North Shore LGBTQ Business Owners Build Thriving Community

The North Shore’s creative economy is thriving, and North Shore LGBTQ business owners are at the forefront, exemplifying authentic leadership that transforms entire communities. When we gathered seven remarkable entrepreneurs from Salem and Beverly for a recent Queer Voices Panel, their stories revealed something powerful: living your truth doesn’t just create successful businesses—it builds the inclusive, vibrant communities we all crave. Queer Voices was a collaboration between the Northshore CDC and the Mass. LGBT Chamber

How North Shore LGBTQ Business Owners Create Spaces Where Everyone Belongs

What makes a business more than just a business? It’s when entrepreneurs understand that their work ripples far beyond profit margins. The recent collaboration with the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce showcased diverse business models that prove authenticity drives both purpose and prosperity.

Take Tariana from EmVision Productions, one of our Creative Collective members, who exemplifies this transformation. She shifted from scientific research to creating social impact through storytelling, turning her mixed-race, pansexual identity into a business superpower rather than an obstacle.

“When I think about the future, I want to leave a legacy of a business that does things differently,” Tariana shared. Her approach embodies what we believe at Creative Collective—that living our truth is both a means of survival and a form of resistance, which in turn makes our communities stronger.

Authentic Leadership That Drives Real Impact

Victor from Necessary Means Consulting demonstrates how targeted community impact creates lasting change. He provides coaching specifically for Black queer men seeking entrepreneurship opportunities, amplifying younger voices while building essential resource networks.

“If I can use necessary means to uplift the voice of other younger black queer men,” Victor explained, focusing his mission on providing “resources and opportunities for them to use their voice.” This is precisely the kind of economic empowerment that strengthens our local creative ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Ryn from The Castle board restaurant and cafe—another Creative Collective member—discovered something beautiful about community building. They wanted to create welcoming spaces for everyone, but their Beverly location naturally became an LGBTQIA+ -affirming sanctuary where people feel genuinely seen and celebrated.

Turning Challenges Into Innovation Opportunities

Discrimination often sparks the most innovative business solutions among these entrepreneurs. Jasper and Ilan from QV Media found their first client through rejection—when another video company refused to serve a same-sex couple.

“They found us very openly queer on the internet,” the couple shared. That initial client “allowed us to be here today and start our business six years later.” This is how authentic businesses grow—by serving the communities that others overlook.

Cat from Habanero Bikes experienced a similar transformative moment when a customer felt safe enough to request different pronouns. Cat realized “mission accomplished”—they had successfully created an inclusive cycling space where everyone could thrive.

Community Healing Through Social Justice Business Models

Jay from Aeon Counseling & Consulting articulates the deeper mission that drives so many of our local entrepreneurs: “There is healing through social justice” within business frameworks. Their approach emphasizes community-centered healing over isolated individual therapy models.

“We cannot heal in isolation; we need each other,” Jay emphasized. This philosophy drives their entire consulting approach and reflects what Creative Collective champions—that businesses can be forces for community healing and connection.

Alena from Whimsy’s Sweet Life, another member of the Creative Collective, embodies radical acceptance every day. Her Salem location serves as both an ice cream parlor and a hub for inclusive community building, ensuring that every customer receives genuine care and human dignity. It’s businesses like these that make our communities more vibrant and welcoming.

Building Legacy Through Authentic North Shore Entrepreneurship

These North Shore LGBTQ business owners create ripple effects that extend far beyond their storefronts. Liesl Hacker from the North Shore CDC shared how her child naturally adopted inclusive pronouns after spending time at The Castle café.

This is what sanctuary spaces accomplish: they foster community-wide acceptance and create environments where everyone can flourish safely. When businesses embrace authentic leadership, they don’t just succeed—they help entire communities thrive.

The evening’s impact continues reverberating throughout the greater Salem and Beverly business community. These entrepreneurs demonstrate that concealing one’s identity limits both personal and business potential, while authenticity unlocks extraordinary possibilities.

Supporting North Shore LGBTQ Business Community Growth

The North Shore Community Development Coalition continues to champion diverse entrepreneurship initiatives, supporting women-owned, immigrant-owned, and LGBTQ+ businesses. This comprehensive approach helps all marginalized entrepreneurs access the resources they need to thrive, not just survive.

These seven businesses represent transformative community leadership models that inspire us every day. Their success proves that authenticity creates stronger businesses and healthier communities. North Shore LGBTQ business owners are building the inclusive world they envision, one genuine interaction at a time.

Their collective message resonates clearly: authenticity drives business success while fostering community healing. Rather than hiding their identities, these entrepreneurs choose to build bridges and create connections. Every customer interaction becomes an opportunity for a genuine human connection and meaningful social progress.

This is the power of local creativity and small business ownership. When we support these entrepreneurs, we’re not just buying products or services—we’re investing in the kind of community where everyone belongs and everyone can thrive.

Meet the Panelists: Entrepreneurs Leading Change

Tariana V. Little, DrPH – EmVision Productions

Creative Collective Member

Tariana is CEO and co-founder of EmVision Productions, a social impact media agency that helps progressive organizations harness “social impact storytelling” to achieve their goals. Driven by science, storytelling, and social justice, her work embodies what she calls “intentional creativity for social change.” She proudly identifies as queer, mixed-race Black/Afro-Latinx, and a first-generation college graduate from a working-class Dominican-German-Mexican immigrant family.

Before founding EmVision, Tariana earned her Doctor of Public Health degree from Harvard University and worked on building FooFii. This social venture uses technology to connect communities to food resources. She has been civically engaged since high school, serving on nonprofit boards including the MA Commission on LGBTQ Youth, Boston’s SPARK millennial council, and as a Boston Peer Leader for the Obama Foundation.

EmVision Productions has evolved into an award-winning agency that has recently acquired a building in Lynn, Massachusetts, to establish a production studio and creative space for artists and local organizations. Through their work, they offer pro bono services (EmVisionary Grants) and student scholarships, embodying their mission of giving back to the community.

Victor Nasir Terry – Necessary Means Consulting & Coaching

Victor is a liberator in education and the founder of Necessary Means Consulting & Coaching, building spaces of inclusion and empowerment through his leadership and consulting work. As a teacher, advocate, and DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) facilitator, he focuses specifically on providing coaching and resources for Black queer men seeking entrepreneurial opportunities.

His mission centers on amplifying the voices of younger individuals in the Black queer community while creating robust resource networks. Victor’s educational background includes Providence College, and he’s actively involved in collaborative work with organizations such as the Boston College Lynch School Institute for the Study of Race and Culture. He’s also a proud member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated, demonstrating his commitment to brotherhood and community building.

Through Necessary Means, Victor provides targeted support that addresses the unique challenges facing Black queer entrepreneurs, helping them navigate business development while building authentic leadership skills.

Ryn Grant – The Castle Board Game Café

Creative Collective Member

Ryn co-founded The Castle with their spouse, Kevin Grant, bringing to life their college dream of creating a welcoming space that captures the joy of playing tabletop games. Established in 2015, The Castle has become Beverly’s premier destination, combining exceptional dining with social gaming entertainment, and stands as the North Shore’s first board game café.

Located at 140 Rantoul Street in downtown Beverly, The Castle features over 800 games, full-service dining, and craft beverages. What makes Ryn’s leadership particularly powerful is their organic approach to creating inclusive spaces—they wanted everyone to feel welcome, and their café naturally became a transgender-affirming sanctuary.

The business has evolved into much more than a restaurant; it’s a community hub where families gather, friends connect, and people discover the joy of putting down their phones to engage with one another. Ryn and Kevin’s vision has created a space where charity work, community events, and inclusive hospitality merge to strengthen the local fabric of Beverly.

Alena Taylor – Whimsy’s Sweet Life

Creative Collective Member

Alena is co-owner of Whimsy’s Sweet Life, formerly Maria’s Sweet Somethings, a magical ice cream, chocolate, and gift shop in the heart of Salem. With a background from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Cambridge, she brings professional culinary expertise to her community-focused business.

Whimsy’s operates under the philosophy of “Radical Whimsy”—finding meaning in pure enjoyment and enthusiasm unburdened by the need for practicality. The shop offers premium Richardson’s ice cream with over 16 rotating flavors, more than 20 varieties of fine chocolates, and carefully curated gifts from women and LGBTQ+ artisans, including hand-poured candles, energetically charged gemstones, and handcrafted jewelry.

Before Whimsy’s, Alena founded Dot’s Desserterie, specializing in bars, cookies, tea-breads, and cakes for special occasions. Her culinary journey includes extensive experience at local bakeries and cafés, where she honed her skills in production, customer service, and creating memorable food experiences. Alena’s approach to business centers on providing genuine care and human dignity to every customer while supporting other local and marginalized artisans. North Shore LGBTQ business owners

Jay Nakhai, LICSW – Aeon Counseling & Consulting

Jay is the founding executive director and owner of Aeon Counseling & Consulting, a company that empowers individuals and organizations to achieve their missions. With over a decade of independent clinical practice, particularly with Spanish-speaking populations, Jay believes in a “ruthlessly compassionate” approach to healing.

Their mission focuses on working across the lifespan with people struggling with mood and substance abuse disorders, severe and persistent mental illness, and LGBTQ+ topics. Jay’s philosophy centers on community-centered healing rather than isolated individual therapy models, emphasizing that “we cannot heal in isolation, that we need each other.”

Based in Lynn, Massachusetts, Jay provides therapy and consulting services with a trauma, development, and attachment lens. They specialize in LGBTQ+ affirming therapy and support groups for LGBTQ+ young adults. Recently, Aeon partnered with MyAtlas to advance trauma-informed mental health care by utilizing digital biomarkers and culturally responsive AI technology, ensuring that their innovative approaches remain grounded in social justice principles.

Jasper and Ilan – QV Media (Queer Videography)

This dynamic couple founded QV Media, a queer and female-owned video production company serving New England from their base in Salem, Massachusetts. Their company specializes in creating “rebelliously joyful content” with humor and heart, with a particular focus on LGBTQ+ wedding videography and content creation.

Their business origin story perfectly illustrates how discrimination can spark innovation—when another video company refused to serve a same-sex couple, that rejection led the couple to find QV Media “very openly queer on the internet.” This first client became the foundation that enabled them to build their business over six years.

QV Media positions itself as a start-to-finish video production company that specifically serves the LGBTQ+ community, creating content for gay, lesbian, transgender, and polyamorous couples and events. Their approach combines professional video production skills with deep understanding of the unique needs and celebrations within queer communities.

Wendy and Cat – Habanero Bikes

Cat operates Habanero Bikes, creating inclusive cycling spaces where everyone feels welcome and safe to be their authentic selves. Their business embodies the kind of grassroots inclusivity that occurs when entrepreneurs prioritize community well-being over traditional business metrics.

The transformative moment for Cat came when a customer felt safe enough to request different pronouns at their shop. This interaction confirmed that they had achieved their mission of creating a genuinely inclusive cycling space where LGBTQ+ individuals could access equipment, services, and community without fear of discrimination.

Cat’s approach to business demonstrates how small, everyday acts of inclusion can have a ripple effect throughout a community. By ensuring that something as simple as pronoun respect becomes natural in their space, they’re helping normalize inclusive practices that make cycling accessible to everyone, regardless of gender identity or expression.