Women in Oakland are making moves! Women's (or womxn, as you prefer) HERstory Month is meant to highlight those attributions and give thanks to those who've opened the doors of equality. The following entrepreneurs have created businesses that have inspired women from Oakland and beyond.
Sherri McMullen
Founder of McMullen
Founder of the beautifully popular McMullen retail store in Uptown Oakland, Sherri McMullen is fulfilling her vision of advocating for industry change while committing resources and platforms for Black designers and creatives.
PC: Sherri McMullen (Instagram)
Nathalie Huerta
Founder of The Queer Gym
Nathalie Huerta is the Founder of The Queer Gym, the nation's first LGBTQ gym in the country. Experiencing first-hand the discrimination and dangers associated with attending corporate gyms as a queer woman, Nathalie created The Queer Gym as a way to provide a safe space for the LGBTQ community to meet their fitness goals and meet LGBTQ allies. An athlete all of her life and the 8th out of a family of ten, she knows a thing or two about building community and furthermore, empowering that community to take over the world one happy, healthy, homo at a time!
PC: The Queer Gym
ShaylaBang
Founder of SoOakland
Oakland Indie Award Nominee for social change, Shayla "ShaylaBang" Jamerson is an Oakland native who is developing a positive movement to bring the Oakland she grew up in, into the future. A visionary and an activist, ShaylaBang created SoOakland for like-minded people who live in the Town and love Oakland. Her events are for young professionals, artists, activists, taste-makers, and the fashion conscious to congregate and experience positive community. Check out SoOakland swag!
Robin and Andréa McBride
Owners of McBride Sisters Wine Collection
The McBride Sisters Wine Collection is a story of two sisters and their passion for wine. Raised in the wine regions of Monterey, California and Marlborough, New Zealand, the sisters independently grew up in and around vineyards and developing an appreciation for the craft of fine winemaking. Headquartered in Oakland, McBride Sisters wine is carried in stores all over the country.
PC: McBride Sisters (Instagram)
Tina Farman
Studio Owner of Wine & Design Jack London Square
"I chose to open a Wine & Design studio, as I wanted to provide an opportunity for people to experience art. I especially love Art Buzz Kids division as I have two young daughters and I want them to continue to be passionate about art." - Tina Farman. The business has shifted to selling paint kits and hosting virtual paint night parties via Zoom.
Yolanda Burrell
Founder of Pollinate Farm & Garden
Yolanda is a mother/wife, entrepreneur and urban farmer. She has had successful careers in retail and sales management, marketing, education, publishing, and information technology. An avid do-it-herselfer, she enjoys creating handmade environments from found and reclaimed resources. She is at home at her own Oakland permaculture homestead lab, Kosodate Farm, where she and her family keep chickens, bees, and grow their own food.
PC: @dyatica (Instagram)
Kalkidan Gebreyohannes and J’Maica Roxanne
Owners of Blk Girls Green House
Kalkidan Gebreyohannes and J’Maica Roxanne opened Blk Girls Green House in West Oakland, and is arguably one of the first Black-owned plant shops in Oakland. Their intent with this space is to create joy, conviviality, and to share products of other Black makers and designers. They opened for business in August 2020 and have since expanded to a larger space due to the overwhelmingly positive response from the community.
PC: Blk Girls Greenhouse