CINCINNATI, Ohio — Art became a sanctuary for Jidè Fresh when life felt uncertain. 

“I dealt with the worst fears I ever imagined, from being broke to my marriage falling apart. I also couldn't use my physical body that well at one point,” Fresh said.  

But in the midst of darkness, his passion to create would shine through. He’d go on to become the founder of In Fly We Trust. The brand features books, posters, and other materials with positive affirmations. One's that Fresh said he needed and ones that the world could use too. 

“I really want to create art, literature and products that really uplift the soul and spirit,” he said.  

In Fly We Trust was one of nearly a dozen vendors at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House’s pop-up market on Sunday in honor of Black History Month. Beecher Stowe, the anti-slavery advocate and Uncle Tom's Cabin' author, based her writing on experiences in Cincinnati. 

“We don't just think about Harriet Beecher Stowe herself living here, but the 1940s, this was also an African American boarding house. You had a bunch of businesses and people living right in this house that embodied the spirit of entrepreneurship,” Fresh said.  

“It’s always been a staple of this community. We just want to bring that back and spread awareness that we're still here to serve,” Harriet Beecher Stowe House Community Engagement Coordinator Zinnia Stewart said.  

Stewart said the event gave business owners the opportunity to network and connect with customers face to face.

“How can we empower people? We can empower them by helping their businesses, helping them to be able to feed their families, and helping them bring that income back to their communities,” she said.  

Fresh said that the presence of Black-owned businesses in the Greater Cincinnati region continues to grow. It’s momentum he hopes will remain strong. 

“I think in 2025, a lot of African-American people will see that this is a viable way to go. We're out here,” Fresh said.