ARDEN HILLS, Minn. — Rashawnda Scott loves designing jewelry, down to every detail.
"You really have to love it," said Scott, from her home in south Minneapolis.
After realizing her job as a certified nursing assistant would be hard to continue, as it was hard on her body, she made a list of things she was interested in. Jewelry made the cut.
In 2016, she launched Pieces of Kandakes.
"We got the term Kandakes from ancient history. The Kandakes warriors actually were women warriors," Scott explained.
With Pieces of Kandakes, Scott hopes to empower women through jewelry. Each year, she puts together the Women Empowerment Project.
"I pick women that have suffered from low self-esteem. Whether it be rapid weight loss, rapid weight gain, life-threatening disease, postpartum. That's where I started the project. I was the project. I had postpartum depression," Scott said. "I started a business and I was like... I don't know how I'm going to start this business and showcase it because I don't have any models."
Her brother, a photographer, encouraged Scott to model her own pieces.
"I just remember how I felt. Just so empowering. As I was going through the process... I was like, 'Man, I wonder if other women feel this way,'" Scott said.
Scott has also had her pieces featured at New York Fashion Week. But her next fashion show has special meaning to her.
Scott is teaming up with Bethel University to put on The Black Experience. The event, in celebration of Black History Month, will be held Feb. 10 on campus. It includes a vendor event featuring more than 30 Black-owned businesses. Then, they will have a Christian Couture fashion show that features Black designers. It will include jewelry from Pieces of Kandakes. The night will end with a worship experience.
"I just wanted to bridge the gap between our students here at Bethel and our community in Minneapolis, Saint Paul," said Nadine Palmer, the executive administrative assistant to the Office of Inclusive Excellence and the CFO at Bethel. "I wanted to ensure that the students here of color see that there are people out there that love them, that can mentor them, and be there for them. And then also for our community to see that Bethel is open to all people."
Students Anaya Robertson and Esther Adeniyi are also helping out with the event.
"I am helping out with the worship experience," Adeniyi said. "Anaya and I are kind of helping to create an experience that's multi-ethnic and kind of diverse in its form because at Bethel University, the forms of worship here are more so expressed in a way that isn't very common to people like Anaya and I. So we're trying to formulate an experience that is different but represents what we're familiar with and what we've grown up with."
Robertson, who is president of Bethel's Black Student Union, added, "My hope is for the Black students to feel empowered and to feel like they have a place at a place like Bethel."
Scott's involvement in the project stems back to her desire to empower others.
"This isn't something I inherited. I had to go from scratch, from no knowledge at all, to build this brand to what it is," Scott said. "So I understand and I'm always that person in the room, if I know how to help you, I will."
The Black Experience takes place at Bethel University from noon-8 p.m. A more detailed breakdown of the schedule can be found, here.
The event is open to the public. Tickets are required for the fashion show/worship experience. It cost $20 for adults while students K-12 can get in for free. It's also free for Bethel employees and students.
You can purchase tickets online, here. Those who use the code "Bethel10" will receive $10 off their ticket now through Saturday.
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