Meet Nana, a pastry chef and entrepreneur serving the community of Jacksonville, Florida and its vicinity – Jax Bread Co

After moving to the US from London, England in 2007, Nana was soon disheartened that she could not find any freshly made breads anywhere. As she recalled while speaking with News4jax, “The first loaf of bread we bought actually sat on our shelf for two weeks – no mold, it didn’t stale, nothing at all happened to it,” “We’re like, ‘No, we can’t be consuming this and we need to find something.’ But with no luck, we decided, ‘Okay, let’s start baking our own products.'” She didn’t mope and complain too much about it! She decided to do something about it, especially because she knows she is not the only one looking for freshly made breads and pastries. So she set out to work opening her bakery and soon realize that there were hundreds of people waiting just for her freshly made, delicious products. Nana has been enjoying success in her business ever since, and when the covid-causing pandemic threatens to derail her business – that she has worked so hard to build, she decided to seek help to save it. Thankfully, she was able to secure some of the federal funding that was set aside for Black business owners like herself. She is grateful! You see, Nana is very passionate about her craft and knows that now more than ever people are looking for freshly made products which are usually healthier, so they can maintain their best health possible. If you are in the Jacksonville area of Florida and looking for freshly baked loaves, and sumptuous pastries, go support Nana. See more info and visit her website here: Freshly Baked Loaves & Pastries in Jacksonville Florida

Meet Troy, an experienced barber and entrepreneur serving the community of Atlanta, Georgia and its vicinity – Cutters Lounge

Troy has always been a lover of barbering and an aspiring business owner, thanks to his dad who he grew up watching grooming others and making them look more appealing, and his mom who would always get her hair cut and remained looking sharp. As Troy recalled speaking with Voyage ATL, “My mother wore salt and pepper cuts and dad stayed in the barbershop keeping his daddy Kane box sharp.” Meanwhile, Troy would use every opportunity he got to practice cutting his younger brother’s hair – giving him styles like wu-tang and Nike designs. He later attended college and perfected those skills and have been barbering for over 20 years. But like many small businesses and entrepreneurs, Troy has faced challenges, some of which are: customers unwillingness to embrace price increases as the times demand, being able to keep up with commercial rent increases, and finding the right staff members who are as driven and reliable as he is, and who also fits with the tone and vibe of the business. Thankfully, Troy has found an amazing group of barbers who are as passionate, professional, and punctual as he is. Troy and his staff aim to please every customer with picture-perfect, quality grooming service and strive to make Cutters Lounge a place where customers’ experiences are pleasant. If you’re a guy or gal looking for the perfect amount of relaxation and precision in your hair cut, and you are in Atlanta, Georgia or its vicinity, go support Troy. See more info and visit his website here: Cutting Edge Barber in Atlanta Georgia