How we ELEVATED with The Village Market ATL
We actually applied to a grant The Village Market was advertising, and didn’t get it. However in that same email notifying us, was also a link to apply for a fellowship they were offering. It was a no brainer and we completed the application, excited to still be able to connect. Some time passed, and truth be told we’d let the idea fade to the back of our minds. That was until we saw an email from The Village Market. My eyes lit up, and I instantly remembered the application and got nervous. Luckily when I opened it I learned we’d made it into #ELEVATE2021 a program powered by Village Market ATL and Our Village United.
If you don’t know Dr. Key is definitely someone we fangirl over here, we think the work she does is amazing and her commitment to helping others is rare and beautiful. So for those of you who may not know Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon is a transformational leader and speaker. With over 15 years of experience in education, Dr. Hallmon has been a critical voice and advocate for creating empowering learning and work environments for students and employees and is deeply passionate about work efficacy and social-emotional learning. In 2016, Dr. Hallmon founded the Village Market ATL and has been a catalyst in bringing national exposure to black-owned businesses. She has developed an economical vehicle that empowers the Black community through cooperative economics. The Village Market has facilitated over 4.2 millions dollars to Black-owned businesses and have worked with hundreds of Black businesses across the United States and the Bahamas. Finally sis, has receipts and has been featured on the Today Show, HLN, Now This and featured in Forbes, Essence, Black Enterprise, the Source, Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Atlanta Voice, Madame Noire, Side Hustle Pro, Therapy for Black Girls, Black on Air.
The program was intense, over the course of the next 12 weeks we got paired with a business coach, had weekly learning and work sessions, and bi-monthly wellness coaching with Dr. Joy. Though rigorous, we couldn’t ask for more in terms of the program being well designed and super intentional. It was also awesome to see that the entire program was black owned and black led. On a weekly basis we got to meet amazing Founders and experts who taught us all about topics like business model development, company structure, accounting & finance, product development and logistics, strategic partnerships, and brand messaging. We even had a graduation in which Eunique Gibson-Jones of @culutretags and @becauseofthemwecan was the keynote speaker. The entire experience from start to end was just what the name connotes. We elevated our work due to the learning environment.
Last week we surprised @drkeyhallmon and snuck up on her @thevillagemarketatl. Thanks to the organizing skills of our girl Vic (Insert her name and business) the Elevate cohort members came together and got her the most beautiful flowers we’ve ever seen and a spa day as a token of our gratitude. We coordinated with her team and arrived as she was talking to student entrepreneurs on a tour of the store. While she was hosting, we tried hiding behind a pole so she wouldn’t see us outside the glass paned store. 🤣🤷🏽♀️ We later learned she saw us.
She’s done so much for us so we wanted to celebrate her and the joy was epic. We also had to surprise the rest of the phenomenal Elevate team with flowers and gifts too, because their support has been critical. For 12 weeks we could only see each other through screens so that moment was super special 😍😍😍
Long story short if you're looking for a program to develop you, create relationships, and learn about entrepreneurial wellness then this is the one. You also don’t have to be in Atlanta to apply either. Let’s Elevate, and don’t hesitate to let us know if you need help with your application, seriously!!! #supportisaverb #avillageontherise
By: Claudine Miles