Launchpad : Fall 2016 Cohort

jessica pieRre
THE QUEENS COMPANY is a social enterprise that host events with purpose to provide women of color the opportunity to network, gain support for and empower one another to pursue their passions, goals and entrepreneurial ventures.

valentina arecy
THE QUEENS COMPANY is a social enterprise that host events with purpose to provide women of color the opportunity to network, gain support for and empower one another to pursue their passions, goals and entrepreneurial ventures.

troy gayle
STUDY BUDDIEZ is a web portal that allows students to easily find peers to study with. For students in high school, college or those studying for targeted tests such as GMAT and LSAT, Study Buddiez is where students succeed together.

GERMAINE DUBLIN HARPER
JEWELZ ON DEMAND is a company that produces hand made beaded cluster jewelry designs for fashion-forward women of all ages who celebrate their individuality.
Noted for her style Germaine founded Jewelz on Demand when she discovered that she could not find many options in color and design in cluster jewelry. Now readily available anytime of the year, Jewelz on Demand makes wearing jewelry fun.

Brandy Cruthrid
BBB HEALTH & WELLNESS creates access to innovative fitness programming, educational resources, and motivational techniques that teach individuals how to have a relationship with their health. Linked with technology and high quality customer service, we are able to furnish a fitness experience that travels with you, and supports your stairway to consistent healthy living.
Brandy Cruthird has over 18 years experience as certified Personal Trainer and Group Exercise Instructor in the fitness industry. Her passion for educating and assisting individuals with developing a relationship with their health, has inspired the lives of many and transformed the Boston community one workout at a time.

david samson, kenny simms, & samantha white
THE DREAM FACTORY is a professional development training and mentoring program aimed at providing at-risk high school students an innovative music program.

stephen hamiltion | artist-in-residence
STEPHEN HAMILTON STUDIOS is an arts-initiative at the intersection of commercial, public and fine arts aimed at exploring world making and world re-creation in the context of African and African Diaspora thought and aesthetics.
http://theartofstephen.tumbler.com

Satara Halfkenny-Wilson
SATARA HALFKENNY ENTERPRISES designs and manufactures fashionably chic, non-toxic, food grade silicone jewelry, for mothers to wear and for teething babies to safely chew on.

Jacqueline Johnson
JGJ DESIGNS is Boston-based business that offers personal, creative, and high-quality graphic and communication design services.
With over 15 years of experience and expertise in the graphic design industry, Jacqueline understand the importance of going above and beyond as well as completing projects on time. Services offered by JGJ Designs include: branding/identity development, marketing/print collateral creation, interactive/multimedia design, consultation, and analysis of existing print materials.

Nakia Hill
Nakia Hill is the founder of a digital magazine chronicling the lives of independent music artists worldwide. Her keen ear for fresh music has lead her digital magazine to feature the independent music industries’ top artists before popular music blogs and national publications, including The Christian Science Monitor, The Huffington Post, and Sister 2 Sister Magazine.
She is also the founder and CEO of So Gutsy a creative writing boutique that offers exclusive writing services tailored to independent music artists needs.
Nakia has covered the Occupy Wall Street Movement and Trayvon Martin case, and has interviewed Academy Award-winning actress Monique, KRS-One, Snoop Dogg, soca artist Alison Hinds, reggae artist Richie Spice and Lalah Hathaway, among others.
Among the many ventures that Nakia is embarking on, she recently completed her first book of poetry set to be released in April 2017. She is also designing a bio writing course for music artists.