LGBTQ+-owned businesses

Emma Wilcox

Emma Wilcox is the Gallery Director at Gallery Aferro, where, with co-founder Artistic Director Evonne Davis she has designed and implemented hundreds of exhibits, public programs, educational initiatives, public art projects as well as more than two dozen publications. Addressing barriers to full cultural participation by historically underserved populations has been an overriding concern throughout the gallery’s fifteen years of existence, during which time we have earned 5 consecutive citations of excellence from the NJSCA. Many of our efforts have been highly collaborative in nature...

Tamara Fleming

Tamara Fleming is a creative powerhouse and co-founder of FEMWORKS, an award winning marketing communications firm that specializes in helping businesses to engage consumers in multicultural markets. Fleming’s industry experience, keen creative eye, attention to detail and the foundation that encouraged her to co-found FEMWORKS. In addition to her work in creative production and the news industry, Tamara Fleming is also a published photographer. She has a driving passion to create images that positively represent African-American, Latinos, urban communities, and the LGBT community. Fleming...

Saundra Toby-Heath

Saundra A. Toby-Heath is a Newark Native who loves her city with great passion. She is an artisan and the sole proprietor of Akirfa Design Studio (find her art on Facebook).
 

Peggie Miller

My name is Peggie Miller. Living the majority of my life as a butch woman, I noticed how we tend to live in the shadows, usually among our own exclusively. Gay Men have been at the forefront of the Gay Liberation movement, honored in all types of media  & have been more or less accepted into the  mainstream of society for decades. Except for a few power lesbians, we the African American & other lesbians of color, particularly butch identified women tend to take a back seat. Until now! We are mothers, deacons, professionals, designers, artists, reverends, doctors, attorneys & more...

Lynette Lashawn

THE BEGINNING
Inspired by the fashion her Mom and Grandparents wore Lynette’s interest began at a very tender age. The love she developed for fashion served as an outlet and  unquestionable conduit for self-expression. Fueled by her evolving obsession with european fashion, luxury designer pieces and unique furniture, Lynette conceptualized a Fashion & Decor Studio with her partner. Off The Hanger/Anè (created 7.5 years ago online) was designed for women and men to shop for their wardrobes and homes simultaneously. 

FAST FORWARD to Off The Hanger
11.1K...

Anita Dickens

Anita Dickens was born and raised in  Newark, NJ 1972. She graduated from West Side High School and went on to receive an Associate’s in Science from Essex County College, a BA in Science from New Jersey City University and a Masters in Public Affairs and Administration from Rutgers-Newark. 
In addition to her many accomplishments Anita volunteered her services in the community and elected as a Board member of a local LGBT organization.  

Anita Dickens is the founder and Owner of ANĒ formally known as A Girl&Guy Thing that started in 2013. CoOwner of a Fashion and Home...

Marleny Franco

Marleny Franco has been a Horticulturist helping people grow food for over thirty-five years.  She holds a Master’s degree in Plant Physiology from Rutgers University and worked as an Agricultural County Agent and professor at Rutgers University for eleven years before moving on to establish and run an environmental horticultural non-profit organization called: Greater Newark Conservancy. 
Through her work with the Greater Newark Conservancy she was successful in encouraging thousands of individuals to garden across the state and other locations within the US.  After twelve years...

Burley Tuggle

Burley Tuggle completed her Masters in Urban Policy Analysis and Management in 1997 and officially began her professional career.  She has nearly 20 years of experience in the fields of Public Policy and Financial Management.  Over this period, Ms. Tuggle has held research, lobbying and fiscal management positions in private, government and not-for-profit organizations.  In her former position as a Budget Analyst with the New York City Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Ms. Tuggle worked on the team in charge of planning and monitoring the $1 billion expense budget for the New York City...