that has also drawn much attention.  A business idea sparked after learning his younger niece and nephew had a great dislike of science.

“I wanted to know why their confidence had been destroyed at such a young age, 6-9.” — Ahmed Muhammad

So, he searched his science books and the internet and began designing science experiments with items around the house to create a series of fun projects, such as using potatoes to make a battery. The youngsters loved the hands-on experiments and gained an appreciation for science.

Enthusiastic feedback from his younger relatives and educational challenges caused by the lockdown provided further inspiration and in June of 2020, Muhammad launched a multicultural, youth-led non-profit, Kits Cubed, and later used revenues to donate thousands of kits to children struggling with science in the Oakland school district.

Remarkably,  the kits are not only designed to be fun and affordable but are designed to be used without the need for a computer or the Internet.

There are several editorials featuring the teen entrepreneur but check out Atlanta Black Star for the tips and details they include about how Mohammed got his start with his nonprofit; details not included in other articles.

Sources

Kitscubed.com: https://www.kitscubed.com/

Oakland Technical Valedictorian Makes History: https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/video/5516887-oakland-tech-valedictorian-makes-history/

GMA3, What You Need to Know, Wednesday, April 14, 2021: https://abc.com/shows/gma3-what-you-need-to-know/episode-guide/2021-04/14-wednesday-april-14-2021

‘It Starts with the Idea’: Oakland Teen Creates Successful Education Business After His Young Niece and Nephew Said They Were ‘Bad’ at Science: https://atlantablackstar.com/2021/01/15/it-starts-with-the-idea-oakland-teen-creates-successful-education-business-after-his-young-niece-and-nephew-said-they-were-bad-at-science/

Ktvu.com: https://www.ktvu.com/news/oakland-teen-and-founder-of-science-education-company-gets-accepted-to-dream-school-stanford

CNN.com: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/25/us/cali-teen-science-stanford-trnd/index.html

Kim Kardashian filed a federal lawsuit against an entrepreneurial Alabama doctor for using her image without permission on his website to promote his Vampire Facials practice.

For entrepreneurs who are concerned about violating copyright or trademark rights, the costly horror story could have been avoided. Ask for permission, and do not use an image if consent is denied, in all cases but especially in the case of a celebrity.

As in most cases, the case settled out of court. But the cost for asking permission 0. Cost to hire a lawyer to defend against a lawsuit…more than 0.

Source

Small Business Lessons In the Kardashian ‘Vampire Facial’ Lawsuit. Jess Collen, Forbes, December 12, 2019: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jesscollen/2019/12/12/small-business-lessons-in-the-kardashian-vampire-facial-lawsuit