Author

Erien Dickens

Mommiehood, Work Life Balance

10 Indy Black Mom Entrepreneurs to Support

Make it a Goal to Support Black Mom Entrepreneurs Beyond Black History Month

Owning your own business has many challenges but these women are also balancing racial disparities and motherhood. Their resilience seems to be unmatched!

Check out these local moms here in Indy that have been inspired to create their own path into entrepreneurship.

Click on the ‘connect’ button and say hello!

Taria Butler is a speaker, blogger and author. She is the Co-Author of 2am Parenting: The Highs and Lows of an Unexpected Diagnosis. Additionally, she serves as Vice President of The traceBRAVE Foundation, a nonprofit organization that aims to help families with children who have Type 1 Diabetes.

@2amparenting on IG
Melody is an Indianapolis baker and started Crumbs of Love when she became a stay at home mom. She wanted to help her family by generating an income and teaching her daughters a skill they could use to bring joy to others. Melody has been baking since she received her first easy bake oven. Although many things have changed since then, her love for what she does has not.

@crumbsoflove on IG
Create. Connect. Collab. was founded by Starla Kay Mathis and Lateva Woolfork as a women-led ecosystem that creates a safe and sustainable community for all women to thrive. This community supports women to shift their dreams and aspirations into conquerable, step-by-step goals through MasterMinds, MasterClasses and accountability. Create. Connect. Collab. is for women ready to say yes to achieving their dreams and taking the next step into making ish happen as leaders and entrepreneurs.

@createconnectcollab on IG
Chef Felicia Grady is Executive Chef, Business Owner, and Restaurant Consultant. Upon graduating from The Chef Academy in 2012, she started her own catering company, Plate it Up! Catering.

After four years of managing the kitchen for Indianapolis Public School #49 she was given an opportunity to teach as a Culinary Instructor at Second Helpings and later was awarded an opportunity to become the Director of Food Service for Bridges of Hope Rehabilitation Facility in Anderson Indiana.

Chef Felicia has been a ServSafe Proctor since 2017 and Certified in Gluten-Free and Vegan entrees. In March 2022 she was awarded Chef Of The Year through the America Culinary Federation. She provides personal chef services for special occasions and started a a youth culinary workshop during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

@plateitup_catering on IG
Kristen Lampkin is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion leader also known as the HR Guru. She has been working in human resources for over 10 years focusing on talent acquisition, performance management, organizational development, employee relations, coaching, and diversity and inclusion. She is currently the Director of Business Equity for Indy (BEI) at Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP).

She is currently serving as Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity Director for the Indiana State SHRM board, Co-Founder of Black in HR Indy, and All-Star 2024 Committee Member. Kristen was named one of the 10 local women in Indianapolis to Watch in 2022 by Indy Maven. In 2021 she was selected as part of the Auto Remarketing 40 under 40 class. Also, in 2018, Lampkin was a finalist for the Junior Achievement’s Indy’s Best and Brightest award and United Way of Central Indiana recognized her as one of United Way’s 100 Heroes. 

She enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and loved ones. Her passion for giving back to the community and supporting equality for all is demonstrated daily in her professional and personal life. The motto she lives by is, “I am COMMITTED to showing you the BEST me while bringing out the BEST you.”

@kristenlampkin_ and @hrgurullc on IG
Kelah McKee also known as “ThePolishedLady.” 
“ThePolishedLady” is all one word.  Mommy to ThePolishedPrince.

The Polished Lady is a media specialist who has a passion for bringing positive brand awareness to black-owned businesses. With her yellow mic, she is driving the host, influencer, and media personality lane.

@thepolishedlady on IG 
Faith Strong Elite Macro Nutrition and Fitness Apparel


Dr. Kara Williams is the creator of Faith Strong Elite and is a certified macro nutrition coach! Kara specializes in helping women transform both internally and physically through spiritual guidance and evidence based nutrition coaching. Kara has helped countless women shred fat while changing their body composition through 1:1 and group coaching. What she is most proud of however, is helping women restore their FAITH when it comes to their weight loss battles!  

@faithstrongelite on Facebook or IG 
Nikkole grew up as a small town girl, with big dreams! She started a career in sales, elevated into the consulting sector, and the rest is history.

Nikkole is an Operations Business Consultant that helps small businesses and entrepreneurs start, sustain, and scale their businesses by streamlining their systems! Nikkole has a keen eye for analytics and identifies the gaps in businesses by allowing numbers to be the storytellers. She also has an array of services in addition to consulting such as administrative assisting, social media management, and graphic design! 

If you want to put your business on autopilot and get more time back in your personal life, Nikkole is currently accepting new clients and willing to help you with all of your business needs!

@nikkolewadeenterprises on IG 
Kenyata Moore is the Co-owner of Moore & Lee Investment Group. This investment group is a holistic financial planning office committed to understanding your specific financial needs and resolving them all.

@mooreandlee on IG 
LaKia Reynolds is owner and head therapist at Elite Hands. She graduated massage school in 2014 but didn’t become dedicated until 2019.  Lakia went from a small office suite to now owning 2 buildings with 12 suites.  Lakia provides the space for others to grow their business. Her main goal is to provide a place for the average working woman/man to enjoy luxury self-care. 

@elite_hands08 on IG 

Please make sure to connect and support these amazing Black Moms!

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Mommiehood, Planning, Uncategorized

2023 Indy MLK Family Events

Not only is the city of Indianapolis committed to uplifting the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., they recognize the importance of free admission for our families! Check out the free attractions for Monday, January 16, 2023.

Make sure to visit the specific websites of the organizations for planning and pre-registrations.

Free Events

  • Indiana State Museum Address: 650 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN
    • Watch videos of Dr. King’s speeches
    • Make a community quilt
    • Hear about Black creators, scientists, inventors, and engineers
    • Create protest signs and buttons
    • Opportunity for service participation
    • See performance by the Meraki Dance Company at 12 noon.
      • There is designated free parking however, parking is on a first come, first serve basis.
  • IMAX Theater Indiana State Museum Address: 650 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN
    • FREE parking & admission to their four showings of America’s Wild 2D at 11 am, 12:30 pm, 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm.
      • Get tickets at the museum on a first come, first serve basis.
  • Eiteljorg Museum Address: 500 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN
    • Join in a community art project
    • Learn about King’s famous quotes and write your dreams in a note on the comment wall.
      • Visit their website to locate at-home activities including instructions on making a lantern and how to stream “Freedom Rider’s for free.
  • NCAA Hall of Champions Address: 700 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN
    • Watch the “Title IX at 50” exhibit that explores the legislation’s impact on women’s sports and what’s required for NCAA student-athletes.
    • Play games, a 1930s retro gym and ski simulator are just a couple of the activities.
  • Conner Prairie Address: 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, IN
    • Conner Prairie is celebrating identity, belonging, community, and love on MLK day!
    • Learn about symbols of activism
    • Create your own symbol in the Teen Room
    • Listen to drumming, dancing and singing
    • Watch a film about courageous community members and the Birmingham Children’s March and record audio with podcast hosts of “This is Problematic!”, amongst other activities.
      • Tickets are available at the ticket desk on Monday, January 16th.
  • Indiana Historical Society Address: 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN
    • Listen to storytelling
    • Participate in service activities
    • Hear music performed by Keisha Ballinger and the University United Methodist Church Praise Team
      • Visitors also can bring new children’s clothes, books or cash donations for Charity Cares Early Academy.
      • Pre-registration is strongly encouraged but is not required.
  • Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum Address: 4750 W. 16th St. Indianapolis, IN *Enter from Gate 2*
    • On display is “Sleek: The Art of the Helmet.” Curated by artist Amiah Mims, it shows racing helmets created by nine local artists alongside historic and current driver helmets.
      • Reserve tickets online using the promo code MLK23. 
  • Carmel’s MLK Day Commemoration Address: Tarkington Theater, 3 Carter Green, Carmel, IN
    • Music, dance and spoken word performances along the theme of “On Being a Good Neighbor” will celebrate the day with the city of Carmel. 
      • Performances begin at 6:30 PM
  • Madam Walker Legacy Center Address: 617 Indiana Avenue Indianapolis, IN
    • The Madam Walker Legacy Center’s 41st MLK Day of Celebration speaker will be Time 100’s award-winning social justice leader and movement strategist, Tamika D. Mallory! Also featured on Fortune’s list of the World’s Greatest Leaders, Tamika is hailed as one of the most influential Black voices of our generation. Tamika was featured on Fortune’s list of the World’s Greatest Leaders and is hailed as one of the most influential Black voices of our generation.
    • Additionally, Tamika served as the youngest ever Executive Director of the National Action Network and made history when she helped shepherd the largest single day demonstration, the 2017 Women’s March on Washington, serving as one of its four national co-chairs.
      • Tickets are free but registration is required.
  • The Indianapolis Zoo Address: 1200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN

If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Share a powerful quote that you will share with your kids in honor of Dr. King.

Mommiehood

New Year, New Vision, Same MOMMIE…

Reflection

Year 2022 was full of seeking and confirming for me. Back in 2020, I knew I wanted to blog but I had a misconception of what blogging needed to look like for me. As I continue to develop and define All Things MOMMIE, my transparency and passion to share my motherhood journey will not change, however I am finding so much joy in aligning individuality and motherhood.

So much has happened since the last time I blogged back in May 2021. I traveled a lot and took advantage of finding my individuality in 2021. This was the year that my husband was traveling the most for work and my kids were challenging me in every lane of motherhood. 3 out of 4 of my kids started a new school and they all embarked new interests so as you can imagine how exhausted I was but I was still motivated.

The Growth

In 2022, I focused on building relationships and staying consistent with self-care. I set a goal in the beginning of the year to prioritize my health and well-being on all levels. This meant more than going to the doctor annually but taking time to myself outside of my family and not feeling guilty for it. I recognize there is a time and place for everything. My season of change would have only been successful if it happened in God’s timing.

One of my struggles has been letting go of perfection which I will never reach so why is it a struggle? Who will judge me if all of my T’s are not crossed and my I’s are not dotted?

I’ve been pushing the GO button, living in the moment and letting my hair down and it feels so good. My kids will love me regardless and I have been much happier this way. If I mis-spell a word, it’s all good…hopefully whoever was reading what I wrote received the intent of the message. If I show up late to a meeting, I’m sure there was a good reason so please don’t charge it to my heart. If I do not make it to a field trip…my kids will love me anyway…it will give us something to talk about on the way home from school. See…every scenario has a good ending. Life is what I make it. Cheers to our individuality in 2023!!

Moms, what are some of your individual goals for yourself? Share your challenges in reaching them.

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