Alumni
FIDM Prepared Online Learning Grad For Entrepreneurship
Rashida Chase, a 2005 online learning graduate of the Merchandising & Marketing program, wears numerous hats as a performing artist, entrepreneur, and Artist & Community Engagement Director for AMP Oakland, a curated busking series in Downtown Oakland. We recently chatted with her to learn more about her two businesses, the store Liberated Culture and the lifestyle company Liberated Wellness, as well as her FIDM experience and how she’s pivoting in light of Covid-19.
Tell us a little about yourself and your companies: Liberated Wellness, which I started in 2017 after attending nursing school, came to be because I was not satisfied with what my patients were experiencing due to the lack of options for natural or traditional healing and culturally competent care in healthcare settings. It is a wellness lifestyle company that assists people through life changes and will soon be producing a product line including tea and body care products.
I am also a performing artist and huge proponent of the arts, and my experience with AMP Oakland led me to start Liberated Culture in 2019, a cultural space and store in Downtown Oakland that connects and supports local artists of all disciplines, bridges intergenerational gaps, and supports and uplifts the authentic culture of Oakland. As an Oakland native, it is imperative to me that the existing culture of Oakland is lovingly preserved and maintained while we experience seismic changes to our community.
Why did you choose FIDM’s online learning program? I used to read through the alumni profiles incessantly, and what struck and impressed me most was what FIDM Alumni pursued and accomplished after they graduated, which sealed the deal for my decision. When I applied to the program, I had just graduated from Indiana University and was living in Indianapolis, so attending in person was not an option. I was able to stay in my community and work while attending one of the best fashion schools in the world. My teachers were leaders in their respective fields, were very responsive, and made the experience exciting. I was able to connect with students from all over and learn things that are still contributing to my success today.
How do you feel FIDM prepared you for what you are doing now? FIDM prepared me for a lot of what I’m doing now because it gave me the tools and confidence to consider entrepreneurship after my life took some unexpected turns. I’ve used the principles I learned at FIDM in my everyday life, and to help my clients. FIDM gave me a great foundation for starting and running my current business ventures.
What is your biggest goal right now? The grand opening for my culture space and store, Liberated Culture, was set for May 1, and due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I had to postpone it. There is a lot of uncertainty around when and how things will open back up, and because a lot of what I had planned was centered around meeting and people being in the physical space, I am working to pivot and move some of what I planned to offer online. This is an enormous undertaking, so I am working very hard to make this happen while also maintaining my sanity and a positive attitude about the future.
Keep up with Rashida on Instagram @rashidachasemusic @liberatedculture @liberatedwellness.
FIDM has been offering eLearning courses and entire majors online for over 15 years. We’ve been able to build on that foundation to deliver a true FIDM experience for our students currently experiencing an online-only quarter. FIDM's holistic approach focuses on academics, research, student activities, and career planning. Please contact FIDM Admissions to apply.
Categories: Merchandising & Marketing Alumni
