OUR VISION

We envision a world that is filled with culturally resonant, quality fitness spaces for Black people to pursue wellness through movement. We are long overdue for thoughtful and engaging spaces in fitness that feel like home for the Black community. So, our mission is to create this in both the physical and digital space. We are opening our first physical location in NYC and launching a digital platform that will serve as a resource for Black fitness and wellness globally. At BLAQUE, everything is designed with Black people in mind.

We are building BLAQUE because it's what our community needs and deserves. Don't just take it from us. Here's what they have to say about it! 

• "I crave spaces where Black people are able to live the way we want to, supporting each other and feeling comfortable / confident in safe spaces. To marry fitness and our Blackness together is a dream." -Katrina 
• "I'm tired of being in spaces where I do not feel like I belong . . .  We need this." - Diana 
• "A culturally-specific space for improvement would make me feel more at home, more confident, more empowered to create change and less judged and/or objectified. What a brilliant and much needed space." -Rob
• "I have a growing interest in wellness and meditation, however I don't know where to start and most of my searches have led me to places where I am not represented. I want to feel comfortable in my growth." - Arianna 
• "I take care of people sometimes more than I take care of myself. I want to be inspired about fitness again. This could be just what I need to become excited about my mental and physical fitness goals." - Tisha
• "I am Afro-Latino and am looking for inclusion. I want to be a member because of the lack of blackness in other fitness clubs in NYC. I want to feel like I was included in the design of my fitness journey." - Alex

OUR STORY

I created BLAQUE out of a personal disconnect that I felt between my work in the Fitness Industry and my culture and community. 

I’ve worked in the Fitness Industry for 10 years and even the geographical separation between where I lived and where I worked was a daily reminder of the prerequisite to distance myself from my roots to make a living in the Fitness Industry. In order to access opportunity in the Industry, I was relegated to serving a primarily white member base instead of my own community which is where the real need is. There is a wild juxtaposition between waking up at 4am to go to work in Midtown, Manhattan and improve the lives of people whose experiences don’t reflect yours, while watching your own community’s health suffer from the weight of systemic oppression. For so long, I’ve wanted to use my skill sets to create impact in my community. Now I’m creating a space to do this alongside Fitness and Wellness professionals who feel the same.

 I’ve developed invaluable tools that change lives, and I’ve decided to use those tools to benefit my community. I’ve gathered an incredible team of people who have a genuine desire to see the Black community thrive and are great at what they do. We’re here to change the landscape of the fitness industry forever and T A K E   U P   S P A C E  for the well-being of Black lives!

THE PROBLEM

The Black community should have access to an inclusive and culturally resonant  space that is dedicated to it’s mental, emotional and physical well-being. Right now, Black people are disproportionately dying in the U.S from preventable health related diseases that put us at risk. We see this playing out in the midst of Covid-19 where Black communities account for nearly 60% of deaths. Simultaneously, our communities are grappling with heightened traumas that stem from the deep roots of systemic oppression on the Black community. These traumas have been shown to compromise the immune system. We are in a pivotal time that has magnified the importance and urgency of both a platform and space designed to combat the negative impact that these issues are having on the well-being of Black people. 

OUR MISSION

BLAQUE is all about creating an inclusive, enjoyable fitness experience that resonates with the Black community. Instead of expecting Black people to find a way to fit into an industry that lacks inclusion, BLAQUE is making the Fitness and Wellness industry fit into the Black experience. 

The classes that we offer, the products in our locker rooms, the music we play, the neighborhoods that we select for our physical locations are all being designed with Black people at the center. 

BLAQUE is creating a digital and physical space where we focus on cultivating wellness through movement - pun intended.

WHY DO WE NEED FUNDING?

As a Black woman-owned business, BLAQUE faces the unique obstacle of gaining equal access to capital. In the past decade Black woman-owned businesses only received .0006% of venture funding (if you round, that’s ZERO). 

But the importance of BLAQUE’s mission and the importance of amplifying the voices and ideas of Black women is so paramount that despite these discouraging figures, we are persevering. BLAQUE is turning to the power of community to bring this vision to life.

We are raising $100,000, and are seeking the support of the community at large to create this space for Black wellness.

The funds will be used to support the launch of our Digital Platform, housing fitness and wellness services and to fund our Outdoor Pop-Up Events taking place in Phase 4 or later!

Funds will go toward:

-Legal Fees

-Content Creation  (space, music, fitness/wellness instructors)

-Team expansion

-The platform to house digital content

-Venues/Vendors for Outdoor events

-Permits & Licensing

-Design and Merchandising

Meet the Founding Team!

T’Nisha is a native New Yorker and first generation Jamaican-American. She is a Coach and Fitness Professional with a decade’s worth of experience in the industry. She is an ambassador for wellness and seeks to create inclusive fitness spaces for the Black community. 

Joshua is a Ghanaian-American photographer & creative entrepreneur based in New York City. His work contains a strong trait for storytelling, branding, and marketing through visuals on the web. Kissi continues to advocate  for representation in the digital landscape.

Nia is a designer & illustrator based in Brooklyn, NY,  with experience that varies widely from interior design to graphic design & marketing. 

Amanda Vazquez, is a results-driven marketing & partner director with experience managing project teams, developing strategic marketing campaigns, and growing sales in the CPG world. 

Chelsea is a brand marketing and creative strategist based in Brooklyn, NY. She develops marketing and content strategies for Fortune 500 companies, startups and, her favorite, SMBs.

Thank you so much for contributing and sharing this campaign. Your support will help us to open the physical and digital doors of BLAQUE to the world.

When Black people thrive, we all will.