Happy Pride Month!
Here at The BRA Network we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for our diverse group of female and non-binary entrepreneurs. This Pride Month learn about four women-owned businesses within BRA that serve and empower the LGBTQ+ community, work with LGBTQ+ clients, and demonstrate allyship all year long.
ANGEL RODRIGUEZ: RFC21
BRA Member Angel Rodriguez drives meaningful change for BIPOC communities. Here’s what she has to say about how her work and the power of representation…
Pride, Purpose, and Public Service: Celebrating Who We Are and What We Stand For
At rfc21, we’re proud to be a woman and LGBTQ-owned consulting firm rooted in equity, integrity, and transformation. With deep expertise in public child welfare, we offer services in leadership coaching, expert witness consultation, curriculum development, and grant management by supporting public and private organizations across the U.S. Our work is grounded in systems change, and we partner with agencies that serve communities of color, serving them as they move from intention to meaningful action. We bring nearly five decades of combined experience to guide organizations through the complexities of leadership, strategy, and social impact.
This Pride Month, we’re honoring our identity and recommitting to the values that guide our work. We believe representation is powerful and necessary, especially in sectors that shape the lives of children, families, and communities. We proudly sponsor organizations that serve BIPOC communities and advocate for culturally responsive systems. At rfc21, Pride isn’t just a celebration. It is an ongoing call to create more inclusive, just, and responsive spaces. We’re grateful to stand at the intersection of policy, practice, and purpose, helping leaders transform the way they serve.
Learn more about rfc21, follow them on Instagram, and connect with Angel on LinkedIn!
DIANA GRESHTCHUK: FAN YOUR FLAME
BRA Member Diana Greshtchuk (She/Her) is the CEO of Fan Your Flame LLC, a financial literacy coach, and your best financial friend. Her business is founded on helping members of the LGBTQ community as one of many marginalized communities. Diana is passionately committed to guiding entrepreneurs, businesses and individuals to achieve a wide variety of financial goals.
Diana gives back to the community by volunteering as a Board Member for the Point Foundation, the LGBTQ+ and ally scholarship fund. This non-profit organization empowers promising lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential.
With anti-LGBTQ+ policies sweeping the nation, join Point in empowering the next generation of LGBTQ+ and ally leaders to keep Pride alive this Pride Month and beyond. You can also follow Diana on Instagram and connect with her on LinkedIn.
VICKY + CHARISSE PASHE: DAPPER BOI
Dapper Boi is a body-inclusive apparel line founded in 2015 by BRA Members and married couple Vicky Pashe and her wife, Charisse. They started Dapper Boi because Vicky was tired of shopping in the men’s section for clothes that just didn’t adhere to her body’s shape. She was tired of the getting sideways looks in both the men’s and women’s section. After a search for gender-neutral, size-inclusive clothing proved fruitless, Vicky and Charisse decided to do something about it. Dapper Boi was born.
Within five years of starting the online body-inclusive clothing brand, it is now a seven-figure company on a mission to revolutionize the genderless fashion movement. And they’re succeeding; Dapper Boi has gone from Shark Tank to Nordstrom!
Vicky has always had a passion for compassion and believes that so many of us do not fit in today’s binary norms in the retail world. By creating a body-positive, accepting community, we can all build confidence within ourselves and within each other to create a world we can all “fit” into.
Follow Dapper Boi on Instagram and connect with Vicky on LinkedIn.
CATHERINE GRAY: SHOW HER THE MONEY
BRA Member Catherine Gray is the Founder of She Angel Investors, a Co-Founder of the She Angels Foundation, and the producer of the award-winning documentary, Show Her the Money (plus Author of the book by the same name).
SHOW HER THE MONEY addresses how women are getting less than 2% of venture capital funding and demystifies what venture capital is. Featuring powerful, game changing women investors who invest in diverse women entrepreneurs with innovations that will change the world, Show Her The Money reminds us that money is power and women need it to achieve true equality.
The film follows four visionary entrepreneurs as they endure uphill battles to turn their ideas into reality. In spite of their dedication and passion constantly being challenged, these women, with the financial support and mentorship of their angel investors, become even more determined, resourceful and resilient, and the growth of their businesses is mind-blowing.
The film seeks to level the playing field for women of all ages and ethnicities, and encourages more women to contribute to female founded venture funds, that in turn invest in women and other underserved communities such as LGBTQ and BIPOC.
Follow the Show Her the Money film on Instagram and connect with Catherine on LinkedIn!
It is important to shine a spotlight on businesses that take impactful initiatives to support the LGBTQ+ community, show allyship, and find ways to empower the queer community. Visibility is important all year long, but Pride Month is an extra special time to highlight businesses such as these. Please visit their websites and follow them on socials to learn more!
