The Power of One Entrepreneur
Each day, Melony Armstrong demonstrates the power of one entrepreneur.
A petite, 40-year-old African-American mother of four who owns Naturally Speaking, a hairbraiding salon in Tupelo, Miss., Melony has grown into an inspiring economic force bringing needed hope and opportunity to her community and her state.
Before renovating her hairbraiding salon–which now employs four full-time stylists skilled in the art of braiding and weaving African-American hair–Melony first had to renovate archaic and restrictive government regulations, as well as her community’s mindset about natural hair styles. She accomplished all this through persistence, hard work, a lawsuit and lobbying, and by mentoring a cadre of young, black women who saw her as a role model and guide to a better life…
Related Cases

Economic Liberty | Occupational Licensing
California PI License
Jay Fink has a simple business. If you’re a Californian getting too much spam, he’ll look through your junk folder and pull out the emails that might violate California’s anti-spam law. Then you can decide…

Economic Liberty | Fresh Start
Maryland small business owner files federal lawsuit against USDA over policy of permanent punishment for crime for which he already served his time
When the government judges someone’s integrity, it should do so based on who they are today—not who they were 20 years ago. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), however, imposes a permanent ban from…

Economic Liberty | First Amendment | Private Property | Vending
Small business owners sue to strike down Jacksonville regulations effectively banning food trucks from city
Jacksonville, North Carolina effectively bans food trucks from operating in 96 percent of the city. That's why a group of small business owners has teamed up with the Institute for Justice to file a lawsuit…
In The News
Liberty & Law Article
IJ Clinic Client Demonstrates the Power of One Entrepreneur
Liberty & Law Article
Series of IJ Publications Document the Power of One Entrepreneur
Liberty & Law Article