MEMBER STORIES
THE STORIES
BEHIND THE SPACE
Care, Canvas, and Community: Ashley Menith’s Second Act
Ashley Menith is a registered nurse, medical writer, and fine artist who is embracing the second half of her life to its fullest. By day, she writes compelling appeals to help patients and providers access the medical coverage they need. By night, she creates impressionist paintings from her studio at
Because of the House: Nicole Wells Stallworth & Kiara Williams Met
It all started at the collab table. Back in 2023, member Nicole turned a passion project into purpose — launching a social action organization, Black Advocates Action Fund (Black Advocates AF), dedicated to promoting and supporting civic participation for Black people at every level. What began as a grassroots effort
How One Application Turned Into a Thriving Business: Marquita Richardson’s Story
Marquita Richardson has spent her career as a leader at one of the largest audit firms in the country, with no plans of becoming an entrepreneur. It wasn’t until a coworker encouraged her to apply for BasBlue’s Zero-to-One Fellowship that everything changed. That single application became the turning point. Through
How BasBlue Turns Founders Into Community Partners: Sierra Boone’s Story
BasBlue is dedicated to advancing economic mobility by providing valuable resources for personal and professional development to underrepresented and under-resourced women and non-binary individuals in Southeast Michigan. For Sierra Boone, founder of Boone Productions, that mission showed up in a very tangible way. Last year, Sierra spent six months in
Finding Clarity, Finding Community: Sarah Campbell’s Executive Coaching Journey
Sarah Campbell has built a career rooted in connection, as Senior Manager for International Marketing & Global Enrollment for the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. She brings people and institutions together across borders every day. That instinct for connection runs deeper than her job title. A love of art,
Confidence On and Off the Field: Shelby Ripple’s Executive Coaching Journey
Shelby Ripple has always lived at the intersection of two passions: collegiate athletics and higher education. As a lifelong sports lover and advocate, she’s built a career doing what she loves most — currently serving as Assistant Athletic Director for Executive Operations at Wayne State University, where she gets to
A Place at the Table: Angela Chi’s BasBlue Journey
Nostalgic for the taste of home after moving from New York to Detroit, Angela Chi launched Chi Fan Le, or 吃饭了, a Chinese food experience. She joined BasBlue in 2022, drawn by a community built on inspiration and collaboration. Through the Zero-to-One Fellowship, she found mentorship that helped her turn
The House That Became Home: Dr. Aya Waller-Bey’s BasBlue Journey
Some members find BasBlue looking for a place to work. Others find something closer to home. For Dr. Aya Waller-Bey, who joined as a Ph.D. candidate and has since completed her doctorate right here in the house, it was the latter. In a 2023 op-ed, she reflected on the tour
