Compton, California boasts a multiracial and multicultural community. Although recognized for its thriving hip hop music scene, it is often depicted for its infamously high crime rates. Erica Harris set out to change that.
Born and raised in Compton in a multigenerational home, she always had the entrepreneurial bug. After attending UC Davis, she launched an allergy- and gluten-free baby product vending machine business. But after five years, she was forced to shut it down. Having invested her life savings into the start-up, the closure led to financial difficulties, and she soon became unhoused.
Erica took the lessons learned and dreamed of once again opening a business. In 2019, her transformative journey to Ghana reignited her passion. She participated in the “Year of the Return,” a celebration of the resilience of the African Diaspora. Inspired by the pride and heritage of the people she met, she returned home, and Compton Soul was born.
Erica’s e-commerce urban luxury brand celebrates Black people, culture, and neighborhoods through embroidered apparel in traditional West African kente cloth print. As a proud Black woman, she represents Compton everywhere she goes and encourages others to do the same. However, Erica’s new business struggled to secure capital. As a result of the closure of her baby product venture, she didn’t have the necessary work history to secure a loan from a traditional bank, forcing her to rely on grants to stay afloat.
LISC LA’s Asset Building for Communities of Color (ABC) program was a turning point for Erica, providing the necessary capital and guidance to stabilize and grow Compton Soul. With support from Wells Fargo, ABC is removing barriers to growth for small businesses operating in communities of color. Thanks to the investment from ABC, Erica was able to purchase inventory, scale up production, reduce costs per unit, and working with her TA provider, create a strategy for growth. She is also dedicated to giving back to her community by hiring local Black models, make-up artists, and photographers to create digital assets that promote the business.
Through the support of programs like ABC, entrepreneurs like Erica can turn their dreams into reality, while making a positive impact on their communities.
Visit the Compton Soul shop at comptonsoul.com.
Learn more about ABC at www.lisc.org/los-angeles/abc-fund/.