A new online series called BuyingBlack launches on Thursday, 31 October.
BuyingBlack is an online channel that tells the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business owners.
Creator and Darumbal man EJ Garrett loves stories.
“Everyone has a great story you know, I grew up with stories,” he said
“I believe stories shape who we are and what we do.
“These stories are stories about courage, sacrifice, ingenuity and adventure, and will be of particular interest to anyone who is running a business or is thinking about starting a business.”
Mr Garrett has a background in film, television and production and operates his own consulting company servicing small businesses and government agencies.
“I found though my consulting, that almost all the Indigenous business I was working with were owner operators and the reasons for doing what they are doing were really compelling,” he said.
“These businesses are so distinctly different in some ways and in others, the same as non-Indigenous businesses.”
One of Mr Garrett’s clients were a mother daughter team who deliver trauma healing.
“Their motivation was that they really wanted to help families resolve the damages of trauma they have suffered, which is a really community based value, to get better families and therefor better communities,” he said.
“Another Indigenous business I work with are a family who want to create financial stability for themselves and for their employees and other businesses they work with.”
The channel will feature an episode per month with a video story celebrating the work, challenges and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business owners.
Mr Garrett is working with Ipswich City Council on Black Coffee Event for Indigenous professionals and business owners, launching on Wednesday, 30 October.
“The council has done a lot of work around supporting Aboriginal businesses in the past couple of years,” he said.
“There are tons of opportunities in Ipswich if you look at the population growth and development in the area of new ideas.”
Mr Garrett has just returned from the World Indigenous Business Forum in Canada looking at how other Indigenous people have moved forward in economic discussions.
“I think we are on a steep trajectory at the moment,” he said.
“Not only Aboriginal business but the Aboriginal community as a section of Australian society, it’s almost like this movement is happening.
“Aboriginal people are securing their financial futures in business and it’s really starting to become more obvious.”
Black Coffee Event meets fortnightly, 10am at the Riverview Community Centre, 138 Old Ipswich Road, Riverview.
The remaining dates for the year are, 30 October, 13 November, 27 November and 11 December.
Contact Derek on 3810 8114 for more details.
