Kenyatta Forbes had always been passionate about Black history, but she never intended to start a business. It was while teaching middle school in Chicago that she realized the traditional curriculum was lacking in some important aspects. She felt that it focused too much on a few historical figures and didn’t adequately cover the cultural and historical impact of Black history. To enhance her lessons and bring in more insights, she created a unique deck of index cards. This deck mixed historical figures with people that students might recognize, such as modern-day rappers and reality TV stars. The game, called “Trading Races,” had each player dealt five cards, and the goal was to convince everyone else that the person on their card was the “blackest.”
After testing the game with friends, who encouraged her to create a business, Forbes launched a crowd-funding campaign and raised $5,500 to start her new venture. She sold the game at Black culture festivals for a few years, but the pandemic halted all in-person events. Forbes wondered if this was the end for her business as she worked on it out of her Oakland, Calif., home. However, lacking professional marketing experience and being the sole person behind her business, Forbes knew she needed help to develop her marketing ideas.
When she heard about Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, she signed up for live 1:1 reviews to discuss social media marketing and strategy. The one-on-one sessions proved incredibly helpful as they allowed her to focus on actionable goals and get into the details. With expert advice from Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, Forbes refined her promotional ideas into a marketing calendar with a coherent social media strategy tailored to her target audience. As a result of creating content and scheduling it out effectively, Trading Races began to see a surge in followers and sales. Today, Kenyatta’s business has several thousand followers on social media and has formed partnerships with influencers thanks to Verizon Small Business Digital Ready’s expert guidance.
In conclusion, Kenyatta Forbes’ journey from teaching middle school to starting a successful business is an inspiring story of creativity and determination. Her unique approach to teaching Black history through gaming has paved the way for an engaging learning experience that not only entertains but also educates young minds about their heritage.
As an entrepreneurial journalist seeking new ways of presenting information or engaging audiences through innovative products or services, I find myself constantly inspired by stories like Kenyatta’s journey towards success despite facing numerous challenges along the way.
With today’s digital landscape constantly evolving at breakneck speed, small businesses need access to reliable resources that can help them navigate this complex world while maximizing their potential for growth.
Verizon Small Business Digital Ready is just one such resource that offers entrepreneurs like Kenyatta access to personalized guidance through live 1:1 reviews focused on social media marketing and strategy development.
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