Meet Our Members
CO-OWNER, STM Multimedia
STM Multimedia is a Black, female-owned social enterprise that fills a unique niche through targeted digital distribution, production, and creation services which are paired with community engagement and edutainment.
Our audience is engaged through a 24/7 digital radio station, WBMU Jamz, and an active social media platform/radio show Slay the Mic, both of which feature R&B and Hip-Hop music.
Our audience is local, regional, national, and international. Radio is a central way that we engage in the community. We build on that success through our work with clients on their video, podcast production, and brand development. We believe in the power of creativity and culture to create new possibilities.
How it started
Slay the Mic was created in 2015 and airs every Saturday on 103.3 Asheville FM, WBMU was founded in 1974 and expanded to WBMU Jamz in 2021, and STM Multimedia was founded in spring 2021.
The mission of STM Multimedia Company is to
provide a source of information, music, edutainment and entertainment while celebrating culture, community, and creativity by amplifying voices through our digital and on-air platforms.
Social Media platforms: @stmmultimedia | @slaythemic | @wbmujamz | @avlbsu
CO-OWNER, STM Multimedia
STM Multimedia is a Black, female-owned social enterprise that fills a unique niche through targeted digital distribution, production, and creation services which are paired with community engagement and edutainment.
Our audience is engaged through a 24/7 digital radio station, WBMU Jamz, and an active social media platform/radio show Slay the Mic, both of which feature R&B and Hip-Hop music.
Our audience is local, regional, national, and international. Radio is a central way that we engage in the community. We build on that success through our work with clients on their video, podcast production, and brand development. We believe in the power of creativity and culture to create new possibilities.
How it started
Slay the Mic was created in 2015 and airs every Saturday on 103.3 Asheville FM, WBMU was founded in 1974 and expanded to WBMU Jamz in 2021, and STM Multimedia was founded in spring 2021.
The mission of STM Multimedia Company is to
provide a source of information, music, edutainment and entertainment while celebrating culture, community, and creativity by amplifying voices through our digital and on-air platforms.
Social Media platforms: @stmmultimedia | @slaythemic | @wbmujamz | @avlbsu
CO-OWNER, STM Multimedia
STM Multimedia is a Black, female-owned social enterprise that fills a unique niche through targeted digital distribution, production, and creation services which are paired with community engagement and edutainment.
Our audience is engaged through a 24/7 digital radio station, WBMU Jamz, and an active social media platform/radio show Slay the Mic, both of which feature R&B and Hip-Hop music.
Our audience is local, regional, national, and international. Radio is a central way that we engage in the community. We build on that success through our work with clients on their video, podcast production, and brand development. We believe in the power of creativity and culture to create new possibilities.
How it started
Slay the Mic was created in 2015 and airs every Saturday on 103.3 Asheville FM, WBMU was founded in 1974 and expanded to WBMU Jamz in 2021, and STM Multimedia was founded in spring 2021.
The mission of STM Multimedia Company is to
provide a source of information, music, edutainment and entertainment while celebrating culture, community, and creativity by amplifying voices through our digital and on-air platforms.
Social Media platforms: @stmmultimedia | @slaythemic | @wbmujamz | @avlbsu
OWNER, The Chill Cereal Bar
The Chill Cereal Bar is a great fun event for people of all ages. The business was created by my son Elijah, who was 13 years old at the time. I decided to take his vision and turn it into reality.
When experiencing the cereal bar, you will laugh, have fun, and enjoy all varieties of cereal, milk, and toppings. The business is focused on bringing families and others together to spend quality time with each other,while eating something everyone loves; cereal!
We are unique in what we do and want to bring the community back together, one cereal bowl at a time!
BLACK AMBASSADOR of Colon Cancer
Deliberately, putting your personal life is the public eye is no easy task. But Joe Greene has chosen to undertake this mission. Joe was diagnosed with Stage 3 Colon Cancer in April 2021. Not only was this diagnosis a shock, but to Joe and his love ones as it created a direct threat to his life and all he touches.
Joe is 41 years old and at the time of his diagnosis he was 40. Joe knew something was not right with his body but at no point did he think he would have cancer. Joe’s experienced a journey of conversations with his doctor, diet changes and denials as his body went through private changes within his digestive system and overall physical appearance.
After his diagnosis and going through the challenges of accessing healthcare, understanding the disease process, self-advocacy and possible healthcare outcomes, he took the position to become the Black Ambassador of Colon Cancer. His mission statement “Early Screening Can Save Your Life.” And what better way to show the downfall of this disease but to create real-life journeys exposing fears, questions, concerns, treatments, barriers to care and his personal convictions.
Joe took the mystic out of learning symptoms associated with colon cancer, listening to your body and taking action to schedule appointments with appropriate providers for screenings. Joe used his social media platform to take the readers through his journey of surgery, chemotherapy, doctor appointments while being a dad and provider for his children. By being vulnerable and a visible lens around Colon Cancer he established trust and dialogue with his face book readers, one on one conversations and being able to open up events with the announcement of his journey.
Joe’s goal is to take the fear out of screening for colon cancer by creating conversations and discussions within various settings to address a disease impacting people of color in high percentages with mortalities, especially men of color.
Joe is a true ambassador evoking his platform to be the voice for men and women of color with preventive means to impact generation after generation of longevity.
PRESIDENT, Indigo Innovation Group
Tracey Greene-Washington is the President of Indigo Innovation Group, a consulting firm dedicated to serving as a strategic thought-partner, advisor, coach and consultant to philanthropic, nonprofit, and private/public organizations committed to accelerating change through system-level approaches, equity, and strategic collaboration. As well as the Founder of CoThinkk, a social change philanthropy committed to shifting the economic mobility, health, education, and leadership narrative of communities of color in Western NC through strategic investments, network-building, and civic discourse. Lastly, Tracey Greene-Washington is a social entrepreneur and co-owner of No Grease Northlake and No Grease Premium, franchisees under the umbrella of No Grease Inc. Throughout her twenty + year career she’s led high-level initiatives that address complex issues and gained a reputation as an innovative leader that is committed to partnering with organizations/communities to be more impactful by targeting systemic change, taking risk, and accelerating efforts at the intersection of community economic development, health, education, and leadership development.
Mrs. Greene-Washington most recently served as the Director of Special Initiatives for the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, leading its two long-term place-based initiatives Healthy Places NC-focused on improving the health of 10-12 rural counties and Great Expectations-an early childhood initiative in Forsyth County. Prior to joining the Trust, she served as a Program Officer at the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation leading efforts to address the statewide racial and gender wealth gap; Program Officer and Director of Learning & Evaluation for the National Rural Funders Collaborative focused on rural community transformation; and Director of Technical Assistance, Training & Policy with the South Carolina Association of Community Development Corporations where she supported 45 community development corporations throughout the state.
Mrs. Greene-Washington completed a Tedx titled Addressing Complex Change, What If and currently serves on the board of Education NC, is the former Board Chair for the Center for Leadership Innovation, Vice Chair for the Southern Rural Development Initiative and Equity Committee Chair for the NC Early Childhood Foundation. Mrs. Greene-Washington released her first book on October 20th, 2020, # 1 International Bestseller and 2021 Nautilus Award winner , titled Choosing Purposeful Alignment: The Messy Middle of Transformation. She is the recipient of the 2021 Rosa Parks Award, 2020 Linetta Gilbert Service Award, 2019 Bubbles Griffin Award, and 2019 Best of Women to Know Feature. She is a native of Asheville North Carolina and Certified Coach through Coach Diversity Institute. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Master of Social Work degree from the University of South Carolina.
OWNER
Proudly a black woman-owned business encouraging you to thoughtfully and easily express your creative self through a variety of high-quality, hand-stitched notebooks. Whether journaling, scrapbooking, or painting, these notebooks are filled with the very best fountain pen and watercolor-friendly paper pages that lie flat and won’t tear out. More than notebooks, I also create unique hand-cut stickers as well as durable hand-crafted, stylish pouches for holding everything you need on-the-go!
How it started:
Beth saw a need for a high-quality notebook that scrapbookers were looking for. She started creating plain white notebooks with quality paper that were hand-stitched. From there the business has grown into so much more with many of the notebooks featuring Beth's own artwork. She loves to create art and create something where artists, journalers, and memory keepers can document on the go or at home.
FOUNDER, Breeze ATMs & Breeze Credit Solutions
She is the Founder of Breeze ATMs and Breeze Credit Solutions. She is a serial entrepreneur on a mission to teach financial literacy and leave legacies for her own family and those she helps!
How it Started
When she moved back to Asheville, everything was different from what she remembered. But she's determined to make a name for herself.
With COVID still affecting everything, she decided that she could help struggling businesses by giving them free ATMs.
She also realized that most people move here because of the views and the "lifestyle" of living. She has made it her duty to help other live life on their own terms by helping them buy their dream car or build their dream home with credit repair.
OWNERS & OPERATORS, CreamWorks
Nakisha & Richard Marvels are the owners and operators of CreamWorks, a mobile ice cream parlor and food truck operating in the Western North Carolina area and the Upstate and Midlands of South Carolina. Born and raised in Asheville Richard has held many titles…business owner, DJ, promoter, manager, and music producer to name a few. Nakisha is originally from Ware Shoals SC and has spent her entire work life in the medical field. First in patient care and lastly in administration.
CreamWorks specializes in hand-scooped ice cream treats, desserts, and hot dogs to name a few of their most popular items. They are available for private events such as parties, school/church functions, employee appreciations, grand openings, or just because. Dairy-free, pet-friendly, and vegan options are available as well.
How it Began
As parents and now grandparents, the Marvels place a high value on the strength of love and support. Wishing to spread a bit of both with a dash of hope and joy during this time of Covid as well as a sense of togetherness, Cream Works was born. As a bonus comes to the flexibility and independence of self-employment. Ice Cream, Hot Dogs, Desserts = CreamWorks; It’s All Good!
FOUNDER, KimbroAscent, LLC
Founder of KimbroAscent, LLC. Apollos helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses by transforming their websites into web magnets that attract customers. His work includes consulting, private coaching, web design, sales funnel marketing, and lead generation strategies.
How It Started
As a teacher, he spent most of his spare time building courses, designing websites, and developing web pages. He studied different design strategies that led him to the world of affiliate marketing. He dove deeper into his studies, learning sales and marketing techniques from the country's best strategists. With this newfound wealth of knowledge, he began sharing this information.
He started consulting other entrepreneurs, designing websites, and incorporating sales funnels and behavioral marketing strategies to increase the average cart value, the profitability of the sales process, and customer follow-up. He has helped entrepreneurs save costs and increase their revenue with a strategic sales process designed to attract customers and solve their individual needs.
FOUNDER, Kente Kitchen
Founder of the Kente Kitchen. A foodie with a mission to feed all kids, eliminate food insecurity, and provide food access to all living in Buncombe County. If you have traveled to Africa or if you have never traveled to Africa, The Kente Kitchen is an opportunity for you to experience something that you will find nowhere around town. All dishes are made with fresh ingredients and can be modified to accommodate vegan and vegetarian diets. She specializes in West African Cuisine.
How it started
Ramona moved back to Asheville and there was nowhere she could go to buy the food that she loves. No restaurant or grocery store sells them, so she started working in festivals with a tent and a two-burner grill so she could share her love of West African food with people and from there she added catering. Now it's time to add a grocery store.
OWNER, SoundSpace@Rabbit's
With a successful track record of 35 years of professional experience as a recording, performing, and touring music artist, Claude Coleman can claim a deep knowledge of all facets of the music industry. Drummer for the group Ween with a large discography of work, he has built, owned, and operated several recording studios and worked his entire life in recording and rehearsal studios both domestically and internationally. He also is a professional carpenter/builder, school director, graphic/web designer, teacher, and writer.
How it started
It started because of the owner's experiencing firsthand the issues and desperate need for music practice spaces and working musicians in Asheville. It was non-sensible. In every other music city, these types of facilities are abundant. After searching for properties, they found Rabbit’s Motel. It was then the concepts of a re-imagined soul kitchen and cultural landmark spoke to create a mission of deeper importance and greater dimension. With this reconnection to history, they are also continuing a hundred-year tradition in Asheville of helping to create Black business opportunities, while creating a destination site to foster diversity within the Asheville tourism industry and population.
There are hard times as well
It was difficult for us to be held as prospective buyers when trying to purchase property for the business. This was how we found the old Rabbit's Motel. The sellers were sitting with two cash offers on hand when we looked at the property to purchase. After writing a letter to the original owner's family with our plans to restore it and re-create its purpose of serving the community, they put us under contract ahead of those offers, as if they were waiting for someone like us. We converted it into a music rehearsal studio facility inside of the 1948 historic Black-owned tourist court, the legendary Rabbit’s Motel in Southside, Asheville, NC. It is soon to include a soul food kitchen by chef Clarence Robinson, additional artist studios, and a multi-artist murals project depicting its own history, and the rich history of prosperity within all the lost early Asheville Black communities.
