Holiday event at People Helping All Mankind

People Helping All Mankind (PHAM), a cause-driven online apparel company based in Buffalo, is hosting an online holiday pop-up event on Friday, Dec. 11, as part of the Community Action Organization’s (CAO) holiday pop-up series. The series aims to promote small businesses in Buffalo this holiday season. PHAM is selling hoodies for $25 at peoplehelpingallmankind.com all day Friday.

PHAM aims to build healthy businesses, communities and people by uniting people for constructive undertakings for youth such as STEM training, entrepreneurship, finance, business, professional development, artistic expression, and supporting other constructive community activities. PHAM apparel sales help to support community initiatives. 

Founder of PHAM, Marshaun Quinniey, said the CAO business development workshop series was extremely helpful in developing his business.

“The best investments are the ones that build ideas, communities, businesses and people,” he said. “CAO uses these types of ideas and executes plans to make them a reality. Because of these actions, I have acquired beneficial support for building my idea into a reality.”

The business development workshop series came to fruition after the organization was awarded a grant in 2015 to transform the MLK business district to create a more viable, walkable and aesthetically pleasing area. The workshops have been successful, with more than 300 attendees and 60 graduates over the past few years, and news businesses launched. Thomas was provided signage for her business thanks to the Buffalo Main Street Initiative.

CAO CEO L. Nathan Hare said he wants to promote the success stories of Buffalo residents who graduated from their workshop series, and the empowerment entrepreneurship has in the MLK district.

“Our business development workshop series has helped so many individuals gain confidence to achieve entrepreneurship,” Hare said. “The facade improvements and business activity is incredible because it is transforming Fillmore Avenue. These individuals are reaching goals they never thought were possible, and are able to work for themselves, hire family members and put business back into the community they live in.”

CAO’s Business Development Director Pamela James highlighted the students’ work ethic: “We teach our business development participants to believe in their dreams and to reach beyond the stars.”

The series offers a holistic approach to help aspiring entrepreneurs get to where they want to be. By working with CAO and the Masten Resource Center, workshop participants have access to Wi-Fi, computers, meeting space, child care, and even food pantries so they can prioritize their business planning.

2020’s business development workshop series students will graduate Dec. 14. Learn more at https://caowny.org/business-development/.