Elissa Hillary - WKTV Journal

For 15 years, LocalFirst has been helping local businesses become stronger and educating consumers on why supporting local businesses matter. This Thursday, the organization will host its 8th Annual Meeting at the Goei Center.

According to LocalFirst Marketing Manager Mieke Stoub, the annual meeting will focus on the 2017 accomplishments of LocalFirst and what the organization’s plans are for 2018. Much of this will be included in LocalFirst Executive Director Elissa Hillary’s State of LocalFirst address. Also at the meeting, LocalFirst will be kicking off it year’s worth of programming to celebrate its 15th anniversary.

“Last year, we saw a 70 percent increase in minority owned businesses,” Stoub said, adding that many were aware of the 2015 Forbes article that had Grand Rapids ranked second at the bottom in the post “The cities where African-Americans are doing the best economically.”

“So we are really excited about that change of events,” Mieke said. “We also just see a happier group of people because they are supporting a local business.”

Stoub said the meeting is an excellent opportunity for community members to learn more about LocalFirst, which is an economic development non-profit, and its mission of supporting local businesses.

“Anyone is welcomed to attend and join us,” Mieke said. “Anyone who is new to LocalFirst, members, people of the general public..we would love it if visitors to our community were able to attend.”

Those not able to attend this Thursday’s event, on Feb. 8 will be the Lakeshore Annual Meeting and LocalMotion Awards at the CityFlats Hotel, 61 E. 7th St., Holland.

“We are moving our LocalMotion Awards out to the Lakeshore,” Stoub said. “Typically that has been a part of the annual meeting in Grand Rapids. This year we are honoring our Lakeshore businesses for being a force for good.”

Tickets for both the annual meeting in Grand Rapids and the one in the Lakeshore are each $40 pre-sale and $50 for at the door. For more information about LocalFirst and any of its upcoming events, visit www.localfirst.com.

Josephine “JoJo” White at her salon JoJo’s House of Beauty. (Photo of Courtesy of Josephine “JoJo” White)

By Bre Wilson

news@wktv.org

Josephine “JoJo” White recognizes that when a person makes the decision to leave a destructive relationship, they only have a short time to pack up and the last thing they may consider to grab is personal items such as shampoo and conditioner.

Which is why the owner of JoJo’s House of Beauty, located at 1801 44^th St. SE, over the past several years has worked with the YWCA to make sure those items are available when people come to stay there.

“The YWCA has always been a great place to just give, they give so much to domestic violence and we wanted to just be a part of that,” White said. “We donate brushes and combs, hair care, whatever we have or whatever clients give to us.”

It is because of White’s dedication to building a better community that she was recently one of nine recipients of the LocalMotion Award presented by LocalFirst of West Michigan. Given out annual, the LocalMotion Awards are designed to recognize businesses, organizations and individuals leading the way in building vibrant, sustainable communities. Each nominee was asked to complete a Quick Impact Assessment, which quantifies their positive impact through business practices such as philanthropic efforts, employee satisfaction and responsible waste management. From there, the LocalMotion Award recipients are determined and were announced at a special event earlier this year.

“I was totally shocked,” White said of being a LocalMotion Award recipient. “There were over 60 people who were nominated, so just to be nominated was a good thing.

“It was amazing to be recognized.”

White open JoJo’s House of Beauty three years ago after taking over her current location. Her goal has been to offer a multi-cultural salon designed to serve both men and women of all hair types. “Opening a salon has been a dream of mine since the age of 16, so it’s just a blessing to see my dreams come true,” she said.

Even before achieving her dream, White was committed to giving back to the community. Through the years, she has been very involved in many organizations from giving scholarship money to Omega Si Phi Fraternity Incorporation and Alpha Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporation to volunteering with Beauty of Zion Fashion ArtPrize hair show. White said she enjoys creating a positive presence in her community.

“LocalFirst is proud of all the busiensses in West Michigan who are making a positive impact in our local community,” said LocalFirst President Elissa Hillary. “The businesses recognized at the LocalMotion Awards are excellent examples of what it means to use business as a force for good and we applaud them for their commitment to positive social and environmental change in Grand Rapids and beyond.”

The other LocalMotion Award recipients are, from Grand Rapids, ACTPhotoMedia, LINC UP, Management Business Solutions, Mindful Vinyasa School of Yoga, and Mixed Staffing and Recruiting; from Grand Haven, C2C Galleries; and from Holland, EcoBuns Baby+Co.