- 6 hours ago
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00Charity Dean has joined us.
00:02Good morning.
00:04Good morning, good morning, good morning.
00:05What up, though?
00:06What up, though?
00:07So here's what we want to do.
00:09Reintroduce yourself again.
00:10Tell them your official position.
00:12And then introduce your guests.
00:14Yes, okay.
00:15So I am Charity Dean,
00:17President and CEO of the Michigan Black Business Alliance.
00:21And I am here with special guests,
00:23one of our MBBA members, Ms. Tamela Todd.
00:27Ms. Todd, welcome.
00:28Good morning.
00:29Thank you for having me.
00:30Good morning.
00:31You're welcome.
00:31You're welcome to our little crazy little...
00:34What do you do?
00:36I am the owner of Sippery.
00:38Sippery is a book bar in Detroit.
00:41Get it, girl.
00:41Get it, girl.
00:42Get it, girl.
00:43Slow down.
00:44Michigan and Promo.
00:45Slow down.
00:46Slow down.
00:47Hey.
00:47Hey.
00:48Hey.
00:49You want to slow down.
00:51You come to me too fast.
00:53So you have a place where people can come
00:57and read books and...
00:59Sip, read, relax, and connect.
01:02Wow.
01:03Yes.
01:03What do you serve, coffees and teas?
01:04No, I sell wine and...
01:07Wow.
01:07We serve wine, mocktails, and cocktails.
01:10Beautiful.
01:11Yes.
01:11That's different.
01:13That's different.
01:13Yes.
01:15Wow.
01:15That is different.
01:16How long have you been in business?
01:18Well, we've been open since August 2025.
01:21Yeah.
01:21And how does it go?
01:23So you just come in with a book.
01:26If you have, you know, in the middle of a book,
01:27you can stop in.
01:29And then we'll serve you for sale.
01:31That's me.
01:31Because you know what people do?
01:34Wine, mocktails.
01:34What happens is, they'd like to do that
01:37when they go to a restaurant,
01:39and then the guilt kicks in.
01:41Yes.
01:41They don't want to hold up the table.
01:43Right, like you're taking them safe.
01:43Right.
01:44And if not, then the people who own it
01:47will tell you, hey, listen,
01:49I know you're relaxing here,
01:50but we got to, you know.
01:52And they go, oh, okay.
01:53And then you say, damn,
01:54I wish there was a place I could just go,
01:56just chill out, get a drink,
01:58read my book where I'm not bothering nobody.
01:59And then you don't want to,
02:01so this is me.
02:02I don't want to do the book.
02:04There's a bar I could go to.
02:06But when I want to do the book,
02:09the bar people are coming in.
02:11They're going to talk to you.
02:11They're going to talk to you.
02:12They're saying Detroit Bass was on you.
02:14And you don't want to bring that
02:17relaxed atmosphere to the bar.
02:20Yes.
02:20Right?
02:21Because the bar people come in.
02:22They go like, look at him over there.
02:24Yeah.
02:25That is perfect.
02:26Yes.
02:27How'd you come up with the idea?
02:29That was my question.
02:29Okay.
02:30I'm sorry, guys.
02:32You know why?
02:33Because you never got the game in.
02:36Well, I'm an author myself.
02:38I'm a publish author myself.
02:39So I am an avid reader.
02:41I love reading.
02:42And like I said, I am an author.
02:44But I also love wine.
02:46So since wine is one of my favorite drinks,
02:49I might as well put my two favorites together
02:51and create a business.
02:52Excellent.
02:53It is.
02:53Listen.
02:55Most successful businesses
02:57are not created in fads.
03:00They're created out of need.
03:03And the person who has the need
03:06creates the business.
03:08Such as the guy who,
03:09he was on vacation with his wife.
03:12They were on the beach.
03:13She sat on her glasses.
03:15He owned optical companies.
03:18He called the company.
03:19They said, oh, now, this is going to be like,
03:20this is going to take us a week.
03:22He said, no, I need them tomorrow.
03:23So thus, we came up with the overnight,
03:27that whole thing about having your glasses
03:29back in two days or whatever.
03:30So this is wonderful.
03:34Where are you located again?
03:36You were going to tell me.
03:37Yes.
03:37We're in Corktown on Michigan Avenue in Trumbull.
03:40Okay.
03:41Yes.
03:42And again, it is called?
03:43Sip and Read Book Bar.
03:45How did you connect with Charity Dean?
03:48Uh, yeah, look,
03:50Michigan Black Business Alliance
03:52helped me in a lot of ways.
03:53Well, they have a technical assistance program.
03:58Really?
03:59Yes.
03:59What does that encompass?
04:01So TA is where they help you with,
04:04well, for me, I needed an attorney.
04:06So they help you with accounting.
04:09Yeah, they have attorney services.
04:10At the time when I was looking,
04:12it was attorney accounting,
04:13and I can't think of what else other,
04:15but I knew I needed an attorney.
04:16So I went through
04:17the Michigan Black Business Alliance.
04:19First, I became a member,
04:20and then they helped me find an attorney,
04:24which is now my attorney that I have had
04:27for the last few years.
04:28Hold on.
04:29Let me write them down.
04:30Michigan?
04:31But I found her
04:32through the Michigan Black Business Alliance.
04:34Wow.
04:35I think you came to one of our events.
04:38We met.
04:39So we do events all the time,
04:41and we had an event,
04:42I think at Bricks.
04:42Was that the one?
04:43I was a member before,
04:44that event was a members-only event,
04:48so it was like a meet and greet
04:49for the members.
04:50Got it.
04:51Yes, yes, yes.
04:51Wow.
04:53Yes.
04:53I got another question.
04:56You said you're an author.
04:57Talk about some of the projects
04:59you've worked on in your books.
05:00Well, my first book
05:01is called Emotions of the Mind.
05:03I write nonfiction,
05:04so I like writing things
05:05that's based off
05:06of what I've experienced.
05:07Okay.
05:07My second book
05:09is Self-Care for Entrepreneurs
05:11because I wrote that one in 2020
05:13where a lot of entrepreneurs
05:15didn't know which way
05:16they were pivoting
05:17because of the fact of the COVID.
05:20Right.
05:20So I was writing down
05:22the different experiences
05:23that I was experiencing,
05:24and that's where that book
05:25originated from.
05:27So yes,
05:27I write nonfiction.
05:29You,
05:32as a writer,
05:32what were you doing
05:34as you were writing
05:35or before then?
05:36I worked in health care
05:38for 25 years.
05:39Wow.
05:40Yeah.
05:41What did you do?
05:42I'm sorry.
05:42I'm very nervous.
05:43On over.
05:44Everything that needed
05:45to be done in the hospital.
05:46Yeah.
05:48From housekeeping on up,
05:50but yeah.
05:50Really?
05:51Mm-hmm.
05:51Wow, that's amazing.
05:53Okay, if you're an entrepreneur,
05:54you need to get this book.
05:55I'm going to read the dedication.
05:57I dedicated this book
05:59to all entrepreneurs
06:00as a reminder
06:01that your mental
06:03and physical health
06:04are non-negotiable.
06:05Take Care of Yourself First.
06:07And this is out of
06:09the self-care
06:10for entrepreneurs.
06:11How can people get
06:12and find this book?
06:14Yeah, well,
06:14we do carry it
06:15in the book bar,
06:16the store,
06:16and then you also
06:17can get it on Amazon.
06:19And the title again?
06:20Self-care for entrepreneurs.
06:22Self-care
06:23for entrepreneurs.
06:24This is awesome.
06:25Yes.
06:26Charity,
06:27how many people
06:29are part of?
06:30The Black Business Alliance?
06:32Yes.
06:32So we've got about
06:332,000 members
06:34across the state
06:34of Michigan.
06:36Yeah,
06:36we started
06:37right after COVID
06:40and really
06:41as a response
06:42to being able
06:44to connect
06:45black entrepreneurs
06:46to resources.
06:47So the program
06:49that Tamla's talking
06:51about is BizWiz.
06:52Are you talking
06:52about BizWiz?
06:53So our BizWiz program
06:54is where we can give you
06:56one-on-one assistance.
06:57You say,
06:57I need,
06:58fill in the blank.
06:58I need a lawyer.
06:59I need marketing help.
07:00I need this.
07:01And in some instances,
07:02we'll cover the cost
07:03of that
07:04or at least a portion
07:05of the cost of that
07:06for our members.
07:07But you can go get them
07:07for you.
07:08Yeah,
07:08we connect them to them.
07:09And guess what?
07:10They're black attorneys
07:11and they're black accountants
07:12and they're black folks
07:14in marketing.
07:14So we're building
07:15an ecosystem
07:16of connecting black businesses
07:17to black businesses.
07:19That is beautiful.
07:20I love it.
07:20That is beautiful.
07:21You grew this.
07:23It took you how long?
07:24You said since COVID?
07:25We are five years old.
07:26We launched in March of 2021.
07:28Across the country,
07:29do you have counterparts?
07:32So yes.
07:33I mean,
07:34in some ways,
07:35right?
07:35I think,
07:35I think we are unique though
07:37because in other cities
07:39or states,
07:40you might have chambers
07:41of commerce
07:41and then you might have
07:43nonprofit organizations
07:44that serve businesses.
07:46We are like
07:47both of those combined.
07:48What was happening
07:50in Detroit
07:50that you saw
07:52that wasn't happening?
07:53They had nothing
07:55for black businesses?
07:56that they could connect to?
07:57He's going to get me
07:58in trouble.
08:00Look,
08:00I mean,
08:01you know,
08:02I used to work
08:03in the mayor's office
08:04and-
08:05Which mayor?
08:06We've had a bunch.
08:07Yeah.
08:08Which mayor?
08:09Mayor Doug
08:10and I worked at his.
08:11Okay.
08:11He's so funny.
08:15And my,
08:16the last job I had
08:17was the director
08:18of civil rights
08:18but COVID hit
08:20and I became responsible
08:21for the city's
08:22small business response
08:23to the pandemic.
08:24That was-
08:24They assigned you that-
08:25That was my job.
08:27Make sure we got
08:28placards on the street.
08:29Make sure when the governor
08:30issues a new executive order
08:31we put it in plain language
08:33so businesses can understand
08:34all of that.
08:36Like-
08:36Assigned to charity day.
08:38Yeah.
08:39Yeah.
08:40So again,
08:42out of need.
08:44Yes.
08:44Period.
08:45Say it.
08:46And out of need
08:46specifically
08:47and unapologetically
08:48for black entrepreneurs
08:49in this beautiful black city.
08:51Yes.
08:52Right?
08:52A need for a voice
08:53to not only connect
08:55our members to resources
08:56but to advocate
08:57with elected officials
08:59and leaders
09:00to say,
09:00hey,
09:01are you thinking about
09:01black business
09:02when you're passing that law?
09:03Are you thinking about
09:04black business
09:04when you're,
09:05you know,
09:06rolling out this?
09:06So you're an advocate
09:07as well.
09:08All day.
09:09I'm a fighter first.
09:10I think we know this.
09:11Same thing.
09:13I know, right?
09:14I think we know this.
09:15Same thing.
09:15Miss Todd,
09:16did you create this wine?
09:18Yes.
09:19I created it.
09:19Get in that microphone.
09:20There you go.
09:21Liberia Rose.
09:22Yes.
09:23Liberia Rose.
09:25It is a Rose blend.
09:26It's fruit-forward.
09:27Okay.
09:28Well,
09:29you can really pair it
09:30with any fruits.
09:31So it's springtime.
09:32That's the time,
09:34really,
09:34Rose.
09:34Most people are asking
09:36for Rose.
09:37And it's Michigan-made.
09:38Liberia Rose.
09:40Yes.
09:40And it's Michigan-made.
09:41Yes.
09:43How long have you
09:45had this product?
09:46Since we opened.
09:48Really?
09:49Launched when we opened.
09:50You had your own product, huh?
09:51She was ready to go.
09:52She was a boss.
09:53She was a boss.
09:54You had the two books, too,
09:55ready?
09:56Were you open?
09:57Yes.
10:00Yeah.
10:02I see an event
10:03with you coming out.
10:04Oh, yes.
10:04I see an event.
10:05You know what?
10:06She has an event space.
10:07Why don't you talk about
10:08the actuals?
10:08You have an event space.
10:10Talk about what the space
10:10looks like.
10:11We've done events there.
10:12Yes.
10:12Really?
10:13I call it the living room
10:14from home.
10:15Say that.
10:16Because we have
10:17the comfy chairs.
10:18We have the big chair
10:19you're able to relax.
10:21And it's a meeting space.
10:22It's a gathering space.
10:23We have a lot of book clubs
10:24that come in
10:25and book the space.
10:26We have community events
10:27that come in
10:28and book the space.
10:31So, and then we have
10:32a lot of curated events
10:33that we host every month.
10:34All right.
10:35Let me stop you right there
10:36and ask you to do this
10:37for me slowly.
10:39Okay.
10:39Twice.
10:42Give the phone number
10:44twice
10:46so that people
10:47can pop it in their phone.
10:48So, I'm telling you guys
10:49now get your phone ready
10:51to go to however
10:51you want to put it in.
10:52And then also
10:54the social media platform
10:55that they need to use
10:57to also get to you
10:58to book the space.
10:59So, we don't have
10:59a phone number.
11:00We have the website
11:01that you go to.
11:02The social media platform.
11:03Yes.
11:03Yes.
11:04And then I can give you
11:05the Instagram page.
11:07Yeah.
11:07Okay.
11:07So, our Instagram page
11:09is SIP, S-I-P,
11:11the letter N,
11:14read, book, bar.
11:16So, again,
11:17that's SIP,
11:18the letter N,
11:19read, book, bar.
11:20That's our Instagram.
11:22Beautiful.
11:22And then our website
11:23is www.sipsipsandread.net.
11:30No brothers or sisters
11:31for you, huh?
11:32No.
11:32I didn't think so.
11:33You the only child?
11:34Yes.
11:35You picked that up?
11:36How do you know that?
11:37Yeah, how did you know that?
11:38Yeah, I need to know.
11:40That was so crazy.
11:43The energy
11:44of doing all of this
11:46is much like Angie.
11:48The energy of
11:49doing 50 things
11:51at one time.
11:52She opened,
11:53she had her own drink,
11:55her own thing,
11:56the space,
11:57the books.
11:58And she thought it
11:59all the way through
11:59through her imagination
12:00because we had to play
12:02with her imagination.
12:03We have to execute
12:05everything that's in our head.
12:06You do because
12:06you've got a lot stored.
12:07We are a lot stored.
12:09So sip and read
12:10or say where you can
12:11drink and read a book.
12:12Yeah.
12:15And the event space too.
12:17Yeah.
12:17Listen,
12:18Ms. Todd,
12:19thank you for coming in today.
12:20Thank you for being creative
12:22and thinking out of the box.
12:24I love it.
12:25We'll see you at 930
12:26on Tuesday.
12:28Yes.
12:28Okay.
12:28Tuesday, y'all.
12:30And my mistake,
12:31that's attorney charity.
12:33Say that.
12:34I want some respect.
12:34Yes, attorney.
12:37Yes.
12:38Thank you all for coming in.
12:39Everybody enjoy your day.
12:40That was fascinating.
12:42And so next Tuesday too,
12:44make that,
12:45put that in your phone
12:46and let your alarm.
12:46They're going to talk business
12:47Tuesday at 930.
12:48Sip and read.
12:50Sip and read.
12:53Stop.
12:54Sip and read.
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