Imani Cooper, Miss FAMU, took part in the event.
Photo Submitted by Fatiah Caldwell.
The businesses in attendance included: D Hair Plug, a virgin hair and lash boutique; Nisia Belle Skincare, which specializes in products catered to black hair and skincare; and a jewelry and scent business entitled Adore&More.
The event started off with a few ice breakers to get everyone well acquainted with one another. All the activities were centered on empowerment and facing one’s fears head on. There was also a strong faith-based connection with how the co-host Jazmyne Byrd conducted the event.
“I believe that women empowerment is recognizing that we all go through similar things and being able to communicate that with each other and uplift one another,” Miss FAMU Imani Cooper said. “One of my initiatives during this reign is my ‘Motivation Monday’ text messages every Monday. Sometimes what people need is a quick reminder that everything is going to be OK and keep them going.”
Throughout the event, the host and vendors were dropping gems on their own personal experiences with starting a business and the trials and tribulations they went through to get them up and running. Many of them had similar stories in which the path they first started with wasn’t what they felt was their destiny.
After high school and during college, students are groomed to get a degree and afterward look for a job that pays the bills, but what about the dreams in between?
The event touched on empowering one’s self into not just going to college for the sake of getting a job afterward but using the four-year experience to gain knowledge and become passionate about something.
“My favorite part of the event was the host pushing everyone to do what they want to do and to project to us to do what God calls for you to do,” said N’quel Bonner a sophomore chemistry pre-med major.
The creator of The Divah Filez, Jazmyne Byrd, spoke passionately about being a student at an HBCU herself and how she now reaches out to other HBCUs to give internship and marketing opportunities to black female students and business owners. Her online magazine is completely run by HBCU students across the nation.
“I have a really strong love for the HBCU queens, and I like to do events with them because they are inspiring to the student body,” Jazmyne Byrd, creator of The Divah Filez and co-host of the event, said. “A lot of women are not befriending other women and staying to themselves. In this climate its important us for us to inspire and deal with other women because we need each other more than ever.”
If you would like to get further connected with The Divah Filez, follow them on Instagram and other social media sites at divah_filez or log on to their website www.thedivahfilez.om.