Cannababe co-founders Jenna Kaltenberg & Mary Sharp are bringing their mission to West Michigan with can’t-miss events and one-of-a-kind experiences.
Keeping community & inclusivity at the forefront, their 6th event – titled Ganja Gallery – supported Power to the People 616 charity. Creating a space for women to feel seen, heard & protected, Ganja Gallery showcased a number of live female artists. Make sure to check them out on instagram:
- Body Painting by @angeleatorralva
- DJ Venus Flyy Trap @venusxflyytrap
- Mural Artist Jasmine Bruce @jasminebruceart
As GR wrapped up its internationally celebrated ArtPrize, Muse GR became a natural venue option. That night, Ganja Gallery rolled out the red carpet to invite guests in.
Special Note From Mary Sharp, Owner & CoFounder of CannaBabe
What Cannababe means to me is diversity, inclusion, change and making positive impacts in the community while uplifting and strengthening the representation of Women business owners in the Cannabis space. With Cannababe we have the ability to touch on many different issues going on in the world by bringing people together to create awareness for not only the brands we partner with but the communities and non profits organizations that need our support.
At Cannababe the vision is to take events, brands, and communities to the next level with a creative and unique detailed marketing approach. Being an owner and partner at Cannababe has been one of the most exhilarating experiences I’ve ever had. Blessed is an understatement, very proud of what we have accomplished so far and will continue to accomplish. We look forward to continuing the work with our partners who share the same vision and cause behind what we are doing and are incredibly thankful for the partners who have believed in us and supported us from day one.
– Mary Sharp
“Cannababe is a movement that amplifies the voices of all oppressed people with emphasis on women, the LGBTQ+ community and BIPOC communities. We aim to provide creative brand experiences to consumers while raising awareness for non profits in the areas that we throw events. This year we have donated around $15,000 in a little over 6 months. We hope to lead by example and encourage all of our attendees to get involved in their local community.
It was amazing to finally have an event in Grand Rapids. The community in Grand Rapids is so full of art and culture, Art Prize felt like the appropriate time to bring the vision to life. I am so thankful for all the new and familiar faces that we were able to connect with in Grand Rapids. We were able to raise money for “Power to the People 616” , they are an excellent non profit for food resources in the Grand Rapids area. We hope to continue to expand our mission and are thankful for each attendee that helps make this possible.”
-Jenna Kaltenberg, Cannababe Founder
Cannabis events offer a unique opportunity for brands to make a presence.
As a marketing professional & CPG fan, I must give you all insight into the haul I gave my roommates during the smoke sesh after Ganja Gallery.
- Spaceman Cannabis has fostered a really dope brand + merch to go along with it. Even my non-cannabis friends liked the look. P.S. I love my infused rolls, thank you.
- Highgrade’s Ice Cream Man (CR Batter) tasted amazing. I need more. The 3D packaging was a nice touch.
- “Final marketing shoutout to Wise Guys. I really did want to “Hug The Plug” after they shared some London Pound Cake with me!”
Cannabis brands that attend events have an opportunity to showcase their products & mission. Consumers can speak with Brand Ambassadors & have a chance to interact with products. From viewing & smelling flower at events to sparking up later, experiential marketing is about creating a whole experience for consumers.
Feeling Heard….
Personal Note to Kristina’s point- I have only been in the CannaI ndusty for about a year now, but was recently terminated (more on that soon ;). I have heard & experienced men in+outside of the industry that try to take advantage of their “power” aka need their ego stroked We should get into this more, it’s an important topic that deserves to be highlighted.
I have been so lucky to be a part of positive CannaCommunities like CannaBabe and Babes&Buds Podcast who are on a mission to create a positive space for all. Heaven from Highigan (congrats on reaching 70K on YouTube) highlights that, “being part of such a tremendous movement is uplifting (pun intended),” I can attest to this, “Cannabis needs to be normalized. And so do women.” I can’t wait to dive more into this topic & collaborate with people who have stories to share.
Event coverage brought to you by Shaylin from Cota Creative Media
On that note, look out for CannaBabe’s next events! They continue to create a buzz across Michigan and more- being invited to Forbes 30 Under 30 & MJ Unpacked 2023. These are trailblazers that you’ll want to keep up with.
I plan to continue sparking up conversations- let’s bring to light to the good & bad of the industry. Let’s learn together, work together, & evolve the Michigan Cannabis Industry into one that grows more than just good green.
Cota Creative Media founder Shaylin Cota is a young marketing professional navigating the spaces of events & cannabis. Through various media channels, Shaylin strives to create, collaborate, and connect. She documents video, photo, & stories into a collective piece- debuting her print work on “Ganja Gallery”. Keep up with her on instagram @shaylintessphotography & email inquires to cotacreativemedia@gmail.com.
