In the West End there is a plethora of culture and influence within it from the Atlanta University Center to the Historic community. Considering the biased outlook of the West End in the Atlanta community, The Spelman Blueprint want to highlight people and places stationed in the West End that are making a difference in their community. Here local businesses and organizations that are influential to not only AUC students but to the West End Community alike will be uplifted.
WADADA
Love has a special place in all of our hearts. From our family and friends, to our hobbies, interests, goals, and even to food. But one of the most fulfilling ways to show love is towards our neighbors. This sentiment is what built the foundation of Wadada Healthy Market & Juice Bar where its origin comes from love. “Wadada means love, it is an amharic name/origin from Ethiopia and I wanted to bring something that had a deeper level of meaning and alot of what I do is about “Sankofa” which is about reaching back from where we came from to move forward” says Jeanette Sellers, the owner of Wadada,here in the West End. At Wadada, their main goal is to provide West End residents access to healthy food options like fresh pressed juices, vegan cuisine, and medicinal products. “We are dealing with a health crisis in our community and the people that come in are looking for alternatives, they are seeking a return to natural remedies and there just isn’t a place for that, specifically for us and Black people in our community.” Sellers is paving a way for a healthy living not only for the West End community, but for all Black people. Wadada is a safe place in the community to learn more not only about wellness but our origins as black individuals.
JAGUARETTES
In the black community, when we think of dance we think of spirit, and at Spelman when we think of spirit, we think of the Jaguarettes dance team. With the return of intramural sports, the school was in need of a positive force to inspire the student body. That’s when second-year Political Science major, Dance performer and the team’s captain Jillian Collier along with Professor Cecily Kelly interim department chair for the Dance Performance and Choreography program– and Ashe Kelsey, sparked the idea for the team.
“I was downstairs in the Wellness Center, actually headed to jazz technique class, and I had on a Chiefs t-shirt,” Collier recalls. “I connected with Coach Joyner, who’s from Kansas City, who’s the assistant director of Wellness Operations. So we briefly connected over the fact that we were both from Kansas City, and then I said to her, “You know…what would it look like for us to have a dance team or to have a spirit program at Spelman? she said, well, if you write a proposal, you know, I like that with the return of the Jaguar, with the return of the mascot…intramural sports coming back, [and] the Jaguar personified. We would need something like a dance team.” This is when the Jaguarettes dance team was born. Collier continues by recalling the time it took to build the foundation of her team, “From there, I went and I asked Professor Cece if she would be interested in being our founding coach and advisor. And instantly she said yes.” The 2024-2025 academic year will be the inaugural year for the Jagurettes dance team. At a PWI, this type of spirit/dance team is not uncommon, but at Spelman, it has taken some time for a team like this to find its footing on campus. But regardless of that, the Jagurettes have big dreams for their future, like attending the Universal Dance Association (UDA). “One of our goals for the team is specifically (UDA), [the] Universal Dance Alliance, Director Spelman on a national dance level and We’re very diverse in the styles that we do. That’s something also that the Jagurarettes are very diverse in” Collier says. These goals the founder of the Jaguarettes wants to leave a lasting impact on the school. Professor Kelly states, “My intention when working with Spelman students in general, but definitely Spelman students is to provide avenues where the student has the agency in leadership. I very much want to see my students at the forefront. So as a coach, it would definitely be in instilling that and always aligning with Spelman’s mission, its passion, and its pillars to who we are as an institution, but also to bring a very big spotlight to the arts at Spelman.” With a successful year that Jaurgarettes have had, there is no doubt that the spirit here at Spelman will be celebrated.
LATCH’D
The concept of sisterhood is the foundation of Spelman College and the creation of Latch’d is another successful story of Spelman bringing together two intelligent and driven individuals who are making a mark on the college. In 2024, Juniors Aisjah Glaspie and Logan Smith hatched the idea for Latch’d in the bathroom of their shared apartment, “…we kind of got this idea in October because for homecoming, we made these demo pins for just us and our friends because at the big Southeastern Conference (or SEC) schools, they do the game day pins and they always have the huge cute pin for the tailgates and even the sorority girls always have these cute pins… we wanted that since we’re both from southern states, so we kind of wanted to bring that to Spelman.” states Glaspie. Pins have been a well-known accessory for years that Glaspie and Smith saw could be a great addition to not only Spelman but other HBCUs as well. Currently, they sell pins that are customized to other schools in the AUC, like Morehouse College and Clark Atlanta University. Even though the business officially released in January of this year, Latch’d has quickly emerged in the culture at Spelman as their business has spread like wildfire and has been incorporated for multiple campaigns from the Student Government Association to Class Council, and even the 43rd Miss Spelman College Pageant. “There’s always clubs and campaigns and organizations that are looking for cute merchandise. So we thought it would be a fun way to showcase our creativity, but also get more involved on campus.” The brand’s impact has also found its way into the Metro Atlanta community as they officially released their pin collaboration with the infamous “Black Coffee” a staple here in the AUC. Of course with any business come its challenge, but not only as Spelman sisters but life long sisters, L’atch’d has only made Glasipe and Smith’s relationship closer, “You see the L and the A are kind of like the only things that are connected to each other besides the rest of the word…. the L is for me, the A is for Aisjah, I don’t really know how to explain to other people …like how we’re friends. We’re not really friends. Me and Aisjah are sisters.” states Smith. Like their motto says “Get Latch’d or get lost!” If you aren’t on the Latch’d train, what are you waiting for? They’ve got everyone hooked!
44th and 3rd
Howard alumni, Cheryl and Warren Lee, are the owners of the 44th and 3rd bookstore located next to the Entra apartment complex, where many of our fellow AUC students live. How many of you have actually taken the time to go and browse the store? No, searching for your latest ADW reading doesn’t count.
Truth and Service is Howard University’s motto; the two alumni have intertwined that into the mission of their business. “…What we do is truth and service. We bring the books and then we serve, and we serve the customer, of course, we serve the community. …We were strengthened by it…” 44th and 3rd got its name in honor of the 44th president Barack Obama. “[In] 2009, Cheryl and I were in Chicago. We went to the Borders bookstore on Michigan Avenue, and at this time, you know, President Obama was beginning his term in office… we went into the store, we looked around. didn’t see certain things, asked a manager, where the particular books we were looking for would be located, and [they] weren’t there…the book that we noticed was missing was any book about Barack Obama…we thought, okay, when we open up a store, we’re going to focus on, the president, his accomplishments, his administration, his family, his wife, primarily.” he reminisces. “…the third represents how we section off the books in the store. It’s life, literature, legacy.” The store doesn’t solely have Obama-based books but it also includes a wide variety of Black literature.
“What inspired you to start your business? Crockett questions. “… a couple of things. One, an interest in the culture. We saw there was a gap in the number of Black American literature that was being presented in the marketplace…We’re older… so we saw stores like Barnes and Noble go from one bookcase to a half a bookcase to one row of [black] books, we really believed and felt that there were a number of titles that should have been presented.” he remarks. We are currently in a period where the censorship of media is being heavily enforced. It is important that we support and utilize businesses such as these because knowledge is power, and it is one thing that no one is able to take away from you. 44th and 3rd is more than just a bookstore; it’s a business that holds the legacy and stories of many that shape our future and showcase our past; that’s something that we should never forget.
Black Coffee: Leap of Faith
As a student, you may walk past the Black Coffee shop and think of it as nothing more than a coffee shop, where you get your morning matcha. This black owned business’s story runs much deeper than your average chain business. It’s the embodiment of community. Do you ever wonder about the origin of Black Coffee? The coffee that your father drinks, even your grandmother? It originates from the African Continent, specifically Ethiopia. “Our people cultivated it, used it for a different variety of reasons and ceremonies and stuff … harvested it, settlers came one day or ‘found it’ [or] “discovered it” .” The CEO, Jamin Butler,explains. “But now as you look at the… the corporations, the Starbucks, the Dunkin’s or all those corporations that own it… they’re not black and brown corporations, right?” he continues. Black Coffee was created with community in mind. For us, by us.
Community is the essence of everything, and Black Coffee embodies that. From the way that the Morehouse location employs AUC student workers to the main Atlanta location, creating a space for the community to gather. It started with an idea that the CEO, Jamin Butler, had with a few friends as a way to stay connected. An investment club was born. This then led to the creation of an online business and it eventually grew to something much bigger. Covid was a trying time for everyone, and In the midst of it, this couple, the COO Ayron Butler and CEO Jamin Butler, two HBCU alumnus, took a leap of faith to pursue their goal of becoming storefront owners in November of 2020, mid COVID-19 pandemic. “…so that happened for us, literally the pandemic hit, the world shifted, and then the opportunity presented and honestly…I thought it was a snowball chance, like she never wanted to leave LA, even when we first got together, she was like LA until she died…so when she said, ‘Hey, I think this sounds like a good idea, I think we should do it.’ I was like, ‘Oh my God, well, I’m jumping. Let’s go do it.’,…we had our first event, December 2020, right here in this parking lot, we put our logo on the building. There was nothing but dirt and brick. There was no window, there were no decorations, no counter, no lighting, nothing in this space. But we threw our first pop up, December 2020 with a cardboard table, just like we did everywhere else, but now it was in front of our future space.” Now, Ayron and Jamin host community events at this location and give back using the same opportunities that were given to them. They have various events for the community including financial literacy workshops, Wellness events, Black Coffee fest, and so much more. Check them out!
Let this story inspire you and others to take that leap of faith, whether it be for that club, that internship, that idea you may have in mind. You never know what may happen.
S.K.I.R.T.S.
A Choice to Change the World is a saying that Spelman College and its students are very familiar with. In fact, it’s Spelman’s motto. It’s something that is ingrained in each Spelmanite’s mind as they matriculate throughout the illustrious institution. Sisters Keeping It Real Through Service, also known as S.K.I.R.T.S. by many, is an organization compiled by those who represent that. Changing the world starts with the commitment to making a positive change and what better way is there to do that than through servicing your community? The Vice President, Taylor Kerr is an excellent example of that. “Can you share a story about how your organization has positively affected the life of a community member or a specific group?” Crockett asks. “…S.K.I.R.T.S. services all around the metro Atlanta area. So I can think about times we’ve volunteered at food banks or we’ve volunteered at schools. So those are just a few of the communities targeted…more recently, of course, to start the scholarship Initiative, which was started by me. But of course, kicked off the ground by a lot of different people that work throughout S.K.I.R.T.S.” Kerr recalls. S.K.I.R.T.S. announced its Inaugural Scholarship for Spelman students at the annual Cupcake Auction that took place on March 1st of 2025. This scholarship targets those who are in great academic standing with a dedication to servicing their community. The scholarship was created to help relieve the financial burden that comes with pursuing higher education. “…What was the drive [for the scholarship]? I know you mentioned it a little bit at the cupcake auction when you guys officially announced the scholarship, but if you can just go in a little bit more depth,maybe a personal poll as to why you’re like, I want to bring this to S.K.I.R.T.S.” Martin questions. “ Well, I think a big problem at Spelman is when people are in the ranks of choosing Spelman is how accessible it is to students in terms of finances, and Spelman like it’s expensive, right?” Kerr elaborates. She continues by saying, “To be able to be educated and not have to think about money, especially being a Black woman, we have been a community that has been so deprived of getting an education. So I think accessibility in education is important…I wanted to make the S.K.I.R.T.S. scholarship initiative.”
Education is something that is so valuable today in the difficult times that America is facing. It is important that we have resources like this so everyone can have access to different opportunities with barriers like money, transportation, etc. Students should have the right to be able to pursue education without the burden of finances. ‘‘Students should have to worry about being students when they’re here at Spelman. And I think because I’ve been able to worry about that is why I have such a good GPA, why I’m able to be involved.” Kerr said.
