Anissa Keyes Powell founded Arubah Emotional Health Services to provide culturally responsive care for marginalized communities, integrating therapy and indigenous healing and expanding through partnerships to deliver mental health support where it’s needed most.
Anissa’s entrepreneurial spirit also led her to purchase and renovate the Northside Epicenter, a 20,000-square-foot historic building that now houses 14 Black-owned businesses. From plant-based dining to herbal apothecaries and healthcare training programs, the Epicenter fosters an ecosystem of wellness, entrepreneurship, and community pride.
Behind the scenes, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union has been a steady partner in her journey, both personally and professionally. Anissa became a member as a teenager, following in her mother’s footsteps. Over the years, Affinity Plus has provided crucial interim loans, lines of credit and operational funding — stepping in when other institutions wouldn’t. Whether it was covering payroll during a crunch, financing equipment, or bridging a $50,000 gap during a challenging refinance, Affinity Plus has always said yes when it mattered most.
“I’ve faced barriers at other banks, even when I had assets and a solid track record,” Anissa says. “Affinity Plus sees me as a person, not just a checklist. They’ve been in my corner 100% — and that’s rare, especially for Black business owners navigating an industry that hasn’t always treated us fairly.”
Her advice for other small business owners considering a financial institution? “If you want a financial partner who values relationships and is willing to take a chance on you when others won’t — Affinity Plus is the place to go.”
This story was submitted by Danielle Johnson, Content & Public Relations Specialist, Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union.
