Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My brother worked relentlessly for decades before the world caught up to what he always was. Watching someone you love pour everything into their craft with no guarantee of recognition and then seeing it pay off taught me that consistency and vision matter more than timing or luck. I built Heaven & Earth with that same energy. You keep going because the work is real, not because the reward is guaranteed.

How do you stay motivated?

I have two sons watching me build something from nothing. That's not abstract motivation, that's daily accountability. I also genuinely believe in what Heaven & Earth represents, a space that reflects the fullness of who I am culturally, creatively, and professionally. When the work feels hard I come back to the fact that there are very few spaces like this one, and somebody has to build them.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Heaven & Earth was built to be more than a wine bar. It is a gathering place for a community that deserves beautiful, intentional spaces that reflect who they are. This funding would allow me to expand our private events program so that more people can access the space for celebrations, creative work, and connection, while also building the financial foundation that lets me stay independent, keep the doors open, and continue showing my sons that a woman can build something that truly belongs