"We are all about family and building a stronger community by sharing information and guidance and education through experiences with the next generation that's coming up behind us," says Dion Chapman, owner of A Cut Above the Rest Barbershop, based in River Rouge.
"Inside of everybody there is something they are born to give to the generation we are born into, but it took time for me to be able to discover the kind of business that I was born to do," says Uche Ndubuisi, owner of the Inkster African & Caribbean Market.
"I decided to take my own flower class from a very prominent designer that's well known throughout the US, and I fell in love with flowers," says LaWanda Hines, co-owner of Now and Forever Flower Boutique.
"I have friends and family who live here, and I feel that there is a need for exposure to art, especially for younger kids," says Nada Hassan, owner of Dearborn's Paint with Nada.
"When I came to Dearborn, I couldn't find anything related to Arabic jewelry so I decided to start my business," says Sarah Elmoussawi, owner of Loujain Accessories.
"...we know that if we don't learn to work together and trust each other and create that system, because we have systems against us, we need to be smarter to create systems for us working together," says Jason Dixon, founder of the Inkster-based Strategic Alliance Community Development.
"My father was the first Black entrepreneur to establish multiple businesses in the same area, back in 1945," says Harrison Liquor owner Ruth Williams. "So we also thought it was really a great opportunity to open another family business in the community."
"Right now, the business is good for the community. Everybody's supportive," says Doudou Kane of the Inkster family-owned and operated KG’s African-American Grill. "The business is booming."
"I'm learning, as a business owner and entrepreneur, you have to do that in order to get where you need to go, take out your loans, look for extra capital," says Shadia Amen. Her Dearborn photography business is steadily growing, and she has advice for others.
"My father was an entrepreneur," says Que Shebley, founder of the brand by the same name, based in Dearborn, Michigan. "He owned small footwear specialty shops in the Middle East, and I always wanted to continue that journey, but bring a more modern approach to the new, modern shopper."
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