• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Kimberton Waldorf School

Kimberton Waldorf School

Education That Matters

  • quicklinks
    • Calendars & Contacts
    • School District Transportation
    • Student Login
    • BigSIS Portal Login
    • Parent Square
    • Health & Safety
    • Teacher Portal
    • Buy KWS Gear
    • Buy KWS Athletic Wear
  • Alumni
  • Search
  • Give Now
  • Apply Now
  • About
    • KWS History
    • Staff
    • Organic Lunch Program
    • Mission & Values
    • Governance
    • What Makes Us Unique
    • Resources
      • In the Classroom
      • Bringing Waldorf Home
  • Admissions
    • Admissions Process
    • Events
    • Tuition & Tuition Assistance
    • International Students
  • Curriculum
    • Early Childhood
      • Parent Child
      • Rosebud Garden
      • Kindergarten
    • Lower School
    • High School
    • Nature Camp
    • High School Summer Reading List
    • All School Learning Goals
    • Arts
    • Athletics
    • Gardening
    • Library Resources
    • College Guidance
  • Support
    • Annual Fund
    • PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program
    • Beneficiary Planning
    • Community Growth
    • Other Ways of Giving
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Visit us
  • Blog
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • DEI Work at KWS
    • DEI Resources

Bridging Community with Local BIPOC Businesses

February 11, 2022 by Kimberton Waldorf School

Kayla Hirschfield, 11th Grader

Written by Alicia (Warner) DeMont

Last year, current KWS junior Kayla Hirschfield (class of 2023) was nominated by her rabbi to participate in an anti-racist program through The Chester County Religious Action Center. The focus of the program is on racial equality and social justice issues. Upon the completion of the course, participants are asked to undertake a capstone project. As her capstone experience, Kayla decided to build a website that features a list of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) owned businesses in Chester County. She built “the website to encourage the community to support BIPOC owned businesses as well as for people who already want to support such businesses, but don’t know where to start.”

Through a KWS class on business entrepreneurship and her own experiences, Kayla came to realize just how foundational locally owned businesses are to the overall health of a community. She also knows that BIPOC owned businesses face unique challenges. “Dealing with obstacles like racial discrimination and systemic racism, it has always been harder for BIPOC to move forward with their businesses. BIPOC owned businesses face injustice socially, economically, and systemically whether it be from banks, customers, social problems, etc. While white owned businesses face some of the same hardships that BIPOC businesses face, they never have to deal with the struggle of race. With COVID-19 restrictions in place, it’s gotten more difficult for all businesses to stay afloat. We see more BIPOC owned businesses shutting down significantly more than their white owned counterparts as they are the most affected group in business.”

In thinking of ways to connect to and give voice to BIPOC owned businesses in Chester County, Kayla contacted BIPOC business owners and invited them to be listed on her website. Seven businesses are listed on her website – ranging from restaurants, a toy collection store to an organization called Diaspora Community, which is a web-based community aimed at guiding African businesses in Diaspora seeking to do business in Africa.

On August 29, 2021, Kayla launched her website on zoom. She invited the KWS and wider communities to attend. It was a successful launch with more than 20 people in attendance. During the launch party, not only were the business owners recognized and celebrated for their entrepreneurship, but they also had the chance to discuss issues of systemic racism, especially in light of business ownership.

“I care about racial injustice because this issue still greatly affects people of color, and I feel that if I can do something about it, even in a small way, it can make a difference. Systemic racism affects businesses owned by people of color, and if we can support those businesses, we could be a step closer to making that difference. I know that KWS is committed to being an anti-racist community and I’m hoping that students, faculty, [alumni] and parents will see the importance of such initiative.”

KWS/KFS alumni are encouraged to support Kayla in her work to promote BIPOC businesses. She “would appreciate any referrals of eligible businesses in Chester County that might be interested in being included in the website. This would be a great way to participate and potentially make a difference for a local entrepreneur.”

Please contact Kayla Hirschfield at: ccbipoc@gmail.com
Website: https://bipocbusinesseschestercounty.carrd.co

Filed Under: Parent Page, Social Justice Tagged With: social justice

Primary Sidebar

About Kimberton Waldorf School

As an independent private school, we feel privileged to be able to create a curriculum based on the needs of a developing child. This allows us to intentionally and carefully align creative developmental activities with emerging cognitive, emotional, and physical stages of growth. Our students and faculty have received recognition for high achievement, both within the classroom and outside of the classroom. We are proud of our scholars, musicians, athletes, artists, and educators who strive for excellence.

Join our email list

Footer

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Contact

410 West Seven Stars Road,
Phoenixville, PA 19460
Mailing Address:
PO Box 350, Kimberton,
PA 19442
Email us directly here

ph:610.933.3635  f:610.300.5488

Menu

  • Current Students
  • Admissions
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Curriculum
  • Contact
  • Employment
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2023 Kimberton Waldorf School

  • HOME
    ▼
    • What Makes Us Unique
  • About
    ▼
    • KWS History
    • Mission & Values
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Organic Lunch Program
    • Employment
    • Resources
      ▼
      • Governance
      • Bringing Waldorf Home
      • In the Classroom
      • Working Towards a Better World
  • Admissions
    ▼
    • Admissions Process
    • Events
    • Tuition & Tuition Assistance
    • International Students
  • Curriculum
    ▼
    • Early Childhood
      ▼
      • Parent Child
      • Rosebud Garden
      • Kindergarten
    • Lower School
    • High School
    • Kimberton Waldorf Farm Program
    • Camp
    • All School Learning Goals
    • Library Resources
  • Support
    ▼
    • Annual Fund
    • PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit
    • Beneficiary Planning
    • Community Growth
    • Other Ways of Giving
  • Alumni
  • Quicklinks
    ▼
    • Calendars & Contact
    • School District Transportation
    • Student Login
    • BigSIS Portal Login
  • Contact
  • Visit Us
  • Current Students
  • Blog