Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jhamana Creer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jhamana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Keep it Vertical is a positive lifestyle brand started by Jhoe Virago, Keep it Vertical means to Keep Your Spirit Lifted. KiV consists of many moving parts like fashionable apparel, a lifestyle blog and a poetry book, to promote positivity and remind others to Hear, See and Speak No Evil.

Our CEO, Jhoe Virago self published a poetry book titled “D.C.F.S” or “Delicately Caring for Savages”. D.C.F.S is a short collection of dark poetry Jhoe wrote as a suicidal and depressed child in the foster system and is used as a healing agent for readers.

Keep it Vertical’s merch line revolves around the motto “Hear NO Evil, See NO Evil, Speak NO Evil.” Our artistic & fashion forward designs have been featured in the gift shop for Museum of Contemporary Art, LA and has traveled to San Francisco with TrapxArt. In 2020, our Vintage Good Vibes Only Squad was in collaboration with Eric Garcetti as the Mayor of Los Angeles, giving back to homeless women in LA.

2023 is a major year for us, as we were featured on the Jennifer Hudson’s show Instagram three times & we secured our first major partnership! In September 2023, our partnership with Hudson LAX went live and our merchandise began selling in the Los Angeles airport.

You can find us in the international terminal at gate 156, between gates 80-83 United airlines and gate 73 Angelenos.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Jhoe and I am the CPO, the Chief Positivity Officer and Founder of Keep it Vertical. As your CPO, it’s my job to spread good vibes and help you keep your spirit lifted. Life has qualified me to do so.

I’ve survived different types of abuse, divorce, homelessness, suicide attempts, self-injury (cutting), bullying, over 100 stitches, foster care, college (after a year hiatus following my first year), depression, and whatever else life threw my way & used to qualify me to be here as your CPO!

In the midst of all of this, I preserved and graduated college with a Bachelor’s in Human Services, received a certificate in sound healing, started my own business and never stopped smiling. Since 2019, I’ve been a certified workplace violence instructor, teaching communication, negotiation, de-escalation and self defense to medical workers. In 2021, I taught my first positivity workshop with Mastercard. I’ve changed lives – all while mines was falling apart. It is my destiny and pleasure to be your C.P.O, welcome you into the Lifted Family and let you know that you can make it through anything.

I was taught to build a brand around your life and being positive has always been my thing. I’ve been blessed enough to be a silver lining thinker, finding the light in every situation. Starting Keep it Vertical was easy for me, because my lifestyle has always been abo0ut lifting up others. I heard someone say be who you needed when you were younger and that has caused me to become who I am today. A light for those in the darkness, like I needed when I was a kid.

Keep it Vertical is about inspiring others, providing a message people can wear and be reminded about and teaching lifestyle practices that can change lives and lift spirits. We use positive merchandise, social media content and positivity workshops to accomplish this goal.

The marathon continues until every spirit is lifted.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

During Covid, I had to pivot my business, like many others. I have always had an outgoing personality, I just was not always comfortable in front of the camera. During covid, I had to become more comfortable in front of the camera because so much of my content had to be focused to online. I started to create monthly themes that I could use to teach positive practices to my Lifted Family. That idea really helped me build consistency and learn new things.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

We have just secured the biggest partnership of our existence with Hudson inside of LAX but we needed over $25,000 to do it. In order to raise the money needed, we decided to do a Spot Fund campaign. We were able to raise the money in a week with the help from an angel investor who gave us $17,000 of it. While this was not needed to start my business, this partnership is a turning point and start of other big brand deals.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.keepitvertical.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keepitvertical_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeepitVertical/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC–qJkyu84MA92rC6Y5CeFg?view_as=subscriber