For many small and Black-owned businesses, COVID-19 has presented an uphill battle of maintaining and surviving the fragile economy. Additionally, some businesses have also suffered as a result of the uprisings and civil unrest in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. While some business owners have made individual efforts to rebuild, CEOs Alexis Akarolo and Zelnnetta Clark teamed up to create Rebuild the Block , which works to give small Black-owned businesses a helping hand to get back on their feet. What started as a GoFundMe page blossomed into a full-blown organization determined to rebuild businesses in the Black community so they can continue to prosper. Credit: Alexis Akarolo Co-founder Akarolo — creative director for clothing brand, Lovello Elizabeth , and graduate student at Penn State — described the initiative as “divine intervention” in the way that it came together. A personal passion project of hers turned into a joint venture with her former college roommate, Clark — a...