Passion Squared black history month blog hd

Black History Month: Listening To Black Voices

            “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

         -Maya Angelou

The year 2020. A movement not a moment. A time when many of us woke up and decided to do better. As we enter 2021 and celebrate Black history month, it is time to remember those commitments we made with our black squares and to continue to learn, unlearn along with centering and amplifying Black voices.

For every MLK quote we share out of context, every performative “we care” action we take, we continue to be part of the problem. In order to be part of the solution, we first must acknowledge there is a problem and then, do better.

This is not about politics, it’s about people. It’s about history repeating itself year after year, decade after decade, century after century.

Let’s take time this month to listen. With open minds, hearts and actions.


We have been honored and blessed to have some incredible, wise, generous, passionate, talented and awesome Black leaders and storytellers sharing their stories on the people passion purpose Podcast over the years. Listen to them. Learn from them. Believe them. Follow them. Engage with them.

NOTE: All of these episodes were recorded 2018-2020 pre pandemic. Click on the graphics to listen.

Mahogany Plautz people passion purpose podcast fb

Caron people passion purpose podcast fbDre Demry-Sanders people passion purpose podcast fbKeya Artistically Neal people passion purpose podcast fb

Danielle Green Radically Curly people passion purpose podcast Passion Squared fbKeya Neal people passion purpose podcast Passion Squared fb


Change begins with us. It is our responsibility to unravel what we’ve been taught, use our privilege and platforms to amplify Black voices and stories, stay open to learning the truth, decide to put people before politics and do our part in dismantling systemic racism. Let’s do better.

With love + respect-
Nina @passionsquared


BTS of this blog 

Total Time: 2 hours

Building the blog
Writing 20 min.
Editing/SEO stuff 20 min.
Proof reading 20 min.
Designing graphics on Canva.com 1 hour (these are graphics we designed prior to this post)

Passion Squared blog Clear Communication Is Kind (3)

Clear Communication Is Kind

         “Clear is kind, unclear is unkind.” Brene Brown

 

UPDATED March 20th at 4pm pacific
NEW Class- Business Boundaries Bravery class with Nina L. Kovner + Gina Bianca
Today our bestie Gina and I shared a class with some wisdom and ideas of how we can continue to navigate the coming days.
Click here to watch the class. 
We love you. Please stay close.

UPDATED March 18th at 5 am pacific
As of this moment, we have seen cities, counties and states shut down non essential businesses, which as you know, includes salons. It is just a matter of time when I anticipate all non essential businesses to be shut down.

We have created a Highlight on our Instagram to share resources, communications and community as we navigate this unprecedented time together. We will be sharing as much as we can, as the information comes to us, and providing more education, love and support. Click here to view the Highlight.

Stay close. We are all in this together. You are not alone. And we love you.

UPDATED March 15th 2020 at 2:45 pm pacific
Loves, as you know, things are changing by the hour. More school closures, more businesses, both local, state, national and global, shutting down, and I know you are feeling all kinds of fear and uncertainty. We all are. You are NOT alone.

My research, gut and experience tells me we will be in a mandatory quarantine very soon. And we will also get through it, together!

My recommendation as of today is to stay close to your local, county, state, federal and country officials for their recommendations and guidance so you can make informed, clear decisions.

Please take this time to review your plans, check in with your accountant, an employment attorney if you are an employer, and make the decision that is BEST for you, your team and community. As of today, we have clients that have chosen to close down their salons, but with careful thought, considerations and plans.

Also, please, hear me when I say, you will NOT go hungry, be evicted or have your utilities cut off. There are safety nets in place that are appearing by the minute. The health of your family, community, teams and self is what is most important right now, and that includes your mental health.

Please unplug in order to keep perspective. You need it right now more than ever. And if you need anything at all, we are here for you 7 days a week.

I also recorded a podcast after this post went up, you can click here to listen.


As leaders and small business owners, it is always our responsibility to be clear in our communication, intentions, vision and all the things.

Today, now more than ever, in light of the COVID-19 virus, you need to consider how you are creating clear communication with both your teams and clients around your sanitation practice and process, along with your appointment + time off policies (we call them agreements here at Passion Squared) and if you have chosen to adjust them.

This is not creating hysteria, it is helping to eliminate it.

This is a topic we have been discussing over the past week in our A School program, and one I wanted to bring to our larger community.

Fear is a natural human response to the unknown. You likely already know someone who has been impacted by this global emergency. Events cancelled, schools closed, travel halted; all of these things have an impact on our communities, clients, friends and family.

I personally have been impacted, as have several humans I know, both personally and professionally.

So what can you do right now? Here is my advice:

1. Review your current sanitation practices and determine if you need to adjust them.
2. Review your current appointment policies and determine if you need to adjust them.
3. Review your current time off/sick day policies and determine if you need to adjust them.
4. Create clear, simple, kind communications for your team and clients.

Some people fear cancelling appointments when they are not feeling well due to the fee and loss of money.
Some people fear public spaces due to anxiety and the potential of them getting sick.
Some people fear calling in sick because they may lose their job if they do.

We have seen some incredible leadership on this from people in our community and wanted to share their announcements, posts and emails to help you craft your own communications and statements.

Always be mindful of your brand purpose, promise and people along with using language that is most consistent with your brand.


Bluemilk Salon

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by bluemilk (@bluemilksalon) on

 

 

Gila Rut Salon 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Gila Rūt Aveda Salons (@gilarut) on

Revolver Salon Denver

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Revolver Salon (@revolversalondenver) on

 

Facebook Post from La Pomponnee Salon, Client Letter from Radically Curly + A Fun Restroom Sign from Trianon Salon

Passion Squared blog Communication and Sanitation

And we even made a fun little TikTok

@passionsquaredSanitation is sexy @sarahadamshair 💦 ##yummy ##yummychallenge♬ Yummy – Justin Bieber

There are so many ways to communicate to ensure your clients and team feel safe, secure, protected and cared for. If you would like to share your ideas and ways you are communicating with your clients, we would love to share them. You can tag us on the gram @passionsquared or email us at awesome@passionsquared.net

And before I go, please, I beg you, get your information and facts from TRUSTED sources such as the WHO and in the US, the CDC. Be sure if you are sharing any news articles or social posts, that you have done your OWN research and are 100% sure what you are sharing is coming from facts and not opinions.

Oh, and one more thing, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, be kind, compassionate, empathetic and remember, we will get through this, together.

With love- Nina @passionsquared

Danielle Green Radically Curly people passion purpose podcast Passion Squared hd

Danielle Green On Hair Love The Book + The Animated Short Film + The CROWN Act

In this episode we sit down with Danielle Green of Radically Curly to talk about the Hair Love book, the recent Oscar win for the Hair Love animated short film, and the CROWN Act. It is currently LEGAL in all but three states in the US to discriminate against black people who wear natural, protective and braided hairstyles both in schools and in the workplace. This is racism. Period. Danielle shares her experience as a hairstylist, educator and leader in the movement of not only embracing natural hair texture but falling in love with the hair you were born with. After you listen to this episode, we invite you to join us in signing the petition to get the CROWN Act in all 50 states. Visit bit.ly/CROWNAct to be part of the solution and end this form of discrimination. You can find Danielle on the web @radicallycurly and radicallycurlysalon.com Thank you Danielle for sharing your heart, wisdom and passion with us. We LOVE you.

 

 

You can also listen to our podcast on:
Apple Podcasts
Google Play
Stitcher

Your experience matters. We would be so grateful if you shared your experience with our podcast by leaving a review. It matters to us, and so do you. Thank you- Nina

Danielle Green people passion purpose podcast hd

Danielle Green on Finding Her Voice + Purpose + Empowering Women

In this episode we sit down with Danielle Green, activist and creator of the Radically Curly brand, whose purpose is to empower women to embrace and celebrate the hair texture they were born with. We talk purpose, brand, society’s twisted notion about how women of color should wear their hair, where the name Radically Curly came from, and more. You can find Danielle on the gram @radicallycurly and on the web at radicallycurly.com

 

You can also listen + subscribe to our podcast on;

iTunes
Google Play
Stitcher

Your experience matters. We would be so grateful if you shared your experience with our podcast by leaving a review. It matters to us, and so do you. Thank you- Nina