– Deutsch LA, one of the largest advertising agencies on the West Coast, Tuesday announced the public launch of its free four-week virtual brand building program designed to assist Black-owned businesses in Los Angeles.
Applications are being accepted to participate in the spring program beginning April 1.
The Blackness in Full Bloom program was first introduced in February 2020. Founded by former and current Deutsch LA executives Maya Thompson, Gurbani Chadha and Justin Brown, the program aims to arm local Black entrepreneurs with the tools to help their businesses fully “bloom.”
Providing access to world-class marketing expertise and resources, Blackness in Full Bloom consists of weekly, two-hour virtual workshops covering different facets of marketing, such as branding, design, paid and earned media and content production.
“After launching this initiative during Black History Month last year, we quickly realized the importance of making this an ongoing program to continually uplift and support Black businesses in Los Angeles,” said Kim Getty, CEO of Deutsch LA. “As an agency, we draw inspiration from Los Angeles, while also finding ways to contribute to and magnify its cultural richness in all that we do. Blackness in Full Bloom helps us achieve this in a unique way by assisting Black entrepreneurs thrive in a city we all call home.”
In February, the program’s first cohort was hosted in-person at Deutsch LA’s Playa Vista office with Cazza, natural hair care products, Behind the Sneaker, a platform highlighting creatives and culture and Nappily Natural Apothecary, a health and beauty store.
Due to the pandemic, its next iteration was hosted virtually in December with wine distributor O&M Wines and organic gardening company, The Plant Plug LA.
For the first time, Deutsch LA is expanding the program by accepting applicants via online registration. Blackness in Full Bloom is now open to Black-owned business owners and entrepreneurs in the greater Los Angeles area. Free online registration can be completed at Deutschla.com/Blackness-In-Full-Bloom. For more information, visit www.deutschla.com/blackness-in-full-bloom.