Just BE., Oakland, CA (2026)

Vision
Our vision is to create a national community of Black Women creative entrepreneurs where they can thrive free of internal, interpersonal, and external state oppression. We believe entrepreneurship is a powerful tool through which to achieve Black healing and sustainability.

02/20/2026

🧡 We invite you to take a few minutes to hear a transparent message from our Executive Director, Hope, who is returning from medical leave. It’s longer than usual — and it’s important.

We are humbly urging you to show up and problem solve for the continuation of Just BE and Kindred Connection: Town Hall next Thursday, Feb. 26th at 5:30 pm at Understory Oakland.

In Hope’s words:

“I am a Black Woman founder
I dream. I hope in action.
I sleep, I play, I rest a lot.
And I see a world that could be.
My heart yearns for it —
and for everyone that I love.”
—

Here are the pressing points she shares:

1. Just BE turns 10 this year — and we need a new multi-year funder to continue beyond 2026. We need capital, partners, and aligned support.

2. We are currently in a $5,000 deficit after our former fundraising platform, Flipcause, filed for bankruptcy and we lost funds raised during last summer’s campaign. 💔

3. How have we existed this long? Community. Black, Indigenous, women of color freelancers, entrepreneurs, artists, q***r and gender-expansive creatives, consultants, dancers, musicians — you are how we’ve made it this far and how we’ll continue forward.

4. If you want Just BE to exist beyond 2026, we need you in the room next Thursday. Even if you don’t have answers or ideas. We need to figure this out together.

5. This is a pivotal moment. We either secure the capital and partnerships needed to sustain this work — or we sunset and evolve into something new.

“As a Black woman founder, I’m open and in surrender with what the universe is bringing our way. And I know that we hope in action. We have to take action and be in community to see what’s possible.”

Big questions we’re holding:

• How do we truly systematize mutual aid?
• How do we build infrastructure for healing as business owners so we can sustain our economic freedom?
• How do we continue working cooperatively in ways that actually sustain us?

If this work has mattered to you, this is the moment to show up.

P.S. The astrology is intense right now with everything happening in the world. Please take care of yourself. 🌌

🔗 Join us next Thurs. Link in bio.

12/06/2025

“Giving gifts is my love language” -Hope Henson-Lehman, Just BE Executive Director

Special thank you to for adding goodies to the gift bags we’ll be handing out at next week’s Kindred Connection: Holiday Office Party 💕

Register now to claim your gift. Tickets include food and 3 drink tickets. We’re excited to celebrate YOU!! (& be sure to invite your biggest champion. The more the merrier 😊🥂)

[ Link in .community’s bio — sliding scale tickets available and no one turned away due to lack of funds. DM us or email [email protected] for a free ticket code ]

This video contains music from Shutterstock, licensed by Splice video editing app.

11/13/2025

🚀 Announcing Oakland Tech Week 2025 (Nov 17–21)!

Join us in Oakland for community, innovation, and hands-on learning. Connect with founders, builders, and policy shapers across The Town.

We are excited to share that Just BE will be co-hosting a FREE workshop entitled Secure & Sovereign: Tech Safety and Equity for BIWOC Founders and Allies, featuring Kim Tercero of

In a digital world that can feel overwhelming and exclusionary, this session is a welcoming space for BIWOC founders and allies to explore cybersecurity through a lens of equity, empowerment, and community care.

This interactive workshop breaks down the basics of tech safety in plain language — helping participants understand what “tech equity” means and how it impacts their daily work. Together, we’ll identify which current digital practices are secure (and which aren’t), learn about accessible tools and strategies to strengthen online protection, and build confidence in managing our digital presence.

As an attendee you will recieve:

✅ A powerful and interactive discussion on tech equity

✅ Solutions on what we can do as a community to better protect ourselves digitally

✅ 12 practical tools you can implement immediately to better protect yourself, as a founder, in the digital space

Event Details:
📅 Date: Wednesday, November 19th
⏰ Time: 12 pm - 1:30 pm
📍 Venue: West Oakland Public Library

Details + RSVP via .community link in bio OR at https://bit.ly/justbeOTW_ss

Stay tuned to all events at http://oaktechweek.com

08/28/2025

✨ Oakland & Alameda County small businesses + worker co-ops ✨
We need your voice! 💬

Mayor Lee’s first 100 days in office wrap up tomorrow, August 28—and she’s named supporting small businesses as a top priority. This is our chance to turn those words into real investment, policies, and programs that reflect what we actually need.

👉 Take 5–10 minutes to share your story: link in bio

This is more than a survey—it’s community storytelling to shape a stronger local economy. From public safety to permitting, funding gaps to long-term stability, your input will guide our advocacy.

💡 What’s working?
💡 What’s missing?
💡 What could be possible if we dared to dream together?

📅 Join us this Thursday (Aug 28) at Understory in Oakland for a community conversation with the team collecting the survey—we’ll share early themes, answer questions, and talk next steps for policy + investment.

🔗 RSVP in bio (limited spots as dinner will be provided)

Let’s make sure our collective voice is heard. 🗣️

08/15/2025

Wonderful news: We’ve reached 25% of our $5,000 goal and are calling on you to help us get to 50%! Your participation powers Just BE’s operations—and ignites a thriving, collaborative economy led by Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC) entrepreneurs.

✨ Your gift fuels:
– Somatic healing & peer-led coaching
– Radical rest for BIWOC entrepreneurs
– Culturally-rooted business support
– Community-driven economic growth

As a gentle reminder: Just BE serves BIWOC who’ve been left behind by our current economy. From healers and artists to organizers, freelancers, and small business owners, we support women of color working for themselves—and for collective liberation.

Through healing-centered spaces, peer-led coaching, and culturally-rooted business support, we aim to be a vessel that helps BIWOC organize, rest, learn, and reach economic justice together.

💛 This is more than a fundraiser—it’s a community ritual.

It’s a reminder that when we give together, we grow together.

Whether it’s $5 or $500, your generosity makes this movement possible.

👉🏾 Donate now at justbecommunity.com/donate

Let’s root this movement in collective care—give today.

07/09/2025

🌞 Summer workday + joy + community lunch 🌞

Next **TUESDAY, JULY 15th**

Need a break from working all alone in your home office?

Craving community, collaboration, and a little summer joy?

We got you. 🫶🏾

💫 Vibes = neon over the ear headphones with sticker heavy laptop cases, conversation, and collaboration

🥙 Menu = will be serving up organic, vegan, veggie filled whole foods burrito bowls and their homemade ginger-aid

Join us for COBIZY Women — our *FREE* full-day community co-working + lunch experience designed *just* for self-employed folks like you.

📅 Tuesday, July 15

🕘 9 AM – 5 PM

📍 | Richmond, CA

🎟️ RSVP at www.justbecommunity.com/communitybuilding OR via the link in .community bio

Come build, connect, eat, laugh, and work *alongside other brilliant entrepreneurs* of color who are walking this path, just like you.

Bring your laptop. Bring your business.

We’ll bring the vibes, the food, and the community. ✨

Address

Oakland, CA

Telephone

+15102216737

Website

http://www.justbecommunity.com/

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