Inspiration Through Action

A few years ago, I begin to think about what the mission statement of Charged Up would be. What phrase or words could embody what we stood for in a simple but effective way. As I began to meditate on it, the phrase “Inspiration Through Action” came to mind. As a person who learns by the example I see demonstrated, words aren’t enough to move me, actions speak much louder.

I believe that whatever arena we are placed in, there is an opportunity to inspire and serve others, no matter if it is in the world of Hip Hop or fashion. The mission has always been to use whatever platform I have access to, to uplift and give back to my community. During a stay in New York in 2017 I was able to join my close friend Chris McGerigle who showed me how a well known member of the streetwear and sneaker community was giving away the rarest high-priced sneakers to those living on the streets of NYC. This relationship demonstrated servant leadership in action. Those at the so-called highest heights of the fashion world were using their platforms to serve those that often are overlooked and walked past during the busyness of our day.

Since we have opened our store in the Jackson Ward community of Richmond, we recognize that housing insecurity affects many right outside our shop's doors. How can we truly be successful without helping to tackle some problems in the community which we are a part of? Living in the wealthiest nation in the history of the world, sometimes we forget how materially blessed we are. Many members of our area lack necessities such as food, shelter and clothing. One small way we have decided that we can give back is by serving as a location where people can come and get gently used clothing for free. We have been able to accomplish this by calling on our friends within the community to donate their gently used shoes & clothing. As the season transitions from Winter to Spring, people are in need of sneakers, short sleeve shirts and shorts. To reward you for your donations, we are offering a 10% discount good towards any item in store.

In the near future we are going to partner with local non-profit organizations so that our shop can serve as a hub where people can learn, network and gain access to resources in the community. We have also started a non-profit organization, The May Foundation, with this goal in mind. We will host small events to highlight entrepreneurs and artists that are making an impact, as well as educational workshops.

If you are interested in making a donation, we are open at 106 W. Broad Street and with your help we will continue this effort as long as our store remains in this community.