We recently connected with Akeema Bryan and have shared our conversation below.
Akeema, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.
Sweet Homes Corps helps more families in shelters secure safe homes that allow them to have privacy and healthy mental space to break generational curses and challenge stigmas associated with government voucher recipients . My business often offers our service at no charge to those in need that cannot afford the services we provide. We also offer quarterly online seminars to educate our consumers about resources available to them that can also service their needs at no additional cost. Annually we host a Bootz are made for warming clothes and shoe drive where we make sure that our neighbors in local shelters are warm in the coldest weather and fully equipped with at minimum a jacket and pair of boots in excellent condition if not brand new. We also have been victims of scams so we have first hand knowledge on how to educate our consumers with the resources that can be used to avoid scams. Additionally we host family fun in the summer at our annual Appreciation Carnival- Field Day where we connect with our family over outdoor sports, games, a bouncy house and many other activities. At this event we also supply families with a backpack filled with tools for their children when they go back to school.
Sweet Homes Corp is an attentive and engaged black, lgbtq, women owned and operated real estate company that educates, guides and nurtures our clients while they are exploring home buying, selling, leasing and residential property management endeavors. The service that we offer is representation for clients seeking equitable solutions from partners that they can trust. We help buyers save money and sellers earn more money when buying and selling residential real estate. We also assist with property management duties including but not limited to filling apartment vacancies with readily prepared tenants, keeping city voucher recipients out of the shelters and connecting homeowners to reliable maintenance companies for repairs and household maintenance. Many licensed realtors refuse to service voucher recipients, but we do not. We help everyone! At no cost to our family we host both online and offline lunches and learn seminars where we deep dive into the home buying, selling and property management process step by step. Our clients are our extended family.
Thi.rstquencher encourages all inclusive beverage experiences for adults. Too often I hear “you can cheer with water” and there is a stigma of not being grown up enough when not drinking alcohol. We create educational experiences to keep our neighbors included and educated about the variety of beverage options both with and without alcohol. We make it okay for our consumers to have fun while still being mindful of the importance of wellness when consuming both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
It matters that we serve the underserved because we know how the lack of wellness poorly impacts our community. We want to make sure that our brand and company builds and uplifts our community with access and understanding of wellness. Whether it be in the things that we consume or the environments that we live in that are designed rather to make us grow than to consume us because of poor living standards and unhealthy lifestyles that some persons may be subject to because they do not earn 6 figures. Everyone deserves to live in a safe and clean environment no matter how much we earn in wages.
As a model I mostly partake in campaigns that are in alignment with my values which include representation and awareness of the importance of black owned businesses, entrepreneurship as a serial-prenuer myself. This medium is underserved as the narrative of colored women is not too often spoken in the voice of colored women but more from the voice of spectators and the box that they place women in based on social contsructs and what is trending. In the modeling industry I notice that black women are highly under represented. Also some women of color do not have control over the campaigns in which they partake. I stand true to independence to upkeep the brand of all women of color, where I tell my own story and make an impression for younger colored women that also aspire to promote themselves as a brand. While it may limit the opportunities to me, I understand that every opportunity is not a good opportunity.
Akeema, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
The Founder of Sweet Homes Corp, Akeema Bryan is an African American, LGBTQ, woman, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York with an undying passion for creating, supporting, educating and inspiring my community so that they are informed and prepared to accomplish all of their real estate endeavors. I grew up in a sizable family that has a distasteful lack of support. In my home I did not feel heard, secure or supported. I’ve watched my immediate family tear down one another instead of uplifting one another. After numerous failed attempts to change the narrative with my efforts I began to invest in my extended family that I have been able to build through my business. My business started with a passion for ending homelessness as I was once homeless for many chapters of my life. We started with a need to service a greatly undeserved community. Poverty inspired my business and a mission to prevent and end this issue. In my neighborhood there are more liquor stores and homeless shelters than learning institutions and safe housing. My business not only services the needs of clients seeking real estate services. We also extend voluntary efforts to keep our neighbors near and far educated about financial resources that are accessible to them to acquire and maintain ownership of residential real estate.
Sweet Homes Corp is an attentive and engaged black, lgbtq, women owned and operated real estate company that educates, guides and nurtures our clients while they are exploring home buying, selling,leasing and residential property management endeavors. The service that we offer is representation for clients seeking equitable solutions from partners that they can trust. We help buyers save money and sellers earn more money when buying and selling residential real estate. We also assist with property management duties including but not limited to filling apartment vacancies with readily prepared tenants, keeping city voucher recipients out of the shelters and connecting homeowners to reliable maintenance companies for repairs and household maintenance. At no cost to our family we host both online and offline lunch and learn seminars where we deep dive into the home buying, selling and property management process step by step. Our clients are our extended family.
I take immense pride in our business because, despite facing adversity, we consistently provide safe, secure, and profitable housing solutions for our clients. Sweet Homes Corp remains committed to its mission of reducing and ultimately eliminating homelessness in New York City and worldwide, with a strong focus on serving underserved communities. Our company is self-funded by its founder, Akeema Bryan, who hails from the concrete streets of Brooklyn, NYC, and our most significant achievement to date is our dedication to addressing all our clients’ real estate needs and ensuring they have the necessary resources to achieve their real estate goals, both nationally and internationally.
I started working in Beverages 3 years before my real estate business in order to fund the education and start up of my real estate business. While making a living hosting experiences as a brand ambassador for numerous beverage companies I was offered opportunities to bartend private parties. Over time my beverage business thi.rstquencher grew frombrand ambassador, to bartender for private events and now over a decade later we are still representing beverage brands that we support at Iiquor tastings in NYC and Los Angeles, CA, hosting the hottest private events as a bartender and also hosting Biweekly Mock-tail & Cocktail Classes for the public and private bookings for parties, corporate events and much more.
My modeling career started with a variety of friends that have started their businesses using me as a muse. I enjoyed being apart of various projects that impact many different communities in need of a service, message, lesson or product. My modeling career continues as there are many designers looking to promote their designs in catalogs, runway shows, editorials, website stores, commercials, social media campaigns, or conferences that want to show black business owners what black business ownership looks like so that the images make the idea real for all of those that have the opportunity to see at attain business ownership.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
In shaping my management and entrepreneurial mindset, several resources have profoundly influenced my approach.
“The One Page Marketing Plan” emphasized the value of leveraging existing strategies while infusing them with my unique perspective. It underscored that authenticity is paramount in distinguishing oneself amidst a sea of competitors. By following established blueprints while infusing my personal experiences, I’ve crafted offerings that resonate on a deeper level with clients.
“Atomic Habits” instilled in me the significance of consistent, incremental progress. Understanding that success is built through small, daily actions has imbued me with a sense of perseverance and purpose. This approach ensures that I navigate each project diligently and purposefully, avoiding the trap of hasty, directionless efforts.
“Time Management for Successful People” revolutionized my perspective on organizing and prioritizing tasks. Overcoming challenges with time management, particularly in the earlier stages of my business, was a significant hurdle. This resource instilled in me the importance of maintaining a meticulously organized calendar and adhering to it rigorously. I adopted the mantra that if a task isn’t on my calendar, it doesn’t exist, and this discipline has been transformative. By allocating specific time slots for each task and adhering to predetermined project timelines, I’ve honed my ability to manage my time effectively and maintain focus on key priorities.
These resources collectively have equipped me with invaluable insights and strategies that continue to inform my management approach and entrepreneurial endeavors.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
My side hustle indeed evolved into my primary career, and the journey behind this transformation is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance.
Originating in Brooklyn, NY, I initially pursued property management assistance and bartending on a part-time basis, viewing them as avenues to explore my interests. As I immersed myself in both roles, I recognized them not merely as jobs but as opportunities for apprenticeship under seasoned professionals. This period of learning fueled my curiosity about the world and its diverse inhabitants.
Over time, my enthusiasm for both fields blossomed into a deeper understanding of their transformative potential. I realized that beyond simply enjoying myself, I was offering services that could empower individuals in various aspects of their lives—whether financial, mental, or physical. Our commitment to providing genuinely stress-free experiences became the cornerstone of our brand ethos, encapsulating the essence of wellness in both our real estate and Mixology ventures.
Through dedication and innovation, we expanded our reach beyond Brooklyn, scaling our operations to encompass two major cities: New York City and California. Additionally, our real estate services have garnered a global clientele, extending our impact to individuals across the nation and beyond.
This journey has been marked by several key milestones, each representing a testament to our growth and evolution. From humble beginnings as part-time pursuits to thriving enterprises with a national and international presence, our story underscores the transformative power of passion, dedication, and a commitment to service excellence.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sweethomescorp.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweethomescorp/ ——https://www.instagram.com/thi.rstquencher/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sweethomescorps/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKdXb_iP-SgH8Agu5c5pZqg
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sweet-homes-corp-new-york
- Other: https://www.sweethomescorp.com/nest-me/ Sign Up For Real Estate Property Alerts , https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/197416/71985806623901537/share, -Sign Up For Real Estate Newsletters https://classbento.com/specialty-cocktail-crafting-class-los-angeles-0?wtn=sagna724sus&utm_medium=teacherqr&utm_source=listings-1m&utm_campaign=40385%23teacher-threshold – Book a Specialty Mock-tail/Cocktail Class https://www.eventbrite.com/o/akeema-bryan-77196538433 -Thi.rstquencher Public Events
Image Credits
Ivan Shatokhin Dasha Murashka Mike Scruggs