My name is Amber Jackson, and I am the owner of Black Leaf. I’m a Chicago native with a passion for tea, people and Black culture. April 11, 2019, I launched The Black Leaf Tea & Culture Shop to share my love for tea, engage with the community and celebrate Black Culture.

Using my background in food science, I design all the tea blends myself. They are just as unique as the people who drink them. Whether you’re looking for a little spice in your life or something to calm you after a long week of work, I’ve got you covered. My tea blends are here to spread joy and inspire all who sip to be as creative and bold as the blends they drink. The Black Leaf Tea Cafe opened in October 2023 in Providence, RI where customers can enjoy tea lattes and mocktails, explore our culture corner filled with books by Black authors, and purchase pouches of tea and tea accessories. The cafe also serves as a space to host community events like tea blending workshops and artist pop-ups. Black Leaf has truly become a reflection of who I am and what I’m passionate about.

Liz is a ceramic artist and instructor with 10+ years of experience in the arts and founded Anyhow Studio in 2021. She has a background in Gender and Sexuality Studies and Furniture Design, and has utilized both disciplines to create a viewpoint and aesthetic that’s all her own. Liz loves to teach beginners, especially those who think that they “aren’t artistic.” When Liz isn’t at the studio, she’s walking her dog Daisy, working on a crossword puzzle, sewing, or eating an ice cream cone.

Caterina Maina (she/her) is an Italian-American artist based in Providence, RI. Primarily a Fine Art Photographer and also working across fashion and portrait photography, she blends visual storytelling with a distinct artistic sensibility. Her work explores themes of memory, family, and connection through contemporary photography. Her latest project marks her first dive into installation art and the use of archival imagery. Her practice reflects a deep commitment to preserving personal histories and evoking the emotional resonance of everyday moments. 

Caterina’s art has been exhibited in galleries across New England and nationally. She’s notably been exhibited at the Susan Eley Fine Art Gallery (NYC, 2021), Delaplaine Arts Center (Frederick, MD, 2022), and Fitchburg Art Museum (Summer, 2025). She earned her BFA in Photography with a minor in Sustainability from Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she received numerous awards for her projects and artistic vision.

Dorian (He/Him/His) is a multi-hyphenate creative and Product Designer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a Graduate from Rhode Island School Design, he received his BFA in Industrial Design. His love of community, basketball and footwear have inspired him to establish a brand — Blacktop Market — that aims to highlight the intersections of streetwear, and sport culture.

Through his creative endeavors he seeks to explore the capabilities of storytelling and the connectedness of people through those intangible moments that resonate within us all.

In previous displays of his work, many of the pieces  highlight moments in his life and black culture, both in sport and everyday, using recycled and donated materials. His aim is to explore new mediums, produce events and products that build community, and facilitate space for evolving dialogue through individual and collaborative design efforts.

Janelle Castillo is an interior designer by day, artist by instinct. She is a RISD class of 2021 graduate. Janelle blends kitchen design and storytelling into livable, expressive spaces. Currently, she is building businesses and relationships that shape better experiences, and hopes for the future.

Sissy Rosso is a Dominican art director and designer from Providence, RI, who builds vibrant visual worlds through collage, color, and storytelling.