

The JOY Collective Execs Talk Fighting Hair Discrimination And Putting Purpose Behind Their Work
With coins that are often hard-earned and reputations highly treasured, it's refreshing to know about brands that value doing good. For friendpreneurs Kelli Joy Richardson Lawson and Orlena Nwokah Blanchard, this is a way of business and a way of life. The women serve as CEO and COO, respectively, of The JOY Collective, a Washington, DC-based multi-cultural media agency, and their firm's name is no accident.
"We operate as a company with intention for the greater good---to create joy for ourselves, our families, our communities, and the world we live in," Blanchard said during an xoNecole interview. "We look to do business with other companies who share that ethos."
Both marketing veterans have a long history of working with beauty brands, and as wives and mothers, they recently found themselves passionate about an issue that hit home: hair discrimination. It was one they couldn't ignore. "We started seeing story after story of our children being sent home from schools, whether it's Faith Kennedy in Louisiana, Clinton Stanley, Andrew Johnson, and many others, and as part of that we realized we needed to do something to make a change. That's how we got involved with the Crown Act," said Lawson.
The legislation, which has been passed into law by more than five states and has been filed or pre-filed in more than a dozen others, bars discrimination based on hair texture and hairstyles. The JOY Collective worked with Dove to build a campaign and help drive a movement that not only celebrates the beauty of natural hair but promotes advocacy.
"Esi Eggleston Bracey, from Dove, hired our company with the intention of connecting with black women. We worked with them, hand in hand, to create the Crown Coalition, [which was] co-founded by Dove, the National Urban League, Color of Change, and the Western Center on Law and Poverty," Lawson said.
"This law allows us to extend the definition of race to include racial characteristics [such as] hair," Blanchard added. "The reason it's so important is because we know there are racial inequities and there is racial discrimination and this is a form of racial discrimination. [That] discrimination is a means for people to be denied access to opportunities. It's really important for us to ensure that black people have the opportunity for socioeconomic advancement, and it's actually an economic imperative for us to ensure that hair discrimination is eradicated."
For both women, aligning with Dove and other partners for this cause was a no-brainer. "It's about purpose, and what we know for sure is that most people want to connect themselves with and purchase brands from companies that actually show up and stand for something," Lawson said.
Image via The JOY Collective
"We know, from research, what younger generations are responding to and what they have expectations about in terms of how the businesses that exist in the world contribute to the way we live and function everyday---how they are contributing to the greater good. You see more companies leaning into their intention to contribute to communities and better the world we live in," Blanchard reiterated.
Even in their personal lives, the motto of being intentional in the way in which they even instill goodness and joy via self-care is important. "I definitely try to find time to work out and be active. I also took a transcendental meditation class [a few] months ago. That has been tremendously helpful," Lawson said. "Quiet time alone is also helpful, and girlfriend time is important. Just spending time with the people I love and getting that recharge is essential."
For Blanchard, fitness and a focus on priorities means she can show up in the most joyful way and continue the practice of purpose in business. "I've had the same set of priorities since I was 19 years old: It's my faith first, me, my family, and then work. My self-care comes from honoring those priorities---or at least trying to commit to that. When I make decisions about trade-offs in order to take care of myself, I lean into those priorities. I'm Catholic, so I go to Mass---or at least I try to go---every week. It's all about making sure I'm intact to be able to give to my family and my work as much as I possibly can. When all those other things are intact, I find that I am best to deliver for JOY. I'm a good partner for Kelli and a good leader for the team. That, to me, is all taking care of myself."
For more information on the Crown Act and how to support its passing in your state, visit the official campaign Website.
Featured Image via The JOY Collective
- Ending Hair Discrimination in the Workplace with Dove and the ... ›
- CROWN Coalition Sponsors Senate Bill 188 To End Hair ... ›
- The CROWN Act: Home ›
- Dove & The CROWN Coalition Joins Assemblywoman Tremaine ... ›
- 2019 Dove CROWN Study | The CROWN Act ›
- Orlena Nwokah Blanchard, Author at JOY Collective ›
- Press | The CROWN Act ›
- NEW YORK NEW YORK! | JOY Collective ›
- JOY Collective - Read about The Crown Act and the work we ... ›
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Blac Chyna Opens Up About Her Initial Fear To Share Her Spiritual Journey With Others
Watching Angela “Blac Chyna” White’s transformation in real-time has truly been a sight to see. It wasn’t that long ago that she announced that she was reversing her cosmetic surgeries in an effort to go back to who she was before the world came to know her as Blac Chyna. In previous interviews, she stated that she was dissolving her facial and lip fillers, removing her breast implants, and getting a butt reduction, as well as removing the dimple piercings that enhanced her fame and controversial tattoos.
In a recent Tamron Hall interview, the mother of two said that she has “fully recovered” from the procedures. She is also celebrating one year of sobriety and opened up about being worried about how her new journey would be received by others.
“I’ve been in the entertainment industry for so long, right, and of course, like, you know, coming out, I’m like young, I’m gonna do wild things as we all have,” she said.
“...I feel like by me being vocal and showing everybody you can change your life and things can get better, like through myself, that right there is an accomplishment, and that’s a part of freedom, too.”
But as she started on her journey, many people have shown her grace, which is something she’s grateful for. “And then the fact that people have been showing me grace, it’s like amazing,” she said. “And I feel like when I did it, I just did it. It was more so like spiritual thing and I feel like people see that, and I’ve always been like my authentic self, so what you see is kinda what you get with me, and that’s just kinda what it is.”
Chyna, who recently received an honorary doctorate from Sacramento Theology Seminary and Bible College, has also repaired her relationship with her mom, Tokyo Toni. The social media celebrity surprised her daughter on the Tamron Hall Show. Prior to the sentimental surprise, Chyna dished on the reconciliation and having a better understanding of her mom.
“I must say, some of the things I have to take accountability for because, like my actions. As a mother, you don’t want to see your daughter doing certain things ‘cause it’s like it doesn’t matter what my past was or what we’re going through, I didn’t raise you that way,” she admitted. “So, it’s like, okay, maybe I was a little bit wrong. Maybe I was acting out a little bit. But I feel like as we grow older, I kinda see more, and I understand more.”
Chyna will be starring in season two of Fox's reality competition show Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Kevin Winter/Getty Images