A Diaspora Vibe
The Cultural Exchange is a recurring virtual event for business to business (B2B) networking and learning with an expo for consumer shopping. The goals of the marketplace include connecting to entrepreneurs, makers, and emerging brands with other small businesses, promote B2B trade and direct to consumer marketing.
Why cultural exchanges matter
Cultural exchanges provide an opportunity to explore other cultures, traditions, customs, beliefs, societies, languages and much more. It gives you an opportunity to broaden your world view and find more opportunities to explore the interconnectedness of all things. As you begin to interact and communication with others from different cultures, you will discover more similarities than differences . Each discovery leads to more awareness of one's self and cultural identity and your relationship to others. You begin to become more mindful of the interconnectedness we all share.
There are several advantages to participating in cultural exchanges, here are a few:
- Alternate perspectives
- Self awareness
- Cultural competency
- Lifelong learning
- Personal development
- Interpersonal communication
Sunsum Intention Candles was a vendor and sponsor of the Diaspora Vibe - Black Friday Virtual Expo on November 27, 2020 hosted by Thee Cultural Exchange. The speakers were small black business owners and emerging brands eager to share their journeys as resource and service providers.
Learn more about the featured speakers below :
Angel Douver
ANGEL’S EDGE PAINT
Angel Douver is the founder and owner of Angel’s Edge Paint, a new hair care product line. She is a teenage entrepreneur who at 15 years old found her passion, “slaying edges” and hairstyling which led her to inventing her very own edge control.
Malaika Dowdell
DNA MARKETING
A 24-year marketing veteran, Malaika Dowdell first fell in love with Marketing during coursework at Spelman College, and The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She stands apart as a marketer because of her ability to implement creative, game changing solutions, while ensuring high quality implementation in the marketplace. Ms. Dowdell has been recognized by Creative Media Awards, MSN and MIXX Awards. Currently, she is Principle at DNA Marketing, a boutique marketing firm specializing in creative business solutions for small to medium sized businesses, and founder of the forthcoming Kulima Collective, an entrepreneurial boot-camp for black women business owners.
Brian J. Olds
BLACK SPEAKERS NETWORK
Brian J. Olds wasn’t born with a natural enthusiasm for public speaking. A burgeoning change agent in the industry, the Baltimore native inadvertently entered into the world of speaking when he delivered his first speech to the Morgan State University Toastmasters Club in 2006. Recalling this as one of his most defining life moments, Brian instantly connected to his passion when he found himself in front of a standing ovation at the conclusion of that speech. Identified as a “curator of collaboration”, Brian specializes in empowering rising professional speakers to create clarity, streamline systems and cultivate the relationships needed to reach the unique audience they are called to serve.
Sabine Quetant
DAME DESIGN
Sabine Quetant is a storyteller, designer and marketing strategist. Over the past 6 years, she has worked with Blavity Inc. driving creative marketing strategies and campaigns for the company’s numerous brands and platforms. In 2019, she launched an independent creative services brand, Dame Design, where she helps small businesses develop their brand aesthetics and custom designs. As a business owner working with clients and working on a team with large agencies she has cultivated a robust view of the marketing and creative landscape.
Remarks from Sunsum Intention Candles
As a brand, we believe that we are all connected to all things. When we pay more attention to our relationship with ourselves and others, we create a more meaningful life. I have always been fascinated by the movements of people in spaces in different places. People create culture. Connecting with a culture can have a positive impact on your sense of belonging, identity and overall well being.
Sunsum Intention Candles was created as a direct response to the dogma in wellness. We found a connection to the culture in Ghana. The adinkra symbols are actually ideograms attached to attitudes, behaviors or expressions. The Akan and Ashanti people used them on cloth, metal and wood as metaphors and non-verbal communication. We have curated 12 adinkra ideograms that resonate have a connective aesthetic and can translate a message of healing and self-mastery. Each ideogram was interpreted, styled and paired with an affirmation for intentional living. Following the path of the Golden Dawn, the brand traverses up the Tree of Life, to reveal the interconnectedness of your sense of belonging, identity and overall well being.
Follow the brand for more opportunities to welcome a cultural exchange in your home or living spaces.