Kadi Lee

Because I would go home some days and be completely and utterly depleted. You know, and other days, people really tried to pour back into me. So it just was like this big opening, I think, for everybody. And then Micah and I had the I don't know if it was grand or silly at the time idea to have these patio chats because the patio is really the center of our Venice Atelier at Highbrow Hippie.

Because I would go home some days and be completely and utterly depleted. You know, and other days, people really tried to pour back into me. So it just was like this big opening, I think, for everybody. And then Micah and I had the I don't know if it was grand or silly at the time idea to have these patio chats because the patio is really the center of our Venice Atelier at Highbrow Hippie.

And, you know, it's where services are performed. Clients can lounge out there. And the patio was so off limits when we were closed that before we reopened, we decided to go on Instagram Live and have a patio chat about race in America. Yeah.

And, you know, it's where services are performed. Clients can lounge out there. And the patio was so off limits when we were closed that before we reopened, we decided to go on Instagram Live and have a patio chat about race in America. Yeah.

You know, for us, it felt great. For us, it was a release, throwing another Leo into the mix. So is my business partner. She's a Leo. So we don't know how to do things halfway. Like we are doing them with our full heart and our full heads, you know, and really talking about subjects that we were never afraid to talk about, you know, within our own community or within our own safe spaces.

You know, for us, it felt great. For us, it was a release, throwing another Leo into the mix. So is my business partner. She's a Leo. So we don't know how to do things halfway. Like we are doing them with our full heart and our full heads, you know, and really talking about subjects that we were never afraid to talk about, you know, within our own community or within our own safe spaces.

But it was also a continuation of this conversation that we had started on MLK Day before the pandemic happened, we decided to have a salon chat in a true sense of the word because Because we always saw Highbrow Hippie as a real salon, an old school salon where ideas were exchanged, etc. And it was always going to be a safe space of an exchange of ideas.

But it was also a continuation of this conversation that we had started on MLK Day before the pandemic happened, we decided to have a salon chat in a true sense of the word because Because we always saw Highbrow Hippie as a real salon, an old school salon where ideas were exchanged, etc. And it was always going to be a safe space of an exchange of ideas.

So we decided before the pandemic happened that we are going to talk about race and feminism and intersectionality. And we invited clients of all walks of life. I mean, every religion, every color, and everyone sat next to someone they didn't know. And we just went for it. We wanted to really dive into, are you looking at how things affect you if they don't directly affect you?

So we decided before the pandemic happened that we are going to talk about race and feminism and intersectionality. And we invited clients of all walks of life. I mean, every religion, every color, and everyone sat next to someone they didn't know. And we just went for it. We wanted to really dive into, are you looking at how things affect you if they don't directly affect you?

We had probably one of the most emotional dinners I've been a part of. And people still to this day talk about that patio chat. So that was the original patio chat.

We had probably one of the most emotional dinners I've been a part of. And people still to this day talk about that patio chat. So that was the original patio chat.

And then George Floyd happened and the pandemic happened and we're like, okay, I guess this is going virtual to the point where we ended up having a reunion online the next MLK Day of the original patio chat invitees and everyone was in tears. Couldn't believe it that they were like, you guys are talking about this stuff way before anyone else was.

And then George Floyd happened and the pandemic happened and we're like, okay, I guess this is going virtual to the point where we ended up having a reunion online the next MLK Day of the original patio chat invitees and everyone was in tears. Couldn't believe it that they were like, you guys are talking about this stuff way before anyone else was.

Gosh, I mean, so we've known each other now, cannot believe it, going on almost 30 years now. Wow. Met at Spelman. Met at Spelman College. Micah was an outgoing senior. I was a freshman. We worked in the same store at BCBG in Lenox Mall in Atlanta.

Gosh, I mean, so we've known each other now, cannot believe it, going on almost 30 years now. Wow. Met at Spelman. Met at Spelman College. Micah was an outgoing senior. I was a freshman. We worked in the same store at BCBG in Lenox Mall in Atlanta.

And honestly... Atlanta, late 90s, early 2000s, like we were having the time. I mean, it was we had so much fun. Spelman is obviously a very special place. I was born in Jamaica and then immigrated to Connecticut when I was around 11. Micah is born and raised in Atlanta, so we have very different backgrounds.

And honestly... Atlanta, late 90s, early 2000s, like we were having the time. I mean, it was we had so much fun. Spelman is obviously a very special place. I was born in Jamaica and then immigrated to Connecticut when I was around 11. Micah is born and raised in Atlanta, so we have very different backgrounds.

But when you get to Spelman, at the time, it was a really special, safe space for me because I'd never been around so many smart, beautiful Black women before. And to spend four years out of your life not having to worry about being judged for anything else but just your pure merit was the most freeing place on the planet. I mean, plus we were fly, plus we were cute.

But when you get to Spelman, at the time, it was a really special, safe space for me because I'd never been around so many smart, beautiful Black women before. And to spend four years out of your life not having to worry about being judged for anything else but just your pure merit was the most freeing place on the planet. I mean, plus we were fly, plus we were cute.