Black Women On The Front Lines Of The Coronavirus

Yasmine Parrish, 33, is the owner of Parrish Publicity, a small marketing and event consulting firm that has been severely affected by the cancellation of events and clients that are scared to pay next month’s retainers.

Source: Yasmine Parrish / Courtesy of Yasmine Parrish

MN: What are your thoughts regarding how the government is responding to the virus?

YP: Unfortunately, I feel like the federal government and leaders haven’t given consumers and citizens very direct instruction. I think that my specific state and mayor has been doing a really good job at keeping the public calm and giving us very clear information, which is something I don’t feel like I’ve gotten from the federal government. I’m disappointed we didn’t get ahead of this sooner.

MN: Are you fearful in any way of an economic hardship/blowback for your business?

YP: Well, one of the biggest issues is that I have clients who have business proposals for the future, and this affects my ability to gain income. Thankfully I have clients who pay deposits when they do an event with me, but I have at least two events that have been postponed indefinitely at the moment. It’s been pretty tough and its uncharted territory and everything is uncertain. I miss out on the money clients would have given me for putting on the event, or like 20% of whatever the budget is, or at the bare minimum the full $2,000. 

MN: How are you balancing motherhood and work now that schools are closed?

YP: With my child, it’s about balance and keeping things flowing and making sure my child, who is in preschool is taken care of. Luckily in a way, things are a little flexible with my business and I have his learning material at home, and I’ve been leaning into that more. I’ve been using specific channels on YouTube and help supplements since he’s not going to school right now. Every third hour I give him something educational to do.

*Answers have been edited and condensed for clarity.