From beads to business: Baltimore camp teaches girls more than jewelry-making 

By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com

Huddled around a table in Baltimore Unity Hall on July 23, a group of young girls gripped their paintbrushes, carefully crafting their own statement necklaces and chatting amongst themselves as part of the Beadly Speaking Kidz Jewelry Camp. Their instructor, Dyon Davidson, watched nearby, ready to lend a helping hand or offer encouragement as the girls worked on their designs.

Davidson, a former educator, has been making jewelry for nearly two decades. She started the camp—a namesake of her jewelry business—in 2022. The camp provided an opportunity for Davidson to not only teach young people about the fundamentals of jewelry-making, but to educate them on entrepreneurship. 

“I feel like I’m healing my inner child by working with the kids in this way,” said Davidson. “It might seem selfish in a way, but if I would have had this kind of experience at that age, I think it would have set me up for a different future.” 

Each week, campers participate in a different unit, learning how to handcraft earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets with materials ranging from beads, to wire, to wood. Alongside the technical instruction, they participate in confidence-building activities, like self-affirmations. 

This year, Davidson also added a financial literacy component to the camp. 

SECU Maryland did a presentation for camp participants and helped them open up bank accounts. 

“They them start it with a couple of dollars,” said Davidson. “On top of that, they’re going to make money at our closing marketplace where they’ll sell their jewelry, which they can then put into that account.” 

The marketplace, which will take place at Baltimore Unity Hall on Aug. 2, will enable the girls to showcase all of their jewelry and sell items directly to the community. It’s also an opportunity for them to experience what it’s like to be an entrepreneur. 

“We want to teach them to avoid spending all of their earnings on shopping and to create a culture where they know they have to put some of their earnings back into buying more materials if they really want to start a jewelry business,” said Davidson. “It’s small things like that that will help them with their finances as they get older.” 

Makayla Pierre first participated in the camp last year, but she said her aunt introduced her to Davidson in 2023. The 15-year-old had recently started her own jewelry business and wanted to learn how to add to her collection. 

Her favorite material to work with has always been beads, but the camp has taught her how to use wire. 

“I didn’t know how to do a lot with wire before the camp,” said Pierre. “I’ve learned how to make a coffee cup, spiral and a lot of geometric shapes.” 

She also said she’s improved her painting. 

“Last year, I painted pieces like these necklaces, but I didn’t really like them,” said Pierre. “This year, they are probably my best pieces.” 

Twelve-year-old Bre’asia Junior said she’s made more than 30 pieces of jewelry, including rings, earrings and bracelets, since starting the camp. Every day she proudly sends her mother photos of her designs. 

“My mom wants me to ask Ms. Dyon about where she gets the supplies from so I can start my own business after camp,” said Junior. 

She said the camp has also helped her to become more comfortable with sharing her voice. 

“Ms. Dyon’s helped me with so many things. I’m normally a quiet person, but she’s helped me speak up and talk to more people,” said Junior. “When I came I only knew one person, but now I have so many people I can talk to.”