News
Amplify: Latinx
October 1, 2021

Community announces the new Amplify Latinx class, in support of Latinx small business owners in SoCal. As the largest enthnic group in California, Latinx people have driven so much of US culture. There is a critical need for their voices, businesses and culture to be further amplified, and I am greatly honored to welcome them to our Community.

In celebration and recognition of Latinx Heritage Month, Amplify Leaders each receive a unique, 10-digit Community number that will allow them to connect directly and instantly to their audiences at scale. Other notable Leaders have used this innovative technology to drive impact, sales, and action-- with open rates through upwards of 95% within the first 3 minutes of receiving a text message, and a 59% average click through rate-- this is a valuable communications channel at a necessary time for businesses eager to reach their customers.

Amplify launched in February 2021 to support entrepreneurs who were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, racial and cultural  injustices, and more. To date, Community is honored to support over 40 amazing Black, AAPI, LGTBQIA+ and LatinX owned businesses, right here in SoCal.

The 2021 class of the Latinx Amplify program includes:


CONTRA-TIEMPO: a bold, multilingual Los Angeles-based activist dance theater company that creates communities where all people are awakened to a sense of themselves as artists and social change agents who move through the world with compassion and confidence.


Civil Coffee: Alan and Alex Morales built Civil Coffee to bring coffee to the people.  They believe in delicious, beautifully roasted coffees that anyone can enjoy. They love learning about obscure single-origin coffees, but their menu has something for everyone. Whether you want to sip the latest Peruvian coffee or snack on a barbacoa burrito in the sun, they built Civil for you.


Drips Cheesecake: Founded in 2021 by Cindy Espinoza and Jonathan Cortez, Drips Cheesecake is a dessert company proudly serving chocolate covered cheesecakes topped with cereals, snacks, and treats. Drips is offering an innovative take on cheesecake desserts and transforming the Orange County dessert scene through its unique, awe-inspiring, community driven dessert experience.


ClayQueeries: Formerly undocumented queer Mexican Angeleno, with a passion for ceremony, color, and design.


Elysian Barbershop: Victor Bañuelos opened Elysian Barbershop in 2019 with friends Mike Centeno, Joseph Estrada, Alejandro Mazuera, Omar Romero and Sal Aguilar. Elysian Barbershop was created as a space to experience good times and polished grooming.


Ernesto Yerena: a Mexican-American artist, known for his prints depicting his frustrations with the oppression in his community, as well as creating work in solidarity with the community in the defense of dignity and rights.


Kids of Immigrants: founded by Daniel Buezo and Weleh Dennis as a medium to express their passion to create, empower and love. Inspired by their roots, environments and life experiences, the mission statement is simple -- DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE. Kids of Immigrants is a movement to recognize that we are all cut from different fabrics, but together make a whole.


RCNSTRCT Studio: founded by Miguel Garcia Larios, a fashion designer and skater from Mexico City. Rcnstrct takes classic American pieces and recreates them into one of one pieces . RCNSTRCT uses a unique process of washes ,cuts, and processes to reimagine vintage pieces.


Sara’s Market: a family run business that has been part of the community for over 60 years. Sara’s Market provides quality products, from everyday essentials to a great selection of imported, domestic, craft beers and natural wines.

This new class joins other Amplify recipients, who include: Finery; Hate is a Virus; Nova Sage; The Queer 26; Droplet; Crowns & Hops; OldVine Floras; etc.

Be sure to text our Amplify Leaders. For more information on Community, the Amplify Program, or if you want to hear more from me, feel free to text me: (716) 330-3003.

Thank you -

Matthew Peltier

Honey's Kettle
Vincent & Dr. Arlene W. Williams
This New, Old Fashioned business has been serving up fresh fried chicken for nearly 40+ years with locations in Culver City, Downtown LA and Hollywood. The Los Angeles food institution also offers hand rolled buttermilk biscuits, kettle cooked fries, locally sourced honey, sweet pickles, Ice-Shaker lemonade, secret sauce, shucked corn, and more.
310-347-4531
Black Out the Ballot
Jen Bui & Vizion Jones
A Collective of Creatives committed to changing the infrastructure to ensure radical equity, social justice, and financial empowerment for disenfranchised communities.
310-359-0946
TruNude
Danai Pointer
A disruptive fashion and technology platform offering custom color-matching and sizing. TruNude is made in Los Angeles by a talented team of women, which includes a line of made-to-order skin tone undergarments (t-shirt bra, bralette, panty) in sustainable, luxurious bamboo fabric.
310-742-0881
With/Creators
Jennifer Pauline
A Black and Brown centered community and storytelling agency founded by Jennifer Pauline, specializing in audience development, communications and curated experiences. It also doubles as a lifestyle brand that sits at the intersection of creativity and well-being.
310-356-9548
Sip & Sonder
Shanita Nicholas & Amanda-Jane Thomas
The premier destination in Inglewood for creatives, entrepreneurs, freelancers, curators, and everyone in between to simply exist, grab a cup of coffee, connect, create, and put sonder into action. Its mindfully curated coffee and innovative programs and partnerships solidify Sip & Sonder as one of the premium coffee and lifestyle brands in Los Angeles and beyond.
310-496-1883
OldVine Florals
Itika Oldwine
Since 2017, Itika Oldwine has been creating blooming masterpieces and giving a modern twist to the flowery landscape of LA through beautiful floral designs.
213-212-4760
MILO
Lybroan James & Gary Mack
A company that provides assessment tools, training and services designed to help education professionals close learning gaps for underserved students by creating communities and culturally affirming learning environments through equity, innovation and engagement.
TBA
PHrequency8
Arreale Davis
A marketplace for handmade and one of a kind HBCU fraternity and sorority-related goods, with a focus on green marketing and environmentally friendly products.
818-650-4117
Intersectional Environmentalist
Leah Thomas
Leah Thomas is an environmentalist based in Ventura, CA, who founded eco-lifestyle blog @greengirlleah, @thegreensgirlco and The Intersectional Environmentalist Platform, which is a resource + media hub that aims to advocate for environmental justice + inclusivity within environmental education + movements.
323-310-9781
Crowns & Hops
Beny Asburn & Teo Hunter
Founded by Beny Asburn and Teo Hunter. Hunter & Ashburn disrupted the status quo of the craft beer industry, and built a brand that is bigger than beer - Crowns & Hops Brewing Co. Through curated events, content and premium product, Crowns & Hops Brewing Co. is the first ever craft beer brand that bridges communities of color, dope culture and craft beer.
TBA
Hate is a Virus
Tammy Cho & Michelle K. Hanabusa
A movement and non-profit started in March 2020, Hate Is A Virus continues to amplify, educate and activate AAPI to stand for justice and equality in solidarity with other communities.
310-388-9794
Droplet
Talia Jafarkhani, Celeste Perez & Adrienne Borlongan
A sparkling, stress-balancing adaptogen drink made with whole fruit juices, organic adaptogens, and aromatherapeutic superfoods. Developed by an all-female team of designers and food scientists, Droplet draws from scientifically-backed plant magic to help you fight stress and feel balanced without any harmful ingredients. It’s self-care in every sip.
310-388-6447
Finery
Min Young Lee & Greg Soto
Finery designs the Anti-Uniform. The LA-based studio was born from the need to create a uniform that didn’t look or feel anything like the traditional uniform. Since 2013, Finery has been designing elevated expressions of workwear for both FOH and BOH based on its firm belief that Everybody’s Work Is Equal.
213-516-5918
UPRISERS
Michelle K. Hanabusa
A community driven streetwear brand rooted in amplifying impactful and authentic stories of the underrepresented. Delivering on the core of who UPRISERS is, they have fueled campaigns such as #HATEISAVIRUS
310-388-9556
Transparent Arts
Kevin Nishimura, Kirby Lee, James Roh, Daniel Park, and Virman Coquia
Supporting Asian Americans in entertainment. Transparent Arts bridges east and west through cultural relevance, localized marketing, distribution, and creative collaborations.
213-516-6548
Intercrew
Kevin Lin, Kirby Lee, Rich Nam, James Roh, Daniel Park, Kevin Nishimura
A new luxury, American, meat, and seafood concept located in the historic Morgan Adams building at Wilshire and Catalina, in the heart of Koreatown. Intercrew's vision is to provide customers with amazing seasonal dishes and unique experiences through the smell, sight, touch, taste, and celebration of food, creativity, and community on a global scale.
213-513-7322
Westside Compost
Kaile Teramoto & Stacy Huynh
An environmental initiative that sets out to educate both gen Z and millennials alike on the benefits of composting. By bringing further accessibility to environmental education, Westside Compost aims to promote the values of re-soiling to help close the food waste cycle.
213-516-6484
Jubilee Media
Jason Y. Lee
The definitive media company for curious, empathy-fueled young people. The company creates viral shows about human identity, experiences, and connections including "Middle Ground" "Spectrum" and "Odd One Out." Ultimately, Jubilee exists to provoke a new culture of empathy.
310-388-9548
PINK BABY
Alysia Brunst
An Asian-American women-owned fashion brand located in the heart of Los Angeles, CA. The brand is inspired by the paparazzi-filled lifestyle of the 2000’s, and encourages people to express their inner confidence and fearless attitude through its apparel.
310-388-9554
Wanderlust Creamery
Adrienne Borlongan & Jon-Patrick Lopez
Artisanal ice cream inspired by feelings of wanderlust. Every flavor is inspired by the places traveled, longed to visit, and childhood memories. Famous for flavors like Ube Malted Crunch®, Japanese Neapolitan®, and the original Sticky Rice & Mango ice cream, each of its unique and original ice creams are formulated with all natural dairy, balanced butterfat, and minimal overrun for an indulgent experience that finishes clean on the palate.
818-651-8458
NiK Kacy Footwear
Nik Kacy
They/Them/Theirs
The first luxury footwear and accessories brand dedicated to creating designs that break and go beyond the gender binary.
323-402-6783
MaeDay Rescue
Natalie Garcia
She/her
A non-profit dog rescue based in Los Angeles. They save hundreds of dogs and cats, of all breeds and ages, from the shelters and streets through its foster based program.
323-618-6324
Empowerment in Heels
Miss Marquez
She/her
In 2017 Miss Marquez created the Empowerment in Heels Burlesque School as a way to provide a safe space for all body shapes, gender identities, sexual orientations, ethnicities, and race to explore the beauty and catharsis of Burlesque.
323-616-1468
Flying Dinosaur Designs
Meagen Brooks
She/Her
Based in Los Angeles, this graphic design company specializes in neon sign fabrication, logos and branding, product packaging, web graphics, and prop/set graphics.
626-313-2862
Melanin Meetups
Kirk Brown
He/Him
A think-platform where black professionals/influencers meet to network, discuss, ideate in order to heal and advance Community.
323-618-6591
Nova Sage
Jessica Gabrielle, Ashley Jones
She/Her
A black owned, artisan brand specializing in homemade beauty products. They stock a variety of essential products carefully handcrafted to enhance holistic wellness.
310-421-0757
Dolce Blooms
Jamie Correa & John Beach
He/Him
Floral and event design company based in Los Angeles for all occasions and needs.
818-651-8512
The Queer 26
Camille Elston
She/Her or They/Them
A 501(c)(3) multimedia non-profit organization supporting QTBIPOC creatives. Through its workshops, services, and projects, the organization shares its communities’ stories and offers resources that allow them to not only survive but thrive while pursuing their dreams.
424-306-1826
SweetBoy
Ben Sidell
He/him
A cottage food business delivering made to order baked goods throughout Los Angeles.
323-622-7072
Magic Carpets
AJ Peterson
They/Them/Theirs
Explores the mystical intersection of queerness and spirituality, creating hand-tufted rugs that breathe life into spaces. As a teacher at heart, AJ, Magic Carpet’s founder, is on a mission to share this transformational craft with other curious creatives.
323-402-6726