Shaving Products for Men made by a Black Man

TARGET to carry BEVEL Shaving Products

Tristan Walker, CEO of Walker & Company

Tristan Walker, 31 CEO Walker & Company

Walker, 31, who will be among four tech-world panelists at USA TODAY's Change Agents Live event Sept. 29, says he's targeting a personal care market worth billions that has been woefully underserved by the health and beauty industry. Walker & Company Brands will roll out a new product as a companion to Bevel next year. Walker declined to say what he has in the works.

"This is still page one of our story," Walker said in an interview. "Our road map is strong, our ambition remains significant and our desire to serve our customers is unwavering. Our funding and our relationship with Target shows this in a big way and sets us on our path to build the world's most consumer-centric health and beauty products company for people of color."

In 2012, Walker left the mobile app company Foursquare to become the first African-American entrepreneur in residence at venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. He rejected countless business ideas before seizing on Walker & Co. Brands.

Even with his credentials in the tech world, investors did not readily open up their wallets. As his friend, Yahoo executive Erin Teague, put it: "Building a set of products targeted at people of color is not something people in Silicon Valley do." He ultimately raised $6.9 million in funding.

"Raising money for a start-up is hard in general, but for us it was a little bit harder, particularly because a lot of the investors that we were pitching had no context about the problems we were hoping to solve," Walker said in an interview with USA TODAY last December. "If you think about Bevel, it's (addressing a) problem up to 80% of black men and women have. But the folks I was pitching weren't black men and women."

To read more on this Black Business article, please click the link below by USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/09/28/tristan-walker-bevel-funding-target-stores-magic-johnson-andre-iguodala-walker-company-brands/72838894/

Launch Party Success

KDIV 98.7 Launch Party Success
by Leora Jackson

A spectacular gathering of community individuals came up to Foghorns for the unveiling of the First Urban Black Radio station, KDIV 98.7, Voice of Diversity in Fayetteville last Thursday evening January 21, 2016. Members of the Board and CEO Reginald Brasfield, received a flooding of questions from the audience and abundance of answers were given.

Brasfield opened up the Q & A session by introducing himself and members of the board, Tearle Byers, Clement Ogunyemi, Leora Jackson and Stephanie Adams.

“I always had an idea to find a way to connect our voices through radio. It hasn’t’ been done before and I met up with Tearle Byers and we shared the same interest. Why not a Black Radio Station,” said Brasfield.

KDIV, Voice of Diversity is more about Hip-Hop, Jazz, Gospel and music. It has to do with the people and innovation on how to make the community be heard.

 Kassie Brown, 30, Prairie Grove said, “I like the passion of this radio station. It’s more than about music. I like that this is a non-profit radio station for the community.”

Tenisha Gist, Director of the Yvonne Richardson Center said the event was nice and was glad that the radio is a non-profit which helps to add diversity to the NWA area.

“I am a lover of music and I like listening to all types of genres. I also enjoy instrumental beats as well. I am sure that with Voice of Diversity, it will help to make the area more inclusive,” said Gist.

Byers, Voice of Diversity Board member and Co-Founder said, “I am glad the Launch Party met the expectations of everyone. Our next goal is to get sponsorship, and funding. Volunteers are always needed as well.”

Blair Beasley, Broadcast Journalism major at the UA was excited that a Black Radio station was in the Community.

“I have lived here my whole life and we have always wanted a black radio station. I have listened to other radio stations, but they didn’t have a lot of our music like they do now. I am so glad that Diversity is occurring in NWA! I am definitely looking to help volunteer with the radio station,” said Beasley.

Participants who completed a brief survey as they entered the Launch Party, were entered in a raffle giveaway and won door prizes such as dinner for 2, Razorback game tickets, bottles of exquisite wine, and the grand prize was tickets to the Memphis Grizzlies game. Wow! This Board of KDIV has great connections to the Memphis Grizzlies, so stay tuned for more exciting giveaways!

Overall, the Launch Party was a dynamic success!

What’s Next for KDIV?? Listen to your First Urban Radio Station for Historical Black Heroes of NWA as we add their voices to Voice of Diversity and share them with you in honor of Black History Month.

If you want to volunteer or support KDIV 98.7, please contact voiceofdiversity@yahoo.com or call at 501-960-4360. Also check out a fundpage at Launch KDIV

We are your FIRST URBAN RADIO STATION, Voice of the City!!!

Photos by Ryan Versey For more photos check out Versatile Optics Photography

Article by Leora Jackson

It's Time to PARTY with KDIV 98.7!

KDIV 98.7 Voice of Diversity Launch Party is Happening Thursday Night

Northwest Arkansas Diversity Family!

If you don't have plans prior to the Arkansas/Kentucky game tomorrow, come out to the Voice of Diversity KDIV 98.7 Radio Station launch party. 

As the first Urban Radio Station in Fayetteville, we want to celebrate with you! If you aren't going to the game, no worries, you can watch it with us on the big screen at Foghorns. Please join us and tell your friends..

Come out and join us at 4:30 to 8pm and see what Voice of Diversity is about! 

Who is KDIV and what questions do you have for them?  Come out and get your questions answered and see how you can get on the air too!

-Stephanie Adams, Board Member

Check out the previous blogs:

What is KDIV? 

There are 2 Urban Stations

Voice of Diversity, Urban Radio Station KDIV 98.7

Who is KDIV, 98.7??

Reginald Brasfield, Executive Director – An Arkansas native (Gould) and University of the Ozarks alumni.  In 2004, Reggie moved to Bentonville to begin a career with Wal-Mart Corporate.  For the past 12 years, he has served in multiple functions both professional & personal to support community growth.  Reggie currently works for Philips Consumer Lifestyles and serves as a board member for the Arkansas Blazers, a non-profit youth basketball organization in Northwest Arkansas, he is an ambassador for the Cystic Fibrosis, and several other groups.  In 2012, Reggie was voted one of NWA’s Most Influential Professionals.  He a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

 

Reginald Brasfield

Tearle Byers, Board Member at Large—Tearle an Arkansas native (Cleveland) moved to the northwest Arkansas area in 2004. He was working with Outback Steakhouse at the time and was transferred to the Rogers, AR store from Corpus Christi, Texas. Tearle worked a total of 15 years in the restaurant industry. He also served 8 years as an Army Reservist specializing in communications for various Army units. Tearle reached the rank of sergeant E-5 upon departing the military. While in NWA, Tearle graduated from John Brown University in 2010 with a BA in Organizational Management. KDIV was his capstone project. Tearle has always believed in serving his community. He was able to bring a Sweetest Day event to NWA that benefits mentally and sexually abused children. This event has benefited the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County Arkansas for 11 years strong and has raised over $300K to date. Tearle served as a board member of the Children’s Advocacy Center from 2011-2012. Tearle is also a Prince Hall affiliated mason. Tearle Byers works for Mondelēz International and is currently a District Manager in the St. Louis, MO metro area.

 

Tearle Byers

Upon relocating to the Northwest Arkansas area, Reggie noticed that there were cultural gaps in the community. As a young African American male, there were not many activities in the area that made it feel "like home, " making for some challenging days. These days became years and as time passed, industrial growth in Northwest Arkansas occurred much faster than cultural diversity.

Some years into living in Northwest Arkansas, Reggie was introduced to another person of color, Tearle Byers. The two developed a strong bond as they were able to share ideas and thoughts about bringing more diversity to Northwest Arkansas. The two spent hours discussing how music brought cultures, communities, and even nations together. Both already very involved in charities and community development, became excited about the possibility of bringing more diverse music to Northwest Arkansas. Reggie spoke of his exposure and family ties to radio while Tearle researched and wrote his capstone business review on Urban Radio stations.

In 2013, Reggie and Tearle created Voice of Diversity, a non-profit educational organization. In doing so they were afforded an opportunity to apply for a radio frequency in Northwest Arkansas.  After years of work, in 2015, the Federal Communication Commission approved the organization rights to frequency 98.7 (KDIV) for the purposes of bringing diverse music/education to an area that is without such programming.

Their vision for Voice of Diversity and having an Urban Radio Station (KDIV 98.7) is to educate, entertain, and promote diversity within all areas of society.  KDIV 98.7 is a tool to give African Americans a voice by which cultural growth and unity blossoms.  Voice of Diversity as an organization exists to add positive and productive values in community.

Lets give it up for KDIV, 98.7 NWA first Urban Radio Station created to give Voice to the Diverse Population of NWA!

Don't forget to come to the Launch Party at Foghorns Wings & More on Thursday January 21, from 4:30-8 pm. The First 25 guest will be entered into a raffle for some cool door prizes. 

Welcome KDIV, we're so glad you're here!!

Stay tuned for more on KISS 105.3, another Urban Radio Station. 

by Leora Jackson

It's TRUE, There are TWO!

2016 doesn't get any better than this!!!

YES!!! Finally, the time has come!!!

NWA Radio starts off 2016 with Urban Jazz, R & B, Hip Hop and Soul....from 2 URBAN RADIO STATIONS!!! 

Right ON!!!

Fayetteville residents are in for a Musical Awakening! Not only do we have Urban Music to listen to, but make it TWO Urban Radio Stations!

KDIV or 98.7, a Black Owned & Operated radio station under the management of Reginald Brasfield started streaming 98.7 last week in anticipation of their launch date which occurred on New Years Day 1/1/16.

Reginald Brasfield (r) of KDIV, Fayetteville and LaGanzie Kale (l) of KLEK, Jonesboro

Meanwhile, under the leadership of Pastor Marcus Carruthers, KISS 105.3 was born to NWA with the help of Perry Publishing Company of Oklahoma.

Marcus Carruthers and Perry Publishing Staff

Therefore, NWA fans have a taste of Urban Music from 2 (TWO) stations!!!!

Get your JAMS all DAY long with the latest in Hip Hop, Jazz, Soul, R & B, and more!

What you waiting for??

Tune in to 98.7 KDIV and look for it on Facebook, Voice of Diversity.
and
Tune in to 105.3 KISS and look for it on Facebook,  KISS NWA.

Northwest Arkansas FANS have SPOKEN!

YES!!!

Our Time has come! 2016 is our Music YEAR!

Happy New Year 2016!!!

by Leora Jackson