Local Gem: Austin While Black
Meet Evelyn Ngugi and Doyin Oyeniyi, creators of Austin While Black, a web series sharing the stories of black austinites. These babes noticed the lack of black representation in our community and decided to remind people that black people do amazing things here everyday. Check out the inspiring web series here and learn more about the founders below.
Photo by Hakeem Adewumi from #iamblackaustin series by the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce. Website here .
Meet Evelyn Ngugi and Doyin Oyeniyi, creators of Austin While Black, a web series sharing the stories of black austinites. These babes noticed the lack of black representation in our community and decided to remind people that black people do amazing things here everyday. Check out the inspiring web series here and learn more about the founders below.
Evelyn Ngugi || Co founder of Austin While Black
Q: What inspired you to start working in the field/Industry? Did you have any role models or learn from someone, in particular?
A: I’ve always wanted to tell stories, and my parents supported and encouraged me to study journalism. As a child, I was inspired by people like Oprah, Lisa Ling, Anderson Cooper, Ira Glass — they’ve spoken to hundreds, maybe thousands of people during the course of their career. As far as learning, nothing’s been a substitute for life experience.
Photo by Austin While Black
Q: Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passions, in general?
A: Your passion is your passion, whether or not you can pay rent with it. Or spend your whole day dedicated to it. Or get recognition for it. The thirty minutes you spend during your lunch break on your passion is still valid. It’s not a race.
Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity?
A: The feeling of editing a hour long interview into a 3-minute piece. It seems impossible every time. But somehow—some way—we have the creative juice to make it happen.
Q: What have been your most challenging moments in your career, thus far?
A: Finding focus! There are so many opportunities and I don’t want to miss anything. I need to be more visionary and manage my time better. I know I’m not the only one who looks at their calendar and thinks, “is this too much or do I just suck at doing life?”
Q: What's your day job?
A: Social media manager and video producer
Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?
A: I run to the nearest park and hike! Don’t forget the Claritin.
Photo by Hortencia Caires Casazola, view more of her work here .
Your favorite band at the moment: Not a band — Anderson Paak!
Your favorite book at the moment: I can’t say it’s a favorite per se but I just finished listening to "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." I haven’t actually tidied anything up but…
Your local Austin gem: My answer changes every time someone asks me this question! Right now Kin & Comfort, a restaurant inside Hana World Market on Parmer Ln. Curry Mac & Cheese. Enough said.
Your social media handles: Find Evelyn on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Doyin Oyeniyi || Co-founder of Austin While Black
Q: What inspired you to start working in the field/Industry? Did you have any role models or learn from someone, in particular?
A: I’ve always wanted to be a writer, mostly because I loved the power of storytelling to share experiences or create new worlds that helped me understand my own reality. I didn’t even know what a web series was until it started growing as a medium for storytelling, both fiction and nonfiction, while I was studying multimedia journalism in college. Issa Rae’s Awkward Black Girl was the first web series I ever watched, so I consider her one of the best models of how to start where you are with what you’ve got. Cecile Emeke’s series, Strolling, was a great testimony of how powerful black people just talking about their experiences could be. I don’t think I would have ever imagined working on something like Austin While Black without them as examples.
Photo of Doyin Oyenyi via Austin While Black
Q: Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passions, in general?
A: *opens bag of cliches* But seriously, ask for help. There are moments when I feel lost and overwhelmed, and those are always the moments where I’m too scared to ask for help, so I still have to work on following my own advice. Asking for help kind of sucks, but if the worst that will happen is someone will ignore you, either way, you’ll learn who you can depend on.
Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity?
A: My favorite moments are when a story comes together. Sometimes, it happens in the middle of filming an interview and the interviewee is on a roll. And sometimes a story doesn’t come together until after days of editing. Either way, it’s always exciting, that moment when everything falls into place and I know we’ll be putting out something good.
Q: What have been your most challenging moments in your career, thus far?
A: Balancing my day job with other work and commitments. I may have gotten a bit caught up in the hustling, perpetually working and the “they sleep, we grind” madness. Being ambitious isn’t bad, but I think it’s been particularly harmful for me to try to live up to those expectations. I was losing sleep, always tired and stressed and eventually falling behind on my commitments. Around February, I had to learn to say “no,” even to projects I really wanted to a part of. Better to be committed to a few things I can do well than to be stretched too thin and doing shoddy work.
Q: What's your day job?
A: I’m an AmeriCorps member at a local nonprofit that helps people age 16-24 get their high school diploma or GED while learning valuable job skills. I help teach them media-related skills like photography, video editing, and graphic design. My passion lies in writing and I maintain that by freelancing at TexasMonthly.com. I’m hoping to write full-time when my AmeriCorps term is over.
Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?
A: The work or writings of people who’ve achieved some of the things I want to. It helps to know that the doubts and challenges I face are pretty common and can be surpassed. It also helps to know that my dreams and goals aren’t ridiculous. Buzzfeed has a great collection of advice from journalists of color and I’ve got it bookmarked so that I can always go back to it.
Photo by Hakeem Adewumi
Your favorite band at the moment: I don’t think I have a favorite band anymore, but I’m falling back in love with Coldplay. Mylo Xyloto was hot garbage, but Parachutes and A Rush of Blood To The Head still speak to me and A Head Full Of Dreams is... not bad.
Your favorite book at the moment: The best book I’ve read this year is a short story collection called, What Is Not Yours Is Not Yours by Helen Oyeyemi. The magical realism in her work is so effortless, it’s exciting.
Your local Austin gem: Libraries have also been my safe place, so I gotta say the Austin Public Libraries. The Twin Oaks Branch is my current favorite.
Your social media handles: You can find Doyin on Twitter and Instagram!
You can follow Austin While Black below!
Twitter: @atxwhileblack
One of the Babes: Cammrynn Stith
Meet Cammrynn Stith, freelance videographer and creator of lifestyle clothing brand VISYOULIZE that encourages others to "live life imaginatively and positively without placing boundaries on their passion". Check out Cammrynn's dope clothing line here and read more below!
Photo via Cammrynn Stith
Meet Cammrynn Stith, freelance videographer and creator of lifestyle clothing brand VISYOULIZE that encourages others to "live life imaginatively and positively without placing boundaries on their passion." Check out Cammrynn's dope clothing line here and read more below!
Q: What inspired you to start working in the field/Industry? Did you have any role models or learn from someone, in particular?
A: Since the moment I was born, my parents and grandmother were always encouraging my brother and I. Instilling inside of us to live every moment to the fullest, to live with much enthusiasm, love and humility, to be thankful for the little things, and to be encouraging/uplifting. My grandmother taught us all to be understanding, to embrace differences and to combat hate with love and kindness. She’s the sweetest woman I know and makes the best 7up cake ever! (heart melts)
Q: Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passions, in general?
A: Whatever your passion may be... go for it. The world needs what we have to offer. We must keep stretching, keep growing, keep believing, keep moving forward into life and understand that not every day is going to be a good one but we must still try to find the good within that day. This will propel us onward and upward. I am here to tell you that you are powerful, you are amazing, you are intelligent, you are brave, you are an overcomer and you are loved! I love you and I believe in you!
Photo by Cammrynn Stith
Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity?
A: My three months of living in China during my college years sparked loads of creative energy being surrounded by so many different cultures of beautiful people from all over the globe and going on mini adventures discovering the history of China was an experience I’ll never forget and one I hold near and dear to my heart.
Q: What have been your most challenging moments in your career, thus far?
A: My most challenging moments I would say not ever being able to solely focus on VISYOULIZE and give it my 100% attention. I work a lot but always find time for my passion!
Photo by Cammrynn Stith
Q: What's your day job (if this business isn't your day job)?
A: I am a preschool teacher! So that means I have the plum-pleasing privilege of teaching some of the brightest souls I know! My kiddos bring me so much joy, and everyday with them is an adventure. I wouldn’t trade them for the world!
Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?
A: When I’m feeling discouraged, I go hiking by myself and sit on my favorite rock as I am serenaded by the melodies of nature. It calms me every time!
Photo by Cammrynn Stith
Your favorite band at the moment: My favorites are Goldlink, Masego, Wizkid
Your favorite book at the moment: “Key to Living the Law of Attraction” by Jack Canfield
Your local Austin gem: This is my second year living in Austin, but I would say Tony's Jamiacan Food Truck off of E. 11th St! The plantains are the jam, always great vibes, great people and super groovy tunes...Tony is the dude!
Your social media handles: Find Cam and Visyoulize on Instagram and Facebook. Check out the website here.
One of the Babes: Cené
Meet Cené, amazing actress, writer, and comedian babe who regularly performs with Austin's first all black female improve troupe Damn Gina!, musical sketch group Love Me Tinder, and B. Iden Payne Award winning Broadway style musical improv troupe, Girls Girls Girls. Learn more about this badass babe below and check out her website here.
Photo by Steve Rogers Photography
Meet Cené, amazing actress, writer and comedian babe who regularly performs with Austin's first all-black female improve troupe Damn Gina!, the musical sketch group Love Me Tinder, B. Iden Payne Award-winning Broadway-style musical improv troupe, Girls Girls Girls, and performs with Loverboy every Wednesday at 8:30pm at Coldtowne Theater! Learn more about this badass babe below and check out her website here.
Q: What inspired you to start working in the field/Industry? Did you have any role models or learn from someone, in particular?
A: I didn’t “officially” start doing comedy until I was 25 or 26, when I signed up for my first improv class. Performing has always been a part of my life but, usually, it just consisted of me overacting in the background of a community theater production of Music Man or South Pacific.
Lucille Ball was the first person I remember being obsessed with. I watched every single episode of ‘I Love Lucy’, ‘The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour’, ‘The Lucy Show’, ‘Here’s Lucy’ and ‘Life with Lucy.’ Yeah, I told you, OBSESSED. She was the first woman I saw myself in. Also, the show was the first and —for a while—only time I had seen an interracial couple portrayed in a normal way. I’m multi-racial girl from the south so this was a big deal for me.
Q: Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passions, in general?
A: The two of the best lines of advice I’ve ever received about following my passion:
“Keep On Keepin’ On” — My Grandmother
“Do it. Just Do It.” Shia LaBeouf and Nike
Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity?
A: I’m usually at my most creative when I have a deadline for a completely non-related project or when I’m in my car stuck in traffic. The ideas usually come in quick bursts that only last about 5 minutes, tops, before they disappear. My favorite song “Buzzah” came up that way. I was driving home from work or rehearsal and I just started humming a melody that reminded me of how I felt when I used my good vibrator (you know, the one that you’ll cancel plans with your friends to spend time with) using the sound it made as the chorus. When I came up with it, I immediately called my friend Tauri and was like, “I think I just came up with something really funny.” I sang it for her and she was like “OOOoo gurl!” then helped me write the rest of it.
Photo by Erica Nix
Q: What have been your most challenging moments in your career, thus far?
A: My most challenging moments have been getting through the days I feel like I’m “not good enough.” It’s a constant struggle to not give up. But I made a pact with myself when I got back into performing — “Don’t Quit.” I take that pact very seriously and since then I’ve noticed that I’m accomplishing way more than I thought I would. I’ve also noticed that my “not good enough” days have been further and further apart from each other. That’s huge for me.
Q: What's your day job?
A: Livin’ dat corporate life (throwin’ up deuces in my oversized pleated khakis, holding a 6-year-old Dell laptop, while Snoop Dog’s 1993 hit song ‘Gin and Juice’ plays on my CD Walkman).
Photo by Steve Rogers Photography
Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?
A: When I’m discouraged I tend to run away from other humans and into my studio apartment where I’ll eat my feelings until winter is over and listen to audiobooks about “Living Your Most You Life You Can Live For Yourself Confidently.” Also, I play a lot of Beyonce.
Your favorite band at the moment: Beyonce and Stromae. If you don’t know who he is, you should. He’s the Beyonce of Europe.
Your favorite book at the moment: Janet Mock’s "Redefining Realness"
Photo by Erica Nix
Your local Austin gem: Tigress is everything.
Your social media handles: I’m lazy so everything is under the same thing @CeneATX (Instagram, Facebook and Twitter).
Like me! On Facebook and in real life. Please pretty please? Am I coming on too strong? I’m sorry it won’t happen again (as I pull my sleeve down over my wrist where I’ve tattooed your name next to BFF4VA).
#bossbabesATX Tour Recap!
Photo by Julia Silva Photography
Over the last few weeks, we've traveled around the country hosting events, sitting on panels and attending the United State of Women Summit in Washington, DC!
First up, on June 9, we hosted a panel for BABES FEST in Soho, NYC with nine of our favorites in creative industry.
Then our founder Jane Claire Hervey sat on a panel with Tom Tom Mag on June 12 in Bushwick (Brooklyn, NY) to discuss accessibility in music. We heard from 10 people in the music/creative industry about both their personal experiences and broad observations on topics affecting accessibility—from gender bias to affordability to consumer expectations.
And last but not least, Jane attended the United State of Women Summit in Washington, DC. She heard so many incredible women and feminist allies speak on the importance of addressing gender disparities. VP Joe Biden gave a speech on eradicating domestic violence and sexual assault, President Obama spoke to the power of changing culture—why gender expectations and roles hurt both girls and boys, Michelle Obama and Oprah discussed the value of confidence, self-love and ultimately transparency about what you want in life and from yourself. Austin's own 11-year-old entrepreneur prodigy, Mikaila of Me + the Bees Lemonade, even introduced the President for his address! More on the summit to come, but in the mean time:
Get a full summary of the summit here.
Take the pledge to eradicate gender bias here.
Thank you to our One-Year Anniversary Party + Fundraiser Partners!
If you haven't noticed, we're celebrating one year of existence. *fireworks*
To keep the magic going, we're hosting an anniversary party and fundraiser at West Elm's Austin location on June 15. Here's the rundown for the night:
We'll start with some DJ'd mingling thanks to DJ Kay Cali, while enjoying complimentary cocktails courtesy of Drink Slingers and a snack menu prepared by Amir Hajimaleki (think salmon rillettes + hummus, plus cheeses and assorted pastries).
Then, our founders will give an address summarizing the last year and the future of our organization. To close, we'll raffle off a list of goods and services from women-owned businesses in our community (your fundraiser ticket counts as your entry). Check out the raffle items below:
What is BABES FEST?
During SXSW 2016, we launched BABES FEST, a celebration for creative work made by self-identified women. Through this annual festival in Austin, Texas (catch us back at it again in May 2017) and traveling pop-up events, we aim to promote and funnel resources into the creative works of talented (and badass) self-identified women.
Each year, we'll host a festival in May showcasing music, art, comedy and film. For details on BABES FEST 2017, please visit the sponsorship, volunteer and info pages on babesfest.com.
Take a look at our mission statement video below, created by the team at Plaid Pony Productions (video backing track by Madame Gandhi):
Introducing SHE TALKS: Our Newest Non-Profit Initiative
Photo from our inaugural She Talks series with the YWCA
Meet SHE TALKS.
Over the last year, #bossbabesATX has grown from three founding members to a bustling community of thousands. With that kind of growth comes evolution, discussion, connections, synergy, but ultimately the opportunity to do something impactful—to legitimately stir change. For that reason, we've developed our SHE TALKS program.
Through SHE TALKS, we partner with local non-profits to create a three-week series of discussion-based talks. These talks aim to provide an environment for conversations about social responsibility and entrepreneurial advancement, while simultaneously giving back to our non-profit partner.
For example — In our inaugural series, we partnered with the YWCA, an organization that exists to eliminate systemic racism and strengthen communities, to cultivate a space for women of color to discuss identity, intersectional feminism and social justice. This three-part series featured dynamic speakers from the YWCA's own staff, and we successfully raised $1000. On top of that, 40 women sat down each week for three weeks to tackle important issues.
Pretty cool, huh?
If you'd like to learn more about this series, please contact us at thebabes@bossbabes.org.
Also, thanks a million for your support! We couldn't do what we do without you.
Local Gem: PK Wellness
Local Gem, PK Wellness, is modernizing acupuncture and wellness. Created and run by local babe Phyllis Kung, PK Wellness offers acupuncture, fertility enhancements, and modern Chinese herbal medicine. Learn more about how Phyllis started her practice below.
Photo via Phyllis Kung
Meet Phyllis Kung, the co-owner of PK Wellness, an Austin-based acupuncture and wellness center. Running the practice with her sister, Kung offers everything from fertility enhancements to modern Chinese herbal medicines. Learn more about how Phyllis started her practice below.
Q: What inspired you to start your business? Did you have any role models or learn from someone, in particular?
A: We both have great quarter-life crisis stories to share about how we found acupuncture and Chinese medicine. But, we also come from a family of acupuncturists. For us, we wanted to modernize the field and the language of acupuncture for our modern clientele—let the people know that sometimes revisiting past healing practices can help with issues we face today, like stress, cravings, addiction, stress, sports injuries, stress and our favorite, owning aging.
Our mom has been a huge inspiration to us. She's a self-made woman, that started off as a Home-Ec major in college (yes, they had those) and ended up with her own government contracting firm. Now she gets flown to Milan to talk about how to use social media—we're 100% positive she has more followers and Facebook friends than us combined.
Q: Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passions, in general?
A: My first year in practice, I cried a lot, mostly in my car, about how I was going to pay rent, eat, buy my dog everything he deserves, etc. Turning a passion into a marketable business is a challenging process. I listened to A LOT of Andrew W.K.. He's not for everybody, but when he isn't singing about partying, he has some really motivational lines to get you amped:
When you're down on your luck
You gotta do it
And you're covered in mud
You gotta do it
You still going on (YEAH!)
You got to do it
Gotta do all the stuff that you love
Love it. Own it. Don't give up!
Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity?
A: We just made our first clinic shirts! It as a super fun process of trying to find every possible pun or rhyme for needles or pokey things. And while we passed on more risque slogan like "prick doctors" and "everyone needs a good poking," we're pretty amped about our final product.
Editor's note: Their shirts read "On Point."
Q: What have been your most challenging moments in your career, thus far?
A: We're in this business to help people, but sometimes we can't. It's hard to admit, but what we do isn't for everyone, and sometimes we're the ones that let the patient know. Acupuncture is great for a lot of things, but it's part of a process and lifestyle. It's not a magic pill.
Photo provided by PK Wellness
Your favorite band at the moment: Sadly, I spend a lot of my time looking for unoffensive music I can play in my clinic...but, it's lead me to rediscover some oldies but amazeballs artists. Right now, Django Reinhardt is it!
Your favorite book at the moment: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. This book takes the art of tidying and organizing to a whole other level. Discard everything that doesn't bring joy, but don't forget to thank everything you discard for its service. I've never felt so connected to my clothes before.
Photo provided by PK Wellness
Local Gem: Cool Beans ATX
If you love natural organic latin cuisine, then you'll love Cool Beans ATX. Started by Priscilla Jerez who was inspired through her own pursuit into a healthier vegan lifestyle, Cool Beans mixes "Organic Plant Based with Authentic Mexican Taste". Learn more about how Priscilla got her start below.
Photo by Andrew Reiner Photography
Time to talk about one of our Austin favorites — Cool Beans ATX. Founded by Priscilla Jerez (who was inspired to create lean Mexican-style cuisine to pursue a vegan lifestyle), Cool Beans incorporates veganism into authentic Mexican dishes. Learn more about how Priscilla got her start below.
Q: What inspired you to start Cool Beans? Did you have any role models or learn from someone, in particular?
A: Once I became vegan I started learning more about cooking and food. I suddenly became more aware of the challenges to cooking by removing meat and dairy, and I loved it. I learned from everyone and took every opportunity to learn.
I picked up tips from some vegan bloggers, my mom's recipes and even just talking to farmers at the local markets about different vegetables and how to cook them. Through these endeavors, I got to live a healthier lifestyle, I was able to learn the new things about cooking. Ultimately, this empowered me to create things that are dear to my heart and culture and have my own vegan twist to it.
Q: Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passions, in general?
A: Its important to have passions. Sometimes they are hard to find, and sometimes it finds you.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Life can be a crazy rollercoaster and steer you in all kinds of directions, but do what feels right to you and what makes you happy! Indulge yourself in all the passions you possess.
Photo by Andrew Reiner Photography
Q: What have been your most challenging moments in your career, thus far?
A: The most challenging moments I've had were getting up the courage to put myself out there and meet new people and figuring out those “ I have no Idea what I am doing!” moments are authentic. I’ve gotten to learn about my determination and how it's possible for me to make it in a place that intimidates me so much.
Q: What's your day job (if this business isn't your day job)?
A: Being a BOSS all day! [laughs]
I do Cool Beans all day everyday, whether it's networking, emailing, meetings, paperwork (oh, goodness the paperwork) and booking events. In restaurant biz, there is always work to be done, but I love it!
Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?
A: I’ll be honest, I sometimes am scared of success. I am afraid of what might happen if i succeed and if I fail. I’m very lucky to have my partner Rolando with me for this whole ride. We are a great team, and whenever I'm feeling scared or discouraged he’s there by my side. He's my No. 1 supporter, I am grateful for him and for my family and friends—old and new—that help me continue on this journey.
Photo by Gabriel Campbell Photogaphy
Your favorite band at the moment: I have to admit, I am currently listening to Flight of The Conchords. I’m also pretty obsessed with The Strokes, Marvin Gaye and Julieta Venegas.
Your favorite book at the moment: The Alchemist
“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Photo by Gabriel Campbell Photogaphy