Business Spotlight: Libélula Books and Co.

Meet Jesi Gutierrez, the co-owner of Libélula Books and Co. in San Diego, CA. Growing up, Jesi's mom instilled a love for reading in her and her sisters, and they dreamt of one day opening their own bookstore. After Jesi lost her job working as an art integration teacher, she and her partner, Celi Hernandez, took the opportunity to open their...
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  • March 8, 2022
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Ten Black-owned Seattle Businesses Recommended by Marcus Green

Photo: Marcusharrisongreen.com We recently caught up with Marcus Green to talk about 10 of his favorite Black-owned small businesses in Seattle and why he loves to support them. Marcus is the founder and publisher of the South Seattle Emerald, columnist with the Seattle Times, and an author....
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  • February 28, 2022
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Business Spotlight: Mojito

Meet Luam Wersom, the owner of Mojito in Seattle's Maple Leaf neighborhood. When Mojito opened in 2000, Luam began working at the Latin American and Cuban restaurant as a dishwasher. Twenty one years later, he has been the sole owner since 2017. Luam was born in Ethiopia to Eritrean parents, and came to the U.S. by way of Greece as a refugee....
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  • February 22, 2022
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Historical Black-owned Small Businesses

Black-owned small businesses have historically been essential in many ways — they’ve served as cultural hubs, meeting places for activism, family gathering spaces, and have played vital roles during the civil rights movement and beyond.  From 1900 to 1930, Black-owned businesses in the U.S. grew by the thousands. Jim Crow laws forced...
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  • February 16, 2022
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Business Spotlight: Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen

Meet Tina Fahnbulleh, the owner of catering company and pop-up Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen. Tina founded her catering company when she moved to Seattle in 2016 and saw the city’s lack of West African cuisine. Born in Liberia and raised in Ghana, Tina's love for food and cooking stemmed from spending time with her maternal grandmother...
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  • February 8, 2022
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Business Spotlight: Makeda & Mingus

Meet Prashanthi Reddy, the owner of Makeda & Mingus in Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood. Prashanthi opened her cafe in 2008 and has been a beloved destination and community-first space for excellent coffee, beer, wine, sandwiches, and locally-made baked goods. The shop's name comes from the Queen of Sheba (Makeda) and Prashanthi’s rat...
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  • January 25, 2022
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Business Spotlight: SpoonFed Training

Meet LaTaunya Witherspoon, owner of SpoonFed Training in Renton, WA. LaTaunya, a former track and field athlete, has always had a passion for supporting others on their journeys towards healthier lifestyles. In 2022, LaTaunya hopes to mentor a young woman on how to run a business to share the knowledge she has gained and the community she has...
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  • January 18, 2022
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