Stephanie Soulama - Speaking about her hair braiding business

This interview was done as part of the Facing Our Neighbors project. Stephanie Soulama is the owner of Stephanie’s Braiding Shop in Carrboro, NC. Stephanie is from Ivory Coast and speaks French. She recounts that she was a beautician in Ivory Coast. She later moved to Italy, and then Chapel Hill to do hair. Stephanie’s husband was a student at UNC Chapel Hill when she was in Italy. EmPOWERment, Inc. helped her start her business at low cost. Soulama also talks about what it means to be a business owner in a tight-knit neighborhood.