A Revolution Is Needed in Small Business Funding and the Way We Operate Our Businesses.
Contributed by Tamara Zenobia, Vocal Alchemist, Healer, & Psychic Medium, Missing Person & Paranormal Investigator, Butterfly Jazz Intuitive Arts LLC
As a small business owner, I’ve struggled to get the support necessary to grow and secure a dedicated space where I can continue my work year-round. Many small businesses either operate from home or lease space to stay visible and thriving. However, when seasons change, political climates shift, or natural disasters strike, business owners risk losing everything if they can no longer afford rent. Some take on loans just to maintain their leases, hoping for better days ahead.
The pandemic was a stark reminder of this reality, as many businesses were forced to close due to an inability to sustain their leases. That’s why I am launching a crowdfunding campaign—to purchase a building instead of continuing to rent. Owning my location will provide financial stability and flexibility, ensuring that I can weather any economic downturns without the constant fear of losing my space.
I consider myself an artist in every sense of the word. My work spans many creative disciplines, but at its core, it’s all art. My primary business is as a Psychic Medium, Missing Person, and Paranormal Investigator. Its only recently that I’ve added the Missing person and paranormal Investigation to my work due to a specific spiritually guided calling I received. However, my work is not limited to these fields. I am also a visual artist, with my artwork displayed in galleries in Seattle, WA. Beyond that, I am an actress, having appeared in short films, documentaries, and even as an extra on Grey’s Anatomy and a feature film shot in Belgium. As a Vocal Alchemist and Sound Healer, I use my voice to heal through sound, vibration, and movement—a practice I’ve been dedicated to since 2011. My work in this realm includes one-on-one sessions, classes, workshops, and live performances. Between 2011 and 2015, I traveled across the country, performing improvisational pieces in front of live audiences.
To date, I have produced 10 albums, ranging from vocal sound healing meditations to movement and dance meditation music. Additionally, I have created interactive journals and writing tools designed for journaling and creativity. At my core, I am an artist. I love to create. And now, more than ever, I need a dedicated space to bring my work to life and share it with the world. This is my dream—a space where all my creative expressions can thrive.
Currently, I run my business from home or through the generosity of friends who allow me to set up a table in their shops from time to time. I also occasionally participate in farmers markets, fairs, and festivals. While I’m grateful for these opportunities, they come with limitations. At home, I share space with my family, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to manage. My supplies, art, and tools are overflowing—we’re bursting at the seams.
In West Seattle, I once had the dream of a lifetime: my very own studio and healing arts gallery, Inner Guidance Healing Arts Studio & Gallery. I built it from the ground up using my own funds—an incredible milestone for me. However, when COVID hit, I faced significant challenges, and in 2021, I had to return home to Alaska to support my family after the passing of my father. With a heavy heart, I closed my studio and made the journey home. I lost many things in this process. Today, much of my art, musical instruments, and supplies remain in storage in Seattle, waiting for the day I can reclaim them and create a space where my work can fully thrive once again.
MY CHALLENGE:
For so many small minority businesses like mine, securing funding has been a challenge. Applying for grants and loans that don’t understand the unique needs of minority-owned businesses often feels like spinning wheels. I’ve applied for so many, and they have all sent me away with no help in sight. That’s why I’m getting creative and reaching out to you, my community, for support. I need help raising the funds to purchase a local property that will serve as the new location for “Inner Guidance Healing Arts Studio & Gallery” It is a property located in Downtown Anchorage which is one of my favorite places to be in Anchorage. It’s a historic commercial/residential property and has been renovated and is perfectly suited for me to run my future business in. My goal is to raise a Million dollars. This money will purchase the home and give me the capital to get started running and operating my business for the long hull.
I believe in the power of community, and that’s why I’m asking for your help. There are several ways you can support me:
– Donate to the cause: Your financial contributions will go directly towards securing a physical space for my business. Every dollar counts and brings me one step closer to realizing the dream of having a place to work, create, and serve the community.
– Spread the word: If you know others who might resonate with my work, please let them know about my business and this fundraising campaign. The more people who hear about what I’m doing, the more support we can gather to make this vision a reality.
– Purchase my products and services: One item I’m particularly excited about is my Dream Journal. As someone who has always had vivid dreams, I’ve created this journal to help others understand their own dreams and the messages they bring. The journal includes space to record dreams, interpret them, and even exercises to help remember them better. I also include guidance on herbs that can assist with dream recall. This journal is available on Amazon and also pdf download on my website.
In addition to supporting me through donations or purchases, I’m excited to announce that I will be featured on Alaska Public Media’s second episode of Indie Alaska at the end of the month this February. I encourage you to tune in and learn more about my work and what drives me to do what I do.
Starting and growing a small business is a journey, and it’s one that requires passion, creativity, and community support. If you believe in the work I’m doing and want to be a part of this vision, I invite you to visit my website to learn more, make a donation, purchase a product, or simply reach out to me with questions.
I look forward to continuing my work and building a strong foundation for my business in this town. With your help, I can create a space that will not only support my work but also provide a place of healing, growth, and inspiration for the entire community. By supporting this campaign, you’re not just helping one small business—you’re contributing to a movement for greater financial security and independence for entrepreneurs like me.
Please visit my website to donate and learn more about me and my work. www.tamarazenobia.com.
Thank you for your support!