BLACK-OWNED BUSINESS DOCUSERIES: AMPLIFYING STORIES + INSPIRING COMMUNITIES
The Seven Times produces a docuseries that celebrates the resilience and success of Black entrepreneurs, showcasing the impact of local investment and the resources that help businesses thrive. As we expand across the Midwest and beyond, we invite partners and donors to join us in amplifying these powerful stories, driving economic growth, and inspiring communities nationwide.
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Mudluk Pottery
Minnesota artist and community-builder Sayge Carroll has been shaping the foundation of their dream business for more than 30 years. Today, that dream has come to life as Mudluk Pottery—a Black, queer, woman-owned ceramics sanctuary and welcoming space just south of downtown Minneapolis, made possible by the strong network they’ve cultivated in the Minneapolis-St. Paul community.
The Donut Trap
Minnesota Black and Queer business owner Bradley Taylor developed a bold vision for his mobile donut shop, The Donut Trap, but his first foray into entrepreneurship began long before he ever mixed his first batch of dough.
Back to the Grind
Since opening in 1996, Back to the Grind Coffee House has been a safe haven for coffee drinkers, creative thinkers, students and many others. The Riverside establishment is more than a coffee house. It doubles as a venue for community events, concerts and fundraisers.
LeeTy Delights
Elisha King and Tyondra Boagard will bag up their delectable home-made cinnamon rolls for customers around Iowa and watch them depart the booths of farmer's markets and events around Iowa.
Malik Books
Malik Muhammad is the co-owner of Malik Books. Muhammad says that he using his Los Angeles-Based business to improve his community and raise enthusiasm around books.
NIK STAR BOUTIQUE
Nekia Whitfield started sewing at age seven. Today, she’s creating unique pieces and selling them out of her Iowa-based clothing boutique, Nik Star Boutique.
Line Out Watches
Being an entrepreneur is nothing to scoff at. For Jordan Smith, being a young Black entrepreneur has been about persevering through a number of challenges. With his brand Line Out Watches, Smith is making luxury accessible to his community.
Eb & Flow Yoga Studio
The concept of Eb & Flow began with a journal entry. Two years later, Eb & Flow Yoga Studio opened in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago.
Clippernomics Academy of Hairstyling
Tony Mac opened his first barbershop in 1998. He would open several more in the Des Moines Metro before fulfilling a personal dream of opening a barber school. Now, he’s teaching people of various backgrounds skills that will never go out of style.
Majani Soulful Vegan Cuisine
Emmanuel, known at his restaurant as “Chef T,” and his wife Nasya own and operate Majani Soulful Vegan Cuisine, a plant-based soul food restaurant in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood.
The Compton Art & History Museum
You can go anywhere in the world, and someone will know where Compton is. In collaboration with non-profit Color Compton, the Compton Art and History Museum was developed to preserve the history and culture of the city.
THE JOY OF CURLS
Joy Hankins of The Joy of Curls didn’t always know what to do with her natural hair. That journey helped inspire Hankins to create The Joy of Curls - an all-natural hair care brand for people with textured hair.
Adeya renea hair and beauty bar
Black hair salons aren’t easy to come by in Iowa. With her shop, Adeya Renea Hair and Beauty Bar, Adeya Crockett is making professional hair care accessible to Black men and women in Des Moines and surrounding cities.
G.G.’S Chicken and Waffles
Sometimes, all you need is a spark. Garrison Goodlett found it when he and his wife, Monica, ate at a well-known restaurant and found themselves “underwhelmed.” That experience planted a seed that has grown into GG’s Chicken and Waffles, an establishment serving patrons in Des Moines, Iowa.
Piedras Haseya
Paola Elena Acuña faced a number of challenges when she immigrated to the U.S. nearly two decades ago. She worked a number of jobs to support herself. At times, she struggled to put food on the table. Acuña never gave up, and she now owns her own business - Piedras Haseya.
STC Dive Center
Steve Kitchen is a Black scuba diver and owner of STC Dive Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Kitchen said he didn’t receive much help when he opened the dive center a decade ago. He did receive a loan from his mother, and he paid that loan back within the first year. Kitchen's business continues to grow with the help of Des Moines Area Community College and the Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families.
KUTULA By Africana
Have you ever seen Marvel’s Black Panther or Black Panther: Wakanda Forever? Those blockbuster films feature several garments by Kutula by Africana, an authentic African-inspired fashion retailer in the historic neighborhood of Windsor Hills, California.