The New Voices Foundation is a nonprofit on a mission to empower women of color entrepreneurs. And the perfect place to display such talent? The legendary Madam CJ Walker’s mansion, Villa Lewaro!
The founder of the nonprofit, Richelieu Dennis, wanted to create a safe space and nurture entrepreneurship from brilliant minds that are usually not given center stage. The mansion offers a place that encompasses Black excellence, just like it did 100 years ago.
The home acted as a meeting place during the Harlem Renaissance. It was here that some of the most creative Black minds, like Langston Hughes, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Zora Neale Hurston came together for camaraderie and to discuss race relations.
And present-day creative Black minds are already making their own strides in the famous home.
Pyer Moss, a fashion label dedicated to preserving one's culture and bringing awareness to activism, recently held a fashion show at Villa Lewaro. The show embodied Black culture and creativity, while also celebrating our elders like former Black Panther Elaine Brown.
This national landmark is a celebratory look at both our past and our future. This innovative project is using Walker’s home as a place to celebrate and support Black excellence as well as preserve her legacy.