Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. LaTiya Stone.
Dr. Stone, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Living in rural Minnesota, where the dominant culture is based on phenotypes, that don’t align with your cultural attributes, it leaves you working out of deficit, especially in the hair, care, and beauty industry. In Redding, Minnesota to purchase supplies to maintain a hairstyle, or to support getting my hair done I would need to drive two hours round-trip either north to Minneapolis or south to Rochester Minnesota. I also began to notice that this was not just an ME problem, but we; as people of color, women of color; especially Black women.
The additional tax associated with successfully obtaining what was needed would factor in gas, time, and money. That is also if you were fortunate enough to have the means to transport to either city or the monetary means to purchase supplies and products for your hairstyle. Being faced with the reality that in commercial retail stores, such as Walmart and Target that are readily available the hair products and supplies needed for women of color; especially Black women’s “ethnic hair needs “are very limited. It became a cultural emergency to start a business, where our hair type and curl pattern was accepted and where we could find supply and product that could support and maintain our hair needs.
I worked with city Councilwoman Becky Norton, who is a true advocate who championed my idea for over three years. We worked closely in securing funds, putting up fundraisers, and reaching out to the community to address the cultural need for the store, as it would serve as a means of community safe space where people of color could come and purchase things such as basic hair care necessities and have a place where they could get their hair braided.
The store is also unique and the fact that it is a cultural marker that is inviting and encourages the community, leaning with curiosity to learn more about the texturized and natural hair community.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was not a very smooth, straighten narrow path but instead the journey was a struggle in the challenge.
Being a young African-American woman navigating systems that were not set up specifically for my success, brought to light the many inequities in commercial business and finance when applying for loans and grants.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a recipient of a Doctoral Degree in Public Administration from Capella University, a member of the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success, and a member of Pi Alpha.
I am a full-time Equity and Leadership Development Specialist for the United Health Group Equity Innovation Center; where we strive to fulfill our mission of sharing inequitable systems and creating sustainable change through taking a facilitative coaching approach to transformational conversations. I am also a small business owner of my Consulting business Stone Solutions, LLC.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking.
Taking risks means that you are taking a chance on yourself and your dreams.
I believe that the major cost for major commitment is the ability to imagine; imagine what the possibilities would be like. Should you land on your mark?
Pricing:
- Box Braids $160+
- Cornrows $50+
- Goddess Braids $220+
- Styling $60+
- Children’s Braids $45+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://celestebeautymax.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: @celestebeautymax
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/celeste.beauty.max?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Dennishya Richmond
