SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. – The Black Lives Matter movement is demanding systemic change around the country and many Black business owners are using their platforms to help the cause.

One Sherman Oaks baker is taking her life experiences to offer guidance and resources to minority entrepreneurs.

Baking is an outlet for Sharon Graves, owner of Mom in the Mail and BLVD Kitchen. She spreads messages through her sweet treats.

“It’s too important right now to stay silent. You have to act in ways that you can,” said Graves.

As a Black, female business owner, the way Graves can act is by baking and using BLVD Kitchen to promote the movement. She actually made pies featuring the names of the Black lives lost to violence with proceeds going to Black Lives Matter organizations.

“Everyone who got one of those pies was asked to say the names out-loud before they ate their pie. I felt that was the least I could do to make sure their names were never forgotten,” said Graves.

But Graves was not always a baker, she actually worked in finance for Goldman Sachs for most of her life. Even though she was often a minority in a mostly white field, she didn’t feel at a disadvantage and got great opportunities.

“I was not only the only female, but the only Black person and that experience continued. But once you get that in your head, it doesn’t feel weird to you anymore,” said Graves.

She didn’t only experience this as an adult. Throughout her life, she was often the only person of color. Her father was in politics, so for part of her childhood she was in a primarily white suburb of San Diego.

“That was the first time that I was basically surrounded by people who didn’t look like me,” said Graves.

So, when she went to college at Stanford she says she was looking for a wider group of Black friends.

“I was craving that social group, but I also had very little experience of what that would be like because when you come from the environment I had, when you had mostly white friends, adjusting into how to fit in to a new network was challenging,” said Graves.

As she continued through life, Graves says she was often considered the token Black friend. Because of her accomplishments, she felt she came off more approachable, but she hopes this concept changes during the current movement.

“Because of the circles that I ran in, and that I achieved what I achieved, people felt comfortable around me. That’s great and I’m proud of that. But I also want people to feel comfortable around people that didn’t go to Stanford and that didn’t work at Goldman Sachs and realize those people are equally deserving of their respect and attention,” said Graves.

This is why she opened BLVD Kitchen to be a commercial space where minority and female entrepreneurs can grow their businesses.

“I formed a community and try to help them whenever I can and it’s awesome to see them be successful after here. I’m lucky and I know that. I want other people to have that chance to,” said Graves.

As a Black woman, she was afforded education and opportunities she says many other Black women did not have access to, so with her current platform, she wants to offer those resources to other minorities giving them a chance to succeed.

You can help support a good cause by ordering treats from Mom in the Mail.

Virtual cooking classes, shopping, and more are available from BLVD Kitchen.