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With the rising variety of hate crimes particularly focusing on the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) neighborhood, I really feel unsafe touring in public alone. And anti-Asian hate crimes are rising at an alarming price. In response to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, anti-Asian hate crimes elevated by 339% in 2021. Cities like New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles noticed surges in hate crimes that surpassed what they skilled in 2020. In early March, a person was arrested in New York Metropolis for committing hate crimes towards seven girls who recognized as a part of the AAPI neighborhood. Within the span of two hours, he violently punched, elbowed and shoved Asian girls starting from 19 to 57 years outdated.
I am unable to cease the wave of xenophobia sweeping by means of our nation alone, however I may be extra personally conscious of my very own environment and take measures to guard myself.
As I re-enter the world after intervals of isolation, I am engaged on being extra conscious of my very own private security. “Noting your environment and making essential changes is the only most essential factor to do when touring alone in public,” Josh Katz, Krav Maga instructor and principal of 419 Strategy, shared with me. “If you happen to’re listening to your cellphone whereas touring, ensure the quantity is not too excessive, and use just one earbud. When coming into a public space, take inventory of who’s there with you, and be prepared to go away in the event you really feel unsafe. And eventually, if you end up on a dimly lit avenue: Take out the ear buds, flip in your cellphone’s flashlight and provides full consideration to your security. Lots of people really feel higher speaking on the cellphone to a buddy once they really feel unsafe, nevertheless it ties up your arms and distracts you out of your environment. Your buddy is not going that can assist you, however your senses and your instincts can. You simply want to offer them room to function at full energy.”
Heeding Katz’ recommendation, I used to be researching methods to really feel safer after I stumbled throughout Roq Innovation, the makers of Headlightz Beanies and Headbands, named considered one of O journal’s favourite issues in 2021.
“As somebody who loved working within the night when my children have been in mattress, security was top-of-mind for me,” says Raquel Graham, CEO and founding father of Roq Innovation. “I wanted a lightweight to see the place I used to be going, not a headlamp.”
The compact Headlightz Headband is hands-free and options an progressive shiny white LED gentle that’s light-weight, detachable and rechargeable. Select considered one of three brightness ranges, and the battery will final between roughly 1.75 and eight hours. It is tremendous straightforward to recharge (no unfastened cords), comfy and smooth and in addition suits my children in addition to myself. It is available in plenty of colours. Most significantly it will increase your visibility — you possibly can see the place you’re and the place you’re going.
“My mother is 76 years outdated and lives alone,” Graham says. “She’s of Asian descent, and it is mind-boggling and horrifying the extent of hate we’re experiencing proper now. I’m glad to have a product within the market that may preserve my mother and all of us a bit safer.”
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Listed below are three classes Raquel Graham has discovered in constructing her game-changing invention and firm:
“I solved issues that made my life simpler”
Graham’s firm began in 2014 as an experiment. “My children refused to put on scarves throughout chilly Chicago winters,” she says. “So I created a prototype for my children that they cherished. I had different mother and father stopping to ask me the place I obtained that scarf. That is after I knew I needed to take it to market.”
Graham created that first product, NEKZ, with no retail or manufacturing expertise. Her first account was Follett, which helped her get her merchandise into NCAA colleges throughout the nation.
After discovering success with NEKZ, she based her firm Roq Innovation and hasn’t stopped inventing since then. “My largest recommendation is to go after and remedy issues that may make your life simpler,” Graham says. “As a result of if it makes your life simpler, the answer you provide you with goes to assist remedy issues for an entire section of people.”
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Picture Credit score: LX Administration
“I relentlessly studied House Procuring Community earlier than being on it”
Graham has been on the House Procuring Community (HSN) efficiently for six years and has been one of many longest-standing Black-owned companies featured on the community. However her success did not occur in a single day. She relentlessly studied and watched HSN so she was prepared earlier than she was on it.
“I’m obsessive about merchandise and the way they’ll make our lives higher,” Graham says. “I watched all the pieces I might on HSN, learning the segments and the codecs, and I believed concerning the story I might inform with my very own merchandise.”
She remembers cold-emailing HSN and by no means listening to again that very first time. When the chance to be on the community lastly got here to fruition, Graham was prepared, as a result of she had been getting ready for this second all alongside. “You must be able to go when the decision comes. And if you’re placing within the work, the decision will come.”
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“I’ve left cash on the desk”
Lastly, one of many largest classes Graham discovered the laborious manner is when to stroll away from alternatives. “Whereas there’s rising help from retailers to help Black-owned companies and have them represented on their cabinets, the fact is many people can’t fulfill the orders,” Graham says. “We do not have entry to the funding wanted. When two huge retailers come knocking on the identical time, I haven’t got the funding to provide the product in such giant portions. And I’ve needed to go away cash on the desk.”
Graham hopes that extra retailers will work straight with banks and assist present financing choices to help small enterprise house owners. “That is the kind of allyship we have to see extra of. If you happen to see Black-owned companies leaving cash on the desk, do not simply allow them to stroll away. Assist construct the answer with them.”
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Supply: Entrepreneur