Minor Setback For a Major Comeback

Hello, my name is Ashley, aka Aesthetics! Ever since losing my job due to

Covid-19, I have been documenting social injustice around the country. Having visited over 20+ states and dozens of cities amid two pandemics: Covid-19 & the genocide of black people at the hands of the police. I still manage to have faith in the workplace. As a documentary filmmaker and activist, I focused my efforts on telling the correct narrative about the issues and events I filmed in: Oakland, Seattle, Philly, NYC, Gastonia, Minneapolis, Elizabeth City, Louisville, and Atlanta are a few places I've been.

I’ve been on the frontlines since May 29. 2020. After being without work and traveling to support families OTG (on the ground) for 2 years I was able to garner some attention on social media.

When Amanda Seals posted my work on the officer-involved shooting of Daunte Wright it drove people to support me and my efforts to continue documenting the frontlines. Still using my platform to amplify families affected by police brutality and social justice issues, I went back into the workforce and got a job in 2022 working as a bartender. Having the weekends (Thu-Sa) off I would fly/drive back and forth from the frontlines to get to work on Sundays, 9a for a double shift. Working in the service industry can be hard for others but my love language is "acts of service" so it's always a pleasure to get to come in and create an experience for our guests. On Sat. Jan. 14 I drove down to LA to attend the vigil for 31 year old Keenan Andserson

(who was tased to death by LAPD on Jan 3).

I drove back to The Bay Area (Sun Jan.15) to work a double shift, only to be laid off after it.

I took to social media to vent my frustrations about the lack of diversity and inclusion Napa Valley, CA. I know this may seem trivial but I took pride in my job. I love cultivating exciting & new cocktails for our guests. So to be laid after being told I was a valued member of the team came as a complete shock! Especially since our company holiday party was on Jan. 10. I was the only staff member from my company to show up from FOH (front of the house), this was also the point when I realized out of 85+ employees I was the only African American one. Dec 30th I was offered a $3 raise with a weekly cash bonus (Suns are slow, we can barely keep bartenders because of the slowness) starting Jan 1. So to be told that the newest employee not only was getting put on salary, but she was getting the bar manager position my employer said wasn’t available. This was a gut-wrencher. Especially since on Dec. 29, I sent my boss an email about becoming their social media manager (this is in response to his offer of a raise & bonus) since there was no other opportunity for growth in the company. I created one for myself, even having my managers vouch for me.

Unbeknownst to me, my post was going viral on TikTok (330k+ views, 14k+ comments, etc). I wasn’t expecting this pour of love from my community but the way BLACK WOMEN showed up for me!!!

Lord, it makes all the suffering on the frontline roll right off, this is why I fight for us.

Currently, my house is under renovation and my base pay merely covers the mortgage, tips are where I make the majority of my income. So the 2-week severance he gave me will eventually run out. Nonetheless, I look forward to creating new paths of income or having a VC/Angel Investor work with me to bring my dream to life (boutique hotel in Vallejo, Ca). Yes, I'm PRO-black ! So I advocate for black liberation first and foremost but I am excited to start this new path and continue to use my skills and platform to make a positive impact on the world. Although I appreciate the overwhelming response to my viral video. I'm mindful of the fact that the support in the comments section is not the same as tangible support in the form of donations, remote job offers, mentorships, sponsorships, collaborations, or other necessities (i.e a lawyer).

I look forward to creating more and seeing where this new journey will take me.

Thank You for listening #NOMORE2024

I'm gonna make you proud TEASER TRAILER OF DOC (click and comment feedback)