(Photos provided by JaVaughnae Malone)
In honor of the Black History holiday of Juneteenth, I wanted to share one of the many movements for the culture by the culture. JaVaughnae Malone leads an impressive and growing initiative called The Vivian’s Door Initiative.
She and the many other business owners who connect with her are paving ways for African Americans to gain more financial freedom in our society. Check out our interview below:
BLISS: Tell us what’s the meaning behind Vivian’s Door?
JaVaughnae Malone: The Vivian’s Door Initiative is inspired by the courage and legacy of my cousin, civil right hero, the late Vivian Malone Jones. “Thirty-five years ago, by attending The University of Alabama, I had the privilege of representing all those who fought for simple justice. The simple act of walking through a schoolhouse door that had been barred to me, and all people of my color, by the governor of this state—that simple act, represented an end to legal segregation in the American South. On that eventful day, Alabama became the last state in the union to yield to the force of law and the weight of conscience.”
She was the first African American to graduate from the University of Alabama. Vivian’s courage and willpower to create change for her brothers and sisters of color inspired the creation of this nonprofit project called Vivian’s Door.
“There will come a day in your life when you must act for others, your family, perhaps your community, and you must be ready! So, that one day, any day, you must be bold, have the courage and walk through a door that leads to the opportunity for others.” -Vivian Malone Jones
BLISS: What is your history in entrepreneurship?
JM: I have grown up around entrepreneurs. My family is full of entrepreneurs from my great grandfather owned two cleaners in the ’50s-’60s, my grandfather on my dad’s side with his contractor business, my grandmother’s hair salon, to my mom’s print shop and marketing firm; you can say that entrepreneurship is in my blood.
I just love the spirit that comes from being an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs inspire me every day and small businesses are the backbones of America. That is why the Vivian’s Door Initiative is so important to me.
BLISS: What does owning a business mean to the people who are a part of your program?
JM: One of the reasons we’re so dedicated to the Vivian’s Door mission is the racial wealth gap. I didn’t know the extent of how wide the gap was until I really started dedicating my time to working on this project. Black Americans are behind 220 years when it comes to wealth and unless we work to fix this gap by 2053, the Black American median household will hit zero.
By that time minorities will become the majority in the US and if we don’t have any wealth, what will happen to our future and our children’s future? One solution to [minimizing] the wealth gap is through the creation of sustainable businesses. Sustainable businesses create jobs and build wealth locally. Vivian’s Door’s mission is to help minority businesses grow, scale and reinvest in their communities.
BLISS: What have you noticed is the biggest challenge for Black business owners?
JM: The biggest challenge for Black business owners is a lack of trust. The market doesn’t trust them and there are many factors that attribute to that. We lack access to valuable resources, knowledge and capital to help us build sustainable businesses. So many times we’re working in survival mode to make our dreams a reality with very limited resources, but we’re resilient people and we make things happen. Imagine if we had access to those resources, knowledge and capital—how further along we could be!
BLISS: What does it mean to pursue this passion/purpose as a single (unmarried) woman?
JM: Even if no one sees your vision in life, you have to trust in your talents. God gifted you with your unique talents to pursue. It’s your job to use your talents to make your mark in the world, so don’t be afraid to use to them.
I’m not here to tell you that pursuing your passions is always going to be 100% comfortable, but you owe it to yourself, your dreams and your visions to trust in them and pursue them fearlessly. Remember God gifted them to you for a reason.
BLISS: How can people connect with and support Vivian’s Door?
JM: People can connect with Vivian’s Door by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ViviansDoor. They can also join us in our Facebook Group were we share positive stories about things going on in the Black community, information about events and more.
They can also subscribe to our newsletter by going to www.viviansdoor.com or they can contact me directly jnmalone@viviansdoor.com.
We want to thank JaVaughnae for her generous support of this platform and be sure to connect with her initiative, Vivian’s Door!
