blackbyrdinitiative, Author at blackbyrd initiative

The story behind blackbyrd initiative “Reverence is sown into the foundation of this organization” Shanize Byrd, CEO & Founder When I conceived the idea of blackbyrd initiative, I honestly felt like I was becoming a mother. Like the story of when Mary had a visit from an angel, who told her she was carrying God’s…

Black-women owned lifestyle brand & studio in New Orleans By Shanize Byrd The first time I visited Apartment 4 Lifestyle, it already felt like a familiar place. I was in the middle of a very trying season and needed a space where I could just be and release in peace. A sister-friend of mine invited…

Host of High Tea Series podcast shares how her experiences as a school leader led to creating her own platform ACCESS FULL VIDEO INTERVIEW BELOW By Shanize Byrd You ever have a moment to yourself, where you see your reflection and you think “wow, that’s me!” You feel warm and invited to the world. Only…

A conversation of Black wealth that isn’t centered around capital gains By Shanize Byrd We began our conversation with what may seem like a simple question to some, but I personally have found it to be a loaded one; the “who are you” question. But I asked her anyway, “Who is Whitney?” She paused for…

Seeing them light up as they spoke about their mother’s artistic flare and warm household of love and positive energy, made me smile along with them. I felt warm knowing how they were privileged to come up in a nurturing environment where they were encouraged to dream big, imagine and manifest their visions as little Black girls. And you can see how those seeds blossomed throughout their entire body of work.

By Shanize “Byrd” A few years ago, I was scrolling through my Facebook timeline and came across a stunning portrait of a familiar Black woman. Her body was full and adorned with mixtures of paint. There were crescent moons, midnight skies and stars draped across her. She looked like a beautiful painting; like one you’d…

by Shanize “Byrd” It was a cold day in February, back in 2016. My best friend and I were visiting D.C for the 25th anniversary of Teach For America and a job fair was going on in the convention center. I already had both feet out the door at my current school and was anxiously…

I dared to call myself beautiful And to believe that I am worthy enough I dared to forgive myself And to believe in mercy for my trespasses I spent time searching for the door to my healing Cried streams of tears into Florida ocean water Allowed my tribe of Black women to exchange stories of…

“I’m like, Che Guevara with bling on, I’m complex I never claimed to have wings on” -Sean “Jay Z” Carter by Shanize Byrd I don’t care how many times I listen to Jay Z’s “Public Service Announcement”, the same feeling remains with me. Every time I hear, “allow me to reintroduce myself!” I feel like…

“I’ll tell you what freedom is, no fear!” -Nina Simone Those early days of starting blackbyrd initiative were some of the most challenging and invigorating moments of my life. It wasn’t the filing of my LLC and EIN, developing a business model or pulling from my reserves. To me, those tasks were easy in comparison…

Posts by blackbyrdinitiative

I Became My Own: Movement, Part I

I Became My Own: Lifestyle

I Became My Own: Leader

I Became My Own: Wealth

I Became My Own: Muse

I Became My Own: Healer

I Became My Own: Boss

Forgiving Myself is to Forgive You

Part II: Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself

Part I: I’ve Known Resistance More Than Freedom