We are so proud to announce our very 1st MARKET WEEKEND!!! What better place to host than Alice’s Garden….Blessings on blessings…
Sept. 19 & 20th 11am – 4pm meet us at one of the most beautiful spaces in Milwaukee! We will have activities and community fun for all! Vendors and makers have been online with us , shoppers have connected virtually and NOW it’s time to bring the people out! Safely of course.
Hurry and register for your space!
Hey again, I hope this blog post finds you and your family well.
As much as I’d like to say this post was an easy one, I’ve got to keep it real and let you all know that it was in fact very difficult for me. Even as I write I can feel the pit of anxiety in my belly grow a little – an almost constant companion these days. If you are like me and suffer from anxiety, you know exactly what I am talking about. For me, anxiety is brought about by the uncertainties of life; me being big on planning and preparation, not knowing what additional life changes will happen is very stressful. While blaming COVID and the folks in control of how the public is supposed to respond is the easy fix, I have to remind myself of the control I have over my thoughts and emotions.
Recent “Movement Fund” winner Artist Rubi Luciano with her latest coloring book release titled “Day Dreaming”
Recently, I attended a virtual webinar hosted by CIRCULATE MKE – a local makers market that has like most other organizations bringing people together, gone digital. This one was in partnership with Eric Upchurch II, creator of the Movement Fund, a social justice funding organization. The title itself was enough to get me interested – “Resilience for Black & Brown Entrepreneurs”. The content of the webinar focused on the idea of being present in the current moment to help alleviate some of the stress we put on ourselves by letting our thoughts run wild. We talked about gaining clarity by being mindful of what our thoughts are telling our bodies and how that negativity we experience impacts us emotionally and physically and in turn affects our overall health. It was comforting to realize that our thoughts are not who we are and we should not define our whole existence on them.
Grounding techniques were also a key component of conversations surrounding how to cope in the moment when our negative thoughts take over. This was something I was already familiar with thanks to TRUE Skool’s Art of Coping series. A couple of techniques that I have since put into practice include intentional deep breathing and internal affirmations in moments of anxiety. I think I’ve said to myself “Nothing is perfect, but everything is okay,” at least a few thousand times over the last couple of weeks. While it didn’t solve all my problems, it helped me remember that despite all the difficulties I’m currently experiencing, it’s all temporary and I will get through it in one piece.
This webinar was such an eye opening experience for me, understanding that we are the only ones in control of our thoughts and that gaining control over how we speak to ourselves internally, can have a major difference in our feeling of well-being. I will continue to use what I’ve learned to battle my anxiety and live a healthier, happier life and I hope you do the same!
PS
If anyone is interested in finding out more about the Movement Fund please visit using my link. If you sign up for a one time or recurring donation you will not only support me as an affiliate artist but also so many other beautiful people out there doing good work for their communities.
After our recent “Resilient Entrepreneur” Training we held a raffle drawing. That’s not a surprise to anyone familiar with our movement. We always giveaway two goodie bags after each of our CirculateMKE Markets. This giveaway was different though , by the end of our Training, we ended up giving every Creative Entrepreneur on the video training a cash prize which amped everyone up for the Grand prize even more! To win BIG participants had to join the Movement Fund. You might ask, well what is the Movement Fund????
Well, our Resilience Training was facilitated and sponsored by them! AND YOU CAN INVEST our ability to provide MORE low barrier CIRCULATEMKE Micro Grant$ and Small Business Trainings through the Movement Fund!!!
“Here’s a blurb from their site: Bringing change means bringing awareness through training sessions, campaigns, gatherings, discussions and other avenues that inform the people of the challenges, solutions and get them involved. Build Community when you Build Awareness and empower The Movement.”
Here’s what Fabi Gee, of Essential Rituals by Fabi, our Grand prize WINNER had to say:
“Participating in the recent Movement Fund training, it gave me hope to know that there are real grants for real entrepreneurs that may not be well established enough to be considered for other grants. Listening to how the Movement Fund really gets behind businesses and people of color to help them overcome obstacles that stand in the way of them and their dreams. I have always been a supporter of the Circulate Markets and then became an actual vendor. That community really does rely on us building each other and supporting each other. Looking through the lens of actually trying to start a business is more difficult than people could imagine. I am proud to be able to support Circulate Market and the Movement Fund so that other entrepreneurs can have the same opportunity that I was blessed with! I am truly honored and blessed to have been chosen to receive this Grant and being able to pay it forward.“
Learn more , check out the details & Join the MOVEMENT! ! Get involved and help us #circulatelocaldollars
We will continue to serve Creative Entrepreneurs in all the ways! You ain’t seen nothin yet!!
We are so proud to announce our very 1st MARKET WEEKEND!!! What better place to host than Alice’s Garden….Blessings on blessings… Sept. 19 & 20th 11am – 4pm meet us at one of the most beautiful spaces in Milwaukee! We will have activities and community fun for all! Vendors and makers have been online with … Continue reading OUTDOORS IN THE OPEN!
Hey again, I hope this blog post finds you and your family well. As much as I’d like to say this post was an easy one, I’ve got to keep it real and let you all know that it was in fact very difficult for me. Even as I write I can feel the pit … Continue reading EYE OPENING Experience
After our recent “Resilient Entrepreneur” Training we held a raffle drawing. That’s not a surprise to anyone familiar with our movement. We always giveaway two goodie bags after each of our CirculateMKE Markets. This giveaway was different though , by the end of our Training, we ended up giving every Creative Entrepreneur on the video … Continue reading This is a Movement of many Blessings!! Join Us!
Listen and Learn from the best! This episode features CirculateMKE Virtual Market Creative Entrepreneur , Author and financial coach, Tayala Scott dropping some serious knowledge! We would love your feedback on this one! Money, Money, Money! Easy to get , hard to flip….unless you have the proper education and understanding. Everybody wants ‘the bag’ – but whatcha gonna do to get it? Our Virtual series is a way to really dig deep into the expertise of within our network – This particular feature is from the June 2020 Market – PACKED with info and action steps!
What are your future financial goals?
Have you sought out any expert advice or support to help you reach your goals?
How are you tracking your personal vs small business finances?
All these topics and more are touched in this episode! Next Virtual Announcements coming soon!
We are proud to announce the launch of our Circulate Creative Shop with Inktothepeople , a dope local printing company! Soon we will be assisting other small businesses in setting up their shop! It’s all about uplifiting each other! We have helped to amplify local creatives and makers for over 5 years through our Circulate Creative Entrepreneur Market!
Now you can represent and help us keep pushing our collective message and mission! The shop is now open! We will continue to Circulate Local Dollars! Stay tuned for details about how we can help you set up your store!
#circulatemke
Hotter than July! Delivering the Virtual Market to the world is fun. The engagement and the stories we get to hear are uncut and the feedback we receive has come from across the globe! It’s growing! AND it’s showing!
We had an amazing recent virtual training session that also ended up resulting in us distributing some cash drops. We will do a follow up story on that soon. Stay tuned.
Businesses are really struggling right now trying to figure out the next best moves. Some are closing, some are shifting online , some are fine. We are exploring some heavy conversations and emotional topics during our #circulatemke virtual markets. Help us spread the word out there, help us support these creative entrepreneurs who need it the most right now, let’s lift them up.
Peace Creative,
As most folks know, Circulate Creative has pivoted like most businesses due to the Covid-19 Global Health Pandemic and economic shutdown. We quickly shifted and began hosting our very own CirculateMke Virtual Markets in order to continue supporting, uplifting & connecting local entrepreneurs and initiatives.
So far we’ve produced 4 very successful (and experimental) CirculateMke Virtual Market engagements spotlighting 13 Creatives ‘infomercial’ style while generating thousands of organic impressions through online community marketing, social media promotions, live zoom audiences , live streaming, reposting and rebroadcasting our new Virtual Market experience.
The CirculateMke Virtual Market series was designed as another gift, to YOU!
Over the years, in addition to the market, we have invited our network of amazing creatives, vendors & makers to Circulate Social Mixers, Building/Brainstorming Business Sessions and even offered ‘Coach Ups’. Many of you have taken advantage, expanding your professional relationships and knowledge.
We have a huge new opportunity…Drum roll…..
Wednesday July 15th 6pm-7:30CirculateMKE in partnership with The Movement Fund ( Madison WI) will present:
“Resilient Black & Brown Entrepreneurs” Training and Micro Grant Opportunity!
Resilient Entrepreneurs is a unique virtual training designed to help creative entrepreneurs like yourselves!!
Do YOU want to improve your personal well being and resilience? HOW ABOUT connecting to innovative income streams while ALSO giving back to our creative community??
Please be prepared to take notes, Resilient Black & Brown Entrepreneurs Training Sessions include (but not limited to)
You will gain new tools to:
As a thank you for your attendance and participation,
IN TRUE CIRCULATE FASHION-We have a ‘raffle’ for you!But a different kind!
5 lucky ‘Resilient Black & Brown Entrepreneur Training’ participants willWIN $100 dollar Movement Fund Business Micro Grants!
1 super lucky participant will win a $500 dollar Movement Fund Business Micro Grant!
Hey, someone could win both!!!!
Terms/rules of this awesome raffle will be announced during the Training. Funds dispersed immediately.
The Training and raffle invite is limited to vendors who have participated as a Circulate MKE Market Vendor in the past. (Virtual or Physical)
Please Register for The Resilient Black and Brown Entrepreneurs Training NOW
Training will OPEN 5:45 PM(space for any troubleshooting)
Words from our guest Trainer Eric “Liberation is a long journey and every little bit counts.”
We learn about different initiatives that are happening all the time – and we are spreading the inspiration!! We want to THANK all of the people stepping up during this time helping essential workers and frontline folks!
Stay safe, practice healthy habits and keep the conscious dialogue happening! All you soldiers stay woke and keep pushin forward! Use your creative skills to help people and also make money at the same damn time! What are some services or products you are offering? We want to know!
The uncertainty and nerves around a virtual market have been shaken off and the floodgates of ideas and opportunities are now open. CirculateMKE Creative Entrepreneurial Market has always been about serving the needs of the community and responding in real time with innovative approaches to get new results to old problems. Traditionally, in the market those who attend are equally as important as the creative vendors who, beyond an economic opportunity, seek to help and offer healing to our communities. Each market we end with hugs and thank you’s for the positive energy, togetherness and love. Maybe some dancing and toasts….Even after a 9 hour day exhausted vendors, organizers, lingering attendees and volunteers are still running on vibrations high enough to make us take another moment to appreciate one another.
The process of coordinating the virtual experience has allowed a different kind of bond between us and the vendors who also get to connect on a deeper level. We use our insight and awareness of each business through the relationships we have developed with them over the last six years to curate each experience offering an intimate opportunity for them to develop a deeper level of appreciation for one another.
CirculateMKE Virtual Market round 2 was all about healing. We titled it “Community, Immunity and Economics”. Each vendor chosen has a business dedicated to the well being of others with a personal story of their own journey of research, practice and healing. Each one of them had products that could be personalized and tailored to an individual’s needs and could draw a consumer in to consider and share their own personal story.
Like the first time, it started with one on one conversations, messages and clarity on our intentions. This is a scary time of uncertainty for many in our communities and with a plentiful variety of mixed messaging layered with fear about an uncertain future. COVID-19, the social distancing, health concerns and lost loved ones makes it hard for one to balance hopefulness on their own. Circulate Creative with the help of these healers would offer a virtual market experience that would offer some inspiration and insight on being healthy and home and offer options for emotional, physical and spiritual well being. Once again, we started with 5 vendors. One became unresponsive, one backed out before the practice round and another pulled out two days before the scheduled market. YIKES!!!! Oh well, this is how it goes. The universe was gonna make this work in our favor, and it did!
Each vendor, humble and eager to be helpful, took the practice round very seriously. Well, the two that showed up. We exchanged encouragement and offered advice for improvement on their presentations. Based on the content and the wealth of knowledge each vendor had to share we extended the presentation time from 6 to 8 minutes to 10 with no strict concern for time. We wanted to eliminate any pressure or barriers that would keep the flow from being authentic and whole. The synergy was good and there was a lot of wisdom to be shared.
We sent the practice round with notes to the vendors for them to review and practice. We wrapped our heads around where the conversation could go and just as we suspected everything fell into place. A third vendor agreed last minute to participate and offered a service that brought the conversation of health full circle. All three vendors have deep roots in the community through family, friends and service and well respected and loved. We knew that each of them would draw in an extended audience just because of who they are!
We doubled our virtual attendance and took our time to engage with attendees. The feedback during and following the market was positive and consistent. We received texts, calls and messages thanking us for the market and shared testimony of how or why the Virtual Market conversations were very needed .
For us, it has always been the testimony of the people that has been the greatest measurement of our CirculateMke success!
In the great words of Tupac Shakur – “Let’s change the way we eat, let’s change the way we live and let’s change the way we treat each other”
We are looking forward to opening up this new digital door even wider. Time to let the people in!!! Think about all the new possibilities for connectivity that will spring up from this level of accessibility…. CirculateMKE Virtual Market is off to a magnificent jump!
Many people who have limited mobility or vision impairments for example have told us that they have had different challenges making it out to CirculateMKE Markets in the past. We flow into many physical spaces with so many considerations. Bathrooms, kitchen, storage, load-in, children’s area, wheelchair accessibility , wifi, parking….the list is significant. The attention to detail for every ingredient is critical.
This now changes with our segway into a new collective virtual experience. We are getting up close and personal to learn the stories, process and solutions of very bright creative entrepreneurs. ‘Meet Your Makers’
Help share and please spread the link/word about our upcoming #CirculateMke Virtual Markets so people in other cities , countries can experience our family of cooperative economics and resource support. Thursday May 14th JOIN US!
We would love to see you!
