Dear Melanin MVP community,

Today marks an incredible milestone for us - one full year of Melanin MVP! As I sit here reflecting on the past 365 days, I'm filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude, accomplishment, and excitement for what lies ahead. What started as a small idea has blossomed into a vibrant community that continues to grow beyond my wildest expectations.

When I launched Melanin MVP, I had hopes and dreams, but I never could have predicted the amazing journey we'd embark on together.

I'm astounded by what we've accomplished - but numbers only tell part of the story. Behind each download, view, and subscriber is a real person who has chosen to spend their valuable time with us, and that means everything.

205 podcast downloads might not sound like much to some media giants, but to me, that's 205 times someone decided our voice was worth hearing. Each download represents someone choosing to invite us into their commute, workout, or quiet evening at home. Thank you for lending us your ears and your time.

And to our 194 newsletter subscribers who've stuck with us through 52 consecutive weeks of publishing, your loyalty is nothing short of remarkable. You've given our written words 5,899 views, engaging with our ideas and sharing in our journey week after week. Your consistent support has been the steady drumbeat that keeps us marching forward.

To the 10 incredible individuals who graced our podcast with their presence, you brought expertise, perspectives, and stories that enriched our platform immeasurably. You trusted us with your voices and your vulnerabilities, and our community is better for it. Each conversation has been a masterclass, not just for our audience but for me personally. Your generosity with your knowledge and time has been the greatest gift.

And to the authors of our three guest articles - thank you for choosing our platform to share your brilliant thoughts. Your contributions diversified our content and brought fresh perspectives that our readers deeply appreciated.

1,327 YouTube views! Every single one represents someone choosing to engage with our visual content, someone curious enough to click and patient enough to watch. As we work on our two upcoming short films, we're energized by your enthusiasm and support for our visual storytelling.

ToughCutie and Huel - your belief in our mission and your willingness to partner with a fledgling platform speak volumes about your values as organizations. You took a chance on us when we were just finding our footing, and we're profoundly grateful for your support and collaboration. To Jason Bahamundi and everyone at the Run Tri Bike Magazine family, the Everyday Athlete Podcast Network has made us feel right at home.

While the metrics are encouraging, they don't capture the late nights, the technical difficulties, the moments of doubt, and the learning curve that sometimes felt more like a sheer cliff face. They don't show the grit-fueled editing sessions, the interview nerves, or the thrill of hitting "publish" on media we were proud of.

This first year has been equal parts exhausting and exhilarating. We've made mistakes, pivoted when necessary, and celebrated small victories along the way. The path hasn't always been smooth, but it has always been worthwhile.

Melanin MVP was born from a desire to create space - space for voices like mine and yours, space for stories that deserve telling, space for community building and authentic connection. One year in, I'm more convinced than ever of the importance of this mission.

Creating this platform has pushed me to grow in ways I never anticipated. I've become a better listener, a more disciplined creator, and a more courageous advocate. I've connected with people I might never have met otherwise, and those connections have enriched my life immeasurably.

As we venture into our second year, we have ambitious goals that we can't achieve alone. We're dreaming bigger, reaching higher, and planning bolder moves—but the heart of Melanin MVP will remain the same: authentic connections, valuable content, and a steadfast commitment to our community.

We want to share more short films documenting women athletes, host more live stream experiences to connect with our community, create merchandise you’d be proud to wear, and attend in-person events to cheer you on as you race toward the finish line.

These goals are just the beginning. We want to deepen our impact, expand our reach, and create even more meaningful content in year two. With your continued support - whether through reviews on Apple or Spotify, sharing this newsletter, or simply showing up - we know these goals are within reach.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this journey. Thank you for your comments, your messages, your constructive feedback, and your enthusiastic support. Thank you for making space in your lives for Melanin MVP.

Here's to one remarkable year down and many more to come. The best is yet ahead, and I'm thrilled to continue this journey with all of you by my side.

With immense gratitude,

Angela