Dallas Wings Spotlights 4 Black-Owned Businesses in AMP.E.D. Program During Black History Month

Dallas Wings Guard Odyssey Sims presents team-autographed ball to PureNRG Cycle Co-Founders Janelle ‘JJ’ Wright and Greer Christian. [Video still: Dallas Wings]

As part of its AMP.E.D. initiative, the Dallas Wings Community Foundation is featuring four area Black-owned businesses throughout the month of February.

The Dallas Wings is a WNBA team that plays its games at College Park Center in Arlington. Standing for Amplify, Educate, Diversify, the Wings initiative is highlighting a different local Black-owned business each Wednesday in February in celebration of Black History Month.

“Our passion as entrepreneurs extends outside our studio’s walls and as a startup franchise, we understand that business success is greatly impacted by community support of organizations like the Dallas Wings,” PureNRG Cycle Co-Founder Greer Christian said in a statement. “We’re honored and excited to have been selected for the AMP.E.D. program and look forward to collaborating with the organization and fellow entrepreneurs during Black History Month and beyond.”

It’s the second year the Dallas Wings have used their platforms to support area Black-owned businesses. Also, for the first time later this year, the Wings organization will highlight local LGBTQ+ and Latina/LatinX owned organizations.

Featured Black-owned businesses

Businesses being featured this month include Cookie Society, Pink Toes Nail Bar, Pressed Roots, and PureNRG Cycle.

The Wings said that each business is being showcased with in-person interviews that will be posted on Dallas Wings social media platforms and amplified throughout the year and in-arena during the season.

The team added that special promotional deals for these businesses will be offered on Wings social media channels and the Dallas Wings website throughout the month.

Cookie Society

Cookie Society Co-Founder Marissa Allen shows newly launched Take ‘N’ Bake Cookie Dough to Dallas Wings Guard Odyssey Sims Video still Dallas Wings.png

Cookie Society was founded by husband-and-wife duo Marissa and Jeff Allen. After an inspirational trip to New York City’s famous bakeries, Marissa Allen decided to create her own cookie recipe. Starting with a chocolate chip cookie, she then created her famous Banana Pudding cookie, and her flavors ultimately expanded to more than 70. After a year of brainstorming, Cookie Society was established in 2018 by the couple. You can now munch your way out of two Cookie Society locations in Addison and Frisco.

Pink Toes Nail Bar

Kyla Porter, owner of Pink Toes Nail Bar with a customer in her downtown Dallas “relaxing spa paradise.” [Photo Pink Toes Nail Bar Facebook]

Pink Toes Nail Bar was established by Kyla Porter in 2014, with its downtown Dallas location opening in 2019. Porter knew that as an entrepreneur, she wanted a business that would stand the test of time and would provide self-care services to the Dallas community. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Pink Toes Nail Bar, but Porter said she didn’t let that deter her from fulfilling this dream. The nail bar offers signature manicures and pedicures, guest experiences such as couples services, and party packages.

Pressed Roots

Piersten Gaines, founder and CEO of Pressed Roots

Piersten Gaines founded Pressed Roots after numerous bad experiences in hair salons. She wanted to create a luxury salon catering to women with textured hair. Located on Singleton Boulevard across from Trinity Groves in Dallas, Pressed Roots’ express salon uses its own technique, known as The Pressed Roots Method, that avoids damage and gets customers out of the salon in about 90 minutes.

PureNRG Cycle

PureNRG Cycle Co-Founders Janelle ‘JJ’ Wright and Greer Christian [Video still: Dallas Wings]

Co-founders Christian and Janelle Wright joined forces in 2022 to launch franchise startup PureNRG Cycle, an indoor cycling and strength training boutique fitness studio on Fort Worth Avenue in Dallas. The studio offers a range of cycling classes designed to meet the needs of every client. The instructors bring diverse styles and electric energy to each class with curated playlists from every music genre, setting just the right tone for each riding experience.

Supporting diverse brands and businesses

The Dallas Wings Community Foundation said it’s dedicated to amplifying local minority-owned businesses—specifically African American, LGBTQ+, and Latina-owned businesses—throughout Dallas-Fort Worth.

The foundation said that its AMP.E.D. initiative highlights various companies, the services they offer, and the impact the local enterprises have on the greater community with a goal of encouraging fans and community members to diversify the brands and businesses they support.

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