Live from your public media studios, WVIA presents studios, WVIA presents Keystone Dish on Business, Keystone Dish on Business, a public affairs program a public affairs program that goes beyond the that goes beyond the headlines to address issues headlines to address issues North-Eastern in central North-Eastern in central Pennsylvania.

This is Pennsylvania.

This is Keystone.

In addition, Keystone.

In addition, business and now moderator business and now moderator Steve Stumbler.

Hi, I'm Steve Stumbler.

Hi, I'm Steve Stumpers.

Owning a Steve Stumpers.

Owning a business can be a tough job business can be a tough job And for black business And for black business owners, that job comes with owners, that job comes with all the challenges of all the challenges of entrepreneurship.

Plus entrepreneurship.

Plus hurdles like systemic hurdles like systemic barriers, financial barriers, financial inequity, and difficulties inequity, and difficulties in navigating resources.

in navigating resources.

We're going to explore what We're going to explore what resources are out there for resources are out there for up and coming entrepreneurs up and coming entrepreneurs While Celebi black business While Celebi black business owners who are building owners who are building their futures.

If you have their futures.

If you have questions, you can email at questions, you can email at Keystone at WVIA.

dot org Keystone at WVIA.

dot org or tag us on social with or tag us on social with the hashtag Keystone the hashtag Keystone Business.

WDIA news Business.

WDIA news reporter Sarah Scinto sheds reporter Sarah Scinto sheds light on the experiences of light on the experiences of black entrepreneurs The NAACP says inclusive The NAACP says inclusive economy means everyone can economy means everyone can contribute and earn with contribute and earn with fair access to resources fair access to resources and opportunity.

That and opportunity.

That inclusive economy may not inclusive economy may not exist yet.

Reports show exist yet.

Reports show white families can make 10 white families can make 10 times as much as black times as much as black families, according to the families, according to the NAACP.

Closing that gap NAACP.

Closing that gap would generate more than would generate more than 200 90 billion dollars for 200 90 billion dollars for the U.S. economy.

So why is the U.S. economy.

So why is there such a discrepancy?

there such a discrepancy?

Black entrepreneur years Black entrepreneur years are denied loans at nearly are denied loans at nearly twice the rate of white twice the rate of white business owners, according business owners, according to the Federal Reserve.

But to the Federal Reserve.

But it's not all about money.

it's not all about money.

Black entrepreneur has Black entrepreneur has often have to work twice as often have to work twice as hard to overcome hard to overcome stereotypes, bias and stereotypes, bias and racism to have their racism to have their abilities and abilities and qualifications recognized.

qualifications recognized.

A thriving business A thriving business community needs a strong community needs a strong support system and a lack support system and a lack of black owned businesses of black owned businesses can make networking can make networking mentorship and community mentorship and community building harder.

So how can building harder.

So how can we all work to improve?

we all work to improve?

Individuals can choose to Individuals can choose to support local black owned support local black owned businesses.

Elected businesses.

Elected officials can urge officials can urge financial institutions to financial institutions to adopt fair lending adopt fair lending practices and eliminate practices and eliminate discriminatory practices.

discriminatory practices.

Educational institutions Educational institutions can incorporate can incorporate entrepreneurship programs entrepreneurship programs highlighting black highlighting black entrepreneurs experiences entrepreneurs experiences and contributions.

For more and contributions.

For more information about how to information about how to support the black business support the black business community, head to wvia.org community, head to wvia.org for Keystone Ed.

business.

for Keystone Ed.

business.

I'm Sarah Scinto WVIA News.

I'm Sarah Scinto WVIA News.

I'd like to introduce our I'd like to introduce our panel here to share their panel here to share their perspective.

First, Zakiya perspective.

First, Zakiya Smith is a business Smith is a business consultant from the consultant from the University of Scranton.

University of Scranton.

Small Business Development Small Business Development Center Ryan von Smith is Center Ryan von Smith is the chef and owner of Chef the chef and owner of Chef von Mom, a restaurant in von Mom, a restaurant in downtown Scranton.

Finally, downtown Scranton.

Finally, Amber VLA is an author, Amber VLA is an author, Navy veteran and host and Navy veteran and host and producer of The Politics.

producer of The Politics.

But make it fashion podcast But make it fashion podcast Thank you all for joining Thank you all for joining us.

tonight on WVIA.

us.

tonight on WVIA.

Keystone Addition Reports Keystone Addition Reports a..

I, I'm really looking a..

I, I'm really looking forward to this forward to this conversation.

I've really conversation.

I've really enjoyed getting to know enjoyed getting to know each of you as we've as each of you as we've as we've connected before.

we've connected before.

This and looking forward to This and looking forward to helping you share your helping you share your stories of being business stories of being business owners and all of the owners and all of the businesses that you've businesses that you've impacted.

So starting off.

impacted.

So starting off.

Amber and Ryan, I want to Amber and Ryan, I want to give both of you a chance give both of you a chance to introduce your business, to introduce your business, Amber, as a pod cast Amber, as a pod cast producer.

What led you into producer.

What led you into that type of business and that type of business and can you touch on what it can you touch on what it means and how it really means and how it really resonates as a black resonates as a black entrepreneur?

to have that entrepreneur?

to have that voice.

So thank you.

So my voice.

So thank you.

So my I'm really excited to be I'm really excited to be here.

And so starting a here.

And so starting a podcast and becoming the podcast and becoming the producer and everything producer and everything like that was a dream that like that was a dream that I had for a while.

But I I had for a while.

But I kind of just needed to take kind of just needed to take that step to do it.

There that step to do it.

There are a lot podcasts out are a lot podcasts out there, but most fail within there, but most fail within the first year.

and most the first year.

and most people don't keep going.

people don't keep going.

And also there's not a lot And also there's not a lot big black podcast.

So you big black podcast.

So you see a lot true crime and see a lot true crime and political podcast.

It's political podcast.

It's very now dominated by White very now dominated by White podcasters and producer and podcasters and producer and things like that.

So I things like that.

So I really wanted to kind of really wanted to kind of get in and and share my get in and and share my voice, that type of issues voice, that type of issues that you address.

How does that you address.

How does your background I know as a your background I know as a veteran, how does that veteran, how does that weave its way into some of weave its way into some of the topics or at least the topics or at least frame the experience, frame frame the experience, frame the conversations on your the conversations on your podcast.

It's about podcast.

It's about Intersect Shen and how all Intersect Shen and how all of these things are of these things are connected together.

So connected together.

So being a veteran, I'm to being a veteran, I'm to health care, being a black health care, being a black woman, I'm connected to the woman, I'm connected to the black maternal death rate.

black maternal death rate.

So I'm a social worker.

So So I'm a social worker.

So I also talk about different I also talk about different issues that impact issues that impact communities, gang violence communities, gang violence and different things.

and and different things.

and also how politics also how politics influences fashion, pop influences fashion, pop culture, motherhood, being culture, motherhood, being a black business owner, all a black business owner, all those different things.

The those different things.

The two words that you chose two words that you chose for the title, politics, for the title, politics, fashion.

Can you talk a fashion.

Can you talk a little bit more about that?

little bit more about that?

in two seconds?

Those are in two seconds?

Those are things that I love.

I love things that I love.

I love the elections.

I love the elections.

I love watching the debates and watching the debates and live chatting about it.

I live chatting about it.

I love talking about all the love talking about all the taboo things, politics, taboo things, politics, religion, you know, religion, you know, everything like that.

And everything like that.

And so I love fashion, but so so I love fashion, but so many things within the many things within the fashion industry are fashion industry are connected to politics like connected to politics like my daughter has a red dye my daughter has a red dye allergy.

So red dye and allergy.

So red dye and clothing.

How do I impact clothing.

How do I impact policy so that we can make policy so that we can make that illegal?

because it's that illegal?

because is illegal in the EU.

You must illegal in the EU.

You must be a lot of fun.

Thanks Now, speaking of food, an Now, speaking of food, Ryan can you introduce us to can you introduce us to your restrant and tell it your restaurant and tell it you've been you've been you've been you've been operating it fojust operating it for just around two years.

What around two yes.

What brought you to th?

And brought you to that?

And why buy food?

What's what why buy food?

What's what you're you that as a as a you're you that as a as a business?

OK, so I'm so business?

OK, so I'm so owners ofne mom, owners of one mom, obviously reopened about bviously reopened about two years ago.

when in two years agowhen in downtown Scranton.

So I've downtown Scranton.

So I've lived I've worked some of lived I've worked some of the biggest restaurants all the biggest restaurants all over the country and over the country and pandemic shut down and was pandemic shut down and was ere for longer than I thought back home with my herI thought back home with my mother.

And then we started mother.

And then we started cooking out of the house cooking out of the house and during the pandemic and and during the pandemic and we had lines out the door we had lines out the door and then here we are now.

and then here ware now.

We open a restaurt and We open a restaurant and have the restaurant now in have the restaurant now in downtown Scranton, like owntown Scranton, like what kind of things did you what kind of things did you take from your experience?

take from your experience?

Is in other restaurants, Is in other restaurants, cooking in other places, cooking in other places, literally around the world.

literally around the world.

And how does that all come And how does that all come together?

And what's on the together?

And what's on the menu?

So so our maybe I get menu?

So so our maybe I get sick of things.

I mean, so sick of things.

I mean, so I like to I like to switch I like to I like to switch things up.

So we do rotate things up.

So we do rotate our menus a lot.

So I've our menus a lot.

So I've cooked all kinds of cool cooked all kinds of cool dealsI've traveled around deals.

I've traveled around the world.

So sometimes you the world.

So sometimes you get some Asian, you can get get some Asian, you can get some some Mexican.

You can some some Mexican.

You can get some French, you can get some French, you can get some whatever day.

So get some whatever day.

So we rotate the menu every we rotate the menu every day and it just keeps it day and it just keeps it fun.

and it keeps people fun.

and it keeps people coming on social media coming on social media checking to see what we checking to see what we have for the day.

And have for the day.

And that's what we do, is you that's what we do, is you can come and get anything can come and get anything you want to check on.

Last you want to check on.

Last month I had a chance to month I had a chance to talk with family owned talk with family owned businesses.

OK, what's it businesses.

OK, what's it like being.

Oh, there's like being.

Oh, there's this.

Okay.

Did I.

Is that this.

Okay.

Did I.

Is that it?

Is that a question?

I it?

Is that a question?

I might have.

I had a vice.

might have.

I had a vice.

Don't do it..org.

But but Don't do it..org.

But but it had its has its good it had its has its good days as bad days just like days as bad days just like anything else.

It's all anything else.

It's all love.

At the end of the day love.

At the end of the day What does being a What does being a restaurant owner of your restaurant owner of your own restaurant mean, own restaurant mean, especially to you as a especially to you as a black entrepreneur?

For me, black entrepreneur?

For me, I always want to be what I I always want to be what I didn't see.

You know, didn't see.

You know, growing up in the community growing up in the community in so people that look like in so people that look like me and don't look like me, me and don't look like me, that you can achieve your that you can achieve your goals and do anything you goals and do anything you want to do as long you put want to do as long you put the work into it and have faith, you know what I'm thee faith, you know what I'm saying?

So I just want to saying?

So I just want to be, you know, I mean, show be, you know, I mean, show anybody who can accomplish anybody who can accomplish whatever you want.

I know.

whatever you want.

I know.

No doubt you're putting the No doubt you're putting the work in at.

Absolutely.

work in at.

Absolutely.

Yeah, I'm tired, but what Yeah, I'm tired, but what others don't have, you've others don't have, you've got to do what other people got to do what other people want to do with.

So, of want to do with.

So, of course, we are here on a course, we are here on a Monday, which is typically Monday, which is typically the day off for a the day off for a restaurant owners.

So thank restaurant owners.

So thank you especially for joining you especially for joining us.

Any time, any time IKEA us.

Any time, any time IKEA kitchen share what your kitchen share what your role is you've had a chance role is you've had a chance to work with many business to work with many business owners.

Can you describe owners.

Can you describe what you do as a business what you do as a business consultant?

Yes.

So as a consultant?

Yes.

So as a business consult, I work business consult, I work with small business owners with small business owners to either start a business to either start a business or grow an existing one and or grow an existing one and a lot of what that looks a lot of what that looks like is helping them like is helping them through the business through the business planning process.

as well planning process.

as well as to secure your own as to secure your own capital, to start their capital, to start their business or expand.

Now, business or expand.

Now, you're at the university you're at the university Scranton Small Business Scranton Small Business Development Center.

Yeah, Development Center.

Yeah, What kind of reach does What kind of reach does that have?

And are there that have?

And are there particular types of particular types of businesses that you that businesses that you that you gravitate towards you gravitate towards serving so at the serving so at the University of Scary as University of Scary as business development?

And business development?

And we do have a very large we do have a very large reach within the eight reach within the eight counties within the north counties within the north eastern Pennsylvania.

I eastern Pennsylvania.

I personally service Pike personally service Pike County and I work with the County and I work with the women Entrepreneurship women Entrepreneurship Center, which I'm very Center, which I'm very passionate about with passionate about with working with the women to working with the women to start their businesses.

start their businesses.

What that looks like for me What that looks like for me with working with the with working with the businesses is I tend to businesses is I tend to gravitate toward the gravitate toward the creative arts businesses creative arts businesses more.

But I love to work more.

But I love to work with small business owners.

with small business owners.

You've had a chance to work You've had a chance to work with black business owners.

with black business owners.

Can you tell about what Can you tell about what particular challenges, what particular challenges, what particular opportunities, particular opportunities, how how does the experience how how does the experience of a black entrepreneur?

of a black entrepreneur?

How is that distinguished How is that distinguished for you as you serve for you as you serve someone who wants to start someone who wants to start or someone who is operating or someone who is operating a business and wants to a business and wants to grow?

What happens is when grow?

What happens is when in my one on one in my one on one consultants, I'm finding consultants, I'm finding that a lot of business that a lot of business owners, black owned owners, black owned businesses are not aware of businesses are not aware of the resources that are the resources that are available and because of available and because of that, they are stagnating that, they are stagnating with either starting or with either starting or growing their existing growing their existing businesses.

They also businesses.

They also struggle with getting struggle with getting through the business plan through the business plan developments stage of it developments stage of it because it tends to be because it tends to be daunting to them to have to daunting to them to have to do it.

And I don't think do it.

And I don't think it's always publicized that it's always publicized that that is a part of the that is a part of the process.

that the SPDC we process.

that the SPDC we always reiterate a business always reiterate a business plan is necessary.

So plan is necessary.

So whatever that plan looks whatever that plan looks like, Ryan Amber, how much like, Ryan Amber, how much of a plan was there for of a plan was there for each of you as you launched each of you as you launched into your current ventures?

into your current ventures?

I was a lot harder than I I was a lot harder than I thought goes into it a lot of just goes into it a lot of just different Parmer city different Parmer city things, business planning, things, business planning, your business plan.

You your business plan.

You have to have a business have to have a business plan.

And I thought it I plan.

And I thought it I thought it was going to be thought it was going to be easy, but it was in.

But I easy, but it was in.

But I actually learned a lot actually learned a lot through this whole process through this whole process on my next my next location on my next my next location will be ten thousand times.

will be ten thousand times.

So I've learned a lot.

Yes, So I've learned a lot.

Yes, absolutely.

Well, I worked absolutely.

Well, I worked with her for doing my with her for doing my business plan.

And so for business plan.

And so for me, honestly, I had the me, honestly, I had the idea of a podcast for over idea of a podcast for over a year.

I wrote a treatment a year.

I wrote a treatment I started doing all that, I started doing all that, but it really was just one but it really was just one day I finally said, OK, I'm day I finally said, OK, I'm going to just record my going to just record my first episode.

And I didn't first episode.

And I didn't actually tell anybody.

I actually tell anybody.

I didn't publicize it.

I just didn't publicize it.

I just went ahead and did that.

went ahead and did that.

And then when I was able to And then when I was able to go kind of talk to people go kind of talk to people about running social media, about running social media, I do different things.

I I do different things.

I got to find out about the different grants and the different grants and things are available things are available because I didn't know because I didn't know either and I didn't even either and I didn't even know I was classified as a know I was classified as a business.

You know, I business.

You know, I didn't realize that I had a didn't realize that I had a business.

And so that was business.

And so that was kind of the first step.

And kind of the first step.

And then I actually thought then I actually thought writing a business plan writing a business plan would be harder.

So for me, would be harder.

So for me, it was it was actually very it was it was actually very easy.

I was like, oh, OK, easy.

I was like, oh, OK, good.

I can sit down and I good.

I can sit down and I can do this and I was like, can do this and I was like, wow, I'm in a better wow, I'm in a better position than I thought I position than I thought I was.

And I actually have was.

And I actually have more access to resources more access to resources than I thought I would like than I thought I would like Can you talk about some of Can you talk about some of those resources?

I mean, those resources?

I mean, highlighting either one highlighting either one that Amber pursued, that Amber pursued, obtained or or others, and obtained or or others, and especially resources for especially resources for black business business black business business owners?

Oh, yes, I would.

owners?

Oh, yes, I would.

So Amber was a recipient of So Amber was a recipient of the creative entrepreneur the creative entrepreneur Assistance Program, which Assistance Program, which is basically for black is basically for black business owners or persons business owners or persons of color that have either a of color that have either a creative business, whether creative business, whether it's digital marketing.

it's digital marketing.

Your author podcast there Your author podcast there and musician or what, and and musician or what, and they offer up to two they offer up to two thousand dollars.

The thousand dollars.

The process is very streamlined process is very streamlined It goes a lot quicker than It goes a lot quicker than most grants.

I will say most grants.

I will say that.

Yeah, but one of the that.

Yeah, but one of the key parts about this key parts about this program is that they would program is that they would have to go through a have to go through a business consultation first business consultation first And it's that easy process And it's that easy process and meager.

So nice because and meager.

So nice because we don't know how to do it.

we don't know how to do it.

And there it does seem And there it does seem daunting.

So when you're daunting.

So when you're like, oh, do a business like, oh, do a business plan, but when you have plan, but when you have somebody who can kind of somebody who can kind of bounce ideas off and sit bounce ideas off and sit there with you and also there with you and also give you a template, and give you a template, and once you have the template once you have the template for me, it was realizing, for me, it was realizing, wow, I have a lot more of wow, I have a lot more of this than I realize.

And this than I realize.

And that's the same thing that that's the same thing that you had said to me.

And I you had said to me.

And I was like, oh, wow, OK, do was like, oh, wow, OK, do how can you talk?

Let's how can you talk?

Let's talk more about that.

That talk more about that.

That role of advise or or mentor role of advise or or mentor or role model.

Ryan, you or role model.

Ryan, you spoke about this seeing spoke about this seeing other black faces out there other black faces out there in the business community in the business community and you talk about the and you talk about the importance of seeing those importance of seeing those faces out there that look faces out there that look like you as business owners like you as business owners and also what that what and also what that what that will mean for future that will mean for future business.

owners.

See you.

business.

owners.

See you.

Yeah, absolute.

I think for Yeah, absolute.

I think for just for being brown, just for being brown, Melanie, you know, it's Melanie, you know, it's good to see other people, good to see other people, like, grow it up.

Like what like, grow it up.

Like what Kinda like even for example Kinda like even for example it was.

And what was that.

it was.

And what was that.

What was that Black Panther What was that Black Panther It wasn't about the It wasn't about the superhero.org.

It was just superhero.org.

It was just about.

Yeah, I see.

kids about.

Yeah, I see.

kids and, you know, I mean and, you know, I mean something that looks like something that looks like me on TV in that role, you me on TV in that role, you know what I mean?

Like, so know what I mean?

Like, so growing.

We always had growing.

We always had Batman and every other Batman and every other thing.

So the big market thing.

So the big market going to the theater, there going to the theater, there was nobody, nobody black.

was nobody, nobody black.

So it's really cool to see So it's really cool to see that.

So I just think to that.

So I just think to represent you got to represent you got to represent.

It's it's easier represent.

It's it's easier knowing they can be knowing they can be achieved.

If you see achieved.

If you see someone else, it looks like someone else, it looks like you.

That's important.

to you.

That's important.

to me.

Yeah.

And same for me me.

Yeah.

And same for me as a pop cash producer.

I as a pop cash producer.

I love different podcasts love different podcasts like true Crime, but the like true Crime, but the genre is so white and so genre is so white and so being able to kind of step being able to kind of step into that space and color into that space and color it up a little bit because it up a little bit because you're going to talk about you're going to talk about different things, different different things, different experiences, different experiences, different issues that you're facing.

issues that you're facing.

So even just talking about So even just talking about politics from a perspective politics from a perspective of a woman of color is of a woman of color is going to be different than going to be different than somebody else doing it.

You somebody else doing it.

You talked about the talked about the intersections, your own intersections, your own life.

You you bring the life.

You you bring the intersection of many intersection of many diverse types of people, diverse types of people, types of people that you types of people that you would see throughout our would see throughout our community.

Yes.

How does community.

Yes.

How does that inform the stories?

that inform the stories?

How the stories in the How the stories in the podcast.

But what you hope podcast.

But what you hope to see in the future to see in the future stories of business owners.

stories of business owners.

I'm glad I have I'm able to I'm glad I have I'm able to get some really great guest get some really great guest on the podcast.

And because on the podcast.

And because you start to build up you start to build up listeners and things, listeners and things, there's somebody who's there's somebody who's going to listen to an going to listen to an interview with the mayor interview with the mayor who maybe wouldn't have who maybe wouldn't have normally inter listen to normally inter listen to that and also is going to that and also is going to listen to different listen to different politicians or even just politicians or even just different people who have.

different people who have.

There was a I hosted a There was a I hosted a black blogger on my podcast black blogger on my podcast from Philly.

And, you know, from Philly.

And, you know, so that's a space for her so that's a space for her to talk about, a time to to talk about, a time to talk about her business and talk about her business and and her experience and and her experience and different things.

that she different things.

that she may not have had.

So some may not have had.

So some somebody who's coming to somebody who's coming to the podcast might hear that the podcast might hear that and then go on to hear and then go on to hear other different people that other different people that they wouldn't normally be they wouldn't normally be exposed to.

I'd really like exposed to.

I'd really like to get a very diverse group to get a very diverse group of guests to come on the of guests to come on the podcast and talk and share podcast and talk and share experiences and stuff like experiences and stuff like that.

Really broaden medics that.

Really broaden medics Yes, you're absolutely Yes, you're absolutely psyche has something that psyche has something that you mentioned earlier when you mentioned earlier when we spoke was supporting we spoke was supporting black owned businesses.

black owned businesses.

What are ways that people What are ways that people throughout the community, throughout the community, whether they're a consumer, whether they're a consumer, of customer or directly of of customer or directly of a business, but that, of a business, but that, of course, spend the money.

course, spend the money.

But beyond that, what what But beyond that, what what are ways that individuals are ways that individuals and communities can and and communities can and should support black should support black businesses?

So I always businesses?

So I always tell people word of mouth tell people word of mouth still works.

So if you have still works.

So if you have a great experience at a a great experience at a black owned business, black owned business, please share it with your please share it with your friends.

If you see their friends.

If you see their post on social media, it post on social media, it takes like one second just takes like one second just to share.

Yeah.

Is free.

to share.

Yeah.

Is free.

Also share resources.

If Also share resources.

If you know about a program, you know about a program, tell someone else about it.

tell someone else about it.

Think that's very important Think that's very important because I think from the because I think from the perspective of a black perspective of a black owned business owner myself owned business owner myself if I would have known about if I would have known about certain resource at the certain resource at the time that I started my time that I started my business, it probably would business, it probably would have saved me thousands of have saved me thousands of dollars before investing dollars before investing into a business coach.

into a business coach.

which it was still a great which it was still a great process.

But, you know, process.

But, you know, organizations such as the organizations such as the Small Business Development Small Business Development Centers, we provide a lot Centers, we provide a lot of that mentorship at no of that mentorship at no cost.

Which is very great.

cost.

Which is very great.

And I love being able to And I love being able to connect other people with connect other people with resources.

So introduce resources.

So introduce people, connect them and people, connect them and encourage them to reach out encourage them to reach out You talk a little bit more You talk a little bit more about your experience as a about your experience as a business owner.

How does business owner.

How does that inform your work as that inform your work as consultant?

Yeah, so as a consultant?

Yeah, so as a business owner, I have I business owner, I have I feel like I have a feel like I have a different perspective when different perspective when I sit down with clients I sit down with clients because I'm able to tap because I'm able to tap into what the real into what the real challenge is behind what challenge is behind what they're actually seeking at they're actually seeking at the moment.

Having gone the moment.

Having gone through the process, I know through the process, I know how hard that can be, how hard that can be, especially navigate the especially navigate the licensing and the legal licensing and the legal requirements that comes requirements that comes with that and just stay on with that and just stay on top of the hiring.

Honest top of the hiring.

Honest about what you don't need, about what you don't need, right.

What you are, what right.

What you are, what you do, what you do.

you do, what you do.

Because I feel like that's Because I feel like that's not always made clear, but not always made clear, but also what I love the most also what I love the most is being able to be that is being able to be that representation for black representation for black owned business owners when owned business owners when they do come into the SPDC, they do come into the SPDC, they feel like they have they feel like they have someone there that does someone there that does understand the struggle understand the struggle outside of just being a outside of just being a business owner to as their business owner to as their consultant.

I do that consultant.

I do that listening and empathizing listening and empathizing is goes a long way towards is goes a long way towards making a great consultant's making a great consultant's What is that shared What is that shared experience?

The experience experience?

The experience that you share with black that you share with black business owners, how much business owners, how much does that enhance that does that enhance that relationship or the work relationship or the work that you do?

It definitely that you do?

It definitely one hundred percent one hundred percent enhances it because a lot enhances it because a lot of times, instead of just of times, instead of just giving someone action steps giving someone action steps is about simplify it for is about simplify it for them and breaking it down, them and breaking it down, meeting them where they are meeting them where they are and when they feel like and when they feel like they have that relationship they have that relationship or they have that support, or they have that support, someone that's walking it someone that's walking it with them, they feel more, with them, they feel more, I guess, immediate action.

I guess, immediate action.

They are able to take They are able to take immediate action to get it immediate action to get it done just enough that they done just enough that they need to for their business need to for their business relationships.

are so relationships.

are so important across the important across the community, across the community, across the business community, I want business community, I want to talk about what does it to talk about what does it mean to have the support of mean to have the support of a community.

So Ryan, as a community.

So Ryan, as I've been talking with, I've been talking with, people are in Scranton area people are in Scranton area there's there's good there's there's good awareness of of chef and awareness of of chef and mom talk talk about how mom talk talk about how important it is for you to important it is for you to be a member of the be a member of the community and to feel that community and to feel that support from the community support from the community around you.

Yeah, I feel I around you.

Yeah, I feel I mean, if you don't have the mean, if you don't have the support of the community, support of the community, you might well be out of you might well be out of business, you know what I business, you know what I mean?

So why do customer is mean?

So why do customer is not always right?

I will not always right?

I will say that.

You know what I say that.

You know what I mean by I appreciate.

I mean by I appreciate.

I value all my customers and value all my customers and the community and it's the community and it's really cool when people really cool when people come in and, you know, it's come in and, you know, it's really cool.

Like, I make really cool.

Like, I make sure that everybody knows sure that everybody knows their names, like it's their names, like it's going to go somewhere.

You going to go somewhere.

You order some food, you pay order some food, you pay some money, and then they some money, and then they know your name.

I get just know your name.

I get just little stuff that goes a little stuff that goes a long way, you know?

I mean, long way, you know?

I mean, but it's it's nice because but it's it's nice because everybody when they come in everybody when they come in days, it's called chef one days, it's called chef one mom.

So they feel like mom.

So they feel like they're part of the family they're part of the family every time they leave, no every time they leave, no matter their skin, color or where they're from.

It's a really cool thing that we really cool thing that we have going on.

What's the have going on.

What's the balance between regulars balance between regulars who keep coming back who keep coming back because they love the food.

because they love the food.

They love you.

Your mom.

They love you.

Your mom.

They love me.

They love the They love me.

They love the food and they love my food and they love my friends.

What do you call friends.

What do you call yourself?

Well, we have a lot.

I was Well, we have a lot.

I was they were a hundred percent they were a hundred percent We return guests and then We return guests and then we have a lot of people we have a lot of people that don't live here and that don't live here and they're mad and they're they're mad and they're like, we need one of these like, we need one of these here.

Here, here, here and here.

Here, here, here and there.

So hopefully we get there.

So hopefully we get to expand very soon.

God to expand very so.

God willing, we will be doing willing, we will be doing it.

Now, you have an it.

Now, you have an exciting opportunity coming exciting opportunity coming up and there will be more up and there will be more people who not just in people who not just in Scranton, but throughout Scranton, but throughout the country who.

Yeah, the country who.

Yeah, Where of your restaurant Where of your restaurant can you share these can you share these experiences?

Yeah, So I experiences?

Yeah, So I obviously went out to obviously went out to Dublin and I got to film Dublin and I got to film with Gordon Ramsay in Nice with Gordon Ramsay in Nice Errington and Richard Place Errington and Richard Place of next Chef on Fox was a of next Chef on Fox was a really cool experience.

And really cool experience.

And I got to see I thought it I got to see I thought it was good, but I really got was good, but I really got know.

So, you know, what know.

So, you know, what the price is going up.

So the price is going up.

So to say.

So that was a to say.

So that was a really, really cool really, really cool experience.

I was Gordon experience.

I was Gordon since I was a kid, I don't since I was a kid, I don't look up to twenty people.

I look up to twenty people.

I worked with every celebrity worked with every celebrity could possibly think of all could possibly think of all over over.

But this one, it over over.

But this one, it was, it was really cool and was, it was really cool and you know, I mean, we, we you know, I mean, we, we were like brothers.

How far were like brothers.

How far off is this season?

opening off is this season?

opening of next year.

It will of next year.

It will premiere.

What if the NFC premiere.

What if the NFC championship game on championship game on January 20th on Fox, right?

January 20th on Fox, right?

Yes, What you hope happens Yes, What you hope happens for you and your restaurant for you and your restaurant as a result of that that as a result of that that appearance, that exposure.

appearance, that exposure.

Are you ready?

Oh, well, born ready.

I hope I well, born ready.

I hope I can go to the Keesha can go to the Keesha different.

I'm forty five.

different.

I'm forty five.

You get some actual people You get some actual people that want work and just that want work and just grow the business and do a grow the business and do a couple more locations.

I couple more locations.

I want to be in L.A., Miami, want to be in L.A., Miami, Houston, and also a couple Houston, and also a couple more in Pennsylvania by more in Pennsylvania by twenty seven is my goal.

So twenty seven is my goal.

So absolute then I that's want absolute then I that's want to travel.

Eat.

Yes.

Yeah.

to travel.

Eat.

Yes.

Yeah.

I just to watch everybody I just to watch everybody on the camera, the goal.

on the camera, the goal.

I'm looking forward to the I'm looking forward to the appearance.

Yes sir.

No you appearance.

Yes sir.

No you can't share how many can't share how many appearances you.

We'll say appearances you.

We'll say I'll be on TV for two and a I'll be on TV for two and a half months.

Having you represented on Having you represented on that show, what are you that show, what are you hoping that inspires with hoping that inspires with it in the audience, but it in the audience, but specifically among, say, specifically among, say, young black people who look young black people who look to that looked at that to that looked at that episode and to look in they episode and to look in they see here's here's someone see here's here's someone who's striving and who's striving and achieving.

Right.

Growing achieving.

Right.

Growing up like we was talking.

Yes up like we was talking.

Yes Admiral, I see there was Admiral, I see there was order.

There was none.

I order.

There was none.

I was on on there.

So it's was on on there.

So it's just really cool to be just really cool to be there and do what I did.

there and do what I did.

And just, you know, I mean, And just, you know, I mean, I just hope that I could I just hope that I could show a little kid sitting show a little kid sitting down, you can accomplish down, you can accomplish your goals and do anything, your goals and do anything, because I was once sitting because I was once sitting in the living room watching in the living room watching that and I didn't think I that and I didn't think I could ever be able to reach could ever be able to reach that.

And the things that that.

And the things that I've done.

So it's actually I've done.

So it's actually really pretty cool.

That's really pretty cool.

That's what we're talking about, what we're talking about, because I love to cook and because I love to cook and I grew up watching PBS.

I grew up watching PBS.

Julia Childs and M and Julia Childs and M and everything, and there was everything, and there was nobody who looked like us nobody who looked like us at all.

So that's really, at all.

So that's really, really cool.

Yes.

Amber, really cool.

Yes.

Amber, beyond having a business, beyond having a business, beyond having a voice and beyond having a voice and sparkle conversations of sparkle conversations of what do you hope you have what do you hope you have as as a positive impact in as as a positive impact in the world through though, the world through though, through your work as a through your work as a podcast, as a storyteller, podcast, as a storyteller, what issues are you seeking what issues are you seeking to address at the big to address at the big picture?

My big picture is picture?

My big picture is I feel like I want to be a I feel like I want to be a bridge between the two bridge between the two communities.

I grew up here communities.

I grew up here in any piqué.

I grew up in any piqué.

I grew up very conservative Christian very conservative Christian So there is a lot of So there is a lot of aspects that I can see and aspects that I can see and understand in diverse understand in diverse populations.

So I feel like populations.

So I feel like I'm a good embitter to be I'm a good embitter to be able to have some of those able to have some of those tough conversations with tough conversations with people.

But I grew up in people.

But I grew up in Goldsboro, so I can have Goldsboro, so I can have them with people because them with people because I'm from there.

You know, I I'm from there.

You know, I share that experience.

But share that experience.

But also I'm a black woman also I'm a black woman still.

And so I have that still.

And so I have that experience.

So that's kind experience.

So that's kind of my goal is to be a of my goal is to be a bridge between people and bridge between people and be able to have these be able to have these difficult conversations in difficult conversations in a safe place and in a place a safe place and in a place where people are able to where people are able to share their real feelings share their real feelings and kind of how they how and kind of how they how they feel like how often is they feel like how often is is that mission that goal is that mission that goal of having a positive impact of having a positive impact on a community, on the on a community, on the world at large.

How much is world at large.

How much is how often is that part of how often is that part of the experience for a black the experience for a black entrepreneur?

That's a big entrepreneur?

That's a big part of the experience in part of the experience in its definitely something is its definitely something is really important.

You will really important.

You will notice in other cultures, notice in other cultures, they really are heavily they really are heavily enmeshed in communities.

We enmeshed in communities.

We are at a point that we are are at a point that we are progressing towards doing progressing towards doing more of the community, work more of the community, work together as black business together as black business owners.

So Brian, once you owners.

So Brian, once you have that empire of have that empire of restaurants throughout the restaurants throughout the country, where does a guy in turn where does a guy in turn towards what's what's next?

towards what's what's next?

Beyond that?

But once once Beyond that?

But once once I do that, I'd like to be I do that, I'd like to be the one to take care of the one to take care of myself, my family.

I'd like myself, my family.

I'd like to be able to take care of to be able to take care of people that need help, you people that need help, you know what I mean?

And know what I mean?

And that's there's a lot of that's there's a lot of stuff that I want to do as stuff that I want to do as far as helping people start far as helping people start other businesses, helping, other businesses, helping, you know, I mean, you know, I mean, underprivileged kids, maybe underprivileged kids, maybe opening up culinary opening up culinary facilities and then I think facilities and then I think the problem with kids is the problem with kids is there's nothing to do and there's nothing to do and there's nothing in there.

there's nothing in there.

Their parents don't even Their parents don't even have the self how they're have the self how they're going to raise.

You know, going to raise.

You know, I've been a good member of I've been a good member of the community, saw it needs the community, saw it needs to be people like this.

to be people like this.

It's a village and it It's a village and it really does.

So there's really does.

So there's nowhere to kids to learn to nowhere to kids to learn to play and learn stuff or see play and learn stuff or see better for them.

They're better for them.

They're going to keep repeating going to keep repeating what their parents did and what their parents did and their parents did and their their parents did and their parents did.

So I want to parents did.

So I want to you know, I love a lot of you know, I love a lot of stuff.

I want to have a lot stuff.

I want to have a lot of good stuff.

I wish of good stuff.

I wish success.

Thank you so much.

success.

Thank you so much.

Amber.

In addition to being Amber.

In addition to being podcast, you've had a podcast, you've had a chance to write.

Yeah, One chance to write.

Yeah, One final brief note on what's final brief note on what's ahead in a book.

Yeah.

So I ahead in a book.

Yeah.

So I just published 72 hours of just published 72 hours of how my time in the V.A.

So how my time in the V.A.

So that's out now on Amazon.

that's out now on Amazon.

Sorry, And also I would Sorry, And also I would like to write more books in like to write more books in the future.

Also in like the future.

Also in like ten years my tenure plan.

I ten years my tenure plan.

I am a social worker and I am a social worker and I would love to open a woman would love to open a woman shelter here in this area shelter here in this area for women and children.

and for women and children.

and emergency shelter and also, emergency shelter and also, I would like to teach I would like to teach people how to publish their people how to publish their own book and kind of how to own book and kind of how to be able started podcasts.

I be able started podcasts.

I do a little speaking do a little speaking different things.

So I've different things.

So I've had the opportunity to do had the opportunity to do that.

Thank you very much.

that.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

And to each of Thank you.

And to each of you, thank you so much.

for you, thank you so much.

for being a guest on Keystone being a guest on Keystone Edition Business tonight.

Edition Business tonight.

For more information on For more information on this topic, please visit W this topic, please visit W VII dot org slash Keystone VII dot org slash Keystone business.

And remember, you business.

And remember, you can watch this episode on can watch this episode on demand anytime online or on demand anytime online or on the WDIA app.

for Keystone the WDIA app.

for Keystone Edition.

I'm Steve Stumpers Edition.

I'm Steve Stumpers Thank you for watching