The History of Good Hood Girls
2016 - The Vision:
Kē Fa That People first conceived the concept that would later become 'Good Hood Girls' when the infectious anthem "Formation" by Beyoncé was dominating the airwaves, with its unforgettable line "I got hot sauce in my bag swag." The idea sparked for Kē to gift her inner circle of girlfriends with chic pouches containing mini hot sauce bottles, personalized to each one's favorite color. Although the hot sauce bags never became a reality, the essence of celebrating women from the 'Hood' as the vibrant, multi-faceted individuals that they are was born. Inspired to counter the damaging stereotypes often perpetuated by media, Kē started on a vision board. It envisioned a platform where women could showcase their creativity, intelligence, talents, and essence. This vision board was titled 'Good Hood Girls'. It reflected a movement dedicated to empowering Black Women to excel in various aspects of their lives, embracing their femininity without apology and reshaping societal norms of beauty and success.
2017 - IHHE :
In 2017, Kē was accepted into the Institute for Hip Hop Entrepreneurship where she participated in a 9-month business intensive program aimed at empowering young entrepreneurs from unique backgrounds. Utilizing hip hop's best practices, the institute equipped students with the essential skills to transform their ideas into viable ventures. At the end of the course, participants had the opportunity to pitch their concepts for a chance to secure $10,000 in startup funding. Kē's innovative idea for the "Good Hood Girls Nail Social" earned her one of the three $10,000 grants available. This concept allowed women to host Nail Parties with their friends, enhancing community engagement and bonding. With this funding, Good Hood Girls took a significant step forward in realizing its vision.
2017-2018 - The Hip Hop Nail Shop & B.O.N.S:
Kē first opened the doors of the Good Hood Girls Hip Hop Nail Shop in the Frankford section of the city, renting a suite in a warehouse building within a music studio. She offered a cool selfie wall, a dope hip hop playlist, and comfy cute decor. Later, she moved to a better location on Broad Street in South Philly, renting a table within the unisex salon, ‘The Classics Hub’. After a friend and client shared a video raving about her experience and the pride of supporting a black nail tech, clientele began to grow. With a growing client base and several regulars, there were nights when the nail shop didn’t closed after after 11 pm! Realizing the impact of being one of the few black nail salons in the area, Kē saw an opportunity to create a movement. By compiling and sharing a list of local black nail techs, she sparked a network called B.O.N.S. (Black Owned Nail Salons/Services), boosting their visibility and business. This initiative led Kē to shift the refocus. After all, she had started the nail shop having recognized a need among black women for a more focused and relatable experience when it came to their nail care. Realizing she had addressed this need in such a powerful way, the passion of building up and connecting black women came back to the forefront. Although we no longer do direct work in nail industry, Good Hood Girls takes pride in the role we played in catalyzing significant growth in black women-owned businesses within the industry.
2019 - The Sorority :
Good Hood Girls was always meant to be a sisterhood. In 2019, Good Hood Girls recommitted to this vision and announced the GHG Sorority. Inspired by Erykah Badu's words on the power of Sacred Women, the decision was made to use this book as the foundation for their journey. An informational session was held, attracting around 25 women. From this group, 12 individuals became GHG Sorority Members. These members were then assigned as committee heads, forming the founding council of the GHG Sorority. The committees encompassed roles such as Presidential, Treasury, Events, Recruitment, Media & Content, and Spiritual Ministers. Their collective mission was to support each other in personal, entrepreneurial, and spiritual endeavors through ministry, education, and the teachings of The Sacred Woman. Despite facing immense pressure, the collective struggled to maintain its sisterhood and eventually disbanded. Determined to learn from this experience, Kē dedicated the following years to personal growth, with hopes of building a stronger sisterhood in the future.
2022 - Womb Circles :
In 2022, after facing many hard truths and overcoming a few long-term battles, Kē Fa Tha People found herself in a much more stable place in life. It was at this time when an old friend returned to heal their severed friendship. This prompted Kē to give the womb circle another shot. They gathered 8 women for a womb circle focused on healing, without the extra responsibilities the previous one had included. They met weekly, donned all white attire as instructed, shared stories, sang, and ate together. However, as they progressed through Sacred Woman, the focus shifted from spiritual work to social interactions, leading to the group's eventual dissolution due to conflicting intentions. Undeterred, Kē, her rekindled friend, and two others attempted a smaller circle but encountered similar issues. Despite setbacks, Kē recognized the importance of community, though the path forward remained unclear. Despite these challenges, Kē remained hopeful and determined to find a way to create a supportive community that aligned with everyone's intentions.
Good Hood Girls Today:
As the years have gone by, the need for Black Women to connect has become increasingly evident. There is a plethora of platforms like Facebook Groups, Meet-Ups, and Events dedicated to helping Black Women forge friendships. Good Hood Girls (GHG) has recognized a crucial element missing in our space. While GHG has always prioritized fostering connections, the approach may have been overly focused on the intellectual aspect of building these relationships. GHG's aim now is to allow relationships to naturally evolve over time without the pressure of immediately taking on substantial responsibilities together. The emphasis is on developing genuine friendships first before setting out to change the world. GHG's events like Supper Clubs and Happy Hours provide simple, low-cost opportunities for Black women to come together and bond authentically without the burden of high expenses. Moreover, GHG acknowledges the importance of support during challenging times, offering separate support groups for deeper discussions when needed. The introduction of a book club also provides a space for meaningful conversations outside of personal struggles. GHG strives to create a straightforward and inclusive environment where all that's required is showing up and being present.