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Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy

Black-Owned Business

CapNY Creative Highlight: Kulton The Maker

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Kulton The Maker is a music star and entrepreneur on the rise in Hudson. His music pulls in elements from R&B, hip hop, pop, and other genres. His melodic vibes, rhythmic smoothness and thoughtful lyrics made us want to learn more about where he has been and where he is going…read on!

How did you become enthralled in the music scene?

Before I started making music, I founded 518 Films. I wanted to shoot music videos. Originally, I was an actor, a director, and was part of a lot of plays in musical theater and Shakespeare. I wanted roles where I could direct a narrative for People of Color but kept getting violent, villainous, and misogynistic roles.

After dropping out of Full Sail University, I bought a camera, started teaching myself film and began freelancing. After shooting some music videos, I got booked to film a music tour documentary for Lady Moon and the Eclipse (also from the Hudson area).

Did your work and experience with Lady Moon and the Eclipse inspire you to take the leap into making music?

I was riding in a van with some band members on tour and at the time, there was some music I had been working on. I hadn’t released it yet, but I played one of my songs for them, without telling them it was me, and they were like “wow, who is this?” They didn’t believe me when I told them it was me. After that, they offered me a job opening up for them, in addition to filming the documentary. We stopped in Jersey, DC, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and New Orleans. I toured with them three times and also had the opportunity to shoot a music video with Young Paris, an artist who signed with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label.

Inspired by what I saw on tour, I thought to myself, “I can do this.” I started recording A Beautiful Something, which was in production over three years – that was the birth of Kulton The Maker. I’m currently working on a new project. I just released a single last week, “In The Mood,” you can listen to it here.

What challenges have you faced along your journey?

Systemic racism. I’ve been told that I’m not “good enough” because of the color of my skin. They told me I couldn’t do or be certain things. People called me white because I spoke properly. I haven’t let that narrative defeat me. I’ve made it my life’s work to combat that narrative and change the way people see themselves. If you listen for it, you’ll hear some of these thoughts in my music.

What piece of advice would you like to leave for aspiring musicians and entrepreneurs?

Never give up. Go beyond your limits. Take in as much valid and factual information as you can. Do the research. Self-study. I want people to wake up and realize they have value. We have to come together to make this planet sustainable and livable for ALL OF US, or it won’t work for any of us. I want to see the world change.

Hear more of his music:
“A Beautiful Something” Album: Spotify, Apple, YouTube
New Single, “In The Mood”: Spotify, Apple, Youtube

Connect with Kulton The Maker

Facebook or Instagram

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CapNY Black-Owned Business Highlight: Ada Harper

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Ada Harper is the force behind 518Blk, a site for the Black community to discover events and information across the Cap Region. Ada created 518Blk in 2015 as an outlet to celebrate cultural, educational, social, cultural things happening in the Black community.

Prior to the creation of 518Blk, were there other media outlets highlighting local social opportunities for the Black community?

No. The media outlets were not featuring content about events happening in the community of color. There was one beloved newsletter that was geared toward the Black community when I was a kid. The granddaughter of its creator recently created CNYS Black Expo. This event has been put on for the past two years and is growing. Its main function is to celebrate Black entrepreneurship.

How did 518Blk evolve?

When I first started 518Blk, I was working on my master’s degree and got a certificate in social media management. I decided it was time to contribute to the social climate by creating my own events. A lot of people would travel to NYC for different experiences that we could have right here at home. I hosted brunches and collaborated with others on various community events. It was uplifting and positive, but I became a caretaker after a family member was involved in a car accident. Soon, the role became overwhelming and I stepped back from 518Blk.

What has inspired you to activate the mission of 518Blk again?

The social unrest of police brutality and the injustices happening to Black people. Recent events caused me to sit quietly and process this reality. Some people were reaching out to me asking why I wasn’t posting anything. They were asking me to promote protests, etc. I just had to stop. I had to figure out the “why” behind 518Blk – I was at a crossroads.

Finally, I had a clearer vision of what I wanted. I want to put on bigger and better events, find sponsors, and collaborate with Black-owned businesses. My vision is for a rebrand. I need to reach out to find people who can work on my team.

In order for 518Blk to get additional exposure, horrible things had to happen to Black people. I was plugging along, but not getting much visibility. Due to recent events, white people are asking “how can we help Black people?” I will take this as an opportunity to challenge myself and elevate my brand because what I’m doing with 518Blk is valid and deserves visibility. As Black people, we have to control our narrative and celebrate each other.

What actions should people take after reading this interview?

Put your money where your mouth is. Support Black business – use the ACE crowdsourced Black-owned business list.

Connect with Ada

Ada is looking for people/businesses to collaborate with. She invites you to reach out with any marketing and/or branding freelance opportunities.

Facebook
Instagram
Email

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CapNY Creative Highlight: Robert Fuller

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Robert Fuller’s retail space, “Robert at Home” in the Door 15 warehouse in Hudson, is the height of cozy cabin cool. Unique and eclectic pieces from the past 100 years mingle in playful, gorgeous, elegant style. There’s a singular talent and vision at work, and ACE’s Gabby Fisher wanted to learn more!

Watch the video to see how Robert has turned his passion and experience into business. Interior designer. Antiques dealer. Chanel visual merchandising director. Why did he choose Hudson? Let’s find out…

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CapNY Black-Owned Business: West Indies Natural Food and Grocery, Hudson

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Paulette Clark & Winston Dunn

Each week, ACE will be visiting a black-owned businesses featured in our list. Have a business to add, or a place that we should visit? Please let us know.

Paulette Clarke has run West Indies Natural Food and Grocery in Hudson, NY for 19 years. Their takeaway menu features homemade beef and chicken patties, oxtail stew, seriously amazing chicken curry, rice and peas, and many other dishes from Paulette’s country of origin, Jamaica. Plus, there’s a wide selection of West Indies spices, sauces and specialty food products, and kombucha and drinks in the cooler.

Paulette came to the United States when she was 18, and raised five sons in Hudson. There used to be a broad mix of residents in Hudson, she said. Lately, though, “New Yorkers bought up the real estate. My customers have moved out to Albany, and Kingston and other places.”

Warren Street is lined with galleries, restaurants, antique stores, and luxury boutiques. It has the distinct advantage of being within walking distance to the Amtrak train station, which makes it a popular destination for New York City residents. However, this influx of visitors has not been a boon to the West Indies Natural Foods and Grocery. New Yorkers, Paulette said, “don’t come into my store. I want to say, ‘I don’t bite.’ I wish that people would just come in and look around. They don’t even have to buy anything. If someone comes in, it makes the store owner feel good. Don’t just walk by. Don’t ignore my store.”

Paulette is discouraged by the lack of attention her business has gotten from newspapers. She said, they “take pictures of every white business around me. They skip right over me.” Her friend Winston Dunn agreed, saying, “It’s not been easy. Not easy.”

Support Black-Owned Businesses

Support 200+ Capital Region black-owned business and black-led organizations by shopping, hiring, posting, contributing funds, volunteering, and learning more about what they do. Click here to see our list. This list is far from complete, and you can help develop it! Use the form to add businesses.

Cap Region Entrepreneur Highlight: Kaciem Swain

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Kaciem Swain was born and raised in Arbor Hill and the South End of Albany, in an underserved community. His plan was to move away when he had the chance, but for his whole adult life, he’s stuck around to serve those very same communities he grew up in. Currently, he’s in the midst of launching a few entrepreneurial ventures, including Capital Curbside. His goal is “to hire creatives of color, bring them into my company, give them equity in it.” We were curious to learn more…

How did you become an entrepreneur?

I’ve worked for several corporations, and I tried to contribute ideas or to get them to see things differently, but they didn’t want to. I’ve been working since I was nine. My dad told me it was time for me to start learning how to make money. I was always mowing lawns or helping him with some side hustle. My father taught me how to take care of myself so I could help take care of others. I’ve been entrepreneurial my whole life. I also work part-time for AVillage, where I instilled my vision of a Night Market.

Can you talk a bit more about the South End Night Market and its mission and importance in the Albany community?

AVillage has always been an advocacy platform that focuses on social justice issues, including economic and health disparities in the community. Originally, the organization started running a small farmers market on Saturdays. I didn’t think it fit what the community or market needed at the time. I had a vision for a night market where people could stop by when they get out of school or on their way home from work. We decided that the South End Night Market would run on Thursdays from 4pm – 7pm. This would be best way to reach the people who need access to food, fresh veggies, etc.

This space was designed for black people and people of color to come and create equity, ownership, and black wealth. We’re currently looking to add more black vendors to the market.

Aside from the Night Market, you’re launching Capital Curbside. Tell us about your vision for this new business.

After the market launch, I started thinking…what if there was a way for these foods to be delivered to people who can’t make it to the market? What if there was a more economical delivery service for markets & restaurants? The amount of money GrubHub and DoorDash are taking from restaurants is substantial. I started asking myself, what is a better way to serve small local restaurants and provide a better service than these apps? That’s where Capital Curbside comes in.

In January, I signed a lease for a new restaurant in Troy (more to come on that) and in March, when COVID-19 became more serious, I decided to get Capital Curbside going. These common app based services have no standard operating procedure across the line for PPE. The drivers aren’t concerned with building relationships with the restaurants. All of our workers are on payroll and we have a weekly team meeting. We’re starting deliveries this week! If you’re interested in learning more about our services, please visit our website and give us a call.

What piece of advice would you like to leave fellow entrepreneurs and/or our readers?

You don’t need to work for somebody else. Ultimately, what you’re giving to company is your intellectual and creative capital. I’m always looking for people who are willing to collaborate, do the work themselves, and share equity in a project. A lot of times we want to come into a pre-developed infrastructure and make change when ultimately, you can be the change yourself.

Connect with Kaciem & Capital Curbside!
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