Women's Empowerment Series: Ebony Campbell

As a part of Women's History Month, I will be featuring phenomenal women that have been leaders within their careers and communities. They have inspired me tremendously. I had the pleasure of interviewing Tapphannock, VA native and fellow Essex High School alum, Ebony Campbell, a few weeks ago as we chatted over a delicious lunch at her new restaurant, Echoes Cafe. 

I see that you have several business ventures, including photography, and a non-profit. What made you want to open a restaurant? 

I was actually inspired by my non-profit, R.I.S.E. UP (Raising Interest in Social Equality), which is a social advocacy organization that was formed to educate, empower, and engage the community on socio-economic issues and to bring about social change nationally. I was always preaching to others to start their own business and realized I wasn't following my own advice. 

How did you make the decision to start a business in your hometown?

I originally wanted to open an upscale bar, but decided to open a cafe and coffee shop and incorporate soul food dishes into the menu. I initially wanted to bring this concept to Richmond, but found that the market was somewhat saturated. I felt that my very own hometown, Tappahannock, would be the better location. I could bring something different and unique to the area, increase job opportunities, and offer more food options to the area.

What's your favorite dish on the menu?

The Shea Burger and the Mount Echo. The Mount Echo is one of our most popular dishes which consists of sauteed veggies, roasted red potatoes, topped with marinated boneless chicken breast, cheese, bacon, and onion straws. 

You are one of the busiest women I know! How do you balance work/life as a business owner traveling back and forth from Richmond to Tappahannock? 

I don't have much of a social life right now. (laughs) I am still trying to balance my social life and work life. You really have to have the drive and determination to succeed. I can't let one thing slip. My 9 to 5 pays the bills right now, so that's one commitment. Starting a business is risky, which also deserves my full attention, so I don't have a choice other than to dedicate myself to both.

Who/what has influenced you?

My mom, of course; the R.I.S.E. UP team; entrepreneurs in the community; and all of the Black women that took the first step towards their dreams.

What is your advice to any woman wanting to start her own business?

Never listen to naysayers. If God gives you a vision and you have the drive and determination, then just do it. You have to be ready for the work and be involved in every step of the process. I was involved in everything from soup to nuts - from painting the trim to selecting the menu items. And last, but not least, prayer. 

Echoes Cafe is located at 1832 Tappahannock Blvd Tappahannock, VA 22560.

Me and the owner of Echoes Cafe, Ebony Campbell

Weekend Highlights

This past weekend I met up with sorors for a mini-reunion. Outside of homecoming and weddings, we don't see each other often. We had brunch at Tazza Kitchen Arlington Ridge and it was amazing! The food here is so good and we had a great server.  And no they don't have bottomless mimosas but I'll definitely be back when it gets warmer to sit out on the patio. Afterward we went skating and did a little shoe shopping. It was nice to catch up on life while passing around photos and videos of the new babies and new homes, which shows we've been binge watching, and if we've bought a dress for the next wedding. Lol!  There's always something new to celebrate and I can't wait until the next time we get together.

xoxo,

Victoria 

strangers on a plane

She kept laughing out loud as she was reading her book and I just looked at her and she paid me no mind. I went back to reading and she laughs again. And I kept thinking what is she reading that's SO funny? I wanna laugh too. The flight attendant walks by and she asks for a ginger ale and she lifts her hands in the air and prays over her beverage. Then she pulls out her lunchbox! Who is this chick packing lunch for a flight? She prays over her snacks too, then goes back to reading with more sporadic bursts of laughter. I tried to keep reading, a little irritated by her high pitched laugh, but before I dozed off, I turned to her and asked, "can you say a prayer for me too?" 

lovesong

The Hallmark holiday of love, Valentine's Day, is right around the corner and I decided to compile a playlist for all you lovers out there. It's a mix of the good, the bad, and the ugly, because when it comes to love we've seen all three. The songs I chose are all over the place, which describes me perfectly. There's no set genre or time period because love is universal. Sometimes you feel like dancing or maybe you just want to sit and reflect. You may be in a new relationship, together for years, or going through a break-up, but whatever your mood is, I think I got you covered.  What are some of your favorite love songs?

Be love.

Victoria

Proposals, Football, and Beyonce

I just had a great weekend spending time with family. We celebrated my Dad's birthday and my cousin had a Super Bowl party on Sunday. You know I was only there for the food and Beyonce. I could care less about football but I was rooting for Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers to win.  He's had a great season and unapologetic when it comes to celebrating his greatness. Some may call it arrogant, but I believe he is being true to himself. You have to celebrate YOU when no one else will, so Cam is alright with me. So we were all waiting in anticipation for the halftime show to see Beyonce perform her new song, Formation, which broke the internet this weekend by the way, and during the commercial break my cousin gets on one knee and proposes to his girlfriend! I was so excited! The women are very protective of the men in our family, but we welcomed her with open arms. I think this is the first time I've seen a proposal in person so I was glad to be able to witness the pure joy in their eyes. How was your weekend?

xoxo,

Victoria

out of milk

I used to think if I kept the fridge full you'd stay a few days longer

or at least until the sunrise.

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach

so they say...and your appetite was pretty big. 

but now the fridge is empty

and so is my bed.

Cabin Fever

I've been stuck in the house for 2 days now because of Snowstorm Jonas and cabin fever is starting to sink in. I found a few things to keep me busy, but I can't wait until I can borrow someone's shovel to dig my car out of the mountain of snow. The blizzard has definitely made me a tad bit lazy, but I have been a little productive. Here's a list of things to keep you busy during a snowstorm.

1. Netflix and Chill - Invite your friends/neighbors over for games or movie night. Tell each person to bring a drink or snack. This is only if they are in walking distance. You don't want anyone getting stuck in the blizzard!
2. Do It Yourself Mani & Pedi - You have nothing but time to let your nails fully dry. 
3. Read A Book - This is the perfect time to catch on a great book. I'm currently reading The Turner House.
4. Try New Recipes - Did anyone really buy canned food for the blizzard? We've been fortunate enough not to lose power so it was the perfect time to try new Pinterest recipes. I also cooked breakfast everyday which I never have time to do usually before work.
5. Workout - When you're bored you can very easily eat everything in sight. Do an indoor workout or take a walk around the block if the sidewalk is clear. Get some fresh air even if it's just for a few minutes.
6. Clean/Organize Your Room - Get a head start on your spring cleaning. Dust, do laundry, get rid of old clothing, etc. I cleaned out my drawers and I have so much stuff taking up space. 
7. Sleep - If you're always complaining about not getting enough sleep, don't miss out on this opportunity.
8. Create Something - Take this time to work on your craft. Work on your business plan, write your new book, do that thing that you've been procrastinating about. 

Enjoy the snow!

xoxo,

Victoria

It's the first week of January 2016 and in between breaks of checking hundreds of work emails, I've been doing some reflecting and I'm excited for what's ahead. One of my biggest highlights of 2015 was traveling to Dubai. This was my first international flight. I was one of hundreds of black millennials that took advantage of the Christmas 2015 flight deal to Dubai for less than $200. It was a great cultural experience in spite of the horrible customer service we received from the airline on the way home.  But this is just one of the many things I want to continue doing in 2016: be spontaneous and explore the unknown. I didn't do any other international trips last year so I've definitely had my eye on all of the flight deal sites for this year. In addition to traveling, I plan to focus on my career goals and begin budgeting and saving to become a homeowner. I also plan to take better care of my spiritual health. Self-care is so important. Life can get so busy and stressful that we forget to take the time out to breathe, live in the moment, and become aware of our surroundings. More meditation and rest for my soul is needed. Have you written out your goals for 2016? Be intentional and stick to it. :) 

xoxo,

Victoria