Meet Antoinette Wooden | Columbus Archery Owner/ Mental Health Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Antoinette Wooden and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Antoinette, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind making this business is that I could make Archery accessible for people who look like me. I started Archery as a way to deal with my mental illness Bipolar type 2 and it felt like an escape which then moved into a tool. Columbus Archery is not only a leisure activity it is a third space in the community that people can come and feel comfortable in. My main challenge was how can I combine wellness and Archery. They so naturally go hand and hand together so how can I bring it to the city.

What should our readers know about your business?
Let me first start when I was at my lowest. I had just lost my job in Human resources I thought I was going to use this job for all my needs. During that time I was not well mentally and saw an opportunity to go to an Archery class through a groupon. After that I was set and hooked into Archery. I noticed that my confidence and my self-esteem was increasing. It was nice to just be with myself and the target. I was achieving something I never imagined. However, in the back of my mind I always knew that I am black queer woman in a very white older man space and I still did not feel comfortable even though I was healing in this space. Fast forward, this space closes down during the pandemic so now I have no where to go. I go back and forth on what I should do. I start the Black and Bipolar podcast but it’s not enough I always talk about my journey once I discovered Archery for myself but there was no place to do it. I then in June 2021 decide to open Columbus Archery. I was not sure how I was going to start this journey because I wasn’t even sure how I wanted Columbus Archery to look. Did I want it to focus on the sport, how was I going to bring mental health wellness into the space. How I was I going to get funding. In Feburary 2023 I left my very well paying job to pursue this dream of mine. I had started with the mindset that everyone wants this from the research I had done and surveys I sent out I was going to be fine. However, everything does not work out just because you say it with a lot of passion. I quickly found out how under prepared I was. I sought out advice and help from the Small business resource centers that were in the city but a lot of them were not helpful in the sense of what I needed. During this time I wish I had asked more questions, I wish I would not have said yes to every free help because it may have been free but it was not always helpful. I want the world to know that even though Columbus Archery is small we are a mighty voice for the people in standing up for accessibly for Archery in the city. We are constantly told no by different people so when we hear a “yes” it is a sweet victory.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting the area the first place I would take her is the Columbus Art Museum on Sunday because it’s free and there may be live music. We would stop by Zora’s house which is a Woman of Color incubator where women can come as their authentic self without putting on a mask. Afterwards, we would go to the Wave which is a black-owned club where they always play early 2000’s music. We would go walk around the Park of Roses when they are in bloom and just take in the city’s culture. Later in the week I would introduce her to a group of my friends go karaoking, go carting, and do Archery together. We would do an escape room in the city. There is just so much to do we would not be bored at all.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people I want to thank for pushing me and inspiring me to continue making stories known around the city. Bae Nichole who has helped me understand my marketing and helped me get my foot in the door with different places. By Ari Productions who has taken so many great videos, and pictures for our content, the ladies at Zora’s house are a woman of color incubator that has grown this idea and helped me stay on track. A personal shout out to my partner Melissa Nieves Rivera Ph.D who keeps me grounded emotionally for when days get too big. My late best friend Briana Hardman who truly lives in my spirit daily, her words continue to ring in my heart whenever I am going through moment of doubt. This is just a small number of people that I mentioned but everyone in my life has a reason that they have helped me or I have helped them.

Website: https://calendly.com/columbusarchery

Instagram: www.instagram.com/columbusarchery

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/antoinettewooden

Facebook: www.facebook.com/columbusarchery

Image Credits
Credit for all pictutres: By Ari Productions