Building With Purpose: What Black History Month Means to Me as a Founder

Black History Month isn’t just about the past. It’s about the present and the future too. It’s about continuing to build, create, and take up space in industries where we haven’t always been welcomed or represented. It’s about honoring the people who came before us by doing the work now.

I’m still learning every day. I’m still growing into this role. But I’m proud of what we’re building, and I’m proud to do it with purpose.

Black History Month always makes me pause.

Not because it feels heavy in a bad way, but because it reminds me that what I’m building didn’t start with me. I didn’t wake up one day and decide to become a founder in a vacuum. I’m here because of generations of Black creativity, resilience, and people who built things anyway, even when the system wasn’t designed for them to win.

As a young Black woman running a business, I think a lot about purpose. Not in a buzzword way. In a real way. Why this brand exists. Who it’s for. And what responsibility comes with having a platform, even a small one.

Ava’s Pet Palace started because I cared about what my own pets were eating. That part is simple. But as the brand has grown, I’ve realized it’s also about showing what’s possible. About representation. About letting other young people, especially Black kids, see someone who looks like them building something real, imperfect, and still growing.

Purpose, to me, isn’t about being perfect or having everything figured out. It’s about intention. It’s about making choices that align with your values even when they’re not the easiest or fastest. It’s about caring about people, community, and impact just as much as products and profits.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting a Black-owned brand. And thank you for being part of this journey with me.

💗 Ava