We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shaunta Moore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Shaunta, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I have been away from my hometown for more than 20 years. I have spent the majority of my life in the spotlight. Whether I was singing, acting, modeling, or speaking, my life has been an open book. Being transparent about my life’s journey, overcoming a rare bone cancer, surviving an abusive marriage has indeed been my truth to tell when I am speaking and motivating others, but there has always been one thing that pulled at me the most, and that is Growth, and Unity in the Urban Community in my hometown. Never would I have thought that in this season of my life, that God would journey me back to my roots, home, nonetheless, I’m here. Almost a year ago after having a bad case of Covid, I was home recovering and heard plain as day, Its Time! When I questioned what I heard, I got clear instructions that it was time for me to go back home. I didn’t quite understand it, however, I try to be obedient to the voice of God as it instructs. So, back down south I went. I opened an Aromatherapy store in my hometown called Favored Elegance. Business was great from moment one. Not having competition in that market, the revenue was pouring in. I still felt that something was off. One night, God awaken me yet again with clear instructions and so I begin to write. By the time I finished, God had birthed The Urban Incentive. Immediately, I understood why I had to move back. I had to be a Black Owned Business in my hometown to feel what it was like to be a Black Own Business in my Hometown! By feeling the effects of being a black owned business, I now knew what we needed and of course understood why God Birthed “The Urban Incentive”. We are excited about the growth of The Urban Incentive since its birth in local and surrounding counties. The Urban Incentive is made up of Black-owned Businesses who have committed to patronizing each Business affiliated with T.U.I. intentionally, which ensures our continued survival and growth. In the past 9 months, we have aided people from the Urban Community in developing and launching business ideas that have been collecting dust on the shelves. Providing space and opportunity that is very rare in smaller cities has proven to be the solution needed for a constantly overlooked problem.

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?

I am a Gospel Award Winning Recording Artist. I have written many songs, which has been used as scores for several movies. I am an Actress, Minister of the Gospel, and all-around lover of people. It feels my heart with joy when I’m able to motivate and inspire someone to their next best place with God at the head of course.

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

In 2009, I was going through an ugly divorce. Unfortunately, that resulted in the abduction of my then 3 minor children. It was during this time that I had to get to know God in a way that I never knew existed. My normal was turned upside. My heart was shattered, and my mind was cloudy. All I knew was that God did not save me from bone cancer for me to die from depression. I was determined to LIVE! I moved intentionally. i explored new ideas and learned new crafts. I kept myself so busy growing that I didn’t have time to ponder on my reality.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As I continued to navigate through what was clearly my “New Normal”, I met so many amazing people. And the crazy thing is that the majority of the people whom I brushed shoulders with are a part of my life in some shape, form or fashion today. Crazy how life works out that way. I was introduced to Theater and performing in a way that I had only imagined, and here coming up in July, I’m Co-starring along Javon Johnson from Tyler Perry’s Oval, South Carolina’s Official First Lady of Song Loretta Holloway and so many more amazing actors and actresses. God is so Good

Contact Info:

• Website: theurbanincentive.org
• Instagram: ms.shauntamoore
• Facebook: Shaunta Moore
• Twitter: ShauntaMooreFav
• Youtube: Shaunta Moore Ministries, Oceanei Productions

Image Credits
Photo Credits: Rex Media, Braynard Stevenson, Oceanei Productions