NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT

Question 1

Martine: I remember, all the customers know my son! After 3 months (of having him), that was when we opened the store. That’s Marvin right there. Johnny: oh he’s the longest employee! Martine: haha yes, he’s here, all the time! Johnny: So he’s 11 now - and I think that’s really cool. He was born, you opened the store. It’s like the whole journey is together. So when you opened the store, what made you design on a hair supply store? Martine: I was looking at the marketing, the top type of stores is food related or a hair store. We’re women so we like to be beautiful, that’s how I was thinking about it - Beauty is a big business - it’s a big business and people will do everything to to keep themselves beautiful and thats what made me decide to open a beauty supply store. Johnny: And I think it’s also you’re providing a really important thing for the community - This is so important and key to provide something for the people in the community. What made you guys decide to open in Dorchester? Martine: In the city, in the community of Dorchester, we have a lot of friends around and before I opened, a friend used to have a bridal shower and she was here for 30 years. I asked her, I talked to people for advice, and people said this is a good place to open a beauty store and would have good business. Basically, the people of this neighborhood are like me - Black. We like to do our hair and that's why I chose Dorchester. Johnny: And that’s really cool because Dorchester is a really diverse community - there’s a large Hatian Community, a large Dominican community, African American community, Asian community, it’s a melting pot. I think what’s really cool about doing this project so far is that the majority of the business owners that I have talked to are all people of color. Which I think is really nice and important to see. I know you said there has been up and down and with COVID19, it’s been one of the tougher times. How has that been going? Martine: When we hit February and I was listening to the situation, I didn’t take it too seriously. I was watching the news but we still had customers coming in, buying. When we hit March, that’s when I realize this is something different, this is going to be tough. Business began going down, I wasn’t selling, I had 2 to 3 customers per day, I was thinking of what I was going to do, then on the 21st they announced that it was going to close down the businesses, I will never forget this. I said “wow” and by noon time on the 24th we had to shut down, I was thinking the mayor announced that we are going to shut down for 7 days, then after listen to the news, it became longer. THey said they were going to extend it to more time, I was like wow. It has been 2 months since we shut down. I didn’t even know what we were going to do. I said maybe I’ll be out of businesses, I was thinking of what to do. The owner (of building), Alan, he helped me too. He called me “there’s a lot of applications out there that you can get help”. He was great, he was on top of it, he was calling me, sending me emails, and helping me apply for grants with the City of Boston to help me pay for the rent because the rent is expensive. And I applied because I really appreciate the City of Boston because they help us, it helped me pay one month, I was two months behind. So Thank god I paid him, so we open back up, and we’re moving forward. Johnny: And I think that’s really special to hear because no matter how hard it was, you never gave up. It speaks volumes to who you are and what you want for your family, this is not just YOUR business, it’s your family business. It’s a scary time too, not just as a business owner but also as a mother. I know for your son, school was closed, there was a lot of changes happening at once for everyone. I think it’s really good to see how you continued to fight and to move forward. So what are you hoping for the future now? I know COVID19 is still here and you have to adapt. Martine: We have to adapt, to keep the social distancing, to protect ourselves, and taking the precautions that best can - wearing a mask, wearing goggles, because I don’t think it’ll end anytime soon. I think we will to keep following the guidelines to keep the community, the people, to keep them safe and ourselves safe also. Johnny: Do you have anything else you would like to share? Martine: I just got the re-opening fund and I’m really happy about it. Now I can do everything to keep social distancing, buy what we need to keep ourselves and our community safe. We are really thankful to the City of Boston, to the Governor, the Mayor, and everything - FCMS! Jackey came to help me with the application because when I did the application, I could not submit. There was question, whatever you put, I couldn’t submit it. Thank god Jackey passing by to check in, I explained to her that I filled out the application and I couldn’t submit it. Jackey said “okay, I’ll be back!”, she came back with her laptop, helped me submit it. Now I have the funds and I really appreciate it. Johnny: And that’s the thing, these applications are there but they make it really difficult to understand. Martine: We’re really appreciate it and we are thankful!

Question 2

Martine: I remember, all the customers know my son! After 3 months (of having him), that was when we opened the store. That’s Marvin right there. Johnny: oh he’s the longest employee! Martine: haha yes, he’s here, all the time! Johnny: So he’s 11 now - and I think that’s really cool. He was born, you opened the store. It’s like the whole journey is together. So when you opened the store, what made you design on a hair supply store? Martine: I was looking at the marketing, the top type of stores is food related or a hair store. We’re women so we like to be beautiful, that’s how I was thinking about it - Beauty is a big business - it’s a big business and people will do everything to to keep themselves beautiful and thats what made me decide to open a beauty supply store. Johnny: And I think it’s also you’re providing a really important thing for the community - This is so important and key to provide something for the people in the community. What made you guys decide to open in Dorchester? Martine: In the city, in the community of Dorchester, we have a lot of friends around and before I opened, a friend used to have a bridal shower and she was here for 30 years. I asked her, I talked to people for advice, and people said this is a good place to open a beauty store and would have good business. Basically, the people of this neighborhood are like me - Black. We like to do our hair and that's why I chose Dorchester. Johnny: And that’s really cool because Dorchester is a really diverse community - there’s a large Hatian Community, a large Dominican community, African American community, Asian community, it’s a melting pot. I think what’s really cool about doing this project so far is that the majority of the business owners that I have talked to are all people of color. Which I think is really nice and important to see. I know you said there has been up and down and with COVID19, it’s been one of the tougher times. How has that been going? Martine: When we hit February and I was listening to the situation, I didn’t take it too seriously. I was watching the news but we still had customers coming in, buying. When we hit March, that’s when I realize this is something different, this is going to be tough. Business began going down, I wasn’t selling, I had 2 to 3 customers per day, I was thinking of what I was going to do, then on the 21st they announced that it was going to close down the businesses, I will never forget this. I said “wow” and by noon time on the 24th we had to shut down, I was thinking the mayor announced that we are going to shut down for 7 days, then after listen to the news, it became longer. THey said they were going to extend it to more time, I was like wow. It has been 2 months since we shut down. I didn’t even know what we were going to do. I said maybe I’ll be out of businesses, I was thinking of what to do. The owner (of building), Alan, he helped me too. He called me “there’s a lot of applications out there that you can get help”. He was great, he was on top of it, he was calling me, sending me emails, and helping me apply for grants with the City of Boston to help me pay for the rent because the rent is expensive. And I applied because I really appreciate the City of Boston because they help us, it helped me pay one month, I was two months behind. So Thank god I paid him, so we open back up, and we’re moving forward. Johnny: And I think that’s really special to hear because no matter how hard it was, you never gave up. It speaks volumes to who you are and what you want for your family, this is not just YOUR business, it’s your family business. It’s a scary time too, not just as a business owner but also as a mother. I know for your son, school was closed, there was a lot of changes happening at once for everyone. I think it’s really good to see how you continued to fight and to move forward. So what are you hoping for the future now? I know COVID19 is still here and you have to adapt. Martine: We have to adapt, to keep the social distancing, to protect ourselves, and taking the precautions that best can - wearing a mask, wearing goggles, because I don’t think it’ll end anytime soon. I think we will to keep following the guidelines to keep the community, the people, to keep them safe and ourselves safe also. Johnny: Do you have anything else you would like to share? Martine: I just got the re-opening fund and I’m really happy about it. Now I can do everything to keep social distancing, buy what we need to keep ourselves and our community safe. We are really thankful to the City of Boston, to the Governor, the Mayor, and everything - FCMS! Jackey came to help me with the application because when I did the application, I could not submit. There was question, whatever you put, I couldn’t submit it. Thank god Jackey passing by to check in, I explained to her that I filled out the application and I couldn’t submit it. Jackey said “okay, I’ll be back!”, she came back with her laptop, helped me submit it. Now I have the funds and I really appreciate it. Johnny: And that’s the thing, these applications are there but they make it really difficult to understand. Martine: We’re really appreciate it and we are thankful!

Question 3

Martine: I remember, all the customers know my son! After 3 months (of having him), that was when we opened the store. That’s Marvin right there. Johnny: oh he’s the longest employee! Martine: haha yes, he’s here, all the time! Johnny: So he’s 11 now - and I think that’s really cool. He was born, you opened the store. It’s like the whole journey is together. So when you opened the store, what made you design on a hair supply store? Martine: I was looking at the marketing, the top type of stores is food related or a hair store. We’re women so we like to be beautiful, that’s how I was thinking about it - Beauty is a big business - it’s a big business and people will do everything to to keep themselves beautiful and thats what made me decide to open a beauty supply store. Johnny: And I think it’s also you’re providing a really important thing for the community - This is so important and key to provide something for the people in the community. What made you guys decide to open in Dorchester? Martine: In the city, in the community of Dorchester, we have a lot of friends around and before I opened, a friend used to have a bridal shower and she was here for 30 years. I asked her, I talked to people for advice, and people said this is a good place to open a beauty store and would have good business. Basically, the people of this neighborhood are like me - Black. We like to do our hair and that's why I chose Dorchester. Johnny: And that’s really cool because Dorchester is a really diverse community - there’s a large Hatian Community, a large Dominican community, African American community, Asian community, it’s a melting pot. I think what’s really cool about doing this project so far is that the majority of the business owners that I have talked to are all people of color. Which I think is really nice and important to see. I know you said there has been up and down and with COVID19, it’s been one of the tougher times. How has that been going? Martine: When we hit February and I was listening to the situation, I didn’t take it too seriously. I was watching the news but we still had customers coming in, buying. When we hit March, that’s when I realize this is something different, this is going to be tough. Business began going down, I wasn’t selling, I had 2 to 3 customers per day, I was thinking of what I was going to do, then on the 21st they announced that it was going to close down the businesses, I will never forget this. I said “wow” and by noon time on the 24th we had to shut down, I was thinking the mayor announced that we are going to shut down for 7 days, then after listen to the news, it became longer. THey said they were going to extend it to more time, I was like wow. It has been 2 months since we shut down. I didn’t even know what we were going to do. I said maybe I’ll be out of businesses, I was thinking of what to do. The owner (of building), Alan, he helped me too. He called me “there’s a lot of applications out there that you can get help”. He was great, he was on top of it, he was calling me, sending me emails, and helping me apply for grants with the City of Boston to help me pay for the rent because the rent is expensive. And I applied because I really appreciate the City of Boston because they help us, it helped me pay one month, I was two months behind. So Thank god I paid him, so we open back up, and we’re moving forward. Johnny: And I think that’s really special to hear because no matter how hard it was, you never gave up. It speaks volumes to who you are and what you want for your family, this is not just YOUR business, it’s your family business. It’s a scary time too, not just as a business owner but also as a mother. I know for your son, school was closed, there was a lot of changes happening at once for everyone. I think it’s really good to see how you continued to fight and to move forward. So what are you hoping for the future now? I know COVID19 is still here and you have to adapt. Martine: We have to adapt, to keep the social distancing, to protect ourselves, and taking the precautions that best can - wearing a mask, wearing goggles, because I don’t think it’ll end anytime soon. I think we will to keep following the guidelines to keep the community, the people, to keep them safe and ourselves safe also. Johnny: Do you have anything else you would like to share? Martine: I just got the re-opening fund and I’m really happy about it. Now I can do everything to keep social distancing, buy what we need to keep ourselves and our community safe. We are really thankful to the City of Boston, to the Governor, the Mayor, and everything - FCMS! Jackey came to help me with the application because when I did the application, I could not submit. There was question, whatever you put, I couldn’t submit it. Thank god Jackey passing by to check in, I explained to her that I filled out the application and I couldn’t submit it. Jackey said “okay, I’ll be back!”, she came back with her laptop, helped me submit it. Now I have the funds and I really appreciate it. Johnny: And that’s the thing, these applications are there but they make it really difficult to understand. Martine: We’re really appreciate it and we are thankful!