Children’s book author Antwanette Serrano grew up in Hartford, Connecticut before moving to Manchester, Connecticut in high school, which is also where she purchased her first of three homes. With a deep-rooted passion for literacy, she earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Elementary Education and Reading from Central Connecticut State University, in New Britain.
Nailah’s Naturals, named after Altheda’s daughter Nailah, was created to “provide personal skin care products that are affordable, free of harsh ingredients and with an all-natural ingredient base.” And they are easily accessible by being purchased via her website or at pop-up shops.
Sarah Johnson, a young, gregarious woman from New Haven, Connecticut, has an enthusiasm that is contagious when it comes to her online business–Truly Amazing Scents (also known as Sophisticated Scents)!
ShopBlackCT volunteer Mikki A. Ealey spoke with Andre Rogers to learn about his journey to becoming a firearms instructor, and how encouragement, family support and passion led to a rewarding career and community impact.
Entrepreneur Anastasia Morgan-Doe has paved the way for a special place for African hair care products right here in Connecticut.
“If I can do it, You can do it too!” Nasha Rhone purchased her first home—a condominium in Bristol, Connecticut—at the young age of 22. Despite the challenges of being a single mother at the time, she was able to achieve her dream of homeownership by meeting the strict requirements of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) first time buyers program.
Deeper View Homemakers and Companion Services (DVH), based in Waterbury, Connecticut, was launched in 2018 after co-owners Josephine Ahiati, a Registered Nurse and Solomon Darko, a Licensed Professional counselor identified a trend in caregiving companies that a significant number of the caregivers are people of color and immigrants, but the caregiving business owners are mostly Caucasian.
At the onset of the Covid pandemic, Fendi Bentley-Samuels knew she had to find a way to reinvent her family’s daily life. As a now wife and mom to two young children, she began to create bonding activities that her family could enjoy during lockdown, while also discovering what she and her kids loved to do most.
Khaiim Kelly, better known as RapOet, does it all—he is a creativity and culture teacher, poet, artist, inspirational public speaker and even Hartford’s first city troubadour. In all he does, his community-minded spirit and exceptional talent leads the way.
When Tequanna Tyson was a little girl, she remembers her grandmother, a Southern woman, cooking all the time. Her meals were the epitome of good food. When her mother and grandmother began teaching her how to cook, she never dreamed she would one day have her very own restaurant.