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

Ashanti , appreciate you joining us today. 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.

Bey’s Blessings serves the unsheltered community in downtown Phoenix by providing blessing bags. Blessing bags include but not limited to non-perishable food, water, seasonal item (flip flops, socks, blankets etc.), hygiene and first aid kits. We also serve families in need or in transitional living.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a Phoenician! Born and raised in Arizona! I have always served the community in some capacity. I started as young girl in church making sandwiches for the unsheltered, volunteering with Toys for Tots. In addition to my time spent in Girl Scouts I was able to serve in so many different ways.

As an adult I continued to serve in many capacities. However, it wasn’t until I was working at a youth homeless shelter and a member said to me in conversation “I’m human too, people walk by you and automatically say no, roll their window up, look away. They don’t even know if I’m going to ask for money, they won’t even look me in the eye.” That I realized as a community we are failing each other. We are to a point where we can’t even acknowledge one another, we are supposed to be the village. Does it hurt to smile at someone, look them in the eye, give them a bottle of water. It truly changed my perspective and I knew I had to do more. That is where Bey’s Blessings come into play.

I started collecting blankets and water to take down into the zone in 2018. My goal was to do 50-100. My friends and I were able to. We collected blankets, water, snacks and we went out and passed them out. Then I said okay I’m going to do it again and add onto what I bring out. I kept doing and haven’t stopped.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Social media, E-mails & Flyers at local businesses have helped us stay in touch with our funders a long with the community we serve. It all ways those in need to know when, where we will be. We also do a lot of raffles that are fundraisers and great value.

Any advice for managing a team?

Be transparent & clear with what your expectations are. Allow people to be who they are.   

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.beysblessings.org
• Instagram: Beyblessings
• Facebook: Bey’s Blessings
• Linkedin: Beysblessings
• TikTok: Beysblessings