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Now is the time to show our support.
This year, Valentine’s Day feels like more than just a romantic holiday – we’re all relying a bit more on community these days, and we all need support more than ever. While in the past, Valentine’s Day was viewed as a one-day moment, we have a chance this year to show our love for more than just our romantic partners. And that means good old-fashioned neighborly love is taking center stage.
It’s also a good time to consider how we can include more people into our existing communities and circles, with particular attention paid to those in historically marginalized groups. And while we certainly should do this year-round, since February is Black History Month, it’s a great time to redouble our efforts at inclusion.
How can we share this love more widely?
Since February comes at a time when winter is waning and spring is peeking above the horizon, it’s an ideal time to get out of our comfort zone and share more love with our community. The cold weather has kept us indoors, and especially this year, we are in need of human connection. Add to this the strife we’ve experienced in the past year, and there are ways we can all be more inclusive with our community efforts.
It’s a happy accident that Valentine’s Day falls within Black History Month – the time set aside by the United States and other countries to celebrate the contribution of African Americans. Begun in 1915 as a week-long celebration of Black history by historian Carter G. Woodson, Black History Month has grown into a month-long event, and it was actually placed in February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Black History Month was officially recognized in 1976, with each year being given a new theme. For 2021, the theme is “Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity.” There are many ways to celebrate Black History Month, in our homes, our schools, and our communities.
Ways to support our community.
As we focus increasingly on our own communities, we can find ways to enjoy our local diversity by showing love to our home-based businesses. Are there small businesses you can support, that don’t often get the chance to shine? These might be minority-owned, women-owned, or just smaller entities that could use a boost. As we begin to shake loose the cold of winter and warm up for more activities in the spring, can we solicit home-based businesses that create more inclusion in our community? By purchasing goods and services – such as gifts, personal care, celebrations, and small business services – from businesses owned by women of color, we can grow our communities and better our world in the process. In need of a special birthday cake? A new fitness class? Are you ready to plan a celebration, now that outdoor events are more possible? Broaden your horizons to include minority and women-owned businesses; it’s a great way to show inclusivity and explore new options! By considering varied choices, we not only support these home-based businesses, but we also bring their wonderful diversity into our homes and neighborhoods.
Love is in the air!
February is the month that marks our turn from the darkest days of winter to the longer light of spring, and it’s a wonderful time to support our communities in new ways. Whether it’s a box of traditional Valentine’s Day chocolates, or an extraordinary custom gift, let’s use the month of February to band together and support all of our women-owned business in an inclusive way. It’s what makes the West Tenth community so special!
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West Tenth was created to support the unique entrepreneurial spirit of women, with an app that brings the creativity and ingenuity of women-owned businesses to your fingertips. It’s easy to support local, home-based businesses with West Tenth, so make a holiday purchase today! It’s a step in the right direction for our economy, our communities, and all the women who’ve done so much to get us through the year.
Sources:
https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month
https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/30/at-home/honor-black-history-month.html