Playa del Carmen is unlike anywhere else I’ve lived.
The spirit of community here takes my breath away. In every corner of this city, people don't just talk about supporting each other - they show up, they collaborate, and they make things happen.
This became clear to me again recently when I hosted a Watch Party Fundraising event that turned into something much bigger than I could’ve imagined.
It was my very first time screening any of my filmmaking, and I was a nervous wreck about it.
But first, let me take you back a bit and give you some context on how this Watch Party came to be in the first place…
I Almost Let Perfectionism Get the Best of Me
Over a year ago, I filmed an on-location episode of Black Expat Stories highlighting the journey of B. Roberson, the incredible woman behind B’s Frito Pollo.
B left the U.S., defied the odds, and built a food truck that has now become a local favorite here in Playa del Carmen. What B has created has evolved into more than just a place to grab a bite to eat. It’s become a cultural hub - a place where people gather, share stories, and connect. And it’s exactly the kind of business that embodies the soul of Playa del Carmen.
But here’s the thing: I sat on that footage initially. We had so many hiccups in the post-production process, and life began to do what it does best. Then, I kept telling myself I’d get to it, that we’d share the episode when it was “just right.”
A whole calendar year (and then some) came and went.
It wasn’t until I heard about the challenges B was facing that I realized I’d been sitting on something bigger than just another Black Expat Stories episode.
It dawned on me that there was an opportunity here to make a difference.
So, I dusted off the footage, and we finally completed it. And as I pushed through my own creative doubts and hesitations, something beautiful happened. I called on my community to help me with the Herculean effort of planning a Watch Party Fundraiser here in Playa Del Carmen.
Everyone I contacted said “yes,” enthusiastically. Then, they started calling on people in their network. It was a ripple effect.
As I was sharing our plans for the Watch Party with a local business owner, she suggested that we incorporate a raffle into the program to raise even more money. And she kicked it off by donating 2 of her most valuable offerings as prizes.
Word spread like wildfire about this raffle. People started coming out of the woodwork to support, to donate prizes, and to volunteer.
What initially began as a handful of raffle prizes, blossomed into over 15. And all of them were donated by local artisans, business owners, healers, and practitioners.
For me, this process was a powerful reminder of what happens when we stop letting perfectionism get in the way and just show up for one another.
The power of community support takes on new meaning when you realize that while Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S., we receive less than half of 1% of venture capital funding.
The odds are stacked against us. And yet, we rise. We’ve been rising for generations—carrying entire ecosystems and economies on our shoulders all while overcoming systemic barriers, and always making a way out of no way.
But the truth remains: businesses need capital to thrive. That’s another reason why this Watch Party was so important.
On the night of the screening, we had a packed house.
At the Watch Party, the energy was electric as we shared B's journey with an audience eager to support her dream.
That evening, we raised over $600 (not including the generous percentage of the venue's food and beverage sales) and I was proud of the fact that we donated 100% of it to B’s Frito Pollo.
To those who attended, donated, volunteered, and supported in any way – thank you. You've shown what's possible when we come together to lift each other up!
This is the power of group economics in action. This is the beauty of the Blaxit movement. My goal with Black Expat Stories is to capture it all.
Looking back, I realize now that what felt like imperfect timing was actually perfect timing. While perfectionism almost kept me from releasing this episode altogether, the universe had other plans.
Through this, I’ve learned the beauty isn't in getting it perfect; it's getting started. When community calls, showing up imperfectly will always be more powerful than waiting for the perfect moment that never comes.
-Courtney
P.S.: Stay tuned for the full episode, which we’ll share on our YouTube channel very soon! In the meantime, check out the trailer…
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