Creating healing space with and for our Community

Dear Communities and Friends,

I am reaching out to each one of you for a little support as I grow my fledgling esthetics business. As you know, before this I spent years working as an executive director fighting gender-based violence (GBV) — work that was so meaningful and rewarding to me, but also work that was often exhausting and challenging. Like so many of us, I often put productivity ahead of my own well-being and personal health.

Becoming an esthetician has been part of my healing. This is a way for me to stay connected to care work and support survivors, but in a more sustainable and nourishing way. This transition has allowed me to show up differently — for others and for myself.

My vision for this business

Community will always be in my soul, so my vision for my esthetics business is one that centers and serves under-represented communities, particularly disAbled folks, trans folks, and GBV survivors. We are going to provide specialized skincare and beauty services in ways that feel safe, accessible, and affirming.

Down the line, my long-term goal is to open a day spa. I would love to expand by weaving in vocational opportunities — things like job training and employment for folks who have faced systemic barriers in the job market — so that the work not only supports folks’ wellness, but also opens doors to stability and empowerment. To me, esthetics isn’t just about how you look — it’s about how you feel, how you heal, and how you’re supported in the community.

Why I am raising funds for my business

As a Black Deaf woman and first-gen Eritrean American raised by immigrant and refugee parents, this journey has been and continues to be deeply personal for me. My time working within a nonprofit exposed me to harsh realities of racism and audism. It’s been so heartbreaking to encounter such pervasive biases and systemic barriers. These experiences underscore the importance of self-care in maintaining my resilience and mental health.

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare” -Audre Lorde

Self-care became a form of resistance for me. It was about protecting my mental and emotional space from the negative impacts of racism and audism. I wanted to ensure that I stayed grounded and empowered, to surround myself with supportive communities and engage in activities that uplifted me, helped me navigate those challenges with strength and grace.

Grief is a profound journey, and it is one that many of us face at different points in our lives. When you experience grief, self-care is essential in your healing process. It is not about forgetting or moving on quickly. It is about allowing yourself to grieve fully and tenderly.

All the ways of honoring your emotions and keeping faith in the healing process are important. Self-care during grief is not about rushing through the pain — it’s a reminder that healing is a journey, one that requires faith in the process and the promise of eventual peace.

How you can support me

Getting access to capital and startup funding isn’t easy — especially for women of color, and even more so for Black women. Less than 1% of us get access to capital, so most of us end up self-funding and, a lot of the time, putting up our own life-savings just to get things off the ground.

I know this is not going to be an easy endeavor, but you know me — I’m down for the hustle and that’s why I’m crowdfunding. (I’m also planning to use SBA and CDFI loans, along with a few startup grants — programs that are built to support minority-owned businesses like mine.)

All that to say, I’m exploring all the options to fulfill this vision that is sorely needed in our communities, and I would love for you to come along and be a part of this with me. The funds you give will help:

I appreciate you taking the time to read my story. Please share with others who will be interested in learning. If you know of resources that I should know about, connect with me on LinkedIn.

With gratitude,

Napal