This is the village, all these black, it's not the concrete jungle but in Atlanta inside Pond City Market. This is where black entrepreneurial dreams are made of Dr Akeesha Hallman or Dr Key birth, the village market retail shop as part of her bigger vision building black wealth through the power of community. I wanted to make sure that I was positioning black brands to be in front of buying customers from all over the world. Many of these brands were so special is that they are extremely gifted and this is their first in retail. And then how many entrepreneurs do you have in the store right now? We have over 30 friends in the store. Collectively, this diverse group of business owners known as the villagers have earned $8.3 million in direct sales as a result of direct action. I think this is one of the most powerful green grass walls I see in Atlanta. So is a verb. This is how we've been able to generate that $8.3 million in direct sales support is a verb is a charge, a challenge to the community to put action behind the things that you say you love. If we love local businesses, the verb is to buy from local businesses, Gillette Covas Fitness and he did a pair of line Jess J fitness is booming after only being a part of the village for three months. So they have been instrumental in increasing my brand awareness and then bringing attracting so many different customers from across the globe. I've only been in here three months. So, but month to month and fourth quarter, my sales have drastically improved. Dr Key acknowledges not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur, but it is a substantial pathway for Black Americans to achieve economic equality and to tackle the racial wealth gap. Even in the presence of opposition, systemic racism exists in ways that's glaring. And then it it doesn't always feel as potent either when you only have less than three, less than 1% of Black people still getting funding that's systemic. Despite that jarring statistic Black buying power is well powerful according to the C Center for economic growth at UG A Black buying power is expected to hit $1.8 trillion in 2024. Key wants to show the black community a piece of that pie belongs to them and generational wealth can be attained together. Dreams are made more possible if you're around enough representation that looks like you. So I had to bring the right people to the table. So entrepreneurs and some of the finest people in Atlanta, I needed them to go hard after their dreams. I needed them to also understand that they didn't have to do it by themselves. What I found to be so special is the support of the other entrepreneurs because you're like, I'm not at this alone. You are but you aren't. We're dealing with the same things. And in creating wealth through entrepreneurship is your dream. Doctor Key says the village has your back. I am forever optimistic and I'm not waiting for anyone to save us.
