For Women’s History Month 2023, The Shade Room’s “She’s A Trailblazer” sequence celebrates girls who’ve shattered glass ceilings and made groundbreaking contributions to inventive lanes throughout social media. Join us to rejoice these inspiring trailblazers who empower future generations.
Bridgid Coulter Cheadle often is the longtime accomplice of actor Don Cheadle, however she’s far out of your common “trophy wife.”
The 54-year-old – who married Cheadle in 2021 after a 28-year engagement – has by no means wrested on her husband’s laurels, and as a substitute has paved her personal manner as a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist, breaking via the company world’s glass ceiling as a lady of colour whereas paving the best way and creating secure areas for Black girls to thrive of their skilled endeavors.
Paving The Way For Black Interior Designers And Smashing Through Glass Ceilings
Cheadle has managed to be a trailblazer in an trade the place Black individuals have been and in some ways, nonetheless are few and much between.
According to statistics from the American Society of Interior Designers, Black designers account for lower than two % of its membership, per a 2019 report from Architectural Digest.
That has by no means been the story for Cheadle, who accomplished UCLA’s highly-regarded post-graduate Arch_ID Interior Design Program, a grasp’s degree equal via extension, the place she gained a deeper understanding of the complexities of design.
“One of my favorite affirmations is: ‘Be bold and trust your instincts,’” she informed Shout Out LA in a 2021 profile.
“A Curious Creative, Dreamer And Activist, Mother, Wife, Philanthropist, Advocate And Serial Entrepreneur”
What precisely does Cheadle do? In her personal phrases:
“I am a curious creative, a dreamer and activist, mother, wife, philanthropist, advocate and serial entrepreneur. I navigate a few different businesses: I am owner and principal designer of an eponymous interior design firm; a co-founder of Home+Maker, a boutique real estate developer; and also the founder and CEO of Blackbird Collective, a work and wellness community for women of color and allies to create positive change for each other and the world.”
A former actress herself, Cheadle says she left initially Hollywood after engaged on initiatives “absolutely steeped in impact and with pretty great artists,” giving her a way of her personal artistry and the place that artistry may go.
As a designer, she shortly formulated her personal fashion “that was layered, global collected, with a modern zen feel,” she informed the outlet.
“Later, I found myself venturing into real estate development after grad school where many of my interior design professors were architects and encouraged me to explore the holistic concept of a building.”
Cheadle finally graduated with distinction and shortly purchased a small rework mission in Venice to see if she may construct and beautify a home by herself, which she did effortlessly.
Bridgid says she approaches every enterprise as a creative expression, whereas additionally offering distinctive consideration to element. For her signature textile collections, she sketches, paints and designs patterns which are typically impressed by her love of journey and pure environments.
Giving Back By Creating A Co-Working Community Specifically Created For Black Women
But it’s not all about her skilled and creative journey.
Cheadle has given again to the Black group after creating the Blackbird Collective in 2019 – a co-working group particularly created for bold girls of colour with focuses on productiveness, wellness, activism and group.
UPward Movement: Elevating the Women of LA panel dialogue w/ our #founder @thefloralchild and @marissanance of @NativeTongueCom alongside @UPWARD_Women pic.twitter.com/wHgv2bPpWP
— blackbird Collective (@blackbird_house) December 9, 2022
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“I find that my myriad experiences have distinctively prepared me to build this impact focused community space at this particular time,” she mentioned of Blackbird Collective.
“Blackbird is a vibrant in-person and online community for professional women of color and allies where it’s safe to be yourself, speak your mind, and connect with others,” the web site reads.
She additionally obtained her undergraduate diploma from UCLA in Theatre, the place she loved the primary of many careers as an actress acting on stage, movie and tv.
And like many working girls, Cheadle is the proud mom of two who’s compelled to navigate her household life {and professional} life whereas discovering a steadiness within the in-between, like most different girls do.
Those thinking about studying extra about Cheadle’s Blackbird Collective can accomplish that right here. Physical workspace for the collective is positioned in Richmond, VA for these within the space.
Blackbird Collective is at the moment providing a one-week free trial.