Welcome to THIS special edition of GOOD QUESTION, brought to you exclusively by THISent.com! I’m your host Mr. Joe Walker.
Throughout my illustrious career as an entertainment writer and journalist, I’ve been blessed with opportunities to speak with many notable and famous persons. One of those is entrepreneur Najeema Iman, owner of CURLITUDE and Project Coordinator/Lead Market Curator of The Block Market.
The Block Market is a curated vendor market in partnership with Downtown Lansing Inc. The highly anticipated “The Block Market (Round 2)” event happens at Gibson’s Books & Beans from 1PM – 5PM in downtown Lansing, MI on November 28, 2020.
During our recent conversation I asked Najeema THIS good question: What about being a part of The Block Market (Round 2) excites you the most?
She answered, “I wear many hats when it comes to The Block Market. I am the project coordinator, lead market curator, and a vendor. The Block Market means the world to me.
As the project coordinator and lead market curator of the Block Market in partnership with Downtown Lansing Inc. and LanArtBus, it is a great honor to connect with diverse businesses from the Greater Lansing area and beyond.
We had our first market on October 10, 2020 in the heart of the city on Michigan Avenue right next to the Lansing Event center, down the street from the capital on the bridge above the River. The Block Market is just that, a bridge. We function as the bridge between a wide range of ethnically diverse entrepreneurs and downtown Lansing.
As a self-professed people collector and connector, I love meeting with the vendors, learning their story and the exchange of information that occurs organically. I have observed the beginning stages of business partnerships and potential authentic lifelong friendships. The Block Market is curated, meaning that every vendor is handpicked, and we have some type of relationship with them. Sometimes vendors are recommended by other vendors, but more times than not, the businesses at The Block Market are places that someone on our team frequent.
I simply love the realness. Real people, real businesses being a bridge.
As the owner of Curlitude, which features one-of-a-kind, handcrafted jewelry and accessories, I appreciate having the opportunity to have a place to safely sell my items in these challenging times. I also love meeting the people.
Having the unique perspective as both lead market curator and a vendor, I love supporting e’rebody. Be.black.educated, Natures 92 LC, Skin Studio 211, and the list just goes on. We have a little something for everyone.” |THIS.
