Can’t Forget The Cents: Claudia Mendez-Perkins
When Claudia Mendez-Perkins began her career at LISC, she knew that it was time to get back to her roots. As a longtime entrepreneur with a focus on underrepresented communities, she understands the entrepreneurship game and is well-suited as both a Program Officer on LISC’s (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) economic development team and a partner in the Side Hustle Economy Co. (MIM$) community.
Claudia Mendez-Perkins is passionate about her work because she understands, intimately, the needs of entrepreneurs. Before joining LISC, Claudia founded and led an organization called Orígenes Bolivia SRL where she supported indigenous women entrepreneurs in the garment business in Bolivia, South America. In her work with her company, she bolstered these Indigenous women entrepreneurs with the resources and guidance they needed to consolidate their micro-enterprises in order to build thriving businesses and support their families.
In her work with LISC, she uses the same passion to supply minority and underrepresented entrepreneurs with the opportunities they need to strengthen their businesses by providing pathways to capital, capacity building, and community building. For Claudia, what is most important is figuring out how best to support entrepreneurial ecosystems to make sure that they are inclusive.
From her personal experience, she understands that entrepreneurship can come with many pain points and many rewards. From scale to cash flow and pivoting, she knows the ins and outs of why community support is critical to minority entrepreneurship. During her time serving Indigenous women entrepreneurs, she learned the need for entrepreneurs to implement processes, prioritize financial literacy, and lead teams properly.
When she initially connected with Murdock and the Side Hustle Economy Co., she could sense the commitment, passion, drive and willingness to be malleable to change. That appreciation made the match undeniable. For LISC, the Side Hustle Economy Co. serves as a lighthouse that LISC can use as a place to engage with the community. In order for LISC’s work to be effective, they have to meet the community’s needs and MIM$ allows them to do that. For MIM$, LISC is a partner with key resources to support entrepreneurs and side hustlers as they build their businesses and a better Indianapolis.
LISC and the Side Hustle Economy Co. have built a symbiotic relationship because of a common willingness to trust one another and work together. Relationships like these are the ones that make it possible for the Side Hustle Economy Co. to thrive and we are grateful for the abundance that Claudia has poured into us.
Can’t Forget The Cents: Alex Oleson
Alex Oleson knows what it means to serve young Black entrepreneurs in underserved communities. As the Assistant Program Manager on the LISC’s (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) Economic Development team, he works everyday to ensure that young entrepreneurs in the city of Indianapolis get the resources they need to thrive.
As an Indianapolis transplant with a heart for youth empowerment and a political science major with experience in the foster care system, he knows what a difference it makes when a young person has the resources they need to attain their goals. After connecting with Murdock during his tenure as an Orr Fellow, Alex was immediately intrigued by the mission and vision of the Side Hustle Economy Co. (MIM$) In fact, he got goosebumps the first time that he heard Murdock speak as he became enveloped in the Side Hustle Economy Co.’s mission to empower young Black entrepreneurs to build a better Indianapolis. From there, his ambitious spirit led him to his current role at LISC where he gets to make the difference in the lives of young Black entrepreneurs across the city of Indianapolis.
As a Program Manager at LISC, Alex supports business development organizations (BDOs) and other nonprofits that serve entrepreneurs and small business owners of color. His role empowers him to make sure that everyone has opportunities to succeed. Working on programs such as LISC’s Facade Grant Program and Human Micro Loan program, he is a witness to the needs of young entrepreneurs in the City of Indianapolis; and in alignment with the Side Hustle Economy Co.’s mission, he’s making it make sense by using his platform to support young Black entrepreneurs.
In his personal life, his ultimate goal is to serve young entrepreneurs who possess untapped potential. He believes that, in many spaces, young people below the age of 18 are overlooked and under-supported when it comes to entrepreneurship. He is aware that, given the opportunity, young people will take advantage of new ways of thinking. That is why he supports the work of the Side Hustle Economy Co.
The Side Hustle Economy Co. creates new opportunities for young Black side hustlers to thrive. From teaching young entrepreneurs how to maximize opportunities while maintaining side hustles to supporting them with the knowledge and skills they need to build thriving business, MIM$ is accessing the untapped potential that Alex so readily works to support.
With Alex Oleson in MIM$’s community orbit, young Black entrepreneurs and side hustlers can feel safe and secure.
Can’t Forget The Cents: Meet Nashelle Frazier!
More than anything, Nashelle Frazier believes that, with the right tools, Black side hustlers in the city of Indianapolis can thrive. Why? Because they have been thriving and just need the support to strengthen their businesses. With the support of resources from institutions like Fifth Third, she knows that we can all work together to build thriving communities.
Nashelle Frazier is the Vice President of Community and Economic Development for Fifth Third Bank of Indiana. With 23 years in the banking industry, Nashelle has hands-on experience decreasing the resource gap in Black communities. From community economic development and housing to workforce development, Nashelle has spent her career facilitating direct impact in communities across Indianapolis.
Nashelle is clear on her ultimate goal and North Star: upward mobility for Black and underserved communities across the city of Indianapolis. That is why the relationship that she has cultivated with the Side Hustle Economy Co. (MIM$) has been so rich and fruitful. As a small, Black owned business supporting Black entrepreneurs and side hustlers, MIM$ is fertile ground for Nashelle’s upward mobility ethos. When Nashelle connected with MIM$ founder, Anthony Murdock II, she immediately felt a kinship and connection to the passion and purpose that he had for the work.
“Some communities are behind and it will take a side hustle for us to move the dial the way we want to…It’s another strategy and needs to be talked [about], lifted up, and supported.” Nashelle said.
As a systems thinker, she utilizes her role at Fifth Third to strengthen the continuum of small business support by connecting MIM$'s entrepreneurs and side hustlers with Fifth Third products that support the whole business. From first hand experience working and living in the Indianapolis community, Nashelle has witnessed just how much Black businesses in Indianapolis have been prospering. She believes that what we need now is a strategy for strengthening them. This relationship between the Side Hustle Economy Co. and Nashelle’s work at Fifth Third is the way we build and execute that strategy.
“I know that so many of us can win and really do well in that space and that is what I want to see.” - Nashelle Frazier
Nashelle’s work with MIM$ has allowed Black entrepreneurs in Indianapolis to glean technical skills and resources to put a ‘method to the madness’ of entrepreneurship and side hustling. From providing side hustlers with opportunities to open bank accounts to providing avenues for access to capital, Nashelle walks the walk and has been a blessing to the MIM$ community from day one.
With committed folks like Nashelle Frazier on our team, the Side Hustle Economy Co. is blessed beyond measure and well on our way to empowering Black communities in the present and future.
2023 Will Be Special!
Good day and Happy New Year, good people!
2023 is here and the Side Hustle Economy Co. has some exciting things in store for you all. We have been blessed by our community since the beginning and we want to continue to do what we can to bless and build with you all. In 2023, we’ve got more opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with one another in order to build a better Naptown.
The 3rd Annual Side Hustle Economy Summit: This year, all roads lead to the 3rd Annual Side Hustle Economy Summit! For the last two years, the Side Hustle Economy Co. has hosted a week of events focused on enhancing the lives and business practices of young Black entrepreneurs in Indianapolis. During the summit, Side Hustlers experience business bootcamps, the $3 & A Dream Convention, and the #BlessTheHustle Podcast Festival. Everyone that attends the summit events leaves with a major bag and this year will be no different!
Some other things to look forward to this year:
Black Business Bootcamps: Our Black business bootcamps are back and better than ever. This year, our Side Hustlers can look forward to the following events:
An event focused on all things marketing for side hustlers! From free headshots to resume tips and LinkedIn optimization, you don’t want to miss this!
The keys to drafting the perfect contract & Intellectual Property 101
Guided meditations and a workshop on building a self-care routine
Special workshop on banking & finance with our presenting sponsor, Fifth Third Bank!
$3 & A Dream Cohort: In 2022, we launched our inaugural $3 and a Dream cohort—a small cohort of young Black entrepreneurs that receive 9 months of free business coaching on items including but not limited to: creating a successful digital presence, protecting your brand assets and designs, creating an exit plan and successful strategies for scaling. We look forward to presenting our newest cohort at this year’s $3 & A Dream Convention!
Side Hustle Economy Co. Creative Marketing Fellow started on January 17th: Desiree Taylor is a junior at Indiana University Bloomington, studying Journalism with a concentration in Public Relations. Her minor is in African and African American Diaspora Studies (AAADS). She currently serves as the director of public relations for the Multicultural Greek Council and is also a GROUPS, Hoosier Family, and 21st Century Scholar. She is a proud product of Gary, Indiana, and we are thankful to have her on our team this semester!
Join our team: The Side Hustle Economy Co. feels so blessed and excited to be HIRING a support staffer in 2023. More information will come so y’all be on the lookout for that!
Celebrating the Work, Life, and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
As we all know, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day just passed on January 16th. In this nation, it seems like ‘MLK Day’ is the day where seemingly everyone comes together to recognize the work that Dr. King championed during the Civil Rights Movement. However, we know that this holiday has gradually become more and more whitewashed as we have moved farther from the complexities of Dr. King’s work and closer to portrayals of this profound scholar and human being as simply a symbol for pacifism and integration to assuage white guilt. We seem to never get into the more nuanced understanding of who Dr. King was as a human being and a movement worker—his sacrifices, compromises, and confliction.
In the last year of his life, Dr. King moved his movement work to the Northern part of the country to address the need for more adequate housing and better working conditions in places like Chicago and Memphis. After witnessing the economic struggles in the North that fostered urban poverty and violence, Marian Wright Edelman pitched the Poor People’s campaign to Dr. King. The Poor People’s Campaign was an effort to establish economic security as the next building block to fortify full citizenship for African-Americans and other minorities. In many ways, Dr. King’s efforts to challenge the economic systems in America challenged his own bandwidth for believing in hope and reconciliation in this nation.
Every year, the youngest child of Dr. Bernice A. King makes a point to remind the world that her father died as one of the most hated men in America. It was not until after his death and the subsequent advocacy work done by Mrs. Coretta Scott King to solidify his legacy that we began to shift the narrative on his life’s work.
Today, our narratives often leave out Dr. King’s humanity— his struggles to continue to find hope in the face of darkness while maintaining some semblance of wellbeing within himself. The last few years have left us with less capacity and more questions about how to be who we are called to be in a world that is constantly deprioritizing purpose. That is why this year, the Side Hustle Economy Co. is continuing our mission to build a community that supports not just Black-owned businesses but also the people that build them. You all. Us.
As young Black entrepreneurs, we understand that Dr. King’s work is the foundation that we stand on. The work of Civil Rights was not just political, it was deeply spiritual and it was a fight for Black dignity and freedom. Today, the Side Hustle Economy Co. is continuing that fight by providing the education and inspiration we need to build up our community.
I invite you all to watch the documentary King in the Wilderness which shows the life and work of Dr. King from a human-centered perspective. No matter how committed we are to our life’s work, let us always remember our humanity.
Winter ‘22 Showcase!
Good Day Good People!
As we push into this last stretch of 2022, I want to thank you all for your commitment to Circle City Storytellers and the Side Hustle Economy Co. This year’s events have exceeded our expectations and it is because of you all that we have been able to thrive. Thank you all for your commitment to excellence and for supporting this community while building the Naptown we want to see!
Before this year is up, we have a few more things in store for y’all. Coming up on December 16th and 17th, Circle City Storytellers and the Side Hustle Economy Co. will be hosting three events as part of the Winter 2022 Black Business Showcase Weekend to help you round out your 2022 Black business excellence and prepare for even more in 2023.
On Friday, December 16th, Circle City Storytellers will host “The Final Feast”, a dinner commemorating the end of the Circle City Storytellers and MELI collaboration workshop series. There is power in Black stories and this collaboration was a strong representation of that. Come through for good food, great vendors, excellent music, and powerful words from the workshop facilitators that have served CCS this year. You don’t want to miss this so pull up to the MELI showroom on Friday, December 16th at 6pm.
6:00 pm - Doors Open / Dinner Begins To Be Served
6:30 pm - Words From The Hosts & Presenters
7:00 pm - Open Floor
7:30 pm - Network
8:00 pm - End
Click here to secure your spot!
On Saturday, December 17th from 1:00-2:30pm at the Lacy School of Business, Murdock LLC will host the 2023 Ma$terplan Session. Y’all already know the saying goes, “If you fail to prepare then you prepare to…” that’s right, FAIL! Everything you do prepares you to either grow, remain stagnant, or regress. Since all of you reading this want to do your very best to prepare for your win, then you know how imperative it is that you come out and get your business plan together for 2023. You know for sure that if Murdock is involved then value will be added! That being said, if you attend the 2023 Ma$terplan Session, then you can definitely expect to walk away with the following:
The ten most important questions that inform a great strategic plan
Five ways to align your brand's mission and goals using strategy, objectives and tactics
Three things you must keep in mind when writing your own strategic plan
Your ticket will also get you 10 ENTRIES into our Black Business Showcase Weekend Raffle!
Click here to secure your spot!
To close out the Winter 2022 Black Business Showcase Weekend, the Side Hustle Economy Co. will host a FREE Black Business Showcase. On Saturday, September 17th from 3:30-5:00 pm at the Lacy School of Business, start-up founders and serial entrepreneurs from The Mastermind community will give presentations and share stories about their business’ growth this year. This is the perfect opportunity to connect with Naptown’s Black entrepreneur network, learn more about the work they do, and get inspired to start your own entrepreneurial journey!
In addition, there will be THREE giveaways during the Black Business Showcase. Two of the giveaways will include opportunities to work with our partners from Balance Period and Intentionally Social. The third giveaway will be a chance to win a grant from $3 and A Dream!
Again, y’all do not want to miss this so go ahead and reserve your spot!
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As we close out 2022, the Side Hustle Economy Co. and Circle City Storytellers are filled with gratitude for all that we have been able to accomplish this year. You all are our foundation and if it wasn’t for your support, then we would not have been able to build such a beautiful community of Black entrepreneurs.
As we approach 2023, our hope for each and every one of you is that you take this work one goal, one objective, and one day at a time. Prioritize your rest as well as your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. The work is heavy, but when we take good care of ourselves, we can carry it forward together.
We love y’all and we can’t wait to see y’all soon.
Black August
Happy End of Summer Good People!
As August wraps up, we want to say thank you to our Side Hustler community for making Summer 2022 one to remember! Black August is all about supporting Black businesses and highlighting our value, but y’all do that 365 and we love you for that.
Summer is an exciting time to be out feeling good and living better, but Fall calls on us to get back to our business, and the Side Hustle Economy Co. is here to help set the tone for your Fall plan of action. As we transition, there are a number of exciting things happening that we want to make sure to share with you.
First up, our Fall ‘22 Make it Make $ense Black Business Bootcamp starts soon. If you are a side hustler, full time entrepreneur, or just thinking about starting a business then RUN (don’t walk) to register for this series. Y’all already know the value that Murdock is bringing so you don’t want to miss it! See below for the vibes!
Tuesday, September 6 at 7PM: Murdock will host a MasterClass on how to effectively transition from side-hustling to full time entrepreneurship!
Wednesday, September at 6PM: Join us for a conversation with marketing expert and Black entrepreneur Travis Jayden Brown as he shares his story of how he built a nationally recognized marketing-firm. We will be making two VERY special announcements at this event, so you don’t miss out!!
Monday, September 19 at 6PM: Join the Side Hustle Economy Company & Edna Martin Christian Center as we talk about our partnership with Verizon Wireless’ new platform for entrepreneurs! You’ll have the opportunity to join the platform for FREE and learn about Black businesses in Indianapolis!
Tuesday, September 27 at 7PM: Join the Side Hustle Economy Co. for a session led by our corporate sponsor for the Business Bootcamp series, Fifth Third Bank. Fifth Third Bank will host a workshop on how to strategically finance your business operations! You don’t want to miss it!
Friday, September 30 at 4PM: Join us at 16Tech as we conclude the Business Bootcamp with a call-out and happy hour for our incubation programs! If you are thinking about starting a business or have a plan to start one then this is for you!! We’ll be working with our partners at G4 Unlimited on this one so it’s absolutely going to be an experience!
Next up is our partnership with the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform. Here’s the deal: 1)Sign up for access to FREE business resources 2)Use the resources 3)Join our September 19th bootcamp session and be ready to talk about your experience with the platform
Finally, we want to highlight our new addition to the Side Hustle Economy Co. team. Mahogany Simpson is joining us as our second Creative Marketing Fellow, and we feel grateful and excited to have her on board. Mahogany will work in fellowship with the Side Hustle Economy Co. team to continue building our media strategy by using her gifts and talents. More to come on our awesome new addition! Click here to read more about our first fellow’s experience.
The Fall is shaping up to be very Black and very busy.
See y’all September 6th!
The Bootcamp Is Back!
Happy August Good People!
The Side Hustle Economy Co. has some great things happening and we are excited to bring them to you this month!
August is Black Business Month and that means we are loving and supporting Black owned businesses with our $$$ like we always do (but mo’ betta)! Started in 2004 by two Black entrepreneurs, Black Business Month is a time to reinvigorate support for Black owned businesses nationwide by highlighting the businesses that keep our communities going. Click here to read more about the history of Black Business Month, and be sure to continue supporting your local Black businesses starting with the businesses owned and operated by the people you know and love in your own community.
In the spirit of Black Business Month, the Side Hustle Economy Co. is working to equip the side hustlers and small business owners we know and love with the necessary tools for success. That’s why during the month of September, we will host a five part Business Bootcamp. During our September Business Bootcamp, attendees will learn the major keys to building and protecting their side hustles. See below for a breakdown of the events!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR BUSINESS BOOTCAMP!
Tuesday, September 6 at 7PM: Murdock will host a MasterClass on how to effectively transition from side-hustling to full time entrepreneurship!
Wednesday, September at 6PM: Join us for a conversation with marketing expert and Black entrepreneur Travis Jayden Brown as he shares his story of how he built a nationally recognized marketing-firm. We will be making two VERY special announcements at this event, so you don’t miss out!!
Monday, September 19 at 6PM: Join the Side Hustle Economy Company & Edna Martin Christian Center as we talk about our partnership with Verizon Wireless’ new platform for entrepreneurs! You’ll have the opportunity to join the platform for FREE and learn about Black business in Indianapolis!
Tuesday, September 27 at 7PM: Join the Side Hustle Economy Co. for a session led by our corporate sponsor for the Business Bootcamp series, Fifth Third Bank. Fifth Third Bank will host a workshop on how to strategically finance your business operations! You don’t want to miss it!
Friday, September 30 at 4PM: Join us at 16Tech as we conclude the Business Bootcamp with a call-out and happy hour for our incubation programs! If you are thinking about starting a business or have a plan to start one then this is for you!! We’ll be working with our partners at G4 Unlimited on this one so it’s absolutely going to be an experience!
This Business Bootcamp series is definitely going to be something special and you don’t want to miss out!
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR BUSINESS BOOTCAMP!
We’ll see you soon!
A Story of Growth & Development
Fellowship: friendly association, especially with people who share one's interests.
Good day beautiful people!
As we previously mentioned, there are more resources and opportunities coming to you from the Side Hustle Economy Co. Up next is the application for our second Side Hustle Economy Co. Fellowship program which will go live in August 2022!
One major goal of the Side Hustle Economy Co. is to build up the Indianapolis community which means providing opportunities for community members to use their skills. This is why when our founder Murdock decided to start the Side Hustle Economy Co., he knew that a fellowship program was necessary for the organization. The purpose of this fellowship is to empower young people with entrepreneurial spirits to gain the hands-on knowledge and experience they need to thrive in their industry or business. Our inaugural Fellow, Jadyn Jones, was a phenomenal addition to the team during her time as a Fellow and contributed to the Side Hustle Economy Co. greatly by providing the key knowledge and skills necessary to take the company to the next level.
Read on to learn more about our inaugural Fellow’s experience !
Jadyn Jones was looking for the perfect opportunity to grow personally and professionally and she found it when she applied to the Side Hustle Economy Co.’s fellowship program. From January to April 2022, Jadyn worked diligently to support the company’s work. Now, as the youngest Area Manager on her shift at Amazon, she attributes much of her confidence and proficiency to her time as a Side Hustle Economy Co. Fellow.
In the Spring of 2022, Jadyn Jones was a senior at the University of Southern Indiana (USI) completing her B.A. in Communications with a minor in Social Media Management. As a senior with major goals and a neverending checklist of things to do, she was looking for another internship opportunity to help her gain more practical and professional experience before graduation. After experiencing an internship where she felt uncomfortable in her working environment, she knew that she wanted to learn in a place that also affirmed her identity. When she attended a presentation by Kristen Lampkin (The H.R. Guru) at USI, she learned about Murdock and the Side Hustle Economy Co.’s fellowship program. After the presentation, she connected with Kristen and did a deep dive on Murdock and The Side Hustle Economy Co.’s work. As a Black-led company with a mission to support and uplift the Black community in Indianapolis, the Side Hustle Economy Co. was exactly what Jadyn was looking for. From then, she was sold and she decided to apply to the fellowship.
When she applied, Jadyn had no expectations for the work she would be doing. Actually, she was nervous about whether she could balance the responsibilities of the fellowship with her school workload. However, after she was accepted into the fellowship, she knew she wanted to take on the challenge.
During her time as a fellow, Jadyn did a lot of behind the scenes work performing data analytics for the Side Hustle Economy Co.’s social media and website. As a Communications major with a minor in Social Media Management, she was able to apply her knowledge of social media analytics and marketing to help The Side Hustle Economy Co. grow its social media presence. Though she was still in undergrad, Jadyn felt that there was mutual trust and that she had the independence to be creative in her work as a Fellow. In her new work environment, Jadyn was also met with vulnerability and she felt that she was truly in fellowship with the Side Hustle Economy Co.’s team—she felt that her voice truly mattered. While on the team, she had the space to ask questions and share her opinions about her work which enhanced her experience exponentially.
Looking back, Jadyn knows that the major theme of her fellowship was growth. She was able to develop as an individual and as a young Black professional during her experience. The Side Hustle Economy Co. fellowship required her to use different parts of her brain and allowed her to stretch beyond the classroom and into the field. She learned the importance of building relationships and how to get rid of imposter syndrome while leading new projects for the company that allowed the company to build a strong foundation.
Today, as an Area Manager at Amazon, she uses data and logistics to streamline operations for more than 120 associates. Being the youngest person on her team can be intimidating, but Jadyn knows the importance of engagement, transparency, and relationship building so she is equipped with the confidence and expertise to manage her team. Because of her fellowship with the Side Hustle Economy Co., Jadyn knows that building genuine relationships with people can go a long way inside and out of the workplace.
When asked what she would tell potential applicants, Jadyn said simply, “Apply! If you’re thinking about it, that means that it’s for you, so go for it. This fellowship is for people who want to grow personally and professionally. Go in with an open mind.”
The application for the second Side Hustle Economy Co. Fellowship opened today. This is an opportunity to work with a company dedicated to building up the Black Indianapolis community and creating lasting connections.
We want to continue to work alongside Naptown’s best and brightest so be sure to apply at the link below!
Our First Year In Business!
Happy Friday Good People!
First, let me just say thank you to everyone that has attended a Side Hustle Economy Co. event in the last 12 months. July marks the end of the year for the Side Hustle Economy Co. and this last year has absolutely been one for the books. So often, we don’t take the time to look back at what we’ve accomplished because we’re focused on the next exciting thing, but this past year warrants a review because Naptown’s side hustlers made it happen!
July 2021 marked a very special moment for the Side Hustle Economy Co. because on July 20, 2021, we hosted our inaugural Side Hustle Economy Summit followed by our inaugural $3 And A Dream Convention. During our inaugural summit, we hosted presentations and panel discussions with local entrepreneurs and side hustlers where we learned about how to manage our money effectively and keep our mental health in check. This inaugural summit set the tone for the rest of the year which brought even more Black excellence.
In the Fall of 2021, we partnered with organizations like LISC Indy, Versiti Blood Center, SHE. Xperience, and Verizon to bring even more business resources and community connection to the Side Hustle Economy community. We learned about how to transform our businesses from a Sole Proprietorship to an LLC and how to fight Sickle Cell Anemia in the Black Community. We ran up the numbers on the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform and talked about what we learned at Black Business Study Halls with Ms. Katina Washington of the SHE. Xperience. Y’all showed out for the Powerpreneur Development Program and Winning With A Purpose Workshops. We got weekly doses of need-to-know knowledge from our founder Murdock with Make It Make $ense Mondays, and we rounded out the year with a Bless The Hustle podcast workshop and the first $3 And A Dream Grant Program while making our side hustles Pitch Perfect with the Kheprw Institute.
2022 began with a bang as we hosted Black Wealth Week during Black History Month. We heard from Northwestern Mutual, Balance Period, and The JL Law Firm about how to build and protect our wealth. This all led to our 2nd Annual Side Hustle Economy Summit where we reached new heights.
While July is a month of rest for the Side Hustle Economy Co., we want to acknowledge how valuable each and every side hustler in the Side Hustle Economy Co. community is to this organization and this city. This organization exists to serve Black side hustlers in Indianapolis because we all make the city what it is. From July 2021 to July 2022, none of our events would have had as much impact without each one of you. Every year we’re able to do more and more because of the dedication you all have to your side hustles and your city. Y’all are special and we are grateful to be able to do this work alongside you.
The coming months will bring a lot more resources and opportunities, but for now we rest!
Have a beautiful, Black, and bold July! 💚❤️🖤
Can You Hear Me Now?
Click Here for Your Next Major Bag!!!
Good morning, good people! I hope your week has been bountifully blessed and beautifully Black! The Side Hustle Economy Company has something special coming to you live this week so be sure to read the whole page to get in on this! If you missed out on our Side Hustle Economy Summit, this is the perfect opportunity for you to make it up to yourself and your business!
Our partners over at Verizon Wireless have given the Side Hustle Economy community side hustlers (y’all) an incredible opportunity to win $10,000 for side hustling! Winning money for doing what you already do!? Sounds like a win-win situation to me. In order to be entered to win, there are a few things you need to do:
#1 Go ahead and click this link and sign up for the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform. I’ll give you a moment to do that…
Have you done it? Okay, GOOD! This platform will give you access to endless business resources FOR FREE. Need help with operations, customer service, finances, or marketing? This platform has videos that guide you through all of that. Did I mention that you can experience this for FREE.99? Okay, just checking.
#2 Once you’ve signed up for the platform, choose at least two courses and/or coaching events to view. For a course, the prework, video, and practice sections must all be complete. For a coaching event, attend the session and complete the conclusion question by June 30, 2022!
#3 After you finish, be sure to apply to the LISC Grant Application.
#4 After you’ve signed up, share the link with three side hustlers encouraging them to sign up and we’ll send you a FREE study guide for the entire platform.
That’s it! That’s all!
The Side Hustle Economy Co. exists to bring opportunities like these to the Black side hustler community in Naptown. The more side hustlers we can onboard onto the platform, the more opportunities like these we can provide for y’all free of charge.
After onboarding a number of side hustlers to the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform during the Fall of 2021, from November 3rd to 17th, we worked with Katina Washington of the SHE. Xperience to host a series of study halls for Black entrepreneurs in the Side Hustle Economy Company community. We discussed key business “playbook” resources that we found on the platform and shared major keys for taking practical steps to becoming a powerful and prepared side hustler.
We want all of you to have these resources at your fingertips so signup for the Verizon Small Business Digital Ready platform and get the FREE resources you need for your side hustle today!
We’re Two for Two!
Respite: a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.
May was quite a month y’all! Our Founder and Executive Director, Murdock, graduated from the IU McKinney School of Law (I SEE YOU SHININ’), and we hosted the second annual Side Hustle Economy summit!
Walking into each event for the Side Hustle Economy Summit, you could tell that folks were excited to be there. From the Bless the Hustle pt. 2 podcast seminar to the $3 and A Dream convention, side hustlers from across the city were activated and excited to be receiving practical tools for how to enhance their side hustles. During our week of events, we learned about how to develop a podcast from the ground up with the Pregame Podcast, and watched the documentary of the making of the Side Hustle Economy at the Kan Kan cinema. We opened business bank accounts and we heard from HR professionals, lawyers, and mental health advocates about how to protect your brand and your sanity while building your side hustle at our bootcamp; and on Saturday, we heard a panel discussion and supported Black-owned businesses with $3 and a Dream. If you missed out, you definitely missed a bag—but, that’s okay. We’ll have even more opportunities for you to elevate your side hustle.
As for the month of June, thank you for coming–we’re happy you’re here. The month of June is special for a few reasons, but a major reason is that we get to celebrate Juneteenth. We celebrate Juneteenth (June 19th) because, on this day in 1865, Union soldiers rode into Galveston, Texas to enforce General Order, No. 3—alerting enslaved African-Americans that they were no longer enslaved, thus catalyzing their journey to self-determination. As entrepreneurs and side hustlers, Juneteenth is significant for us because it reminds us that we have the power to determine things for ourselves.
One major detail of the Juneteenth holiday is that the enslaved African-Americans were told of their freedom two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, which means that their enslavers had no intention of telling them about their freedom. Implicit in this is the enslavers desire to keep the enslaved subdued and subservient. As entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and Black people in Indianapolis, we know that there are constantly forces that are working against us. Together, we can work to build up our communities using our entrepreneurial spirits.
PS: Checkout the pictures from The Summit, captured by @way.too.g
Black Wealth Week Was Wonderful!
During the second and third weeks of Black History Month, we had four boot camp events that focused on wealth generation, mental health and the law.
On Tuesday February 8 and Thursday February 10th, we had events with several Black advisors from Northwestern Mutual! On the 8th, we had a very engaging conversation focused on defining “generational wealth building”, educating attendees on some hi-level wealth generation language and informing attendees on the things to look for in a financial advisor. On Thursday, we went from theoretical to practical, talking through the elements of a financial plan and connecting attendees with their own financial advisor.
The next week, we focused on PROTECTION! On Tuesday the 15th, we focused on protecting our mental health as side hustlers via a workshop facilitated by Balance Period. Through the end of 2022, we’ll be partnering with this Black-owned mindfulness company to empower Black side hustlers with their own sustainable, self-care systems. We closed it out on Thursday the 17th with a very intimate and engaging conversation with The JL Law Firm on how to protect your brand as a side hustler with things like trademarks and copyrights.
We are excited about all that is to come this year; we can’t spoil all the surprises, but be sure to mark your calendar for the week of May 22 when we’ll be hosting our Second Annual Side Hustle Economy Summit!
Happy Holidays from 3Dollar$ & A Dream
To celebrate the holidays, we took some time to give back to the Black apparel entrepreneurs that continue to push the culture forward!
We opened applications for our Inaugural 3Dollar$ & A Dream Grant Program on Monday, 11/22 and they poured in consistently until applications closed on 12/22! This grant program provides a $1000 grant to a Black apparel entrepreneur in Indianapolis along with free business coaching for six months and primetime promotion at our Second Annual 3Dollar$ & A Dream Convention.
We received a total of 70 applications, each with unique origin stories and needs, ultimately selecting Shanita Hunt of Top Tier Co. as our inaugural grant recipient!
But it gets better, for two reasons:
Thanks to our friends over at LISC Indy, we were able to provide grants to two additional Black apparel entrepreneurs: Tirus Duncan of Everybody’s Somebody and Deonna Weatherly of 4SET Apparel!
Thanks to the generosity of our program partner, Isaac Avant of HKD Clothing & 3Stax Manufacturing, we’ll be providing free business coaching to ALL 70 APPLICANTS!
The Side Hustle Economy Company is unapologetic about our mission to empower Black side hustlers to achieve their entrepreneurial dreams; we can’t talk about the “side hustle” if we’re not talking about the Black apparel entrepreneurs who set fashion trends that keep us looking good so we can feel better and do our best! Shoutout to everybody that applied for this year’s grant program; we can’t wait to see y’all at the 2022 3Dollar$ & A Dream Convention! Happy Holidays :)
#BlessTheHustle Pt. II
On Sunday December 12, we came back for the second of four installments of #BlessTheHustle and it was excellent!
In this seminar, the objective was to learn strategies for building and sustaining a successful podcast listener community. There were a total of four activities, three segments, too many gems, one video and lots of great conversation!
We are deeply thankful to The Pregame Podcast for being our partner on this program; their work as subject matter experts is what makes this program so special. We are also thankful to the Indianapolis Public Libraries for providing space for us to conduct these seminars.
Last but not least, we were able to host our first blood drive with Versiti! We mentioned a number of times in past blog posts that we believe in connecting entrepreneurship to impact; the partnership with Versiti provides us the opportunity to do just that. We are committed to raising awareness for Sickle Cell Anemia within our community of Black side hustlers, primarily because Black folks are disproportionately impacted by the disease.
We would like to extend a special thanks to Versiti for their partnership and we are thankful that we hosted our first successful drive right after the podcast seminar.
Our next seminar and blood drive will be this Spring; stay tuned for more updates! Thanks to @way.too.g for capturing some candid moments from our seminar and drive. See y’all soon!
Black Business Study Halls
Over the past year, Verizon and the Verizon Foundation has supported Small Businesses through LISC grants of $17.5M, and now Verizon is working with Next Street to design an integrated, personalized and approachable learning community that gives small businesses the tools they need to be successful in today’s changing world. Verizon Small Business Digital Ready offers:
Curated content including structured and self-guided curricula
Expert coaches to help businesses apply what they learn
Access to peers to share knowledge and build community
Incentives to propel small businesses forward
Last month, LISC Indy reached out to us and provided our community (y’all) the opportunity to get early access to these tools and courses! In response, we got right to work and started thinking about innovative ways to spread the word about these resources while also creating opportunities to build community among Black entrepreneurs.
Sooooo, we reached out to our friend Katina Washington over at the SHE. Experience and proposed that we’d host a series of study halls for Black entrepreneurs to review what they learned from the Verizon courses and she loved the idea! November was such an incredible month because we built community while building competency. Checkout the recap video, courtesy of JBF Media, to see how it all went down. You can still access the courses and content here!
More Than A Blood Type
On Tuesday, November 16, we hosted an event in partnership with Versiti, Inc., the Indianapolis Public Library and The Pregame Podcast to educate our community on Sickle Cell Anemia!
This event was a one-on-one conversation moderated by our founder, Anthony Murdock II, featuring a subject matter expert from Versiti, Inc., Dr. Tajuana Ryder! Dr. Ryder spoke to the following topics:
What causes Sickle Cell Anemia?
Are there symptoms that might indicate you're sick?
How do you know whether or not you're at risk of having Sickle Cell Anemia?
Can you get tested to see if you have the trait or disease?
Is there a cure for Sickle Cell Anemia?
How do we support those living with Sickle Cell Anemia?
What can our community do to fight this disease?
What qualifications are required to donate blood?
Are there dietary restrictions, blood type requirements, etc.
If you missed the event but want to support this partnership moving forward, be sure to come out to the blood drive we are hosting at the Downtown Public Library on Sunday, December 12! The drive will be from 2:45-4:15PM, which is immediately following #BlessTheHustle Pt. 2. See you on 12/12!
Biz Workshop w/ LISC Indy: Sole Proprietorship to LLC
On September 28, we hosted a workshop in partnership with LISC Indy to help ten Black entrepreneurs transition from sole proprietors to entrepreneurs with limited liability companies!
This two-hour workshop taught entrepreneurs to complete the following tasks:
Discussing the benefits and risks of sole proprietorship
Assistance with getting LLC structure registered with the State of Indiana
Showed entrepreneurs how to obtain an Employer Identification Number
Showed entrepreneurs how to order a Certificate of Existence
LISC Indy provided the monetary resources for all ten of these entrepreneurs to register their businesses with the State of Indiana AND order a Certificate of Existence for FREE!
You can checkout the two hour workshop, below:
#BlessTheHustle
On September 19th. we hosted the first of four installments of #BlessTheHustle in partnership with The Pregame Podcast!
#BlessTheHustle is a podcast incubation program that empowers Black side hustlers to ideate, create, build and sustain a successful podcast. The partnership allows for The Side Hustle Economy Company to provide a space, community and curriculum while The Pregame Podcast provides subject matter expertise, facilitation and strategic vision on how to impact the people that need this the most.
During the first installment, we focused on the following pillars:
Defining a podcast
Identifying peer models
Building a foundation
Categorizing podcast content
The ins-and-outs of creating show content
We were able to serve a group of 15 current or aspiring podcasters and he hosted this event at Pivot Marketing in Fountain Square! Checkout the recap video below, courtesy of JBF Media. Stay tuned for more information on the next installment, coming on December 12!
3Dollar$ & A Dream
Indianapolis, affectionately known as Naptown, is a city that’s bustling with a nitty, gritty, unapologetically creative hustling spirit! We exist to help expose, educate, equip and INCUBATE this spirit in a way that’s culturally competent, equitable and accessible. 3Dollar$ & A Dream was created to do this for Black apparel entrepreneurs!
On July 17th, we hosted the inaugural 3Dollar$ & A Dream Convention and it was amazing! To start, we had 2 hours of engaging panel discussions on the following topics:
To kick it off, Mike G from WDRFA spoke on scheduling and planning a successful rollout for a clothing brand. His insights were profound and went on to prove why WDRFA continues to be such a successful brand!
Following the discussion on scheduling and planning, CP from Komafi got straight to the business! He was able to talk about how (and when) to turn your brand into an “official business”, ways to grow the business outside of sales, and so much more!
An hour into the discussions, Monty from MELI came through and dropped gems! It is so difficult to be Black and successful in The City when you’re in the apparel space and he gave practical tips on persevering through the hard times so you can celebrate the wins.
Last but definitely not least, founder of HKD Clothing and partner for the 3Dollar$ & A Dream program, Isaac Avant, closed out the panel discussions with some insights on investing into your business. When you are so busy DOING, it’s hard to focus on DEVELOPING, but businesses can only grow when they develop. Isaac gave some concrete takeaways for everyone in attendance on how they can do AND develop!
Following these two hours of panel discussions, we got to the fun! For four hours, we enjoyed music from Slick Vic the DJ, food from Sazon de Panama & Tynetta’s Healthy Eats and an incredible shopping experience featuring six, local, Black-owned clothing brands! Checkout the recap video below, courtesy of JBF Media. Stay tuned for more information on the next installment, coming on August 21!
A Successful Summit!
Here’s the recap of the first-ever Side Hustle Economy Summit!
The first Side Hustle Economy Summit was a success! We have detailed a brief recap, below:
Grand Opening: The grand opening included a spoken word performance by Mariah Ivey, presentations by our incubation partners HKD Clothing & The Pregame Podcast, a testimonial by one of our Side Hustle Bootcamp graduates Black in HR Indy and hosted by Joshua Posley of J. Posley LLC. Checkout the video recap here, courtesy of JBF Media.
How To Market The Hustle: Black in HR Indy facilitated this panel discussion, providing insights on how side hustlers can elevate their personal brands! They spoke on ways to market outside of social media, establishing & serving a target market effectively and maintaining a side hustle that does not conflict with your 9-5.
How To Make The Hustle Make Cents: Jason Greene, an accountant based out of Indianapolis, provided in-depth insights on how side hustlers can manage their money most effectively. He spoke on ways that side hustlers can finance their hustle, how and when to file taxes, the ins and outs of business credit and opening a business bank account.
How To Keep The Hustle Healthy: A panel of mental health advocates brought the week to a close in such an incredible way, providing immense value to attendees over the 90-minute discussion. They spoke on everything from developing priorities to effectively managing time to work/life balance! The panelists are listed below:
Recovery Ray of Balance Period
Lavia Graham of The Wealth of Health
Natalie Murdock of Another Day, Another Chance
Joshua Posley of J. Posley LLC