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COVID-19 has laid bare the racism that has always existed throughout the US and right here in Rhode Island. For 400 plus years, Black Americans have been shut out of accessing the essential resources and opportunities needed to reach their full potential.

The Rhode Island Black Business Association has continued to work tirelessly since our inception 10 years ago to create a more equitable business environment.  RIBBA helps businesses and professional with access to capital, contracting, business development resources, entrepreneur training, advocacy, and workforce development.  RIBBA, like other Black-owned or led small businesses, has been undercapitalized to the detriment of the Black and brown business communities.

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RIBBA’s mission is made possible by a stellar community of businesses, staff, volunteers, and supporters. We’d like to place a spotlight on one of the members of this incredible network: All About the Look Eyelash Studio.

The story of All About the Look Eyelash Studio is one of four letter Gs: grit, grace, grind, and growth. Hollee Freeman-Nunes, owner of the studio, is a woman with an honorable mission, an admirable resiliency, and an unwavering commitment. Hollee’s journey to entrepreneurship is equal parts unique and inspiring. Despite always having an interest in cosmetology, she began her career in K-12 education, and specifically inclusion; having a background in Special Education, Multicultural Education, and English as a Second Language (ESL), and served as a teacher for over 20 years. While teaching at Hanley Career & Technical Center toward the end of her teaching career, Hollee worked directly with students in the Cosmetology program, where her interest in this field continued to grow as she saw her passion in action with the students. Despite some resistance from others along the way and questions about the viability of cosmetology as a career path, Hollee pushed forward, with some personal encouragement to open an eyelash studio despite not having a formal business background.

All About the Look Eyelash Studio is all about empowerment and confidence. Hollee, together with her daughter, Geiana, and family friend, Carolina, have not only weathered the storm of Covid-19 as a relatively new business, but also have found ways to innovate and create community within the industry. Services offered by All About the Look include: eyelash extensions, lifts, and tints, brow shaping, microblading, and tinting, facial treatment, collagen induction treatment, chemical peel, microdermabrasion, body waxing, full face makeup, and temporary tattoos. Some of the aspects that set them apart from other similar businesses include the educational component (lash class), and attention to detail whether it is innovating their existing craft, prioritizing cleanliness, and sharing educational opportunities. At this point in their trajectory, All About the Look Eyelash Studio is focused on strengthening their foundation and resources in order to move into the next phase of growth which could include expanding staff, services, and scope.

Although All About the Look has made a name and reputation for itself, they have faced and continue to face some significant challenges. Covid-19 has unfortunately shaken the foundation of many small businesses, and All About the Look is not exempt from this. From a decrease in customer patronization, to a need to shift elements such as capacity and protocol in order to comply with local and regional guidelines, to increased competition and decreased resources, All About the Look Eyelash Studio has had to seek additional support, take some risks, and redefine success in this unprecedented time.

It takes a special kind of person and a unique type of place to be the business owner, and business, respectively that can weather a storm of this level. One aspect of many that particularly shines about Hollee and her studio is a combination of brave and deep honesty, as well as courageous and inspiring hope. Hollee is not a stranger to resistance and growth mindset as having been an educator for over 2 decades, and that foundation has served her well along with her commitment to and passion for the field of cosmetology. Her relatability, authenticity, drive, and talent come across in all that she does. Her advice to emerging and prospective entrepreneurs, even as she charters new territory, is to “be ready to make mistakes, it’s ok if you go backwards for a time, if it’s time to let go, do so, and don’t overthink but just do it”. Not only does she say it, but she lives it—the only way to know is to try just as the only way to gain is to risk. Although there are some things she has had to learn in practice along the way, it is clear that Hollee leads with purpose and acts with intention, all with the welfare of her team, customers, and community in mind. In fact, another aspiration that Hollee has is to find a way to serve formerly incarcerated women by helping them re-enter the workforce equipped with an updated wardrobe. It nicely complements the mission of All About the Look Eyelash Studio, which is to: “We promise to efficiently and safely take care of all your aesthetic needs with our knowledge and our expertise!” To Hollee, and to All About the Look Eyelash Studio, giving back is a priority.

As Hollee and All About the Look Eyelash Studio navigate this next stage of growth and development, some areas that are of priority include financial support, operational strength, capacity building, and network development. Fortunately, these are all areas that RIBBA specializes in with regard to business and community development, and Hollee looks forward to further collaboration with the Association. As a member of the Advocacy and Policy Committee, and as a business owner in the RIBBA network, Hollee is active in both helping build and benefit from the advocacy, investment, and development that RIBBA is committed to everyday with respect to businesses in the Ocean State, and particularly those owned and operated by members of marginalized communities.

To learn more about Hollee, and All About the Look Eyelash Studio, please visit their webpage.

To learn more about RIBBA, and how to get involved, please visit our webpage.

About the author: Stephanie Mireku is RIBBA’s volunteer Content Writer and works with businesses, volunteers, and community members to highlight their and RIBBA’s work. Her passion for writing of all kinds, and background in English and Business Administration fueled her interest in combining these areas through the Content Writer role. Stephanie first became involved with RIBBA through the LEAP Mentoring program as a mentee in the 2021 cohort. She is enthusiastic about relationship building, mission centric creativity, social impact, and philanthropy, and puts this into action through various outlets including her work as an Assistant Director of Alumni Relations at Providence College.

Scholarship applications for students entering college or university will be accepted until May 27, 2021. Providence, RI – February 23, 2021 – The Rhode Island Black Business Association, and its charitable arm that focuses on empowerment and training related activities – the Institute of Economic Empowerment & Development (IEED), are now accepting applications for their 2021 scholarship. Scholarship award amounts vary from $500-$1000 for each individual student. To date, RIBBA has given out over $45,000 in scholarships to Black students entering college or university.  

“We’re extremely excited to be accepting applications for this year’s Scholarship Program. There are a wide number of systemic barriers and challenges that Black young adults face, and we hope this scholarship opportunity helps each recipient reach their full academic and career potential, said Amanda Roman – Director of Program Development & Operations at RIBBA. “Financial investments are an essential part of creating a more equitable education system and we are proud to be providing this and other opportunities to students.”

 The Scholarship Program is just one component of the LEAP Initiative, launched earlier this year by RIBBA’s charitable arm – IEED. Other activities and opportunities within the initiative include, a mentor program, executive coaching, financial literacy training, and skills development. The initiative’s wrap around programs and services were developed with RIBBA’s Community Advisory Board of Young Adults and will support scholarship recipients on their academic and career journey.  

“Before receiving the RIBBA/ IEED Scholarship, I didn’t have access to a laptop and had to use the library as a resource. This definitely impacted the amount of sleep and study time I had – since it was dependent on their schedule. With the scholarship funds, I was able to purchase a laptop for school and textbooks, all which enabled me to do my work on my own time – not on the library’s. Receiving this scholarship helped me, the son of two-hard working minority parents, advance my academic dreams. I’m a great example of RIBBA’s mission of promoting and aiding minorities within their community.” Jean Touze, 2017 recipient of RIBBA/IEED Scholarship and recent graduate of University of Rhode Island and currently employed by EY – Ernst & Young. 

To be considered for the 2021 Scholarship, applicants must be a resident of Rhode Island, a high school senior in the Fall of 2021, and will begin their Freshman year at an accredited college or university in the Fall of 2022. Scholarship applications are reviewed by a Scholarship Committee and awardee announcements will be made in August of 2021. Applications must be completed and received by May 27, 2021 at 4:00 PM. 

For more information and to download the application, go to: www.ri-bba.org/scholarship.  In addition, individuals who are interested in donating to RIBBA’s Scholarship Fund, can do so by clicking here.  

The Rhode Island Black Business Association (RIBBA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing business opportunities and vitality of Black-owned and minority businesses in Rhode Island through access to capital, contracting, business development resources, entrepreneur training, business advocacy, meaningful investor services, and workforce development. 

The Institute for Economic Empowerment and Development is the 501 (c) (3) charitable arm of RIBBA and provides mentorship/career/ business readiness training and financial support for RIBBA’s initiatives and programs by the way of grants and fundraisers. Learn More, call 401-383-1179 or e-Mail: Info@ri-bba.org