We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful La’Toni Cromes. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with La’Toni below.

La’Toni, appreciate you joining us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

Stated started out as notes in the margins of my grad school notebooks. Back home in Rochester, NY we would say “stated” or “state my word” to emphasize, question, or co-sign a statement. So I would be in class hashtagging “stated” when the teacher said something that resonated with me. Most annotations were school focused but there were plenty of daydreams that made it to the pages as well. Actually some of the phrases that ended up on merch came straight from those pages years ago. Fast forward through graduation and a “big girl” job that brought my research to life, I returned to those notebooks. My spirit was unsettled because I felt there was programming missing from schools that could help youth stay engaged. I was creating and assisting with events that would benefit audiences beyond school walls. I was giving a lot of energy and creativity to spaces that came with too many limitations. After one too many “Yo, wouldn’t it be dope if…” conversations with my sister, I finally “did my big one” as my students would say. I took a leap and got my ideas fully out of my head for events, clothing, programs, and creative projects, etc. Once my logos were made I felt like “Yup. It’s over for sleeping on myself. The world is going to feel me and I’m ready!” On my half birthday, I filed my paperwork to make it real and very slowly I soft launched Stated to the public. It started as merch popping up in folks’ mailboxes, then hints on social media, followed by the website. Once the website went live, we were really cooking! Orders started coming in and people were taking notice and reaching out. There were still a bunch of things behind the scenes that I was figuring out but I didn’t let that deter me. I think it was important for me to do it while I was scared or else I probably would’ve still been doodling in those notebooks.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Though North Carolina is my new home, I am from Rochester, NY and an inner city girl to the core. The 90s-00s shaped the way I learn and create and in turn that era has a large influence on Stated, starting with the name. Like I said before, that was a word/phrase we used often, mainly when we wanted to make things clear. Stated’s primary focus is to get and keep communities creatively and intentionally engaged with reading and each other whether it’s in a traditional way or otherwise. We use different literacies to make that happen, which is why collaboration is important for us. Stated offers: youth programming for high school-1st year college students; community events and initiatives, alongside merchandise that highlights literacy, pride, culture, and history. I think what sets us apart from similar businesses is our approach and authenticity. From the name, Stated & nem, to our bold and unabashed techniques, Stated shows up as we are and welcome others to do the same. There’s no gimmick or appropriation and no switching up for different crowds though we’re comfortable and accepted in various communities.
I am most proud that people understand what Stated is about and stands for. Having amazing ideas is only half the battle; translating them clearly to audiences is the other half-STATE MY WORD! Nonetheless, our reach is growing and folks are learning while having fun and looking fly. Wins all across the board!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to quickly learn to stop seeking validation from the outside. I know that may seem cliche but I lived it. I had a person close to me imply that Stated as a business does not make sense. In a nutshell they were giving me business “advice” but their delivery was so harsh and ugly that it stung for a long time. Looking back I figured out it was so painful for me because this was a person I held in high regard in the community. I wanted them to be proud of me and my work like I’d always known them to be. It felt like a personal attack as opposed to sound advice, especially because they had been watching from a distance, apparently witnessing me mess up, and didn’t say yay or nay until I offered them a personal invitation to support (which they inadvertently declined). It took awhile to get their voice out of my head, take what was useful from the conversation, and move on. That person still doesn’t support Stated as far as I know but that’s not my concern. I’ve been applying the notes, fumbling forward, and extending grace to myself to grow as a business owner. My grace and validation for myself has priority over anyone. Stated & nem isn’t for everyone and that’s cool. The ones who get it, love and support it and I appreciate ya’ll more than words can express!

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think authenticity and support are what helped build Stated’s rep. As an educator, I have insight and expertise on how to personalize workshops and meet needs. As a person, I’m a young black woman, mother, first generation graduate and business owner trying to pour into communities like my village poured into me. I’m transparent with my lessons and I have a strong follow through track record. My words and actions are usually in alignment and I think people want to have something and someone to truly relate to in real life especially in the digital era when things are curated to seem “real.” Stated nor Ms. Cromes is perfect but our ethos is solid!

Contact Info:

• Website: statemyword.com
• Instagram: @21stated and @statedscholars
• Facebook: Stated (@21stated)
• Twitter: @21stated
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@21stated?si=BD9coymDlxjwhSo7 (@21stated)

Image Credits
43North77West Creative Studio