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We're excited to welcome Roya Dedeaux to the MOB blog as she shares her list of questions to consider for those who are interested in involving diversity, equality, and inclusion in their business. You can learn more about Roya at the end of the blog post. I am a therapist. A business owner. A woman. Half middle-eastern. Passing white. Raised Baha'i. I have a foot in the door of several oppressed populations and also have a tremendous amount of privilege. I am uncomfortable, often, discussing racism, sexism, ableism, and other ways that I might be (definitely am) biased or prejudiced. I believe that emotions are information, including my discomfort, including my defensiveness. I believe that we need to look at our patterns -- to see what we value, and look for what doesn't serve us or our relationships, or humanity. I believe that we need to do that on a personal level, and if we are any kind of leadership position, we need to continually evaluate the values that are indicated by the choices we consciously or unconsciously make.  To that end, I came up with this list of questions to ask yourself. If you are a business owner, especially if you are male and/or white and/or able-bodied and/or or mid-high economic status, please ask yourselves these questions on a regular basis.
As a therapist, I use assessments as a baseline - establishing where we are now so that we can look back and measure progress. Maybe you can use these questions in the same way. Keep asking them. Keep making adjustments based on the answers. Keep doing better as you know and understand more.  1. Who are you inviting to be speakers, educators, guest bloggers, vendors, or representatives of your business? 2. Who is your customer base and what patterns do you see in the demographics? Why are you reaching them and not others? 3. What do your marketing materials show in terms of representation? What does your signage say or not say? 4. What are the origins of your brand aesthetic or product? Is it from a culture other than yours? 5. Who are you paying for services and what does that say about who you value? 6. Where are you located? What is the demographic makeup and how does your business work within that? Who are you collaborating with? 7. Who are you hiring and for what positions? Do you see any patterns? 8. Are your social media posts paying attention to important cultural days of groups other than yours? Are you being sensitive to world events? 9. Are you frequently asking yourself what barriers - logistical or social-emotional are there for diverse groups of people to access your business? 10. Is there diversity in your leadership or decision-making team? Who are you learning from?  Roya Dedeaux is a therapist, author, trainer, teacher, speaker, coach, parent, homeschooler, maker, and the Long Beach, California MOB Meetup Leader.
Connect with Roya online at https://www.royadedeaux.com/
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Consider this a primer guide for white people who want to better, but aren’t sure where to start.
Why? Because that is what we’ve heard the most this past week - people who want to do good, to help, and to understand but say they don’t know where to start. Thankfully, we live in a time when self education and information are freely and easily available via the internet. Google is your friend and we hope these resources are just the place you start learning instead of being the only thing you read. Most of these resources focus on racism as it affects Black people in the United States, but racism is pervasive and systemic - anyone who is not white has experienced racism in some form, even if it doesn’t look exactly the same.
Start here
Before you read further there are a couple of things you need to think about because you may have said or thought these things in an effort to be kind or helpful. The words we use matter and it is important to understand the impact of what you say. Why saying “I don’t see color” is a problem. - https://theeverygirl.com/i-dont-see-color/ Things you may be saying that are harmful, even if you don’t intend them to be that way, and what to say instead - https://www.katykatikate.com/the-blog/2020/5/26/5-racist-anti-racism-responses-good-white-women-give-to-viral-posts Unpacking the Invisible Backpack - this is a fantastic resource that helps you examine the privileges you have. - https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/mcintosh.pdf 
Racism is Systemic
As the graphic above says - racism is a system, not an event. When something is systemic it means it affects everything. Racism affects every part of our culture, history, public policy, and day-to-day interactions. If you’re feeling defensive right now, congratulations - you are experiencing white fragility - but KEEP GOING (White Fragility is in the reading list below, but here is a quick article about it to read before going further - https://www.theconsciouskid.org/white-fragility) The next link does take you to the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream site, but it is also a good, quick overview of what systemic racism is and the impact it has. Quick overview of reach and impact of systemic racisim - https://www.benjerry.com/home/whats-new/2016/systemic-racism-is-real If racism is hard-wired into the world we live in, what does that look like? Who does it benefit? What are the generational effects it has on people who are impacted by it? Instead of asking your Black friends and family members how they experience racism, read these stories of existing while Black and understand that this is a tiny, tiny sampling of what your Black friends and family deal with as a regular part of living their life. - https://www.huffpost.com/interactives/existing-while-black 
Talking to Kids About Race
If you’re a parent you know your kids are watching and learning all the time. If you’ve been trying to teach them not to see color, hopefully you’re beginning to understand why that isn’t helpful (if you’re skimming, go back to the top to find the link). Youre kids aren’t too young to learn about racism and what their responsibilities are to dismantle it. This link is packed with links for parents including books and podcasts - https://www.prettygooddesign.org/blog/Blog%20Post%20Title%20One-5new4 Having “The Talk” about racism with your kids: https://medium.com/@ralindaspeaks/black-parents-know-about-the-talk-white-parents-its-your-turn-a6a1209e5be2 
What to Do Now
This single blog post can only scratch the surface of the impact racism has on our friends, family, culture, and day-to-day interactions. At the end of this post there are links to books, trainings, and other resources to keep learning. You may be wondering what you can do now and how to help. This link gives you 75 actionable ideas. - https://medium.com/equality-includes-you/what-white-people-can-do-for-racial-justice-f2d18b0e0234 
Supporting Black Owned Businesses
One of the biggest impacts of racism is economic. One of the best ways you can combat that piece of it is to support Black owned businesses. Seek out and buy from Black owned businesses in your area. Buy from a Black Woman not only has a directory of Black woman owned businesses, she also has educational resources for Black business owners, and a yearly grant program - https://www.buyfromablackwoman.org/ Black Owned bookstores - when it comes to buying books (in general and from the reading lists below), do more and support a Black owned bookstore. At the link are 50 independent Black owned bookstores you can support - https://aalbc.com/bookstores/list.php We Buy Black is an online marketplace of Black owned businesses - https://webuyblack.com/ 
Book Lists & Resources for Further Learning
The links shared here are a small sampling of the education available. To keep learning read the books on the book list (and purchase them from a Black owned bookstore). Understanding White Supremacy Book List https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nEMDTfsavXD8va7mhWuV7yUSFwa_B6i5v0y60wh8xpc/ Excellent list of resources including books, videos, podcasts, and movies - https://docs.google.com/document/u/3/d/1BRlF2_zhNe86SGgHa6-VlBO-QgirITwCTugSfKie5Fs/mobilebasic 
Courses & Trainings
Empress Rules Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion trainings - https://www.empressrules.net/services-1 Online DEI training - https://diversityequityinclusion.com/online-learning/ Hard Conversations : Introduction to Racism: http://www.pattidigh.com/racism/ Whiteness Race and Social Justice : https://www.pattidigh.com/whiteness/ Free short DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) courses - https://www.themuse.com/advice/9-free-online-classes-for-managers-diversity-inclusion
Keep Learning
Even if you read every book and link in this blog post, watch every movie, and listen to every podcast episode - you're still not done.
Dismantling racism is a lifetime work and it will be exhausting. Keep going. Keep learning. Make impacts in your own circle every chance you get by calling out racism, questioning policies and attitudes you see as racist.
The downloadable PDF is a manifesto against emotional-reasoning, confirmation biases, intolerance, and hate by Dr. Melissa Bird and Amy Wolff.
When faced with your own conflict, you may this a helpful way to refocus your work. 
Trevor Noah, host of the Daily Show, shares thoughts on the ideas of what forms a society and what happens when social contracts are broken.
May is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage month and to celebrate we're highlighting some phenomenal Asian and Pacific Islander MOB Alliance members - including our founder, Aria Leighty! One of the things that makes the MOB so unique is the variety of businesses MOBs represent, and this list is a great example! We're excited to feature these MOBs and their work!  What inspires you? Creative women that go after their dreams. Community building. Women sharing their stories and showing up in their power! What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? You’ll never feel 100% ready! Don’t wait til the perfect time, there is no perfect time. Hop in now, with the skills and resources you have. Learn, grow, and evolve along the way! What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? It means I’m crazy! It means I have a responsibility to my daughter and my community to show up for myself and my dreams! Connect with Aria: MOB Nation Glitter Mindset  What inspires you? The people I am friends with inspire me to become a better person every day. Seeing all the good things they do make me try even harder because they have such big hearts and I love that about them. What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? I tell other businesses to plan ahead and have some emergency funds. It is going to take a lot longer than you think before you will be profitable and able to take a real paycheck. They say it takes the average business 2 to 3 years. So plan to cover your overhead and not pull a real paycheck for at least that long. Then if you become profitable before then, you just have extra funds to do what you need as you continue to grow and expand. What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? I am a mom first. So when COVID "stay at home" first began, I was able to take on the role of teacher (we formally moved to homeschooling). I love the flexibility that having my own business gives me so that I can be there for my kids. Even when they were at school, being a business owner allowed me to flex my schedule to go on field trips with them, to help with class parties, and be there for special events at their school. They are my number one priority so balancing my work with their needs is what I try to achieve. Connect with BWild Kombucha: Website  What inspires you? Happiness on my clients face :) Quality pictures in affordable price. What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? HARDWORK! What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? Crazy life but I love it as I can take a break whenever I want and spend that time with my daughter. Connect with Grace Photography: Website  What inspires you? Nature, art, and strong women. What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? First, I believe it is important to have a strong business plan that covers all aspects of your business. Also, I have had success in taking risks in business while also listening to my instincts. Follow your passions and don’t let others put limits on your potential. What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? Being a mom and a business owner makes me whole. I have learned so much about myself in the process of growing my business and raising a family. My family and business are two of the most important things to me, and I am so grateful for all I have learned so far on my journey. Connect with WholeTree: Website  What inspires you? I come from a family of healers. For generations we've been harnessing the power of Nature to heal. The Blessings of my ancestors inspire me to share the healing with our community here. What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? * Believe in your business with every cell of your being. *Hire a business coach from day one who will help you make strategic moves towards success. *Write down why you started your business, and keep true to that. What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? It is my legacy. It is what I was born to do, and what I do best. I consider sharing the healing knowledge of Ishq with others as a Blessing. It is a responsibility that I take very seriously. Connect with Ishq Skincare: Website  What inspires you? I’m inspired by good design. Design that makes you think. Design that connects. Design that evokes an emotional response. Weather it's product design, graphic design, website design or interior design...good design will always seeks to solve real world problems. I'm also inspired by art and nature. And by art in nature. I'm inspired by women who push themselves in their businesses and in their personal lives. What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? Absorb everything. Listen to your friends, family, coaches, "experts" but in the end go with your gut. Your gut is always right. What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? To be honest, I never wanted to be a mom!!!! My business was thriving....I literally had to say no to clients because I had so much work. I knew having kids would mean that my business will take a hit. And I knew it was way too much work to raise kids in this country anyways :) Long story short, it wasn't until my dad passed away that I realized that I needed my own family. It was the best decision I ever made! No doubt, it has its challenges, but I love every minute of it. Connect with OCHRE {art + design}: Website  What inspires you? The people I make jewelry for! They send me photos of their backyards, gardens, favorite nature spaces - I love recreating their favorite florals or reminding them of a particularly special place! What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? Play. Stay curious. Don't try to do the one perfect thing, just do it and adjust as you go. Join a group like the MOB for support and education, and try to do more of the things that energize you, and find ways to delegate or do less of the things that drain you! What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? It means bringing my kids along for the ride -- they're there when I go live to my customers, they play with clay beside me as I create my next pair of earrings. It means I attract a clientele that's understanding and nurturing as well, and I love that. Connect with Royaboya Handmade: Website Veronica Hanson - Pure Romance by Veronica & Vacay Visionary  What inspires you? I am inspired by the concept of balance. I believe every entrepreneur has a passion and purpose beyond their professional aspirations. For me the down time is just as important as the hustle time. I work to create a lifestyle for my husband and children that embodies our dream balanced life. What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? Don't create your business in a vacuum or echo chamber. A lot of entrepreneurs are afraid to tell anybody about their business until it's ready to launch. Instead you should be gathering feedback and pivoting aspects every chance you get. The emotional connection you have to starting your own business has a tendency to cloud judgement on factors that are easily changed if you take a step back and look more analytically at the execution. What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? Being a mom and a business owner is a special kind of chaos. You can go from feeling on top of the world to seeing failure everywhere within a moment. Having children allowed me to achieve success while maintaining balance. Without my children I can easily see myself becoming a workaholic who's addicted to the success, but because of them I found out I'm at my happiest when I'm out of the spotlight. Connect with Pure Romance by Veronica: Website Facebook group Connect with Vacay Visionary: Website  What inspires you? To help people process their pain and see them happy inspires me. When I can help someone reduce their pain and I see the smile on their face and how much gratitude they have, it fills my bucket. It's such an amazing feeling to be appreciated that way and to know that I can help make a difference in their life. There's so much negative energy around us and I want to help be that ripple effect that brings more positive energy in this world. What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? Don't give up. It may seem challenging at times but if this is your passion then don't give up and don't give in to negative energy from others. Also know that you don't have to do everything on your own and it's OK to ask for help. Don't think that your business has to be perfect before you get it started. Get it started and you can get it perfected while you're working. What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? Oh boy, lots and lots of work. Some days are stressful and there's hardly any downtime, but it beats having a 9 to 5 job and having to answer to someone else. I love the flexibility I have with running my own business and making my own schedule. I don't have to worry about getting disappointed comments if I have to go pick up my child when they're sick. I think running a business and to be a mom is similar in the fact that how much you love it and nurture it is how it will grow and be successful. Connect with the Bowen Body Whisperer: Website  What inspires you? Helping and seeing my team members grow. Being around passionate people. What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? Do your homework/ market research, lots of it. Overly prepared. Create a cashflow plan and be conservative. The road a head may be bumpy but you have the MOB! What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? I'm a better boss when I'm a mom. As a business owner and a mom, I've learned to become more efficient and better at prioritize/ delegating tasks. My girls taught me that it is okay to fall down as long as you learn from it and stand back up. That applies to doing business. Connect with Frenchie's Modern Nail Care: Website Facebook Portland Facebook Beaverton  What inspires you? My kids inspire me to pursue what fills my cup--creating beauty makes me happy! What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? Even if you have a ton on your plate, start anyway. Use the itty bitty pockets of time you might have and keep moving the needle forward. You likely won't nail it on the first try, so keep going and iterating as you move along. What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? Being a mom means I have a constant, ever present source of inspiration as to why I do what I do. It's the strongest, unflinching "why" behind my business! Connect with Jen Wilson Creative: Website  What inspires you? I'm inspired by the women leaders I see in the world: how they use strengths like connection and collaboration to lift others up; how they lead with compassion and values; and how they fight for the right just to get into leadership roles in the first place. Women leaders are making the world a better, safer, kinder world, and that inspires me in my work, my parenting, my relationships, and my volunteering. What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? My profession is in massage therapy, so when someone in my line of work loves their work and wants to start their own business, that means more time spent learning how to run a business and less time doing the fun hands-on work with clients. Running a business involves so much more than just doing the thing you love (i.e. you're suddenly in charge of planning, marketing, finances, stocking supplies, client management, etc), but also allows you to do it all your own way. Be sure to consider all the elements of this new role, and how comfortable you are with learning what you need to know and finding the right support. What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? Being a mom and a business owner allows me to life the live I want, do the work that I love with clients I adore, and model responsibility and leadership for my kids. It's a lot to juggle, and it's a constant learning process, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Connect with Mama Needs Massage: Website  What inspires you? Mothers inspire me! What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? Mindset is everything so fill your thoughts with positivity! The only way you can fail is if you quit! What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? Being a mom and a business is the greatest blessing. Both can be very trying and stressful, but it's so worth it. Connect with Steadfast Virtual Solutions:  What inspires you?
My Kids: I want them to know that if you work hard and never give up anything is possible. Women: Believes name comes from us wanting to inspire other women we believed in ourselves and worked really hard and went for a dream, it’s been hard but I wouldn’t change it for anything. What advice would you give to a brand new business owner or someone looking into starting their own business? To never give up. Always show up and work hard and in the end it will pay off. What does it mean to you to be a mom and a business owner? Being a mom owned business to me means I get to inspire other moms and I get to teach my kids that mom can do it all + being able to pick my hours and not having to miss sports and such makes all the hard times worth it. Connect with Believe Boutique: Website Three mom business owners, all working independently of each other, have sent hundreds of creams, balms, and lotions to frontline healthcare workers to help with the chafing, redness, and irritation that comes from wearing masks and gloves all day as well as extra hand washing. “Seeing our medical community bearing the stress - physically and emotionally, and the effects of that being visible on their faces and in their eyes, how could I not share the Ishq,” says Ishq Skincare founder Sarah Zareen. “Ishq” means “love” in Urdu. Danielle Trapp, founder of Halisi says seeing an Italian nurse’s red & raw face on an Instagram post brought her to tears. “I began brainstorming when Italy was in their peak, but it took time to formulate, get necessary supplies, and find contacts.” Alison Warlitner, founder of Cherry River, says “I have multiple cousins who work as RNs and I know more doctors than I realized. They started telling us how their skin was chafing under masks and under gloves, and we realized that our lotion or shea butter would give relief, and the CBD would help with skin irritations, redness, and swelling."  Ishq Skincare ready to ship. Rynly is mom-owned local shipping company. Ishq Skincare  Local pharmacists holding Ishq Fitoor scrub and Uns clay mask. Through Ishq, Sarah has sent nearly $1,000 worth of organic moisturizing creams, scrubs & masks to contacts working at OHSU and pharmacies around Portland, Oregon. Sarah also says “I know my products bring healing. It was a driving fire that rose within me. As soon as the thought of sharing came into my mind, I asked members of the MOB Nation for connections. Service to others is what my brother & I were taught from childhood, and it being Ramadan, I felt this urgency to share Ishq’s healing powers.” Halisi Skincare  Halisi chafing balm. Halisi, which was created to create safe and natural solutions to skin care problems, has sent over over 700 tubes of her newly created chafing balm to nurses in New York City and California. Danielle is also distributing them to employees at local senior homes. Although the project started as a service project with her teenage son, they have surpassed the original goal. The new goal is to send 1,000 tubes. Danielle says “Medical professionals have no choice when it comes to wearing a mask, and they’re sometimes two masks at a time for their entire shift, every day. That gets painful - not only the chafing, but also the humidity inside the masks just wreaks havoc on the skin.” Cherry River  Cherry River Mango Aloe Gel, Muscle Gel, and Beauty Lotion Cherry River’s program of sending items to healthcare workers on the front lines is part of a larger donation program.
“Our primary concern was getting items to people working in healthcare, but we also realized there was going to be a need for donations because many who use CBD as medication would not be able to afford it,” Alison explains. Cherry River’s first donation arm acts as a buy one, get one program, except instead of the purchaser getting an extra item, Cherry River makes an in-kind donation and gives items away via an application system. There is no screening or documentation needed. Through this program they’ve sent out over $4,000 of CBD tinctures, capsules, topicals, and even bath bombs to close to 100 applicants. That program also funds donations to healthcare workers, and allowed them to give over 40 lotions and shea butters to pediatric doctors, nurses, ER technicians, and personnel making PPE for medical staff.
What happens when you combine running your own business, suddenly homeschooling, trying not to leave your house, and pretty much everything “normal” being turned upside down?
Things get very interesting very quickly.
When your kids realize you're on a Zoom call.
Learning to work from home with your partner.
Getting MOB happy mail.
Attempting to balance home life, work life, and homeschooling in the same day.
Being excited to get out of the house.
Getting burned out on Zoom meetings.
Dreaming of getting away when this is all over.
Trying to get some time to yourself.
When a new order comes in or you get a new client.
Looking forward to in-person MOB Meetups.
We can all agree that the world we’re living in today is vastly different from the one we lived in last month. And, at this point, no one is sure what the next month (or the month after that) holds. As a business resource and connection hub, we have members in nearly every industry which gives us insight into a huge cross section of businesses and the challenges they are facing right now. We also understand that if you don’t own a business, you may not fully grasp that in addition to the concerns everyone has right now, your business owning friends are dealing with even more:
What Can You Do?
The best thing you can do is support small business. You can use the MOB Directory, our directory of mom-owned businesses, if you don't know where to start. Nearly every service or item you need can be found in the directory (and lots of personal care items can be shipped to you directly). If you need a recommendation, email directors@themobnation.com Choose a small business over a big box store where you can. Find a local hardware store or nursery for home projects, buy from an independent book seller instead of Amazon, choose a locally-owned art store over other options, support a local clothing boutique, order your coffee beans from a local roaster or coffee shop. These businesses need your support all the time, but especially now. We've compiled a list of therapists who are accepting patients and have specialties to help you if you need extra support during this time. All therapists listed are offering secure telehealth and phone services. Kara Kazamba, Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, CADC From Kara: "I'm here to support individuals with post-traumatic stress, interpersonal difficulties, life transitions, and more. I really appreciate the complexity of personality and identity formation. I specialize in a variety of modalities including MI, CBT, ACT, DBT, and solution-focused perspectives, all with a trauma-informed lens. I have completed 36+ hours of training in EMDR. I offer assessments for gender-affirming care for the trans community. For professionals, I enjoy providing consultation and supervision to new and seasoned practitioners." Roya Dedeaux, licenced MFT, offering 1/2 priced text based sessions in addition to regular telehealth practice and homeschool coaching. "As a therapist, I have always been interested in working with people who don’t quite feel like they “fit the mold.” I was homeschooled since the age of ten, and find that my philosophy about individualized education for children translates directly into my therapeutic practice. “Child-led learning” can be directly translated into “client-led therapy,” wherein I am the resource, facilitator, and guide, but leave the direction up to the client." Marissa Talarico, MA, LMFT, Thrive Relational Therapy, licensed in Washington. From Marissa: "I’m Marissa Talarico, a sex positive therapist who believes in the power of human connections and strive to create a caring, non-judgmental environment where everyone feels comfortable to express themselves. I have found that using a straightforward approach helps many couples, individuals, and families identify their greatest challenge, and gain the courage to find alternative strategies to move past it. I have had many previous clients, friends, family and co-workers tell me that my straight-forward approach demonstrates care and depth in my relationships." Kaleigh Boysen-Quinata, LMFT, Family Roots Therapy From Kaleigh: "My team specializes in working with teens, gender and sexuality issues, parent/child attachment and relationship work, and couples. I focus on postpartum parents (either individuals or couples) and young children. We are offering video/telehealth sessions right now. Even with some of our youngest kids, they have been a success! Our child therapists are getting super creative using Google Jamboard for shared art, online games, even playing with our usual play therapy toys over video and having kids share their special toys. And my pet guinea pigs have made some special guest appearances." Melissa Parnell, Parnell Relationship Counseling, licenced in Washington. From Melissa: "I specialize in couple work and betrayal trauma counseling. I meet online with couples and individuals in the privacy and comfort of their own homes. We dive deep into the experiences that are creating anger, hurt and frustration, and cultivate peace, connection and hope. The process is virtually identical to the great work we do in-office." Eliza McBride,MS, NCC, LPC Intern Mental Health Counselor, Next Generation Counseling From Eliza: "I have experience working with individuals coping with anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, and stress related to life transitions and adjustments. I have extensive training in suicide intervention and working with survivors of domestic violence, childhood abuse."and generational trauma. Arin Wallington, MA, LPC, NCC, EMDR Certified Clinician. Licensed in Oregon. "I want to hear your story and understand why you're seeking counseling. No matter what you're experiencing out there in the world, in session I bring warmth, caring, respect, and a desire to help you to heal and grow. It doesn't matter how young or old you are, what you have been though, or have yet to achieve, your healing journey isn’t over... it’s just beginning." Rachel Baskind, licensed LPC intern, licensed in Oregon and some other states provisionally. Sliding scale available for service industry and healthcare workers with need. Private pay, super bill provided if you have OON benefits that cover these services (I can provide questions to ask your insurance company). "I specialize in trauma first aid & healing and perinatal mental health & parenting. I can help you tap into and build your resilience. I have advanced training in Somatic Experiencing, a cutting-edge biological approach to nervous system regulation and trauma healing." Erica London, Compass Whole Health From Erica: "The goal of Compass Whole Health is to offer a judgment free environment to assist all individuals, couples, families, children, and teens with counseling services, coaching services, and massage therapy in Vancouver, WA. Our clients often find hope, direction, and healing at Compass Whole Health." Harini Sukumaran, BAMS, MA, LMFT, Mind Tree Holistic Counseling. Currently offering teletherapy sessions via secure video platform and phone. From Harini: "I’m a licensed child and family therapist, primarily working with children ( 5 and older) and women. My work includes helping children with anxiety integrating play therapy, yoga, mindfulness and art therapy. I help with women, mostly moms with anxiety & depression and work with perinatal/ postpartum population as well." Tara May, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Blue Leaf Mental Wellness Center, licensed in Oregon and Washington. From Tara: "In my many years working in a variety of settings, I have always loved the intimacy and connection created in psychotherapy treatment. Whether my clients come to me feeling unhappy, anxious, shattered, disconnected or uncertain about the future, I know that they will leave better than when they came. Reaching out for help is an act of courage and hope. Clients rediscover their best selves, create new experiences, and recognize the choices they have in their treatment and in life including options of what to hold on to and what to let go of. Through treatment, they leave feeling stronger, more confident, decisive, and connected both to themselves and others." Tiffany Ketterman, LPC, LMHC, CADCI, Health Allies Counseling From Tiffany: "We all have our own unique challenges and heartache. I am here to help share in your journey. Walking through it together, we can talk about where you've been and where you'd like to be. I want to help you identify your strengths and goals, show you how to use resources available to you, and help you to bring balance back into your life." Rinatta Paries, Get Relationships Right, licensed in Washington
From Rinatta: "When working with couples, I use Emotionally Focused Therapy, a treatment that helps couples significantly improve their relationship. I help couples end fighting, reconnect and fall in love again. When working with individuals I listen compassionately and offer a mix of support, skill building, and creative therapy." Let's face it - social distancing is challenging. We're not seeing friends and family, celebrations have been canceled, and we're all beginning to miss face-to-face human connection. At a recent virtual meetup for mothers in business, there was a discussion about buying small things from each other as a way to offer support and bring some happy mail into our lives. But why limit it to purchasing just for yourself? This is a wonderful time to spread sunshine by sending a little something to a friend or family member and support a small business at the same time. We've collected a list of items under $15 (plus shipping) that can be ordered online and sent to anyone you think needs a pick me up!  1) Guatemala Chichen Coban whole bean coffee from Elliot & Murrey Coffee Roasters - $15  This is a medium blend with flavors of milk chocolate, lavender, and hints of brown sugar. Delicious after a meal or as the first cup of the day! Order here. 2) Rosemary Pecan Brittle Bites from How Sweet It is - $10  Don't miss the chance brighten someone's days with award-winning Rosemary Pecan Brittle Bites! These are a perfect blend of sweet and savory and a 2020 Good Food Awards winner! Order here 3) Button Up Earrings from Premier Designs with Cynthia - $14  A timeless staple that brings a classic, feminine look to any occasion, including getting dressed up from the neck up for all those video calls! Order here. 4) Nature Sticker Sets from Super Nature Adventures - $11  Right now even more that usual our kids deserve any chance for joy they can get. These nature themed sticker sets with hand-illustrated drawings are here to brighten spirits. Use for outdoor exploration, home school, or free play. Order here. 5) Custom & Personalized Wooden Easter Eggs from Sudie's Corner - $10  If you're looking to send a little happy mail to someone who seems to have it all, this is a great option! Order here. 6) Clip It from Sparkle with Christie - $14  Know someone who loves jewelry? A Clip It from Premier Designs can make any long necklace short! Order here. 7) Beeswax Lunchbox Sets from Heather's Treasures - $5 to $10  Fun and playful, these reusable beeswax wraps are a fantastic alternative to plastic and perfect for all types of leftovers! Order here. 8) Halisi All Natural Lip Balm - $4  Halisi's Bizzy Lips is a delightful peppermint lip balm that gives lips an invigorating, tingly feeling. Vegan formula (without beeswax or lanolin) also available. Order here. 9) Photo Notecards from Malaina Kinne Photography - $5  Missing the connection with your loved ones and friends? Send them a thoughtful note! Order here. 10) Bad Chrome-ance from Colors and Chaos  Dry nail polish that is mess and smudge free and will get you through your social distancing with a smile on your face! Even if you have acrylic or gel dip nails (cover that grow out until you can get to the salon again). Removes with finger nail polish remover. Order here. 11) Reusable Produce Bags from Stacy Rice, Norwex - $6.99  We all know someone who either forgets their bags or talks about upgrading what they have! Send them a surprise! This sturdy reusable shopping bag is made with food-grade material. Order here. 12) Fragrance-Free Satin Hands® Nourishing Shea Cream - $12  During this time of extra hand washing, sending a friend hand lotion might be the most thoughtful gift of all! Satin Hands Nourishing Shea Cream for those dry hands from the extra hand washing, lip care with SPF 15 for the extra sun while enjoying the outside more. Order here. 13) Rose City Bath Salts from WholeTree - $10  These bath salts will make you feel refreshed & pampered! Made with natural and non-toxic ingredients. Ingredients: Epsom salt, sea salt, baking soda, rose buds, vitamin e, rosehip oil, essential oil. Order here.
Updated 4/22/20 We know things are uncertain and nearly everyone is experiencing a lot of stress right now. Here are a few of ways we're working to keep mothers in business connected: We've moved all meetups online. Just like our in-person meetups, our virtual meetups have educational speakers, breakout sessions, and a chance to build relationships with other women who are juggling running a business and being a mother. Use code APRIL to save $5 on your ticket. We've scheduled three weeks of free, educational programming on our Facebook page - The MOB Nation - daily at 11am PST. You can view the lineup and missed talks here. We've created this resource guide designed to help you find essentials, free resources to keep your kids occupied during school closures, and virtual events that will help you with your business. This list is growing, so come back to see what has been added! If you have a resource to add please email aria@themobnation.com with the direct link and description. Toiletries and essentials delivered to your door  Toothpaste, shampoo, and cleaning supplies from Pure Haven. Meal prep kit and recipes from Epicure. Home cleaning products from h20. Dish soap and dishwasher detergent from Shaklee. Freeze dried food and snacks from Thrive Life. Foaming hand soap from Halisi. Elderberry Syrup from Wildroots Pantry. Coffee delivery Elliot & Murrey Coffee, Rose City Coffee Co., and Willamette Coffee. Tea from Mama Te-a. Wine from Rose Fern Cellars and Gonzales Wine Company. Hand soap and bodywash from Arbonne. Essential oils from Doterra or Young Living Reusable paper towel replacements from Heather’s Treasures. Bar soap from Whole Tree. Domestic Violence Resources (CLICK HERE to be redirected to Google if you need to leave this page) The hotline is open 24/7 and staffed by trained advocates. How COVID-19 can impact domestic abuse survivors. Creating a safety plan. Resources for friends and family. Resources by state. Computers can be monitored, if this is a concern call the National Domestic Violence Hotline 24/7 at 1−800−799−7233 or TTY 1−800−787−3224. You can also text LOVEIS to 22522 if you don't feel that clicking the link is safe. Toys and Activities for kids delivered to your door  Educational Games from Simply Fun! Earring Kits from Purple Girl Beautique. Cookie decorating kits from Flour by Design. Toddler activity boxes from Tinkering Toddler Crates. Super Nature Adventures activity sets & Explore Your Own World downloadable kits for families (benefits World Giving Coronavirus Fund). Confessions of a Tiny Teacher subscription box. Little Minds Learning Box subscription box. Self-care delivered to your door  CBD bath balms and bubble bath from Cherry River. CBD chewables and tinctures from Whole Tree CBD. Organic skincare from Ishq Skincare and Bee Bomber. At home mani-pedi from Color Street. Juice Plus! Fruit and Veggie Capsules. Hand lotion and cosmetics from Mary Kay. Free Parenting and Homeschool Resources  Playdough Recipe from Roya Dedeaux. Suddenly Homeschooling free download bundle from Mighty Kind Kids. Free Activity ideas for kids and toddlers from Confessions of a Tiny Teacher. Craft ideas for kids from Chomp Supply! Free coloring sheet downloads from Honolulu Baby co. "Making Music at Home" with Miss Wendy! Coronavirus Turned Us Into Homeschoolers - Now What? from homeschooling coach Sue Patterson. List of educational companies offering free subscriptions - including BrainPOP and other great resources. Grover Reads "Monster at the End of the Book" on YouTube How to Talk to Your Kids about Coronavirus Huge List of Educational Resources from the Not Your Average Mom Project (organized by subject) Fab Lab Digital Day Care with Crazy Aunt Lindsey Resource list from homeschooling blogger The Mahogany Way Paint with me live streams from Eva at OffBeat Art Parties daily at 2pm (click videos to see the ones you missed!) Virtual Events  Girl Boss Rally date TBA Free Workshops from ifund Women! Online Yoga Classes with Ready, Set, Grow! Online Personal Training and Workout Classes from Coburg Fit Club. FREE Live MOB Talks every weekday at 11am! Virtual Meetups from The MOB Nation - networking for women business owners. Pepperlane Online Boosts for service based businesses- claim a free spot here! FREE Self-care resources  "Why working from home can mean less sleep" by Sleeper Teachers. Guided Meditation Activate you with Tricia! Five Day Self Care Journey with Jenelle Woodlief MA LMT Virtual help for home organizing help with Trista Signe Ainsworth of Love your Home! Free Coaching Support (Business & Personal) Free 20 minute System Strategy calls with Amy Koski of Sotera Solutions. Free 20 minute coaching sessions with Selena Maestas of Mom Boss Mindset. Free FB live coaching videos from Girl on Fire. Rise and Thrive with Sheila Gray- FREE live coaching videos. Free 20 minute strategy calls for time blocking and productivity with Anna De Salvo. Free meditations and group coaching from Free Spirit Coaching. Free marketing strategy calls with The Bold Orange. Discounted/Free Services & Subscriptions Momentum is waiving fees for listing products and services! HBO is offering 500 hours of free content Easy gift certificate options from Kabbage - service is free, but there is a 2.5% processing charge per gift certifcate Hootsuite is offering its professional plan free until July 1st, 2020. Extended 90 day trial from Shopify Free learning modules from LinkedIn Calendly is offering free Zoom & GoToMeeting integration through June Canva has made its entire photo and icon library free (60+ million items) at the Canva Pro level and is offering a free 30 day trial, too! Business Resources  Navigating business during uncertain times by Refreshing Edge Podcast. 10 AMAZING free Marketing resources from MOB CMO, Gwen Montoya! Free marketing videos from Mary Czarnecki. Guidance for Businesses & Employers to Plan & Respond to COVID-19 from the Small Business Association. Time tracker worksheet from Girl on Fire. Resources for artists & freelancers. Learn how to take face to face events digital with Edge One Media. Financial Resources and Information SBA funding program for disaster assistance.
COVID-19 Economic Injury Disater Loan Application Find unemployment benefits in your state - Self employed may be able to claim unemployment benefits. Funding assistance for female founders - collection of resources from Helm List of Small Business Administration loans and resources Find a local Small Business Administration office- your local SBA can help connect you with unique local resources. Quickbooks & Go Fund Me Matching Grant program Financial support for beauty professionals Facebook Small Business Grants Grants and funding for the restaurant industry. Grants, financial support, and resources for artists and more here. Round up of resources - national and city/state. Another list of resources by city/state Grants for Women Business Owners iFundWomen List of Grants 7 Funding Resources for Diverse Business Owners 11 Funding Resources for Women Business Owners Your website is your home base on the internet, and the only place that is all about you and your business with no distractions. It is also the only place you have complete control of where things go and how things are styled - you choose the fonts and colors and you’re not competing with anyone else for your audience’s attention. So how do you make the most of the attention you have from your audience at that moment? Good Navigation There are many important building blocks to a great home page, but the first should be excellent navigation. Someone visiting your website needs to be able to move around easily and find the information they want. The best way to do this is to make your navigation as clean and simple as possible.You have just seconds to catch a visitor’s attention, so don’t waste it with confusing or misleading navigation. Try to look at your website through the eyes of someone seeing your website for the first time. Or someone looking for a specific piece of information on your site. Can they find it? How many clicks does it take to get them to the page they want to see? Although drop down menus can be helpful, they can also be overwhelming for the user. If you find yourself with a lot of drop down menus here are some questions to ask yourself:
 Image by Kevin Phillips at Pixabay Contact Information Make it easy for someone to work with you by placing your contact information in the footer or header of every page. Although you may have concerns with receiving spam if you place your email on your website, you also don’t want to miss the opportunity to work with someone because they couldn’t find a clear way to contact you. A Contact page can also be useful if you prefer to use a contact form instead of putting your email on your website. If you use a contact form, be sure to make sure it is still active and working properly every couple of months. Sometimes they start sending completed inquiries to spam and sometimes they stop sending them anywhere at all. Images The saying “A picture is worth a thousand words” is especially true when you are trying to be concise, but still get your message across. Think about the colors and emotions represented in your type of business. If you’re an accountant, then you probably see a lot of calculators and other tools. If you’re a lawyer, then you see desks and strong colors. If you’re a therapist, you probably see softer colors and possibly some art work. Do you need a picture of yourself on your home page? It really depends on the kind of business you have! If you do put a photo of yourself on your site, use a professional head shot rather than a selfie. Your business deserves good photos! What You Do What do you do that makes you unique? How is your approach or team different than what else is available? How do you stand out above the noise? You need to be able to communicate what you do and why your audience should care. But don’t fall into the trap of confusing “features” with “benefits” - a feature is what your service/product does, a benefit is how your service/product impacts someone who uses it. A feature of a laptop is that it connects to the internet. A benefit of a laptop is that it keeps you connected to friends and family, no matter where they are. See the difference? A tagline can be a part of this, but it isn’t required. However, you do want someone leaving your site to be able to tell the next person they meet exactly what you do. If they can’t verbalize it, your message may be confusing or not clearly stated. The right amount of copy It can be tempting to put everything about your business on your home page, but it can also be overwhelming. A better plan is to use your home page to direct visitors to the pages you want them to see. How much copy does your home page need? Your home page needs enough copy to convey the best information for your clients about what you do. If you haven’t looked at the text on your home page lately, this is a good opportunity to update and streamline. Call to action Once someone has visited your home page, what do you want them to do? Sometimes this is called a CTA or Call to Action, but it just means clearly directing your reader to the next step you want them to take. Try to limit the calls to action on your home page - too many can be confusing. Some calls to action:
Think Above the Fold If you aren’t familiar with the term “above the fold” it goes back to newspaper printing - the most important front page headlines went “above the fold” - meaning above the place where the newspaper is folded in half. On a website, above the fold generally means on the upper part of your website (before someone needs to scroll down to see more). With smaller screens that require scrolling anyway it isn’t as vital as it once was, but it is helpful guide and reminder not to bury your most important information. Navigation, obviously, goes above the fold. It is a good idea to put your call to action above the fold. Your tagline (if you have one) should go above the fold. Now that you've polished your home page, here are more resources to make your website pop! Anatomy of Blog Post Where to Find Diverse Stock Photos for Your Website Understanding How Visitors Look at Your Website  Gwen Montoya is the CMO of the MOB Nation as well as a marketing strategist and coach. She loves making marketing accessible and empowering mom business owners.
Learn more about Gwen at www.gwenmontoya.com or on her podcast Adventures in Marketing. |
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