Emphasizing travel as a form of radical self care, Jelani Travel, a leading travel company providing curated and meaningful experiences for Black travelers, celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month.

WASHINGTON DC, January 2024 – As Jelani Travel marks its 10th year of operation, the company has curated over 600 travel experiences, visited 108 countries, explored 6 continents, and ventured into 35 states. The celebration reflects a decade of commitment to fostering cultural understanding and social impact. Since its inception, the woman and veteran owned company has been dedicated to reimagining Africa for people of African descent, leading epic journeys to many countries and leaving an indelible mark. Brands such as Google, Mailchimp, Lyft, Uber, and more have charted unique speaking and travel experiences for their workforce, curated by Founder and CEO, Ashley N. Company.

Jelani Travel stands out as the ultimate vacation with a purpose, emphasizing self-care, service, culture, and adventure. “I’ve traveled three continents with Jelani Travel and every destination has been amazing but my experience being able to travel throughout Africa has been life changing. I find myself feeling refreshed, more creative, and more present each time I return from a trip and use it as a staple in my annual self care regime,” stated traveler and leader, Maegan Lamelle. Participants engage in service activities while experiencing trips in ways previously unimaginable. The company works in tandem with the nonprofit organization Jelani Gives, aiming to empower the next generation by providing educational and cultural opportunities to Black children. The organization envisions a world where Black American youth have access to culturally competent learning experiences that expand their understanding of history and develop their leadership capacity.

Company is the founder and driving force behind these initiatives, steaming from a remarkable journey that led her to master a foreign language and make a bold departure from her corporate career at a Fortune 50 company. Company has a deep passion for educating others on the power of radical self care. She sees travel as the ultimate outlet to experience freedom and a sense of belonging. Those burnt out from work and life are offered a bonding and heart opening moment with Company and others. Company’s purpose lies in helping others live a more authentic life filled with connection and adventure.

With 108 countries visited, an Amazon best selling activity book, “Travel-ish” and 10 years dedicated to cultural immersion and service trips, Company has become a sought-after keynote speaker, captivating audiences with talks on solo travel, women in entrepreneurship, social impact, and cultural identity.

“Travel and every aspect of exploring new cultures aids in grounding and healing a part of us that we are unaware of that needs healing and alignment. Stepping outside of our comfort zones and offering ourselves in spaces that are unknown can be very impactful. Ten years of this work has transformed not only me but countless others,” stated Company.

As part of our 10-year celebration, we invite you to feature Ashley N. Company on your show. With her wealth of experience in entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and cultural exchange, Ashley is available for insightful discussions on topics ranging from solo travel to social impact. 

For interview requests, please contact: Phoenix Affect PR at phx@phoenixaffect.com 

Join us in celebrating a decade of Jelani Travel’s impactful journey, empowering travelers and communities around the world.

About Jelani Travel

Jelani Travel is a woman-owned travel company dedicated to providing curated experiences for Black travelers, reimagining Africa, and fostering cultural understanding. Learn more at https://gojelanitravel.com/.

About Jelani Gives

Jelani Gives is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Ashley N. Company, committed to empowering underserved youth through cultural exploration and educational opportunities. Explore more at https://jelanigives.org/.

February 7, 2023 – (Chicago, IL) – The Black Beauty Collective (BBC), a first of its kind marketplace and entrepreneurial collective for Black owned beauty brands, is opening its flagship store in Hyde Park, Chicago on April 6, 2023.  Attendees can look forward to immersive activations and experiential workshops, as they shop for beauty products exclusively created and owned by Black entrepreneurs. 

No matter the socioeconomic standing,  Black consumers have long been deprived of the opportunity to shop for their beauty products in retail spaces specifically catering to them. As a result, the few spaces that do have diverse offerings for Black haircare and beauty products, often lack representation of Black sales representatives with adequate knowledge of products and culturally specific beauty needs. BBC sales representatives are trained to advise customers on the diversity of products available within the store and individuals’ specific beauty needs, no matter their texture or tone. The BBC is on a mission to open up locations in every major city, garnishing support and Black owned brands in tow, to offer an alternative for this critically underserved community for brands within the Collective, the BBC is a unique platform in which they receive bespoke sales, marketing and PR support to scale their businesses. Brands that would like to apply to be a part of the collective can do so by visiting the website at www.blkbeautycollective.com. Locations are slated to open first  in Chicago, with subsequent locations in Houston, Washington DC, and Atlanta.

“While Blacks outspend on everything from water to cookware, our beauty buying habits continue to top the charts. We spend nearly nine times more than our non-Black counterparts on ethnic hair and beauty products,” cited the McKinsey report. While we spend 9x more than other races, we only represent 2.5% of brand ownership. The lack of growth opportunities for Black owned brands is astonishing. The Black Beauty Collective is leading the charge  one city at a time to increase access, education and the opportunity of “shelf space” for Black owned beauty brands. In addition to physical shelf-space, brands are also included in our online marketplace, extending their exposure to our global customers. 

Beauty brand ambassador, veteran, and entrepreneur Leslie Roberson created the BBC with the aspiration of giving access and opportunity to those who need it the most. “Expanding our economic power and ownership is the only way for our communities to evolve into a space of sovereignty,” stated Roberson. 

About  Black Beauty Collective:

The Black Beauty Collective is a hair + beauty retailer featuring exclusively Black owned brands. From the entrepreneur to the customers, the Black Beauty Collective harnesses the power of beauty to bring new opportunities in store and online with over 100 established and emerging black brands across all categories and price points, including the Black Beauty Collective’s own private label. 

Located at 5305 S. Hyde Park BLVD, Chicago, IL.

To learn more, please visit www.blkbeautycollective.com. 

Follow BBC on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter. Link to approved images. 

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Qualifications

• Reliable and dependable
• Detail-oriented, organized, and efficient
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Proficient in time management and multi-tasking
• A quick learner who is tech-savvy
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Be a proactive self-starter
• Takes initiative and makes things easier for CEO
• Must be located in Houston, TX

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Manage various errands
• Booking and arranging travel, transport and accommodation
• Light housekeeping and organization
• 3 hours a day public relations outreach
• Household maintenance and light cleaning and cooking
• Occasional video recording for content development (hold that phone steady lol)
• Personal and Business onboarding and administrative duties

Pay: starting rate $16/hr, dependent on experience, eligible for a raise every 3 months
Start Date: asap
Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-3pm with some flexibility and availability needed – occasionally travel with CEO (paid time and a half during business hours)
Guaranteed 25 hours per week (with an increase in hours per month)
Valid driver’s license and vehicle are required

Benefits
PTO, Holidays (including your birthday!)

If you’re always punctual, reliable, a nonsmoker, and a self-starter (and can craft a great email), we would love to talk to you!

Please email contact@phoenixaffect.com

• Your name
• If you can commit to the schedule 
• Why you’d be great for this position
• Your resume and headshot

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