The non-stop videos of police brutalizing black people are overwhelming and have left a lot of us desperate to counter the hate with solidarity and love. If you are like me, you take a lot in this world for granted. Many folks have asked me how to best support #BlackLivesMatter. The simple answer is to listen to and uplift black people, and invest in black communities.

A close, personal friend, LaTosha Baker, dreamed of opening the first black female owned coffeehouse in the St Louis area years before we met on the streets of Ferguson. The Drip will be a diverse community gathering space promoting art, music, technology, and job creation. In addition to affordable food, The Drip will serve as the only wifi enabled cafe in the immediate area. 

Tosha rented space off Grand in St. Louis before the Pandemic and has poured sweat equity into it ever since. After months of removing asbestos from ceilings, un-boarding windows, electrical rewiring, and buying kitchen equipment, she needs to cross a few more hurdles to realize her dream. Plumbing alone is estimated to exceed $10K.

This is the first GoFundMe I've ever started. I would only send up a flare to my networks for a cause and an individual I care about deeply.  Thank you for your consideration and for passing this along to others. Wicked Poets Society Jericho Project