Rose Barboza Lifts The Voices Of Black Owned Businesses Here In Maine

I discovered Rose Barboza and Jerry Edwards Black Owned Maine while searching for guests on this podcast as I wanted to create a diverse list. I didn't realize how many black owned businesses are here in Maine until I stumbled upon this database and there are a lot! Being a fairly new resident to Maine, I wanted to dig deeper to learn more about how our state is known as the "white state" and how those in the black community felt being raised in this community or being a part of this community.  Rose fills me in on not just her amazing efforts towards Black Owned Maine and the future projects they're working on but also her life here in this beautiful state. I also stumbled upon this great interview Maine Public Radio put together on explaining why Maine is "so white".Please visit Black Owned Maine's website to view the wonderful businesses of Maine's black community. Feel free to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to get updates on new initiatives they're working on and learn more about how you can support them.I will be donating 25% of proceeds made from the Makers of Maine t-shirt collection to Black Owned Maine to help them continue their amazing work of updating their database and website, supporting black-owned businesses through the challenges of the pandemic, and assisting those in the black community who want to start a business by establishing a grant program and also supporting future ideas of providing marketing resources to businesses by launching a photography and videography studio. Pre-orders will be accepted up till August 21, 2020. Local Maine residents have the option to pick up their shirt at a local spot and I will coordinate a date, time and area and communicate this through social media.Also, please check out the featured musician of this episode, Suzie Assam. Suzie was born in Lewiston and always loved how universal music is. She hopes to work on new music during this time of pandemic as it has given her time to see what this new music looks like. Check out her tune Cuffing Season on Spotify and iTunes. 
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