Congratulations to CJ Scarlet, our Q3 Melissa Washington Small Business Award recipient!
CJ Scarlet, a proud Marine Corps veteran, is widely known as a Kid Safety Crusader, bestselling author, and founder of Badass Grandma Ventures. With a passion for helping parents raise strong, resilient children, CJ has made it her mission to support a generation of kids who grow up not only physically safe but also emotionally healthy, self-assured, and capable. Through her impactful books and online courses, she equips parents with the tools to protect children from bullies and predators, fostering a supportive and secure environment for young people to thrive.
With the support of this grant, CJ is excited to complete her first online course for parents: the Heroic Parenting Academy. This comprehensive 13-module course is set to launch by the end of this year, empowering parents with essential skills to nurture their children’s emotional and physical safety. The award funds will go directly toward covering the costs of a professional video production team to film and edit the course, ensuring a polished and engaging learning experience for parents everywhere.
Congratulations once again to CJ Scarlet on this well-deserved honor, and we look forward to the positive impact the Heroic Parenting Academy will bring to families nationwide!
To learn more about CJ and Badass Grandma Ventures visit her website at, thebadassgrandama.com.
Meet the Q3 Melissa Washington Small Business Award Finalists.
Paden Sickles, Army Veteran – SickFit
CJ Scarlet, Marine Corps Veteran, Badass Grandma Ventures
Shatayia Baker, Air Force Veteran, Peaceful Therapy Services
We’d like to extend a huge “Thank you!” to the WVG Small Business Award Committee!
MWSBA Committee Members:
Chairwoman Jennifer Vollbrecht, Marine Corps (2020 Recipient)
Ashley Gorbulja, Army Veterans (2023 Recipient)
Jacqueline Garrick, Army Veteran (2022 Recipient)
Beth Beeson, Marine Corps (2018 Recipient)