Black Massage Therapist and Doula with Heart
Please know I am not the type of person that
likes to ask for help or anything. Typically
when I do it’s for helping someone other than myself.
However, I realize this is also something that many black people need to feel more
empowered to do. There are discriminatory
factors that have prevented me from seeing
the growth I truly deserve in my business.
Many of my client’s would agree in support of this as well. Some of them have been through
the wire and fire with me. Always doing my
best regardless of the odds. Pushing daily with a positive attitude and the heart to help as
many people as I can!
*****Please be mindful this next section has
sensitive information******
Going on 7 years in business of My Time For
Massage in Seattle, WA. Started this business as a single mom, after I survived a police
brutality attack from an officer who racially
profiled me. Then tased me multiple times
until the second officer arrived. Only to have
his charges dismissed from lack of evidence to what I was accused of.
Then I fought back with a civil lawsuit and it
went to the WA state Supreme Court for the
officer’s actions. Only to find him not guilty in 2014. Which many now know that these cases are extremely hard to fight and I wanted true
justice (I was offered $100,000 to settle which I declined because I believed in liberty and
justice would prevail). Only to be disappointed by a bias system that retraumatized me with
no consequences for his actions.
After that I didn’t give up. Fueling that pain
into purpose I created, My Time For Massage. Scrapping together money on my own with no support from a bank, parents, spouse etc.
Truly building this from the ground up on my
own.
Not having a business background but a
understanding of it, I did the best I could with
the education I have. Life experience and pure heart. Now, I am a doula and community
activist as well. That is fighting for the Black
Maternal Health Crisis and Reproductive
Justice for all.
Currently, I rent a small studio space, which
has been my baby over the years. However, I
have out grown it years ago and my visions are limited in this space. Dealing with micro
aggressions daily from neighbors in this space especially in COVID has been so hard. Leaving me longing for a peaceful work environment
where I can just do what I love massage, doula and services from the heart in a safe space.
Often feeling bad because I do understand
that there are people hurting around the
world. Personally, I just want to lead in being
the change in helping fight social justice issues and continue to showcase the power of
preventive healthcare with massage to all
whom all open to work together.
Many client’s praise my work, because I have
helped them physically, mentally and more to
live better daily. What’s cool is when I started this I had no idea the thousands of people
from every walk of life that I would get to
support through the years with massage. This
is a gift I don’t take for granted and I just want the opportunity to do it in a positive
environment.
One which supports me, allows room for
growth and will allow me to support the
community on a greater scale. Currently, I
have been working sliding scale, off donations and for free to clients in need. This is work I
what I want to continue even more in the new space.
Here are some of the fund goals:
•Having the ability to make this space
beautiful. Warm inviting and supportive as a
educational space of services when services
aren’t being performed.
•Create an emergency fund to support:
clients in need of prenatal massage, those in
the BIPOC community that can’t afford care
that work in the community sector those in
the BIPOC community that are suffering with chronic pain, depression, anxiety and more
that may have financial hardship.
Being a black small business owner, licensed
massage therapist, doula, former teen mother, survivor of police brutality, domestic violence and more. Grateful beyond measure that my
story has inspired so many people and I am
ready to walk into the next phase of my life in year 7 of private practice. Living with
the intentions of being able to help even more people from a woman that was labeled as
the under dog by many and counted out.
My goal cost additional breakdown:
buying all new sheets, towels, furnishings,
HEPA filters for each room, fans, security
system, a office sign, a new massage table, invest in new continue education classes that will cost me about $7500 and have $5000 as a
emergency fund to continue supporting those in the community with subsidy so I don’t have to write off so much of my regular rate to
every client I serve from hardship.
Please look at my My Time for Massage
Instagram page which shows my previous
work and the new space at
https://www.instagram.com/p/CP_-4zVBNj0/?utm_medium=copy_link
Google Reviews for me are at
https://g.co/kgs/1QoR3R
Also here’s the case I fought of the police
brutality case
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/washington/wawdce/2:2012cv00238/181996/33/
Everything I am stating is the truth. This new
space is a huge step up with 2 treatment
rooms, a meditation space, my own bathroom, small office, lobby and storage place. Please
help me make this a space a place built from
love because that’s all I ever want everyone to feel. Signed the new lease and have plans to
open at the new space in August!
Please know I took my time writing this from
the heart and I wish nothing but the best to
anyone who takes the time to read this, share and support! Blessings to everyone!