Written by: Tia Brown
Hiii splashy readers!!! I am excited to have a conversation with Chanel Benjamin who started the brand Chanel Speedy®️. As you may or may not know it has been a long journey in multi-media and community service for Chanel. For everyone who donated an item to a drive that she had, spread the word and or gave her encouraging words along her path she thanks you. We have enjoyed every minute of learning, pivoting and spontaneous measures of her creativity to ensure that the youth have options and opportunities. Her experience and development of skills have made her better at being solution oriented. And what better time to be an entrepreneur THAN NOW!!! Don’t we all agree?
Can we start by how did you come up with the name Chanel Speedy®️? Yes, well many may or may not know the story behind it so I will further explain. Chanel is my given name and Speedy was a nickname given because I ran fast and was quick on my feet while playing basketball early on. I owe my agility and footwork to early ballet lessons. So yes I combined the two together because it was either name I would hear and answer to. However, respectfully please call me Chanel when you see me. Lol respectfully, I like that and will use that. (Laughs) I always wanted to use that in a sentence that’s what the youth say frequently today.
The brand Chanel Speedy®️ is pivoting from just being a blog and providing written information to it’s audience. Besides giving me this opportunity to interview you what other things are in store for the brand? I’ll give you a second to think about it as I introduce your efforts to those who may not know them. I have done my research and here it is.
We want to update you on the services that Chanel will be providing. She has taken countless years to research and self teach herself, learn from others and studied at her own leisure to add volume to enhance, embrace, explore and to turn her interests into skills.
One of her dual degree majors is Media and Communication which was a broad spectrum but Chanel dissected and perfected the arts within her vision. She took a deeper dive into covering life moments such as: weddings, birthdays, cookouts, events onto random daily captures with a video and photo camera as practice and training. Many times showing up with equipment unbeknownst to others she was pursuing this and simply presenting the organizer a DVD of her work as she learned how to edit free of charge.
What else have you accomplished Chanel that I may not have touched upon? “I have managed toy, clothing, footwear and food drives on my own as well as collaboratively and taught a poetry class for the youth in Harlem.“ How would you describe your journey from when you first started until now?
“If anyone hired me during my learning stages as I am self taught; I appreciate you for motivating me and showing your support because I was learning on the fly and gave myself unrealistic turnaround times. Yet, I made it through and the job was completed. It was important to me to learn the craft first, develop my style and then learn the rules to see what I liked, how my vision was compatible with the top tier and from there my creativity came into play. The paid gigs were few to none but I enjoyed the stages of breaking and rebuilding, creating opportunities for myself and being in rooms I could only imagine. It was my persistency, diligence and drive to not give up on a passion and see it through.”
Let’s talk about the services you will be providing now. “The services are formulated in the categories of educational services including: entrepreneurial youth workshops with activities to excite their creativity as well as fun ways of giving back to the community.
The multi-media and entertainment services will include: the development, creation and video/photography production. Within teaching how I learned brings an unexplainable joy because to watch a mind cultivate in your presence from a simple directive or guiding words really warms my heart.”
In conclusion thank you for this opportunity to interview you. Any final comments? “Yes, thank you and you’re welcome this is the exact reason I created this platform to get other people opinions to showcase their talents. As you grow into what field you want to pursue remember the work you put in and what you learned in other fields to apply. Best of luck in your research and future endeavors.”
Is there anyone you want to thank? “Some have witnessed my journey. I always miss someone’s name trying to remember everyone so I want to thank you, YoU and YOU for the inclusion, support, helping me be in the moment. As the photographer often doesn’t get their picture taken and the doctor still has to get their check up from a doctor. The growth of me giving back in the truest form to my community has strengthen me in ways that are unexplainable. Also, stay motivated as the life of an entrepreneur is not easy yet it is very rewarding in the sense of assisting and being of service to a higher purpose.”
What did the people you are thanking provide you with? “Within my journey I was provided with the gift of simply being allowed to be myself and learning by experience in real-time. Here are your flowers for the support in the variety of ways. When I say support it could be volunteering your time, posting a flyer, listening, spreading the word etc. I’m forever grateful for you whom have entrusted me with propelling an idea, if you accepted my rsvp to help your community efforts and by continuing to help me create a legacy. For those I will meet along the way forward gratitude. Looking forward what is to come from this pivot.”
Chanel Speedy®️ 