Local entrepreneur Ashley Washington knows firsthand what it's like to experience a life-altering event and not have the support and resources needed to uplift her through that phase, especially as a Black woman.
Washington created Huntersville-based MatriArch in 2021 to prevent women of color, specifically mothers, from ever lacking a sense of community through any stage of their life. The 24/7 online hub includes an events calendar, newsletter, podcast, magazine and forum, among several other ways for Black women to connect, feel empowered and build their own village.
What led her to create that safe space wasn't an easy journey.
In 2018, Washington left her marketing job at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina after becoming pregnant with her first child in June 2017. At 3 months old, her daughter developed two holes in her heart and stage 4 neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that forms from immature nerve cells.
"I noticed during her treatments, there just weren't as many people of color that were in the same realm," she said. "With motherly challenges, with trying to still breastfeed, I felt completely isolated."
The same day her daughter was deemed cancer free in October 2019, Washington found out she was expecting her second daughter. She was born during the peak of the pandemic in 2020 and also endured health complications, including a hole in her heart, umbilical hernias and later developed ear infections.
Washington needed people to lean on, specifically Black women. She was shocked by the lack of resources and outreach she had experienced when she was growing up. "We don't have as many people to reach out to that have been through these types of things," she said.
That's what inspired the creation of MatriArch. She said she understands many Black people move where opportunities are located and may not have that same village or network of support they did back home.
MatriArch members include doctors, lawyers, financial advisers and others who are looking to form their own community. The platform allows for Black women and moms to openly discuss events happening in their life, gain motherhood tips or just connect with someone who they can call for anything.
"Wherever you are in your journey, you're welcome," Washington said.
MatriArch has been working on several new projects as it grows. It recently launched a Black Business Listing page, which allows for Black-owned companies to be posted on an auto-feed for others to discover and support. The hub also launched a spring fashion collection, which was designed by Washington.
MatriArch's events will also transition from being hosted virtually to in person starting next month, she said. Those engagements will be held in the Charlotte and Triangle areas. Some events in the past have focused on Black history, lunch chats with moms and how people of color can improve their health.
"I really do want this to grow into something exponential eventually," Washington said.
While MatriArch was created in 2021, Washington took a step back for another marketing job and relaunched it about eight months ago. Now, she is pursuing MatriArch full time.
The platform is in its pilot stage to see what works and what doesn't. MatriArch has about 70 members and hopes to grow to up to 1,000 by year end, she said.
Washington also emphasized that MatriArch is not exclusive to Black women. In June, the hub will have a men of color edition to encourage and spotlight them as well.
"That is what I would like to see MatriArch evolve into, just a plethora of resources, uplifting our community and providing a 24/7 hub that is just available whenever you need it," she said.
