Tralice Lewis, Founder, Owner and Celebrity Wig Specialist of Callie’s Custom Hat Wigs, founded the business in 2020 in honor of her mother, Callie Lewis, a hospice nurse who spent 33 years caring for others. After losing her mother in 2012, Tralice wanted to keep her name and legacy of service alive. Built on faith, Callie’s combines Tralice’s passion for wigs with her mother’s heart for helping people. Callie’s serves women, men and children, including people experiencing c

Keevontye Collier, Owner of Smooth Collective, founded the Portland based streetwear and lifestyle brand in 2016. What began as a creative outlet and a way to build connection and community has grown into a brand rooted in the mantra, “Create, Love, Serve.” Through intentional apparel, storytelling, and collaboration, Smooth Collective uses fashion to celebrate creativity, culture, and community. Over the past 10 years, Smooth Collective has grown from creating small runs of

Duronte Talton, Owner and Founder of Nite Owlz LLC, has built a Portland area cleaning and service company supported by a growing team of cleaning professionals providing dependable residential, commercial, move out, specialty cleaning, moving support, delivery and related services throughout the Portland metropolitan area. Nite Owlz was created to provide dependable, professional and accessible services to individuals, families, property managers and businesses. What began a

What began in 2018 as an idea centered on beard and grooming culture has grown into a family owned lifestyle brand focused on confidence, brotherhood, personal style and community. Founded by Edgar Baker III, founder and CEO of National Beard League (NBL), also known as NBL Essentials, the online based business offers all natural men's grooming products and lifestyle accessories to customers locally and beyond. Baker says his vision was to create something larger than a tradi

Charlisa Harris, Founder and Owner, Master Cosmetologist and Certified Cosmetic Formulator, created Mylani Vegan Hair & Body Care from nearly 30 years of experience behind the salon chair. After 16 years as the owner of Chadowboxx Salon, Harris wanted to create plant-based products that addressed the real hair and scalp concerns she saw every day. Mylani offers vegan, cruelty-free hair and body care for moisture, scalp care, breakage, curl definition, length retention and hea

Nicole Rose, Founder and CEO of Ella Dean, created the clean, botanical haircare line for textured hair in 2020, continuing a family legacy that began in 1954 when her great grandparents, Benjamin and Mary Rose Dean, opened Dean’s Beauty Salon and Barbershop in Portland’s Albina neighborhood. The salon is the oldest Black owned salon in Portland and was later passed down to Rose’s grandmother, Ella Dean. As a little girl, Rose spent five days a week at the salon, sweeping flo

Tours spotlight Black history across Oregon Mariah Rocker leading the Black History Tour of Albina, Dawson Park. (Credit: Oregon Black Pioneers) It’s not too late to join one of Oregon Black Pioneers’ Black History Walking Tours! From Portland’s Albina neighborhood all the way down to Jacksonville, Oregon Black Pioneers’ popular public walking tours highlight locations connected to each area’s African American history. Each tour explores places tied to historic Black-owned b

Dorothy and Hurtis Hadley’s Milwaukie Pastry Kitchen upholds a Five Decade Legacy of Craft, Community, and Legacy The first Black-owned business in Milwaukie and the first Black-owned bakery in the State of Oregon Rooted in Milwaukie, Oregon, and nurtured by the founding director, Seyona Bela i’s profound vision, Toolbox celebrates and elevates craft-trade professionals—the skilled athletes of the building industry. Through storytelling, exhibitions, and collaboration, the no

Sinners star earns Best Actor Michael B. Jordan, winner of the award for actor in a leading role for “Sinners,” poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (AP) Michael B. Jordan has been building toward a performance like “Sinners” for over 20 years. Now he has the best actor Oscar as his reward in what proved to be a hugely popular win. Jordan got one trophy for playing identical

Bipartisan move recognizes Black history Artwork portraying Frederick Douglass rests on a table during a formal dedication of the House Press Gallery to be named after Frederick Douglass on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) (AP) - The press gallery overlooking the U.S. House chamber has been renamed after the abolitionist, writer and presidential adviser Frederick Douglass in a bipartisan move brokered by Black lawmakers. The ren