Racial Equity Initiative Nashville - REIN

12/05/2021

REIN's 2021 Minority-Owned Business Bazaar has officially come to a close! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our GoFundMe campaign donors, we are able to provide each of our featured businesses with a monetary donation! :D

One last shoutout to our fantastic featured businesses: paperKuts studio, Essentials by Brittani & Humphreys Street Check them out to shop local this Christmas!

12/01/2021

Our 3rd and final featured business in REIN's 2021 Minority-Owned Business Bazaar is paperKuts studio! paperKuts is your one stop shop for all things stationery. Check out Owner Kimberly Washington's story below and browse http://www.paperkutsstudio.com for festive holiday invitations, cards and paper goods :)

"paperKuts studio was brought to light when I first wanted to become an Event Planner. My favorite part of the process was anything related to the invitations, décor and special touches. The love for all things paper was cemented once I visited a local stationery store. Goosebumps emerged and the rest is history!! We are a full-service stationer that encompasses invitations, paper goods and unique gifts for any occasion."

Whether you're looking for wax seals, personalized gifts, invitations or unique paper goods, paperKuts has got you covered!

11/29/2021

Drumroll please... REIN's 2nd featured business in the 2021 Minority-Owned Business Bazaar is Lavender, formerly Essentials by Brittani! Lavender offers a wide range of all-natural skincare and herbal healing products, available now at www.ichooselavender.com. Nashville-based owner Unapologetically Brittani (Brittani White) shares her inspiring story below...

"In 2013 I was diagnosed with Lupus and was on several medications. I hate the way they made me feel so I decided to try a natural approach. I researched, read a ton of books and took a few courses over the years and became a herbalist. I started making teas, tinctures and salves and got rid of my medications. Fast forward years later I became interested in skincare because our skin is the biggest organ we have. What we put on our body is just as important as what we put in it. I decided to start an all-natural skincare and herbal healing business so that I could spread awareness and make it affordable to everyone."

Lavender offers everything from healing salves to beard oils and anti-aging products. Pick up your stocking stuffers and holiday gifts on www.ichooselavender.com today :)

11/27/2021

It's Small Business Saturday, which means that our 2nd Minority-Owned Business Bazaar has officially begun :D We've scouted out 3 local businesses to make your holiday shopping easier this year...First up is Humphreys Street Coffee in South Nashville! Read Humphreys Street Coffee's inspiring story below and head to their website (www.humphreysstreet.com) for affordable local coffee and soaps!

"Hey there! We’re Humphreys Street Coffee, a social enterprise of Harvest Hands CDC, and we began roasting coffee and making handmade soap in 2008 out of a desire to see our neighborhood of South Nashville flourish through employing and empowering local youth. When a student receives a job at our shop or production facility they not only receive access to positive economic opportunities and job skills training, they also have the chance to tour colleges, learn about trade school options, and spend time with mentors who share about their education, career, and other life experiences. Additionally, our students receive financial literacy training, access to resources to open checking and savings accounts, and opportunities to earn academic scholarships when they graduate. We’re incredibly grateful to be a part of these amazing students' lives, and it’s a joy to come alongside them as they grow into leaders of our community.

To support our mission, you can visit our shop Monday through Friday from 8am-6pm and Saturday/Sunday from 8am-4pm at 424 Humphreys Street. You can also purchase our coffee and soap from our website, www.humphreysstreet.com. Thank you for joining us in our journey!"

11/24/2021

Our 2nd annual Minority-Owned Business Bazaar is just 3 days away, and we couldn't be more excited to promote our wonderful featured businesses: Humphreys Street, Lavender (formerly Essentials by Brittani) and paperKuts studio! Although it can be easy to forget, where we choose to spend our money speaks volumes -- and by purchasing your holiday gifts (or, even better, your daily, go-to products!) from our featured minority-owned businesses, you can actively reinvest in the Nashville community and its hard-working entrepreneurs! Stay tuned for our promotional launch this Small Business Saturday, Nov. 27th. :)

11/15/2021

We're SO close to our goal! If you haven't had a chance to donate to REIN's 2nd Minority-Owned Business Bazaar yet, you're in luck! ;) We're still collecting donations throughout the week to support our 3 featured Nashville-based businesses: Humphreys Street, paperKuts studio and Lavender. Check out the link below to support our local businesses! Thank you :)

**Edit** Because of the incredibly generous donations we've received,… Kelly Caviness needs your support for REIN's 2nd Annual Minority-Owned Business Bazaar

11/05/2021

November has arrived, which means that REIN's Minority-Owned Business Bazaar is well on its way! This Small Business Saturday, November 27th, we'll kick off our 2nd annual M.O.B.B., a week-long promotion of 3 minority-owned businesses right here in Nashville! Can you guess our 3 featured businesses? 😄 Stay tuned...

09/16/2021

One year of REIN already! Over the past year, we've had the pleasure of partnering with 4 local minority-owned restaurants through our 1st Minority-Owned Business Bazaar, organizing a Lament Service in memory of George Floyd at Priest Lake Presbyterian Church and gathering books for Nashville Freedom School Partnership and Cara Fidler's classroom during our 1st Summer Book Drive.

Thank you to EVERYONE who has contributed to these actions in any way, big or small! Together we can continue to make a difference in our communities.

H&T's Home Cooking The Bean Bag Coffee & Tea Shop ETHIO Coffee HOUSE - Caf'e Surreal Spice Creations :)

07/13/2021

Are you interested in participating in "Be The Bridge," a racial reconciliation program that's designed to help participants move toward relationship and deeper understanding in the midst of a divisive culture?

Leave a comment below to let us know you're interested in participating!

More about Be the Bridge...

BTB's vision is that people and organizations be aware and respond to the racial brokenness and systemic injustice in our world. BTB is a scripture-based, nationally recognized curriculum.

The program will start the 1st week of September on Thursday nights and lasts 10 weeks.

Learn more here:

So you want to be a bridge-builder? Get Started Who We Are Authentic racial bridge-builders. Our vision is that people and organizations are aware and responding to the racial brokenness and systemic injustice in our world. People are no longer conditioned by a racialized society but are

06/19/2021

Happy Juneteenth!

06/13/2021

Calling all Scholars in grades K-8: Nashville Freedom School is officially open for enrollment! Check out the attached flyers for details about Nashville Freedom Schools and how to sign your child up for this amazing summer program. Parents and Caregivers can also enroll their Scholars at this link: https://nashvillefreedomschools.org/enroll/.

Thank you!

06/07/2021

That's a wrap on REIN's first Summer Book Drive! Thank you SO much to everyone who participated. Reading is the foundation for success throughout school and beyond, and we're so excited for all of the young readers that will be enjoying these books in the coming months.

Donations will be divided between Nashville Freedom School and a local 1st-year teacher's classroom.