Melanites is a toy company expanding the breadth of representation available in the toy industry simultaneously through diversity and gender. Founded by Jennifer Pierre a graduate student and entrepreneur at Babson College in Massachusetts. Jennifer has seen firsthand the way many of the boys maneuvered through life and it put into perspective how different society cultivates children based on race and gender. Many of the kids she mentored dreamed and inspired within a bubble because of circumstance and environment. Because of those challenges Melanites are launching the first line of boy dolls of color with multicultural backgrounds. This social innovation venture is a celebration of brown boyhood! It is important for children at a young age to have a sense of self-pride. While this sense of self can be formed by many factors, research has found that there is a direct correlation between playing with relatable toys and self-esteem.

Melanites is  showcasing positive images during the formative stages of identity creation to cultivate curiosity, adventure, and fun. Our society has built a glass ceiling on young boys' mind about what they can be when they grow up and how they are supposed to express themselves from the pressures of hyper-masculinity but we aim to change that.  Melanites will intercept the glass ceiling placed on young boys' mind about what they can be when they grow up and how they are supposed to express themselves without the pressures of hyper-masculinity. To donate and find out more click here.