Today, I spoke to Derrick Dancer, in his role as President of the Pasadena Black Business Association. I volunteered to be the Communications Director and promised an article per month introducing a black businessman or woman. Like most organizations, the Black Business Association has been on hiatus, in part because of the Covid Epidemic, and in part because of the relaxed mode of all organizations in the area.
I will feature these businesses, to remind some and introduce to others these businesses who have survived the pandemic. The first group of businesses featured will include, the Altadena Beauty Supply Company, located on in Altadena, Platinum Stitches, a silk screening company in Altadena, and Nu Style Barber Shop in Pasadena. The Altadena Beauty Supply has a great line of hair care products for men and women and stand ready to serve you daily. Platinum Stitches silk screening company can print T-Shirts, Tote Bags, Caps, Banners, Flags, Hoodies, and other apparel. Nu Style Barber Shop also provides hair care styling of all types for men and women. They are located at Hopkins Village on North Lake Avenue, and are celebrating over three years at that location and over twenty-five years of hair styling experience. There are other businesses in the area and I offered to introduce them to the community, less they atrophy and die. In addition to these relatively new businesses, I have recently met new technicians and operators with valuable skills. I met a young black man who serves as a Dental Technician at the office of Dr. Niloufar Molayem. The office also has a young black female Dental Technician. Dr. Molayem took over the practice of former track star, Dr. Lenox Miller. She located at 761 E Union in Pasadena. Look for The Blue sign that marks Pasadena Smile Center. This office is an example of passing it on and sharing the opportunities to someone else. I’ve also met a few black staff at other local professional offices, but I’ve not seen many. They tend not to pass on opportunities to African Americans. These Professions are encouraged to provide opportunities to teach their skills to young people to provide an unending flow of black professionals in our community. The Pasadena Black Business Association plans to restart their meetings to encourage and promote black businesses in the Pasadena, Altadena and San Gabriel Valley area. If you have information on businesses, forward their information to the BBA and/or The Journal. Ask yourself, “What if I provided an opportunity to someone in the spirit of each one teach one?” After track star Allison Felix terminated her contract with NIKE, it was good to hear that she started her own shoe company called Saysh. She ran and won a medal in her own shoes. She reminds me of another black woman, Michelle Hoskins, who started a syrup company with syrup recipe created by her grandmother during Slavery. Michelle’s story is told in a book called, “Sweet Expectations”. These ladies prove that we can do it too. What if … you pass it on? |
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