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Spotlighting Black Business Owners and Leaders: Ally Reaves

Did you know that August is National Black Business Month? Black Business Month is a chance to recognize and support Black-owned businesses. Vireo is proud to work with many Black-owned businesses across the country. We recently profiled Tahir Johnson, who was appointed to be the Director of Social Equity and Inclusion for the U.S. Cannabis Council. You can read that profile here.

Black business owners represent approximately 10 percent of businesses in the U.S. and about 30 percent of all minority-owned businesses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, that amounts to nearly two million companies owned by African-Americans.

In honor of Black Business Month, Vireo’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council is highlighting Black business owners and entrepreneurs, and also Black business leaders in the cannabis industry.

Our second interview is with Ally Reaves, Founder and President of Midwest CannaWomen, a small business created to support minorities and all women looking for resources and opportunities within the cannabis industry.

The DEI Council was excited to catch up with Ally and ask about her experiences in the cannabis industry, often as the only minority woman in the room, and what she’s doing to change that experience for other women and minorities.

Questions:

Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? Where do you live now?  Do you have family you want to mention?

My legal name is Alicia “Ally” Reaves and I am born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I am a Leo and my birthday is Aug. 20!! I am former athlete and coach. I have coached High School Girls Basketball and I used to work for a recreation center for over 15 years. I have coached children from the ages of 2 to 18 years old in basketball, volleyball, softball, flag football and even soccer. I was even an official basketball referee! I have retired from that life due to a major injury about nine years ago. Now, I reside in Lakewood, Ohio which is a suburb right outside of Cleveland, Ohio. I am spiritual but not religious, I am passionate about people and I love medicating my chronic pain with cannabis!

Tell us about Midwest CannaWomen and the organization’s mission.

Midwest CannaWomen is a small business that was created in 2017 to support minorities and all women looking for resources and opportunities within the cannabis industry. MCW is based on partnerships with other operators, ancillary businesses and non-profit organizations to provide support and to build a relationship that can impact the underrepresented communities.

Tell us about your role and day-to-day work at Midwest CannaWomen.

Wow. Each day of my life as the Founder/President of Midwest CannaWomen is different. Yes, it is hard. No two days are the same! I work alone with my company so I am constantly hustling… EVERYTHING, lol! It is the best feeling in the world to be yourself and work for YOURSELF!!!!!!

What made you originally interested in the cannabis industry?

The one thing that made me interested in the cannabis industry was the opportunity to impact the world from the ground up. My passion to help people and love for cannabis is the first reason. Also, I love to empower people and I love to build brands!! I understand, but am still learning, how to connect businesses and people on a higher level to bring the best value and resources with the truth about cannabis.

What are some of the challenges unique to the industry?

Being a minority woman, there are a lot of challenges because there are so many cases where you walk into a room and you only see yourself. Opportunities for minorities in the cannabis industry globally are slim to none. It is rare to find minorities in ownership, investor, leadership and employment positions in the cannabis industry. I find this is a common challenge and that companies are to trying to close the gap, but there has to be more done federally and from the justice system to allow those convicted of the same crime that is now a legal industry to right their wrongs. We have to free the ones convicted of the crimes that are now worth billions of dollars.

What do you like about working with cannabis?

The main thing that I love working with the cannabis industry is the ability to impact so many people. I work hard every day to find ways to try to change the world as a whole and I feel one day I am going to accomplish that goal. It is purely the freedom to recreate and start over in another life doing something to help so many people and letting my passion fuel me to accomplish that goal. I have started over 4 times in 4 ½ years in the cannabis industry and this is the best and one of the hardest journeys that I have ever experienced in my life. I would not change one second of it.

What are your favorite activities or hobbies outside work?  

I am extremely weird! I love to work on my jump shot. I love to create my clothes. I love to travel and experience new things in life. Also, I love to stay “under my rock” and explore new things about myself and my journey ahead.

Any other quotes or stories about working in cannabis or at Midwest CannaWomen that you want to share?

Yes! Midwest CannaWomen has a new Executive Board Advisor, Nickole Ross! She is the Owner and COO of Noohra Labs which is a medical cannabis processor based in Dayton, Ohio. She is my She-Ro, business partner and friend. Noohra Labs is a Black-owned, woman-led business that has raised millions of dollars through family and friends for operation build out. Nickole has 10 years of experience in operation management and was co-founder and former marketing director for Elevation VIP. We have been connected to each other for almost three years and she has helped me tremendously with many elements of my company. We are now business partners on a lot of opportunities that we are collaborating on to provide support and resources to our communities and to the industry. Also, she is a really cool person!!! She works hard and leads by example and I admire that quality in people.

How can people connect with you and with Midwest CannaWomen?

To connect with Midwest CananWomen, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin. Also, you can email Ally Reaves, Founder/President of Midwest CannaWomen at mailto:allyreaves@midwestcannawomen.com. Website under construction but coming soon!!!Thank you, Ally, for taking the time to share your story with us! Look out for more profiles of Black businesses and business leaders later this month!