During Black History Month, the D.C. area offers numerous opportunities for cultural exchanges and conversations about identity and empowerment. From community leaders in local spaces to corporate-run panels, the black identity continues to be a conversation that the region expands upon. As the month concludes, Footlocker aims to uphold its motto of “more than sneakers” by hosting its UNDENIABLE Conversations series. Footlocker’s DMV event took place in its location in Mondawmin Mall, Baltimore, and featured a one-hour conversation with three successful black entrepreneurs: Somos Thompson, co-owner of For The Fan; Jonathan White, creator of Cashland Apparel; and Kamirria Wallace, founder of Black & Scholared. Hosted by media personality Chey Parker, the discussion revolved around the themes of hard work, community investment, and support for historically black colleges.

The panelists built upon their ideas of why their businesses are more than just apparel; they provide opportunities for their communities. 

“Collective community. Coming together to build. We are much better together than apart; we can collaborate. We don’t need to see each other as competition,” said Kamirria of Black & Scholared. 

Each speaker’s outreach approach diverged into different communities. Black & Scholared maintains the theme of its clothing brand by funding scholarships and tuition reimbursements for HBCU students. Jonathan White’s Cashland hosts annual Back to School drives in southwest Baltimore and provides clothing for newly released prisoners. Thompson’s For The Fan brand works with independent creatives, giving them the opportunity to work with their resources, alongside further plans for social impact programs for Baltimore and D.C.

For the Fan’s Somos Thompson, a Hampton Alumni led the discussion about how partnering with HBCUs encompasses the values of black success and representing the community. “The Standard of Excellence is Hampton’s motto. Since we have a specific niche in HBCUs, having our work reflect excellence in these ventures truly upholds what black entrepreneurship means,” said Thompson.

The founder of For The Fan, Mike Hilton, met Somos at an event showcasing the brand’s early collaboration with Chic-Fil-A in 2019. At that time, For the Fan was only licensed to release Howard products and required Somos’ help to understand the HBCU landscape and further its reach. For The Fan has now expanded into eight different HBCUs, delivering apparel from a range of styles and silhouettes from t-shirts to denim jackets. Like Cashland, For The Fan is distributed throughout Footlockers in the DMV, nearly selling out their inventory on the day of the event.

The UNDENIABLE Conversations series presented an opportunity for people to hear firsthand from successful black entrepreneurs and how they are giving back. Footlocker’s dedication to not just Black History Month but black prosperity enriches the grounds for any aspiring entrepreneur in the DMV. Bricciana Strickland, Foot Locker DMV’s Community Marketing Manager, explained why discussions like this are needed, and how showcasing these stories can influence others to reach for success, “We need to see more people like us in leadership positions to inspire the younger generation behind us.”