Higher Collective, the cannabis retail brand committed to fostering a new business model that champions social equity, opened its third location in Connecticut on Thursday, November 2, 2023.

Higher Collective New London

The new store, located at 595 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320, promises to bring a fresh and inclusive cannabis experience to the heart of the Whaling City.

A Revolutionary Retail Concept

Higher Collective New London states that they are not just another retail shop; but a beacon of community, diversity, and innovation within the cannabis industry.

With a strong commitment to social equity, Higher Collective aims to redefine the cannabis retail experience by offering a wide range of high-quality products and services, bringing a new level of inclusivity to the local cannabis community.

“We’re thrilled to continue our journey of transforming the cannabis industry with the opening of Higher Collective New London,” said Patrik Jonsson, Founder of Higher Collective. “From our partnership with Angie Lewis, Dispensary Owner in Killingly, to collaborating with Yanira Wolfgang-Pinto, Dispensary Owner in Willington, and now Tori Garrett, the owner of Higher Collective New London, we’ve had the privilege of kicking off the Higher Collective brand with a remarkable group of women. Each of them brings a unique and compelling perspective on the power of cannabis and is uniquely committed to enriching the communities they serve.”

Offerings

The Higher Collective Group is proud to offer a variety of cannabis products, including flowers, edibles, pre-rolls, and vape cartridges, all with varying levels of THC and onset times, ensuring that every customer can find the right product for their individual preferences.

Higher Collective New London will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

For more information, visit their website.

ABFE, A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities, announces ten exceptional foundation executives selected for its esteemed Connecting Leaders Fellowship Program (CLFP).

ABFE Connecting Leaders Fellows

CLFP is a year-long initiative meticulously designed to elevate the expertise and bolster the leadership acumen of foundation staff, donors, and trustees deeply committed to advancing Black communities through philanthropy.

The 2023-2024 cohort of fellows was carefully chosen based on a set of criteria, including their extensive philanthropic track record, future aspirations, and unwavering dedication to catalyzing systemic change within Black communities.

“This group of fellows embodies an inspirational assembly of accomplished pioneers,” said TJ Breeden, ABFE Director of Programs.

“In today’s ever-evolving social landscape, it is essential to unite thought leaders in the pursuit of innovative pathways to advance effective and responsive philanthropy within Black communities. Through the cultivation of collaboration and the nurturing of meaningful dialogue, our aim is to harness the combined force of our efforts for the utmost impact.”

Community-based learning

The Fellowship commences with an immersive week-long Leadership Summit hosted in Baltimore, MD. Additionally, each fellow participates in a thorough 360-degree evaluation process and is matched with a leadership coach. Furthermore, every fellow is entrusted with the responsibility of spearheading a community-based learning project, effectively bridging the gap between professional development and community service objectives.

“I am privileged to extend a warm welcome to this new class of CLFP fellows,” remarked Susan Taylor Batten, ABFE’s President and CEO. “As an alumni of the program, I know first hand how instrumental this fellowship is in ensuring a pipeline of committed and effective change agents for our sector. Every year, we carefully choose an outstanding group of professionals who are shaping the philanthropic narrative. It is both an honor and a responsibility to support their invaluable work, amplifying their voices and championing their innovative ideas.”

Since its inception in 2005, ABFE’s Fellowship Program has provided vital support to over 170 Fellows as they embarked on ambitious endeavors to advance the philanthropic sector. This is the 18th year of this fellowship.

2023 – 2024 ABFE Connecting Leaders Fellows include:

Kiara Boone – Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Network Officer

Ashanti Bryant – W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Senior Program Officer

Sabrina Greig – The NBA Foundation, Program and Grants Manager

Saskia Guerrier – Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Senior Advocacy Officer

Samuel Ndely II – The Minneapolis Foundation, Philanthropic Advisor

Rodney Nickens, Jr. – San Francisco Foundation, Program Officer, Policy and Innovation

Jasmine Sessoms – Community College of Philadelphia, Chief Engagement Officer

Jason Terrell – Walton Family Foundation, Program Officer

Kimberly Collins – MacArthur Foundation, Senior Program Management Associate

Jeremiah Steen – Skillman Foundation, Trustee

About ABFE

ABFE is a membership-based philanthropic organization that advocates for responsive and transformative investments in Black communities. Partnering with foundations, nonprofits and individuals, ABFE provides its members with professional development and technical assistance resources that further the philanthropic sector’s connection and responsiveness to issues of equity, diversity and inclusion.

To learn more, visit their website

BeautyNBrushes has announced the launch of the world’s largest Black beauty booking directory.

The site offers women of color access to a comprehensive listing of over 2000 professional stylists in 20 cities.

BeautyNBrushes Fills A Market Need

BeautyNBrushes creators say the site fills a market need to consolidate experts in the beauty and styling space who specialize in Black and brown communities.

“We have created a platform that puts our ethnic beauty first in an industry that has historically deemed our beauty needs to be an afterthought,” said Ruth Kusi Asare, CEO and Co-Founder of BeautyNBrushes.

“With my cofounder, Kwaku Watson, I have spent the last two years building a presence in the beauty industry, holding events in Toronto and LA, and curating connections among Black beauty professionals, beauty influencers, beauty businesses and clients.”

Asare and Watson’s work in building an online presence proves the success of the concept: They amassed 167,000 followers on their Instagram page before launching the directory.

The directory showcases pictures and videos of a stylist’s work—far outpacing the typical directories that simply list existing salons.

A solution to a distinct problem

The website offers a unique solution to a distinct problem.

“At this point, it should be no secret that people of color compared to other ethnicities have a more unique set of needs when it comes to beauty, yet other platforms continue to disregard them.”

The creators of BeautyNBrushes says the platform ensures that clients of color are being paired with the right beauty experts, enabling women of color to identify beauty professionals who can best meet their needs.

BeautyNBrushes users can:

• • • search for stylists in their city based on pictures and videos of the professionals work before booking an appointment.
    • save the looks and beauty inspirations they love to their profiles on the site and share them with their friends and allow other members to comment and like.
    • In addition to, having the ability to search for specific categories and find a look they love based on service, location, price and style.

The website offers services from hairstylists, makeup artists, nail technicians, lash professionals and brow experts.

Asare explained, “For our clients, we offer experts in beauty who specialize in black and brown aesthetics. In addition, the platform serves and supports the beauty professionals, connecting them with clients and assisting with the management of the appointments they receive..”

Website

BeautyNBrushes also mentors professionals, helping them find their target markets, providing online tools that help them effectively schedule and manage their businesses.

Visit the website.