Honoring Black History Month by Looking to the Future
Two Black Female Entrepreneurs share more about their South Bend — Elkhart based businesses.
While at a recent strategy session for The Brain Lair, an inclusive bookstore located in downtown South Bend, I heard one of the participants say this about Black History Month: “It’s Black Future Month — we’re changing the narrative.”
In the spirit of Black Future Month, let’s hear from two women of color that are shaping the future of the South Bend — Elkhart Region with their entrepreneurial spirits.
Kathy Burnette opened the doors to The Brain Lair in 2018, after a career as a school librarian. Kathy has been an avid reader and the idea of opening a bookstore was in the back of her mind for years, especially one that helps build community. As a librarian she helped teachers find books to compliment their curriculum while at the same time adding a different worldview. This practice of supplying teachers with diverse authors, characters and perspectives laid the groundwork for what The Brain Lair has become. “Think of it as the store that stands for and behind youth, and is a place to go to meet others and have conversations about changing the world,” says Kathy.
Nicole Williams brought her business, Rhythm to You, to life in 2016 after completing the SPARK program at Saint Mary’s. Her start carries some of the same themes as Kathy’s, with a deep desire to impact people and a previous career in education. Through Rhythm to You’s work, clients use the medium of hand drumming and movement with experiential facilitation for organizational development.
As a new business, Kathy is paying it forward by donating inclusive books to events, speaking at events,and highlighting what good can come from books. She has worked with one of the INVANTI fellows to explore her future plans, including bringing on staff and opening the doors to more conversations about the community we live in. Kathy is definitely a person you could spend hours talking with about books, life, and how to create collective impact for a community. Nicole pays it forward through encouraging new ventures and frequenting women and minority owned businesses. “I find myself taking any and every opportunity to encourage the up and coming as well as the now and doing,” Nicole shares.
The individualized approach to business is at the the core of both entities, and what makes both such valued treasures to the South Bend — Elkhart Region. Small, diverse businesses are critical to our region’s appeal to individuals considering moving to the area and are what make our region a better place to reside.
Nicole and Kathy came from careers and transitioned into entrepreneurship, which is often an overlooked entrepreneurial journey. Not only are they risk takers by just starting their new ventures, they also have a willingness to pivot and are hungry to gain a deeper understanding of their customers. This has brought about new opportunities and offerings, including hosting more events at The Brain Lair and bringing about a more holistic approach to training for Rhythm to You.
At the end of the day, education — at any age, any level, and in any form — creates a new perspective and can change a person. Yes, Nicole and Kathy are entrepreneurs, but they still use their educational pasts to shape the future of their businesses and of our community.
The Brain Lair is located at 714 E. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN. Discover more at: https://www.brainlairbooks.com, Facebook and Instagram
More information about Rhythm to You can be found at their website: www.rhythmtoyou.com and on their Facebook.
Editor: Jessica Koscher, ADEC
