Today we’d like to introduce you to Raphael Wright.
Hi Raphael, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
When I began my entrepreneurial career, I was the quintessential black businessman (at the time), make money and flex. I didn’t care about social issues as much. I only wanted to make money and escape poverty. Then, in 2014, I “woke up” for some reason and wanted to rebuild the hood into something better than I’ve seen it be. I began studying stats about health, wealth, and education in America’s inner-city and instantly wanted to start changing those things.
That year, I launched Plug’d Media to serve as my edutainment platform to wake other hustlers up to begin the movement too. Since its inception, I’ve published one critically acclaimed book How 2 Hustle (2016), and two Amazon best sellers: Wealth (2017), and Make The Hood Great Again (2019). Also, Plug’d Media controls the trademark to the phrase “Make The Hood Great Again,” where we produced the most premier hats of that slogan.
In 2016, I began mapping out my plans to tackle social and economic development in the hood on a large scale. I feel grocery stores are the main anchors in a community’s small business foundation. With solvent grocery stores, you can build virtually everything else. Plus, a healthier community can survive and thrive. So, in 2016, I founded Us Food Market (now Neighborhood Grocery) as a community-owned grocery store concept to tackle the food insecurity, poverty, and displacement in the city.
In 2017, I publicly began soliciting for funds to launch this venture via GoFundMe, where I was able to raise close to $50k for research & development. I’m not from the industry, so I had to learn the game, gather market research, etc. In 2019, after two years of trying to land a place, I secured a purchase agreement to acquire a building on the east side of the city. In late January, I launched an equity crowdfunding campaign to sell stock to Michigan residents, making them founding investors in the project. They’ll share some of the profits while enjoying discounted products once we get opened. The company needs $1.2 million so we have a lot of work to do. Since the launch (today is 2-2-2020), the company has raised $10,000 in seed funding.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This has definitely been a rough ride. Elevation requires discipline and sacrifices you wouldn’t imagine. Personally, you lose friends and family. You lose all control at times because you have so many decisions to make, with so little time, with not much room for compromise. It sucks walking up that ladder.
Professionally, I’ve experienced issues because of my age and forms of expression. At times, older generations found it hard to believe in me for various reasons: I’m too young, or I’m unqualified to push for such change. Sometimes being from the hip hop culture, our expression could be a bit overwhelming and in your face to some, and it makes people uncomfortable. I’ve experienced pushback from community leaders because my forwardness. Nonetheless, those are the things we all will encounter trying to come up.
We’ve been impressed with Neighborhood Grocery, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My social investment conglomerate is Urban Plug L3C, the parent company to Plug’d Media and Neighborhood Grocery. Plug’d Media is a media company that specializes in hip-hop edutainment. Plug’d Media has published 5 books to date: How 2 Hustle (2016), Wealth (2019), Make The Hood Great Again (2019), A Message To Black College Students (2020), and Make The Hood Healthy Again (2021).
Neighborhood Grocery is a community-owned grocery store concept being rolled out in Detroit hopefully this year. The purpose of Neighborhood Grocery is to put good food back in the hood while creating a community crowdfunding platform to restore ownership, battle poverty, all while battling displacement in Detroit. The company is selling shares of its stock to Michigan residents to acquire and launch our first store this year.
Lastly, I’m a co-founder of Taste The Diaspora Detroit, a Detroit-based food agency focused on uplifting black-owned food businesses through mutual aid efforts and services.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The only thing I know is that hip-hop culture is here to stay. In regards to industry, I have no idea. Covid has turned many tables over so many industries will have to rebuild from the ashes. Being in the food system, I’m hoping more of us black people build the infrastructure to meet our people where they are. I’m hoping for more inclusiveness in all industries. Most of all, I hope we are all healthier as a race.
Pricing:
- To invest in Neighborhood Grocery (Michiganders only) – $50 minimum
Contact Info:
- Email: info@urbanplug.org
- Website: www.neighborhood-grocery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairo_rafa/
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/fairo_rafa
- Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdBFSDbW/
Image Credits
Raenell Williams
