To close out the Black Business month, we take a journey back in time. Did you know that long before Airbnb there was The Negro Motorist Green Book?  First published in 1936, the Green Book was the innovation of a Harlem-based postal carrier named Victor Hugo Green. Because of the discrimination Black people faced whenever they ventured outside their neighborhoods, Black travelers often couldn’t find safe places to eat and sleep. Victor Hugo Green sought to solve this problem. By the early 1940s, the Green Book listed thousands of establishments from across the country, all of them either Black-owned or verified to be non-discriminatory.

In this episode of Financial Fridays, hear how he expanded listings (the first edition only covered hotels and restaurants in the New York area) by leveraging information from fellow postal workers and offering cash payments to readers for useful information. Coach Colette draws parallels between Green's efforts in crowdsourcing and sponsorship with efforts made by current Black innovators and entrepreneurs to stimulate you to keep pursuing your dreams. 

Did you know that JOY is an act of RESISTANCE? Are you struggling to find your joy these days? In this week's Unplugged segment, you'll get some motivation as you hear an excerpt from the poem The Telly Cycle by the prolific author, Toi Derricotte. It contains a reference to the love between a Black woman and a fish named Telly. Learn more about the personal connection to this narrative for Coach Colette and her fish Stripe, particularly as she prepares to celebrate her birthday, remaining grateful for the years she's had on this Earth as a Black woman in America. 

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

Thanks for listening; and please make sure to give us a review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen.

In recognition of Black Business Month, this episode of Financial Fridays continues our focus on US Black businesses. According to digitalundivided, 82% of Black business owners report that they have experienced a decrease or loss of revenue due to COVID-19. Black-owned businesses are more likely to be based in so-called COVID-19 "hot spots," meaning they are operating in communities with: longer forced closures, more COVID-19 symptoms, more social distancing, and fewer customers. 

Reports indicate that the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) did not support businesses in COVID-19 "hot spots." Nationally, just 2% of the hundreds of billions of dollars of CARES Act PPP loans went to Black-owned businesses. In New York City, only 7% of Bronx businesses and 11% of Queens businesses received PPP funding. The overwhelming majority of Black business owners — nearly 3 out of 4 — reported that they needed emergency funding immediately in order to survive this pandemic.

“Tell me about your little business.” “Well, you know the projects that they work on tend to be on the high end.” In this week's Unplugged segment, Coach Colette shares a recent virtual networking interaction in which the other person (a white man) uttered these two remarks during their conversation. In this discussion on implicit bias and microaggressions, she encourages us to ponder the question: Would he have used that same diminutive language if he had been speaking to another white man? To a white woman?

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

Thanks for listening; and please make sure to give us a review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen.

Did you know that Black-owned businesses have created over 1 million jobs and generated over $165 billion in revenue? As we're still celebrating Black Business Month, we continue our history lesson on Black entrepreneurship in the US. Black Americans have a long and rich history of entrepreneurship. Within two decades of the abolition of slavery, Black people established several thousand successful businesses that thrived in exclusively Black communities, such as the Black Wall Street of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In this week's Financial Friday episode, we explore the barriers to Black business ownership. For example, a recent study conducted by a team of researchers from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Utah State University, Brigham Young University, Rutgers University, and Lubin Research found that banks were three times more likely to request follow-up appointments with white business owners than better-qualified Black business owners, and the Black business owners were subjected to far greater personal and financial scrutiny compared to their equal or less creditworthy white counterparts. Coach Colette also discusses how Black entrepreneurs have been innovators in the use of technology and social media to grow and scale their businesses.

In the Unplugged segment, Coach Colette discusses duality and intersectionality. In one week, we experienced the historic moment of Senator Kamala Harris being nominated for Vice President. We also recognized Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, which marks the fact that Black women on average earn just $.62 for the $1.00 that an average white man earns in the US. It takes an extra 8 months and 13 days to earn the same amount. These two instances show us how far we have come, and at the same time, how far we still have to go. 

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

Thanks for listening; and please make sure to give us a review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen.

Did you know that August -- in addition to being Coach Colette's birthday month -- is Black Business month? In this episode of Financial Fridays, we kick off with some results from a 2020 survey of over 3,100 small business and franchise owners in the US by Guidant Financial and the Small Business Trends Alliance. 

This survey found that Black-owned businesses exist across all industries, with the top industry category being Business Services at 20%. The next most popular industry categories were tied at 9%: 1) Retail; 2) Health, Beauty and Fitness Services; and 3) Restaurant or Food Services. The fifth most popular industry according to the survey was Construction and Contracting at 8%. While Black entrepreneurs were 30% more likely than the average of all surveyed small business owners to solely operate their businesses, there was a 19% decrease in Black solopreneurs from 2019. This survey showed that 45% of Black-owned businesses have 2-5 employees. 

We know that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lock-down that a number of Black-owned businesses have been severely impacted financially. It will be really interesting to see how this data shifts next year based on all that we are experiencing now.

What do you do when someone questions your integrity or intention? In this week's Unplugged segment, Coach Colette candidly shares a recent experience in her business. She also walks us through various EFT-Tapping points to reveal how to use the process to heal after something has triggered a negative response, or to release when you’re feeling pent-up, stuck energy.

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

Thanks for listening; and please make sure to give us a review on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

In this week's episode Financial Fridays, we close out BIPOC Mental Health Month with an upbeat history lesson on Black pioneers in mental health.  Our first is Dr. Maxie Clarence Maultsby, the founder of the psychotherapeutic method of rational behavioral therapy. His technique of cognitive-behavioral therapy and counseling was the first comprehensive, short-term, culture and drug-free technique of psychotherapy that produced long-term therapeutic results. Next is Mamie Phipps Clark, whose groundbreaking research on the impact of race on Child Development was influential in desegregation efforts, including the Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954. 

A third mental health pioneer is Jacki McKinney, a family advocate specializing in issues affecting African-American women and their children and a founding member of the National People of Color Consumer/Survivor Network. And, finally, there is Linda James Myers, whose work focuses on healing practices and psychotherapeutic processes at the intersection of race, gender and class.

Have you found your good trouble? In this week's episode of Unplugged, Coach Colette shares some recent professional setbacks along with how she has maintained her pursuit of good trouble during these past five months of lockdown and racial uprising. She has felt the need to double down on her mission to help BIPOC leaders and women to heal from trauma. Coach Colette also shares inspiring quotes from Rep. John Lewis in an op-ed for the New York Times he requested to be published on the day of his funeral. 

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here.

Thanks for listening; and please make sure to give us a review on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Did you know that following the COVID-19 outbreak in the US, there were nearly 1,500 reported incidents of anti-Asian racism in just one month? These included physical and verbal attacks as well as reports of anti-Asian discrimination in private businesses. Or, that in 2018 38% of Latinx people were verbally attacked for speaking Spanish, told to go back to their countries, called a racial slur or treated unfairly? 

As we are in the midst of BIPOC Mental Health Month, today's Financial Fridays episode focuses on race-based traumatic stress. This refers to the mental and emotional injury caused by encounters with racial bias, ethnic discrimination, systemic racism, or hate crimes. It is similar to the experience of people who have dealt with other forms of PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder. It can be direct, or vicarious -- meaning witnessing the experience of others through pictures or videos of violent incidents.

"Well, I don't know if you covered it in the beginning, but I was wondering where you got your training?" This is a question that Coach Colette received from a white male participant in one of her recent EFT-Tapping webinars. While on the surface any question can seem innocent; however, reading between the lines can be a valuable skill to have. In today's Unplugged segment, Coach Colette talks about racial gaslighting. The official definition is: "the political, social, economic, and cultural process that perpetuates and normalizes a white supremacist reality through pathologizing those who resist." In this case, an attempt to question the legitimacy of a person and their qualifications based on racial identity. 

Have you had the experience of being gaslighted? It doesn’t necessarily have to be connected to racial identity. This is a tactic that people use to manipulate others in personal relationships, in familial relationships, or in professional relationships. If you'd like to share how you're doing as a result, complete our How Have You Been Coping? survey here. 

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here. 

Thanks for listening; and please make sure to give us a review on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

In this Financial Fridays episode, we continue our focus on BIPOC Mental Health awareness through the lens of COVID-19. The historic causes of mental health challenges in communities of color include: the legacy of racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, economic stressors, and systemic failures. The onset of the Coronavirus pandemic greatly amplified this distress for BIPOC communities. 

Chronic stress can weaken immunity, making BIPOC populations more vulnerable to diseases like COVID-19 and the underlying health conditions that increase the risk of COVID-19. We must remain vigilant about creating culturally-competent mental health and wellness care, and to dismantle systemic and economic barriers that keep BIPOC communities locked in situations that are draining our collective resolve.

In the Unplugged segment, Coach Colette discusses initial results from our How Have You Been Coping? survey, in which people have shared the mental and physical effects of the pandemic and the lock-down. 70% of respondents indicate having feelings of anxiety or frustration; and 50% express feeling worried or stuck and not able to take action. We really want to know how you're doing with all of this uncertainty -- including debates about whether or not face masks can save lives! If you'd like to share your responses, complete our How Have You Been Coping? survey here.

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here. Thanks for listening and please make sure to give us a review on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Did you know that there are 573 federally recognized Native tribes in the United States? Or, that Indigenous people speak more than 200 different languages? In today's Financial Fridays, we continue our conversation on BIPOC Mental Health, with a focus on the "I" that stands for Indigenous or Native peoples. According to Mental Health America, Native and Indigenous people make up 1.3% of the US population. Of that segment, 19% or 827,000 people reported having a mental illness in the past year. 

When we look at the mental health issues facing Native and Indigenous people, the lack of awareness about services that are available, as well as a lack of programs and providers that are sensitive to Native and Indigenous cultures can prevent them from seeking out treatment. They are much more likely to seek help from a spiritual or a traditional healer, than from more traditional medical sources. That's why having culturally-responsive and culturally-competent mental health care is so crucial.

Are you consciously aware that certain words or terms that you use could be considered offensive to others? With the renewed nationwide debate on racism, many Native leaders have seen this as an opportunity to reiterate the call to remove racially insensitive symbols in team names like the Washington Redskins in the NFL, and the Cleveland Indians in MLB. In today's Unplugged segment, Coach Colette describes a recent experience of discovering that a well-known term in EFT-Tapping has been shown to be offensive to Asian-American people. 

She candidly expresses her discomfort learning that she had unknowingly used the term on several occasions, and her commitment to removing the term from her materials and future sessions. Tune in and we'll bet that you'll never think of karate in the same way again. If you'd like to share your responses or thoughts, send us a voice message here. Perhaps yours will be featured in an upcoming episode!

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here. Thanks for listening and please make sure to give us a review on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you listen.

The month of July is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month. The acronym stands for Black, Indigenous and People of Color. The goal is to bring attention to the trauma that stems from systemic oppression and racism that impacts communities of color. Trauma is connected to mental health on so many different levels. It comes both from present-day and historical occurrences. Subconsciously, BIPOC communities have been taught to devalue their mental faculties, and question their beauty and intelligence. 

In this episode of Financial Fridays, we explore this as an opportunity to also speak about how resilient BIPOC communities are. Coach Colette offers suggestions to engage in self-care therapy, like EFT-Tapping and other avenues of therapy, that can help people to express the negative realities of white supremacy, and heal personal and historical trauma.

“When we finally stop asking America to love us and begin to love ourselves, we will prosper as a people.” This quote is by journalist and best-selling author, Bebe Moore Campbell, for whom this month was dedicated in 2008. Moore was an advocate for mental health who encapsulated the ideologies of self-love and self-care. Originally, it was called Minority Mental Health Month. That connotation conjures up negative images of lack and scarcity. When you love yourself FIRST, it steams rolls your confidence and grounds you. Your feet become roots into the Earth, and you can compare yourself to an allegorical tree. You may sway and bend; but it is going to take a strong gust of wind to snap or break you. In the Unplugged segment, Coach Colette suggests we concentrate on abundance and resilience, so we can stand strong as a collective and see ourselves in a positive light. This will help us to bring light and joy to one another. 

If you enjoyed this episode, why not share it on Instagram and tag @coach_colette! She’ll be sure to share your comments and big takeaways on her Instagram Stories. Or, tweet your thoughts to @Coach_Colette. If you'd like to ask a question or make a topic suggestion, send us a message here. Thanks for listening and please make sure to give us a review on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you listen.