Pride Magazine - 2021 May/June "Business" Issue

May-June 2021

The Business Issue

Teaching Kids to Be Entrepreneurs

Charlotte’s African-American Magazine

Driving Force

A.C.E. Academy grows young business owners

Helping Bikers Leave Fear Behind

Bike group encourages Black girls to ride bikes

How Damian Mills Built an Auto Empire

Encouraging Entrepreneurs of Color to Succeed NXT | CLT supports and encourages minority business owners

We Are All Super Heroes When We Recycle Right!

Building better lives Our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities. And every day, the pursuit of better drives us—to empower you with more opportunities. The opportunity to own a home. To start a small business. To thrive. Because we boldly believe in the power of what we can achieve together.

Truist.com Truist Bank, Member FDIC. © 2021 Truist Financial Corporation. Truist, the Truist logo and Truist Purple are service marks of Truist Financial Corporation.

Arm yourself for the fight. We did.

As partners in the fight to eradicate COVID-19, we encourage everyone to get the vaccination, as soon as it is available to you.

It’s safe. Reliable. Tested. And life-changing. Tryon Medical Partners has been on the front lines since the beginning of the pandemic.

Together, we can get to the end of it.

Learn more at tryonmed.com

Ballantyne

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Pineville

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Steele Creek

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Waverly

May – June 2021

Departments 8 From the Publisher 10 Notable Names

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11 By Faith 12 Book Review

Business 36 S upporting

Entrepreneurs of Color NXT | CLT helps minority startups succeed

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COVID-19 Has Affected Retail Retail workers face challenges during pandemic

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40 T ips

and Resources for Black Business Owners How to make a strong recovery in 2021

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41 W hen

Health 45 P utting

Children’s Needs First Improving outcomes for children in the child welfare system

46 D o

You Have a Detached Retina?

Signs and symptoms of retinal detachment

Features 16 M ills

Automotive Group How Damian Mills built an auto empire

Log on to pridemagazineonline.com for more features.

19 A.C.E.

Academy Nurtures Young Entrepreneurs Charter school students become early business owners

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Pride Educational Empowerment Program Is Revitalized PEEP inspires Charlotte students to thrive and succeed

22 Seniors

Overcome Covid Blues How older adults deal with isolation during the pandemic

24 Black

Girls Ride Bikes Too Biking group teaches girls to ride bikes with confidence

28 Best

of the Best 2021 Recognizing remarkable professionals

Cover photo by Tye Feimster

to Seek Business Investors What to expect when you have investors

On the Cover: Damian Mills of Mills Automotive Group May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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Charlotte’s African-American Magazine

CEO/Publisher Dee Dixon

Editor

Alicia Benjamin

Copy Editor

Sonja Whitemon

Lead Writer Angela Lindsay

Creative Director Larry Preslar

Design & Production SPARK Publications www.SPARKpublications.com

Distribution Watch Dog Entertainment®

©

Account Executive Nikelle Fesperman

Public Relations Nepherterra Estrada

Subscribe to Pride

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Letters to the Editor

Please send an e-mail to info@pridemagazine.net fax to 704-375-9550 or mail to Pride Magazine 8401 University Executive Park Drive, Ste. 122, Charlotte, NC 28262 www.pridemagazineonline.com

Copyright© 2021 Pride Magazine All rights reserved. Copying or reproduction, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited.

Pride Magazine reserves the right to deny any advertisement, listing or feature that does not meet Pride Magazine standards or that is outside the scope or mission of our magazine. Pride Magazine assumes no responsibility for information, products, services, or statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

Pride Magazine prints with soy ink.

Vol. 29 No. 3 May-June 2021 All rights reserved for PRIDE Communications Inc. Find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/PrideMagazineNC

May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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FromTheCEO Hi there! Welcome to the May/June business issue. Continuing the

By Dee Dixon

conversation around the racial wealth gap, I issued a call to you, our readers, to send in your thoughts about what we could do to bridge the gap in about 500 words. To my delight, we had several great entries. I’m pleased to share one with you now. We plan to share a couple more entries in subsequent issues.

Guest Columnist: Alisha Wallace-Smith

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he optimist in me believes there is a way to close the racial wealth gap. As a mother, with reflections of my own youth, my aim was to give my child the best, with love, education, experiences and discipline. If as a nation, we approached this question like a good parent raising many kids, would we limit the access to healthcare to some of our kids and only give the best care to our favorites? Of course not. Yet, I believe universal healthcare is a major factor impacting the wealth gap. With provisions that cover health from the cradle to the grave, meeting both preventative care as well as emergent care, and managed cost with pharmaceutical necessities, we would decrease the heavy cost of American healthcare by supporting a healthier population of people throughout our country.

Why is it such a priority to bail out financial institutions, automotive collaborators and airlines, while making American citizens carry ridiculous college debt just to try and earn a decent living? Forgive any college debt greater than $25,000 or that has been paid on for greater than 10 years. Additionally, by making higher education free would release people working for a better future from the financial bondage that adds stress and limits so many. When I was growing up, we had access to trade education to the middle and high school experience that gave students not interested in going to college options.

Restoring trade education would also catapult us in the right direction in all areas of our great nation. If our teachers were paid like the rock stars many of them are, as a nation, we would not simply see school as our weeklong daycare.

Let’s harness what we have learned during this pandemic and urge Congress to increase our investment in education, increase teacher’s pay and make teaching a desirable occupation in the U.S. again. In doing so, we would exponentially improve competitive talent, innovations, and excellence throughout our nation.

Finally, if we restore a sense of service to our youth before taking on all the responsibilities of adulthood, it will not take a pandemic for us to see each other in general and as an extension of one another regardless of race. Service in our nation’s armed services, community services, and non-profit civil service have been taxed heavily during this pandemic. Meeting the needs of our communities and country build true pride and a level of accountability we need much more of. Our wealth gap is about more than money, it draws from how we prioritize our values and sense of responsibility.

Alisha Wallace-Smith

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Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

Pitcher 1962-1963

Bats: R Throws: R

NotableNames

By Ryan Kouame

TIMITRA HILDEBRANDJONES

Timitra Hildebrand-Jones is the new vice president of diversity and inclusion at Albemarle Corporation.

Jones brings over 20 years of global human resources and leadership experience in strategic partnerships and expert consultation across multiple industries.

In this role, Jones will lead diversity and inclusion efforts as well as talent acquisition and learning and development initiatives.

Before joining Albemarle Corporation, Jones served as director of diversity & inclusion at Trane Technologies — a leading global climate innovator where she ensured the cultivation of work culture by collaborating closely with company leadership to equip and empower them to lead with an inclusive mindset.

Jones holds a diversity and inclusion certificate from Cornell University, a Master of Science in human resources and labor relations from North Carolina A&T State University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Jones is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

GEORGETTE GIGI DIXON

Georgette “Gigi” Dixon is director of external engagement for diverse segments of representation and inclusion at Wells Fargo. Dixon has over 38 years of experience managing marketing and national stakeholder relationships with demonstrated ability of strong business development, customer relationship management, and team building in the financial services industry.

Prior to becoming head of external engagement at Wells Fargo, Dixon served as the director of national partnerships where she was responsible for leading and coordinating Wells Fargo’s engagement and outreach to national nongovernment organizations and stakeholders. Since joining Wells Fargo in 1994, she has served as the marketing manager for wholesale banking, small business banking, and commercial banking to serving as director of emerging markets, strategic partnerships, and senior vice president of external relations.

Dixon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in speech communications and theater from Tennessee State University. Dixon also serves as a vice-chair for the NAACP, a corporate advisory board member for UnidosUS, chair of the Opera Carolina board of advisors, and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

JOE MACHICOTE

Joe Machicote is the chief diversity and inclusion officer for Premier, Inc., a healthcare improvement company. He has nearly 30 years of experience in human resources, organizational development, and diversity and inclusion.

Machicote is responsible for enhancing and formalizing a culture of diversity, inclusion and belonging within the company while creating an expansive vision and strategic plan.

Machicote has held multiple senior leadership roles throughout his career. Prior to joining Premier, he was the senior vice president, chief human resources officer, and chief diversity officer for Erickson Living, a large continuing care retirement community organization.

Machicote is passionate about community service and has chaired several community boards.

Machicote holds a bachelor’s degree in business marketing from Manhattanville College and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in organizational leadership from Quinnipiac University.

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Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

JASMINE ORLANDIS GARY

Jasmine Orlandis Gary is a media personality, content creator, and entrepreneur based in Charlotte. Gary earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication from Winthrop University.

After graduating from Winthrop University, Gary dealt with the uncertainty of the postgrad job search that many Black graduates face. Gary knew she had a contagious personality and a powerful presence that no one could take from her, so she decided to shift her mindset and curate her own lane in media.

“I was born out of strength and the will power to accept and share who I am with the world,” said Gary, who has hosted fashion shows, moderated panel discussions, podcasts, conducted street interviews and more.

“There may be millions of people doing the same thing as you, however, you are the only you and with that comes the power, the individuality and the only confidence no one else can have,” Gary said. P

ByFaith

Hope for Business Owners During the Pandemic

By Rev. Dr. Dwayne Bond

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ho could have ever predicted that the world would be facing a global pandemic and the need for worldwide vaccinations? Over the last year, all facets of our lives have been impacted by COVID-19. Uncertainty about the future, health and safety concerns, and inexplicable anxiety has hovered over the world.

Our lives have been forever changed. Likewise, the way we do business has changed. Some businesses have ended, while others have struggled to remain afloat. Surprisingly, some businesses have even thrived following drastic pivots. Individual business owners have had to hunker down and scale to meet the growing and changing demands of this difficult season.

This pandemic has taken a toll on every business owner as they have had to deal with anxiety and unanswered questions.

How will my business continue earning revenue? How will I be able to pay my staff? Will people still use my product or service during quarantine? Will I be able to feed my family? Will my business fail? Will I have to deplete my savings? What does my future look like? Will I be forced into retirement? Difficult decisions, challenging solutions and serious concerns have led many into a state of hyper vigilance and crippling worry.

In the midst of so much uncertainty and anxiety, the Bible has good news for the over-taxed heart and mind. The fact that the Bible talks about fear and anxiety validates the reality of its existence and prevalence. Fear and anxiety are normal in difficult times, but we must guard our hearts from becoming consumed with and paralyzed by it. The good news is that we can turn to the Bible for answers.

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:1718). Turning our attention and focus upon Jesus Christ brings relief and hope for the anxious heart. It brings deliverance and a divine rescue to our troubled hearts, increasing our trust in the Lord.

Although our outward situations may not change right away, we can experience inward peace.

Leaning on our own understanding in hard times often leads us to a place of restlessness, self-reliance and fear. In Proverbs 3:5-6, Solomon says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

This scripture points our hearts away from this hopeless place, toward the Lord’s direction and provision. Even business owners can entrust themselves, their futures and their businesses to God’s care. Whether times are good or hard, every blessing upon a business comes from the Lord.

Recognizing that God is the source of business success should help us turn to Him in difficult times instead of being crippled by our natural proclivity toward worry and self-reliance. Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and

whose hope is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah reminds us that our hope is not in ourselves, our businesses or our futures, but in the Lord. Something powerful happens within us when we trust Him. Stability guides our way. Dependence captures our gaze. Assurance and rest enter our souls.

What are you trusting in during this season? Who or what is your heart seeking to give you rest, comfort and stability? As you consider the future, focus on your need to put your hope, faith and trust in the Lord. He has never left you nor forsaken you.

He has kept food on your table and clothes on your back. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:33-34).

The Bible has the answers to today’s struggles. May you find hope and peace in this season as you turn your heart’s attention to the Lord’s provision, kindness and love for you. Commit your business and its success to Him and allow Him to guide you.

Your life and future are in the hands of a gracious and glorious God and Savior. P The Rev. Dwayne Bond is the lead pastor of Wellspring Church.

May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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BookReview

Read Books That Promote the Business of

By Angela Haigler

Believing in Yourself

“Black Angels: The Wealth Edition”

by Dr. Shantè Williams Dr. Shantè Williams, CEO of Black Pearl Global Investments, a $25M venture capital fund, wants us to tap into an area of financial potential that many Black people may be afraid to delve into — angel investing. Dr. Shantè’s guide examines that fear and offers pointers and suggestions.

You do not need millions of dollars to invest in a company, she advises. Investments can start small and still net lucrative dividends.

“Raising Confident and Empowered Black Kids: A Comprehensive Guide for Badass Black Parenting”

by M.J. Fievre Children are exposed to so much in their young lives and Black children have even more to absorb when faced with the realities of a society steeped in systemic racism. What can be done to strengthen their self-esteem and help them become confident and capable adults? This book answers that question, offering tips and solutions for the parents of Black and mixed-race children.

“Sure, I’ll Be Your Black Friend: Notes from the Other Side of the Fist Bump”

by Ben Phillippe Ben Phillippe has spent most of his life as the only Black friend in a sea of white spaces.

This memoir of linked essays shares his perspective on being the only Black friend in a hilarious way. According to Phillippe, it has not been easy and on many days, he questioned his existence. He also offers humorous takes on stereotypes. Somehow, he made peace and created shareable art through this collection of his experiences.

For the middle grade reader “It Doesn’t Take a Genius”

by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich When Emmett and his older brother Luke go off to a culturally historic camp, Emmett feels abandoned and alone. He soon realizes that camp is filled with lots of kids his age which provides an awesome learning opportunity around identity and selfhood. P .

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“We Are Each Other’s Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy”

by Natalie Baszile This homage to Black farmers, farming and their valuable contributions to society, is written

by Natalie Baszile, the author of Queen Sugar, now an OWN television series. Baszile’s book features delectable and creative essays, poems, photographs, quotes, conversations and firstperson stories that revolve around farmers, and their connection to the African American experience.

As Baszile notes, in the 1920s there were more than one million black farmers. Today there are just 45,000. This work stands as a testimony to those experiences.

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Protect Yourself and Those Vulnerable Around You:

COVID-19 Vaccines are Available for Anyone 16 or Older The Impact of COVID-19 in Our Community

According to Mecklenburg County, as of April 7, 2021, Blacks/African Americans (Blacks), who represent 34% of the population, currently represent 43% of COVID-19 community deaths (deaths that occur outside of long-term care facilities). This higher rate of severe illness and deaths is due to many factors including a higher rate of medical conditions like asthma, blood disorders, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, immunosuppressant medications, obesity or other long-standing systemic health and social inequities.

Photo courtesyof Evan Vucci AP

Why People Should Get Vaccinated

There are many reasons why we all should get the vaccine.

Most importantly, all of the approved vaccines will help protect you from getting COVID-19. COVID-19 can have serious, life-threatening complications, and there is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. Scientists are still learning about the potential short-term and long-term effects of having COVID-19, even if someone has what appears to be a mild case. If you don’t get the vaccine and you get sick, you could spread the disease to friends, family and other vulnerable people around you. Getting the vaccine, in addition to wearing a mask, social distancing and washing hands, are all important tools to slow the spread of COVID-19 so we can all get back to the people and places we love. Mecklenburg County is committed to ensuring that all residents have the information they want and need so they may get vaccinated.

Vaccine Safety

President Joe Biden speaks as Kizzmekia Corbett, an immunologist with the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institutes of Health looks on during a visit to the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the NIH, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Bethesda, Md.

Despite the Impact, Our Community is Behind on Vaccinations

Despite the risks to our physical, emotional and economic health, Blacks across the country and in Mecklenburg County have been significantly underrepresented in the people receiving vaccinations. As of April 12, 2021, only 17.1% of Blacks in Mecklenburg County vs. 30.1% of Whites in Mecklenburg County have been at least partially vaccinated. Leadership in Mecklenburg County and the State of North Carolina, along with their respective Health Departments, are committed to addressing any hesitation or inequity that might be contributing to these lower rates of vaccination. In fact, county and state leaders are building equity into every aspect of vaccine distribution to close the vaccination gap between white populations and all historically marginalized groups. The state and the county have both developed robust online tools to make it easier to register; aggressive communications campaigns; telephone hotlines to assist residents in accessing COVID-19 related services; educational sessions about COVID-19 and vaccines; transportation and other

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wrap-around services; and well-thought out vaccine distribution plans to ensure that vaccines are available for FREE to everyone 16 and older who wants the vaccine.

Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

Approximately 1/3 of all participants in the clinical trials were from diverse backgrounds, and over 100 million Americans have already been safely vaccinated.

There weren’t any shortcuts in developing the vaccine — scientists simply had a head start thanks to research on similar viruses. COVID-19 vaccines use technologies that researchers like North Carolina’s own Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett have been studying for decades. Dr. Corbett’s team at the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institutes of Health began the first stage of clinical trials leveraging knowledge they gained from years of research on similar viruses. After careful review of all the research, experts have confirmed that the vaccines are effective in helping to prevent COVID-19, severe illness and death. The two vaccines now in use in North Carolina, Moderna and Pfizer, continue not to show significant safety concerns. Out of an abundance of caution, North Carolina is following the recommendations of the FDA and CDC and has paused the administration of the J&J COVID19 vaccine until more is learned. The safety system in place is working as it should.

Vaccines are now available for everyone 16 and older and they are FREE. It does NOT matter if you have insurance or not, or even if you have an updated ID. U.S. citizenship is not required or checked. Nothing in the vaccine can be tracked and your privacy and personal information are always protected.

African American medical and social organizations are now urging us to get vaccinated including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Medical Association (of Black doctors), Old North State Medical Society

Percent of the Population at Least Partially Vaccinated by Race - Mecklenburg County Weekly Trend

Cumulative Total

(of African American Physicians), Morehouse School of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine, the National Black Nurses Association and the NAACP. The choice is now yours to protect yourself and those vulnerable around you. If we all get vaccinated, we can get back to the people and places we love. People who have ever had a severe allergic reaction including anaphylaxis, to any ingredient in a COVID-19 vaccine, to another vaccine, or to an injectable medicine should consult their doctor about getting the vaccine.

• Do not need to quarantine and test following a known exposure if they are asymptomatic.

Vaccine Efficacy

• At MeckNC.gov/COVID-19, Mecklenburg County residents can schedule appointments online with vaccine providers (including Atrium, Novant, StarMed Healthcare, CVS, Walgreens, and Harris Teeter) or join the Mecklenburg County appointment waitlist. Mecklenburg County Public Health opens new appointments weekly on Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. for appointments for the following week.

• If someone needs help, Mecklenburg County has resources to help. Get additional information on COVID-19, finding vaccines, help with transportation, help in scheduling a vaccination for someone who is stuck at home, or other services at: MeckNC.gov/COVID-19 or the Mecklenburg County Public Health Hotline at 980-314-9400 (Mon through Friday, 8 a.m.

– 5 p.m.; Saturday through Sunday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), or email MeckCVMS@MeckNC.gov.

• NCDHHS COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center at 888-675-4567 or find a vaccine appointment at MySpot.NC.gov (The Help Center is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. through 7 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday, 8 a.m. through 4 p.m.)

• Learn which vaccine options are near you by visiting VaccineFinder.org.

Multiple vaccines to protect people from COVID-19 are in various phases of development or approval. Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are now available in North Carolina. The best vaccine is the first one available to you. Both approved vaccines have been proven to help prevent COVID-19, both are effective at preventing severe illness or hospitalizations from COVID-19. Both are effective in preventing deaths from COVID- 19. NOW we ALL have the choice to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Life After Being Vaccinated

Full protection is considered to start at 14 days following the last dose. Scientists are still learning how long COVID-19 vaccines protect people and how well vaccines prevent you from spreading the virus; however, the CDC provides periodically updated guidance: “Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People” and “Travel During COVID-19.”

As of April 1, 2021, people who are fully vaccinated: • May visit in small gatherings with other fully vaccinated people without masks or physical distancing • May visit in small gatherings with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at a low risk for severe COVID-19 without masks or physical distancing • May travel safely within the US. (No need to test before or after travel unless their destination requires it and no need to selfquarantine as a result of travel.)

Fully vaccinated people should still take precautions in public like wearing a mask, physically distancing, washing hands, avoiding medium-large sized gatherings and getting tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Please check CDC.gov for the most up-todate information.

Getting Access to Vaccines

CountOnMeMECK is a public health initiative sponsored by Mecklenburg County and private industry to help our community to stay safe and get vaccinated during COVID-19.

May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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Driving Force How Damian Mills Built the Largest Black-Owned Auto Group in the U.S.

By Angela Lindsay | Photos by Tye Feimster

G

rowing up in Garyville, Louisiana, Damian Mills didn’t expect to receive his dream car — he just wanted a car. He never imagined that one day he’d be in a position to assist others with acquiring their own transportation. However, through ambition and hard work, Mills has done just that — amassing an impressive arsenal of 14 dealerships across three states, including Classic Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of South Charlotte and a Maserati franchise in Fort Mill, S.C. His fleet also includes Mercedes, BMW, Toyota and others.

Mills has come a long way from his college days when, as a freshman, he had to walk from dealership to dealership looking for a job, because he didn’t have his own car. His perseverance paid off and Mills landed a position at Crown Dodge in Greensboro while still enrolled at North Carolina A&T State University, majoring in business economics. He soon developed a passion for sales and was earning six figures by his second year of employment. By the time he was 25, Mills was promoted to finance and insurance manager and, in 1998, when he was 28, he became a Crown Automotive Group partner.

Now, at 47, Mills is president and CEO of Mills Automotive Group, recently named the largest black-owned auto dealership in the U.S. by the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD). Early in his career, he said he was drawn to the competition of his job. Selling cars was like playing sports, he said. Before long, his desire for ownership drove him to participate in a minority investment program given by Ford.

He left a steady job, took a 60% pay cut and invested all of his savings into what became his first dealership in Smithfield, North Carolina. It was a sacrificial leap of faith at the time for the young married father of three, but one that proved pivotal.

He expected to purchase his dealership in 7 years, but he did it in 22 months.

While the automobile industry can be very rewarding, it isn’t without its challenges, particularly for minority businesses, Mills said. Recognizing this, Mills has helped to train and advise several other African Americans on how to own their own dealerships. He also became keenly aware of the lack of Black people in leadership positions and, as former president of the Chrysler Minority Dealers Association, helped establish a Future Dealers Alliance to mentor future minority dealership managers.

He also sits on the board of the NAMAD.

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Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

“ Mills is president and

Now, at the age of 47,

CEO of Mills Automotive Group, the largest black-owned auto dealership in the U.S.

”

A major barrier that African Americans face when opening a dealership is a lack of capital, Mills said. “It’s not opportunities.

It’s not talent. It’s capital,” he said.

Then occasionally, there are unique circumstances that you can’t always forecast, such as the great recession of 2008-2009. “Our industry is very fragmented. A lot of the African American dealers were hampered and affected by the recession in ’08 and ’09, and our numbers came down drastically,” Mills said.

Yet, rather than scaling back during the recession, Mills doubled down and decided to build. During those times, the group experienced its largest growth and biggest successes. He acquired several new stores, and revenues spiked by 52% between 2009 – 2010. However, it was the dexterity and dedication of his most

Mills Automotove Group CEO, Damian Mills (right), meets with the company's CFO, John Flack (left).

valuable resource that made the difference — his people.

“We did not lay off a single employee (during the pandemic), and I was committed to doing that,” said Mills. “We didn’t do it in ’08 and ’09, and we didn’t do it this time.”

“He is truly authentic in every way,” said Jeffrey A. Cropp, director of corporate development, who started with Mills Automotive Group in the Management Company Division in 2012.

Authenticity is a major part of who Mills is, Cropp said. “He is a servant leader and definitely in my top five for work ethic.”

Mills operates his company based on “five pillars” of character, integrity, performance, work ethic and teamwork. He gained many of these principles from his mother who taught school for 54 years and his father who played AAA minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. Mills’ father taught him and his brother that, "It's not where you start, it’s where you end up,” he said.

While striving to be a successful leader and entrepreneur, Mills has fostered providing exceptional customer service, increased profits and productivity and cultivated a culture of mentorship and incentives.

“I have worked for two other very large companies and they both contributed to my maturity, both personally and professionally, but my time at Mills Automotive Group has been the most rewarding,”

Cropp said. “Here, I have a platform to totally be true to myself and my belief system. I get to be extremely creative and help others improve in the most critical areas of their lives. No one day is exactly the same.”

Helping people achieve and accomplish their goals is what Mills considers to be the most rewarding aspect of his work. “Being able to offer those opportunities to people you don’t normally see in this industry is extremely rewarding,” he said. To that end, Mills plans to continue to be an advocate for diversity in the industry by helping to increase training for minorities and communicating with manufacturers to create more opportunities and be more inclusive.

Mills makes sure that he and his team give back to the community by passing out meals to those in need, volunteering at the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and donating to various charities.

For his own motivation, Mills looks to a higher power. “I want to do everything that He put me here to do,” he said. “I don’t want to stop short of that.”

For others seeking wisdom, Mills suggests finding out what your passion is and not being afraid to step out on your own faith. “Even when the critics tell you it doesn’t make sense, if it makes sense in your mind’s eye, then go for it!” P

May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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I Got My Shot

“As an African American male, I’m well aware of the hesitancy across communities of color about the vaccine. We have researched the vaccine in great detail, and we are confident and assured that the vaccine is safe and effective.”

- Jerome Williams Jr., MD, cardiologist and Novant Health senior vice president

There are many reasons to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

For yourself, your family and your whole community.

Do your part. Stop the spread. Start the healing.

Get informed at GotMyShot.com © Novant Health, Inc. 2021 4/21 • GCM-731514

A.C.E. Academy Is Fostering the Next Generation of Leaders

Top Left: Mekoh Rogers, a.k.a.

DJ Mekoh, is one of the youngest DJs in Charlotte. Top Right: Yari Dariela, A.C.E. student business owner of Dariela's Sweet Taste, makes and sells her festive treats. Below: A.C.E. student, S.J., encourages people to drink his product, S.J.’s Everyday Juice, to stay healthy.

By Ryan Kouame Photos courtesy of Shawn Smalls

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ntrepreneurship is more than just building a business, it’s instilling confidence in the next generation to build sustainable sources of income that can serve them regardless of their future careers. As the world becomes more globalized and commercialized, learning about and creating businesses

as young people prepares students for future success.

That’s why Academics, Character, and Entrepreneurship (A.C.E.) Academy, a public charter school in Harrisburg, North Carolina, is such an invaluable part of the Charlotte area’s academic community.

The school’s mission is to help students from all backgrounds succeed in the colleges and careers of their choice by

driving academic excellence, developing strong character and instilling an entrepreneurial mindset.

About A.C.E. Academy

After years of hosting entrepreneurial after-school programs throughout the nation, Executive Director, Laila Minott, and Director of Entrepreneurship, Shawn Smalls, alongside many others saw a need

May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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and opportunity for creating generational wealth in underserved communities.

They came together as a team in 2014 to establish A.C.E. Academy with hopes to help prepare students for success in college and career readiness of their choice through strong character and entrepreneurial mindsets.

The Academics, Character, and Entrepreneurship Academy serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade and is fully funded by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, ensuring that students are not charged tuition for attending.

Students at A.C.E. Academy enroll using a lottery system and there is no need for current students to reapply each year, but students who are not accepted must reapply during open enrollment each November.

Taking the Classroom to the Real World

A.C.E. Academy’s “mini mogul” entrepreneurship program is designed to teach methods that successful entrepreneurs use today to develop, test and launch businesses while gaining skills around problem-solving and collaboration as they pursue their dreams and enter the workforce. The program, which currently includes approximately 25 students, works on developing business skills as early as kindergarten by integrating entrepreneurial skills and project-based learning into the traditional standardized state requirements.

Creating a learning community in which students are encouraged to generate ideas, set goals, have ownership in the curriculum, and to work hard fosters a culture of selfdiscovery and self-confidence to master the skills necessary to reach their goals. Entrepreneurship topics are incorporated into the curriculum of students in kindergarten through second grade. The students learn about different careers and explore professions they might like to explore in the future.

Students in the third through eighth grade start assessing their skill sets and developing how they can utilize them in their business ventures. They learn about the path of money and how it is

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A.C.E. Academy Director of Entrepreneurship, Shawn Smalls

spent, invested, donated and capitalized.

They also learn team building, conflict resolution, public speaking and selfdiscipline skills. Some of their projects include Shark Tanks, Ted Talks, social justice initiatives, business field trips, career fairs and writing business plans.

All children learn differently, and A.C.E. Academy is committed to providing instruction that maximizes each student’s potential. The school’s philosophy states that each child is a unique individual who needs a safe, secure, caring and stimulating atmosphere to grow and mature emotionally, intellectually, physically and socially.

A.C.E.’s Star Students

Two examples of A.C.E.’s shining star students are Yari Dariela and Mekoh Rogers. Yari is an eighth grader at A.C.E. Academy who makes and sells sweet treats. She started Dariela’s Sweet Taste in March 2020 when she got a kitchen appliance as a birthday gift. She started by making chocolate-covered strawberries and now makes birthday cakes, cupcakes and other custom sweet treats for the community. Yari's business has been booming with orders ever since. She was even featured on WCCB Charlotte.

“Our kids are turning a corner and their businesses are flourishing so much

that they’re having a challenge juggling their businesses and schoolwork,” said Minott.

Mekoh Rogers, also known as DJ Mekoh, is Charlotte’s youngest DJ who is booked and busy with gigs while remaining on the honor roll at A.C.E. Academy. Mekoh, a sixth grader, has been DJing since the age of four but decided to develop his skills more when the pandemic hit. DJ Mekoh has since performed his DJ skills for the school, Charlotte’s Kid’s Fest, virtual birthday parties and the University City Farmers Market.

“The power of music makes people dance and can change people’s lives so quickly after hearing a song,” said DJ Mekoh.

Other projects that the students are building into businesses include a natural juice company, tie-dye shirts, custom bracelets, candle makers and more. A.C.E. Academy is even developing a new marketplace where students can set up shops to sell products and services to each other, virtually and in-person, on the school’s campus.

“We’re teaching more than just academics, we’re creating moguls in the rough,” said Smalls.

Facing the Future

By eliminating the limits placed on students, A.C.E. Academy’s mission is to instill in students the necessary skills to succeed in any career. The goal is to build self-confident and self-motivated youth through hands-on activities and projects that focus on conflict resolution, personal finance, goal setting, time management, community building, ethics and collaboration.

To help fulfill that mission, there is a School Improvement Team that includes teachers, administrators, assistants and parents who help guide instruction and evaluate effectiveness.

Due to COVID-19, A.C.E. Academy is currently on a Blended Learning Plan that allows students to either attend digitally administered classes in-person or prerecorded remote lessons with enhanced digital curriculum. To learn more about A.C.E. Academy and their programs, visit the website at aceacademycharter.org. P

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By John Burton Jr.

nearly a quarter of senior adults were already socially isolated. Social isolation on seniors can have negative effects on mental and physical health like high blood pressure, heart disease, depression and dementia, according to a 2021 National Institute on Aging (NIA) report.

To combat isolation during a time of social distancing, the NIA recommends that seniors and their loved ones, devise strategies to achieve healthy outlooks for successful outcomes. “Older adults are at greater risk of COVID-19, but it is also critically important for them to maintain active social connections,” the report states.

F

Photo courtesy of First Baptist Church-West

or over a year, the coronavirus pandemic has shaken and disturbed the lives of people all over the world, and many older adults have found it especially hard to deal with the loneliness that comes with COVID isolation.

Although older adults have lived through bewildering times before, like world wars, stock market crashes and health crises such as measles and polio, many say COVID is far different. “This is the most devastating Mildred Grier experience I’ve had in my lifetime,” said Mildred Grier, 97. And the biggest reason is because of the social isolation lots of seniors are experiencing, she said.

“Regardless of one’s living arrangements, finances, and health — one circumstance is universal. Everyone is more isolated than usual during the pandemic,” said Matthew Russell, MD, a geriatrician at Massachusetts General Hospital, in a May 2020 MGH website article.

Some seniors who are more prone to anxiety are feeling very challenged, said Russell. “They are worriers and now, with lifestyles that are so much quieter, the worry has become that much louder.”

Before the pandemic began, the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging conducted in 2020, estimated

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Do a Mental Workout. Puzzles, books, crafting and listening to music are easy and inexpensive ways to keep your mind off the outside world. Many of these activities were things you enjoyed before the pandemic, so continue to do them. Lots of activities can be done virtually by using technology like smartphones, computers or voice-activated devices like Amazon's Alexa.

Tools to Help Fight Isolation:

Create To-Do Lists. Watching television every day can become humdrum. Creating a daily activity list is the perfect way to break the monotony. Everyone needs to have a sense of purpose, including seniors.

Having a To-Do List is one way of finding meaningfulness. Cleaning out closets, tossing out junk mail or doing some nonstrenuous exercises are ways to stay active while indoors with a satisfying result.

Embrace Technology.

Text messaging on smartphones and social services like FaceTime and Zoom have allowed many to see and talk with Mamie family and loved ones Cuthbertson virtually. While some seniors may be apprehensive about using

Maintaining a healthy outlook on life is the best solution during the vast amount of “alone time” many of us have during the pandemic. Think positively. Don’t ponder about what you’ve lost during the pandemic, but reimagine what you could gain. Take it from Grier, who turns 98 in May, “One thing I’ve learned in my life is trouble doesn’t last always.” P

Give Me A Buzz. Placing a phone call to a friend or family member to ask, “How are you doing?” aids in maintaining connections and offers mutual support. Phone calls with friends and family help people feel close when they have to stay apart. Hearing a familiar voice may be just the medicine some might need.

Photo by Del Crowell

Tune Out the Negativity. With so much isolation, many use the television as their COVID companion. Television news, although informative, can also increase anxiety levels due to negative updates. As with any good dessert, consumption in moderation is the healthier choice. Limiting television or news coverage can be beneficial.

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See the Difference

May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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Photos by Vanessa Clarke and Monica Hurley

Uphill Climb:

Teaching Black Girls How to Enjoy Riding Bikes

By Vanessa Clarke

V

enus and Serena Williams. Gabby Douglas.

Simone Biles.

Naomi Osaka. Laila Ali. These Black women sports icons have beat the odds and succeeded in sports fields that have traditionally been reserved for white athletes. The importance of these names and the faces behind them is representation.

Had Venus and Serena never arrived on the tennis scene, would we have a Naomi Osaka ready to accept the torch? From Dominique Dawes to Debi Thomas, Black women have slowly and steadily fought for representation in sports that haven’t always openly welcomed them. Cycling is one such sport that has featured few Black men and women among its professional or amateur ranks. It wasn’t until 2018 that the most well-known cycling event in the world, the Tour de France, had its first Black cyclist, Yohann Géne, in its more than 100-year history. That is not sufficient representation — especially for Black girls and women.

Wendy McCall and the Leave Fear Behind (LFB) bike group in Charlotte encourage Black women to join and enjoy the cycling world, and to lead healthier lives. “Childhood is often the last time people actively ride bikes,” McCall said.

Leave Fear Behind’s mission is to get women on bikes and to teach them how to bike safely. While LFB has year-round activities, including their community service

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Left to right: Wendy McCall works with the Leave Fear Behind organization to promote bicycling, bike maintenance knowledge and healthy living among its members. | Melanin in Motion, Leave Fear Behind and CLT Bike Camp will sponsor bike camps for girls this summer in June for girls 7 to 15 years old. | Biker Monica Hurley discovered the Leave Fear Behind group when she moved from Delaware to Charlotte last year. | Bethanie Johnson, Saundra Lewis and Wendy McCall are busy repairing bicycles for kids whose families can’t afford to buy bikes.

work, they spend more time riding on the streets of the city during the warmer months. This is when you can find members of LFB on their nighttime rides, 15-mile morning rides and running a summer camp for Black girls. As bystanders witness the women of LFB enthusiastically cycling throughout Charlotte, they get a sense of the welcoming culture of the group for people of all races, male and female.

Founded in 2014 by Nadine Ford, Lakeirra DeShaun Booth, and Kenna House, LFB has always advocated for women and youth in cycling. They support this through their volunteer work at the Charlotte Re-Cyclery where they rebuild bikes for kids whose families cannot afford them. To support their devotion to introducing young Black girls to cycling, Leave Fear Behind will partner with CLT Bike Camp, June 21-25, to sponsor and host Melanin in Motion Girl’s Bike Camps with age-appropriate sessions for girls ages 7-15. The summer camp will include a variety of weeklong, all-day sessions for a $330 fee. However, Leave Fear Behind and CLT Bike Camp will offer scholarships, sliding scale prices and the chance to own a bike through the Trips for Kids program, “Earn a Bike,” for families that can’t afford the cost.

These camps offer Black girls the tools needed to become safe and active cyclists. With classes that bike up to 15 miles a day, the camps provide a great way for young people to remain active in the summer.

Though LFB and CLT Bike Camp started to help introduce women and children to safe cycling, it has become so much more. The classes that LFB provides free to the community (with donations accepted) teach necessary skills for active cyclists. Along with teaching bicycling skills, LFB promotes a sense of sisterhood among its members and students. This was obvious as Wendy McCall, Saundra Lewis and Bethanie Johnson worked together to fix a difficult set of brakes on a sunny Saturday morning. They had a serious job to do, but they were enjoying each other's company.

When Monica Hurley moved from Delaware to Charlotte at the start of the pandemic, she had been training for a bike tour of the Provence region of France. This was going to be a big birthday trip for her, but her plans, like many others, were cancelled. Hurley found herself in a new state, isolated, and nowhere to workout.

Because she had been training for the bike tour, Hurley said that she felt comfortable looking for people to go biking with because the sport is “inherently socially distanced” and she needed it for her physical, mental and social wellness, she said. Through a chain of events, she found Leave Fear Behind and soon became a leader of some of the morning rides.

Marketers don’t target Black girls and women, and that’s why biking isn’t a popular sport for them, McCall said. The LFB organization and CLT Bike Camp are changing the narrative and providing exposure and support to Black women and girls who want to ride bikes. Leave Fear Behind includes young women to women in their 60s who share and swap expensive cycling gear, and often stop at black-owned businesses for a snack during their rides.

McCall recalled a ride when a newbie was at the tail-end of the group and was convinced that she couldn’t make it. The new rider said she was going to walk the bike up the hill, but McCall refused to allow it. She slowly biked the hill with the woman and was there to witness this biker’s joy once she reached the top. Establishing friendships, teaching new bikers to overcome obstacles like learning to safely speed downhill and how to watch for traffic, is at the heart of why LFB exits, McCall said.

For more information about CLT Bike Camp and Melanin in Motion Girl’s Bike Camps, visit cltbikecamp.org/events-public/.

Visit the Leave Fear Behind bike group on their Facebook page for more information. P

May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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10:02 AM

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Moments in Black History

Photo courtesy of Hawaiian

Archives

By Pride Staff

Sarah Rector as a child

Hawaiian Queen Lili’uokalani as a young girl

Sarah Rector:

Lili’uokalani:

In 1913, Sarah Rector, then 11 years old, was known as the “Richest Colored Girl in America,” earning more than $300 a day from oil found on land allocated to her as a descendant of slaves owned by the Muscogee Creek Indian Nation. Sarah’s land was infertile and not suitable for farming. Better land was reserved for whites and members of the Indian tribe. Since the land was infertile and its sale prohibited, Sarah’s father leased the land to Standard Oil in 1911 and oil was discovered in 1913.

As news of her wealth spread, Sarah received marriage proposals from white men from around the world, although she was only 12 years old. In 1913, the Oklahoma Legislature attempted to have her declared white under the guise of allowing Sarah to “reap the benefits of elevated social standing,” such as being able to ride in the first-class car on trains. The actual motivation of the legislature was that as a legal “white” woman, white men could legally marry and seize control of Sarah’s land and finances, thereby appropriating her wealth to the white community.

When Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Dubois and the NAACP became concerned with the welfare of the Rector family and intervened on Sarah’s behalf, the legislative effort was halted. Sarah enrolled in a boarding school at Tuskegee Institute and after she graduated, she enrolled in Tuskegee Institute as a college student.

At 18, Sarah was a millionaire. Sarah, who had three sons before she divorced her husband, lived a comfortable life and died in the late 1960s at the age of 65.

Very few people are aware that the original Hawaiians were Black people. Most archaeologists believe that human beings evolved on the African continent and spread from Africa into Europe, Asia, the Pacific Islands and the Americas. At some point, Black people explored and settled various islands of the Pacific Ocean such as New Guinea, Fiji, New Zealand and thousands more.

The first people to reach what is now Hawaii were Black people from Polynesia.

Lili’uokalani, known as Lydia Kamakaeha as a girl, was the first and last Black Queen of Hawaii. She succeeded her late brother to the throne in 1891. During her reign, she attempted to draft a new constitution that would restore the power of the monarchy and the voting rights of the economically disenfranchised, which were lost under her brother. White American businessmen and other proAmerican elements in Hawaii, threatened by her actions, overthrew the monarchy in 1893. U.S. Marines were dispatched to “protect” American interests, making it impossible for the monarchy to defend itself. The coup paved the way for the annexation of the islands to the United States.

After an unsuccessful uprising to restore the monarchy, the Queen was placed under house arrest in 1895 and was forced to abdicate the Hawaiian throne, ending the monarchy. Queen Lili’uokalani made other attempts to restore the monarchy and the rights of her people without success. She lived as a private citizen until she died in 1917.

Source: Black Enterprise article, “Meet Sarah Rector,” February 1, 2020

Source: Hawaii State Archives, State of Hawaii

“The Richest Colored Girl in America”

A Black Hawaiian Queen

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May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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Recognizing outstanding professionals in our community sponsored by Atrium Health and Novant Health.

There are well over 400,000 people in the Charlotte workforce, with future job growth expected to be around 42% over the next ten years. With numbers like these, it is sometimes difficult to give great employees the accolades they deserve.

This is why Pride Magazine continues to feature the “Best of the Best” employee recognition pages in its May/June Business Issue.

Striving for excellence in the workplace is a part of being a professional, no matter what the job. It includes doing quality work, taking initiative, being responsible, going the "extra mile" and being enthusiastic, solving problems, taking risks, a willingness to learn and more.

TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF CHARLOTTE'S BEST EMPLOYEES ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES AND LET'S GIVE THEM THE KUDOS THEY DESERVE.

presented by

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I NOVANT I HEALTH

Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

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Atrium Health

Albemarle Corporation Willie King

Senior Director of Engineering and Project Execution Willie has overall accountability for engineering, design and field implementation of capital projects for Albemarle's Bromine, Catalyst, and Fine Chemistry Services Global Business Units.

Atrium Health Saúl Amezquita

Senior Patient Experience Consultant, Population Health Saúl co-leads health literacy initiatives with specific emphasis on culturally and linguistically diverse communities. He also co-produced Atrium Health’s Spanish Language Community Townhall that addressed vaccine hesitancy.

Chris Branner, MD, MPH

Specialty Medical Director, Urgent Care Services Dr. Branner leads a team of providers and teammates across 35 Urgent Care locations in North and South Carolina; and is active in speaking out to address vaccine hesitancy in communities of color.

Rita Dominguez

Project Manager, Community Health Rita oversees the Latino/Hispanic Community Outreach for Community Health and Faith Community Health Ministry program. She also co-produced Atrium Health’s Spanish language Community Townhall that addressed vaccine hesitancy.

Trent Legare

Assistant Vice President, Community Care Trent leads strategy and operations for Atrium Health’s community-based mobile care models including primary care and COVID-19 response in vulnerable communities.

Gary Little, MD, MBA

Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Greater Charlotte Region Dr. Little leads and coordinates initiatives in quality, patient safety, physician & APP engagement, clinical operations, and system integration; to include the Atrium Health community COVID-19 response.

Canopy Realtor® Association Terri Marshall

Executive Director, Canopy Housing Foundation Terri works with Realtors® and community partners to address unmet housing needs and advocates for fair and affordable housing standards and practices.

Kim Walker

Public Relations and Media Specialist Kim is responsible for positioning the Association as the voice of real estate and Realtors® as the expert resource for home buyers and sellers.

Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Jessica Moore

Director, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Care Coordination Jessica leads a team of care coordinators and specialty team members who provide support and services to Cardinal Innovations’ IDD members and their families.

Kisha Price

Vice President, Claim & Benefit Administration Kisha leads the team that delivers customer service to Cardinal Innovations’ providers and has implemented improvements in managed care services for recipients as well as providers.

Charlotte Area Fund Ashley Williams

Director of Programs Ashley is responsible for managing and directing self-sufficiency programs and services implementation and compliance including Community Services Block Grant contracts and regulations.

Community Link Angela Cavender

Chief Administrative Officer Angela, a 20+ year Community Link veteran, provides essential administrative support that enhances the agency’s work in affordable housing.

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Tameka Gunn

Chief Program Officer Tameka supervises Community Link’s program management team and ensures the quality of all Community Link services. She joined the Community Link team in 2007.

specializing in liquidity management and complex lending services.

Annie Moyer

Senior Private Banker Annie assists business owners, executives, professionals and affluent individuals and families reach their financial goals, specializing in liquidity management and complex, custom lending services.

Coca-Cola Consolidated Nikita Sanders

Ed Timberlake

Director, Community Engagement Nikita is responsible for developing and executing initiatives and programs that drive customer engagement, brand loyalty and community goodwill.

Vice President, Small Business Community Lender Ed works with small business owners and entrepreneurs to help them gain access to capital and increase sustainability through advisement, lending and resource connection.

Duke Energy-Piedmont Natural Gas Sidney Logan Echevarria

Sr. HR Consultant, Workforce Planning & Development Sidney is responsible for establishing and managing programs and partnerships with education, government, and community organizations to build a pipeline of qualified, diverse talent for critical roles.

Ernst & Young Yele Aluko MD, MBA, FSCAI

Wendy Cheatham

Store Manager, Store #985, Charlotte, NC Wendy has served as an annual mentor in the Y-Achievers Summer Intern Program for over five years and has 33+ years of service with Food Lion.

William Cloud, Sr.

Chief Medical Officer and Member of Health Sector Board Dr. Aluko advises health system executives on strategy and business operations. He leads EY’s health equity solutioning, providing client competency in the elimination of health disparities.

Store Manager, Store #2243, Huntersville, NC A two-year veteran and 2020 Regional Store Manager of the Year, William manages retail operations, quality assurance, profitability and customer satisfaction. He also volunteers in Food Lion’s hunger relief efforts.

Malcomb Coley

Julius Gaines

EY-US Central Private Leader and Charlotte Managing Partner As the EY-US Central Private Leader, Malcomb oversees the growth of the US-Central core accounts across 22 states, 42 offices and over 16,000 colleagues.

Fifth Third Bank Olufemi “Femi” Lamikanra

Private Banker Femi is responsible for helping businesses, executives, professionals and affluent individuals and families reach their financial goals,

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Food Lion

Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

Store Manager, Store #106, Charlotte, NC Julius leads a team of 65 associates and is responsible for retail operations, staffing, growing sales, managing inventory levels, associate development, quality assurance, profitability and customer satisfaction.

Sonja Vega Rodriguez

Buyer and Merchandiser for Bakery Sonja is responsible for purchasing in the Bakery category, forecasting promotions, and procuring assortment.

She is also Chair of the Hispanic Latino Business Resource Group.

Foundation For The Carolinas Jill Blumenthal

Senior Donor Relations Specialist Jill has provided unmatched customer service to FFTC’s donors for 17 years and plays an integral role in the Foundation’s Equity and Inclusion Team.

Keva Womble

Senior Vice President of Community Programs Keva oversees FFTC’s regional grantmaking and scholarships programs.

She also leads the Foundation’s internal racial equity work.

Grant Thornton LLC Nora N. Richmond, CPA, CFE, CAMS

Senior Associate, Advisory Practice and Carolinas African American Business; Resource Group Champion Nora provides regulatory compliance and internal control services to clients in the financial services industry. Additionally, she coordinates initiatives for the Carolinas’ Business Resource Group Council.

INLIVIAN

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Jessie Dodson

Senior Merchant, Lumber Jessie ensures that lumber, one of Lowe’s top-selling products for our stores, is always top quality and available at the right price.

James J. Irby

Regional Field Director, Final Mile Delivery Operations James has more than 15 years of big-box retail leadership experience and oversees delivery operations for more than 135 stores and crossdock facilities across six states.

Sherreka Tharps

Director HR PRO Sales Sherreka supports Lowe’s Pro Sales, leading a team of HR professionals and providing strategic leadership to develop a people strategy that executes on key business initiatives.

Novant Health Dr. Abayomi Agbebi

Infectious Disease Physician, Novant Health Infectious Disease Specialists-Salisbury Dr. Agbebi provides remarkable care at NH Infectious Disease Specialists in Salisbury. He is Board certified in infectious disease and wound care and has a master’s degree in Public Health.

Dr. David Baker, III Jesse Dozier

Maintenance Technician Jesse Dozier is a Maintenance Technician and has served INLIVIAN for 31 years.

He has an outstanding performance, superior dedication, exceptional service and a positive attitude.

Johnson C. Smith University Terik Tidwell

Executive Director, Smith Tech-Innovation Center Terik develops and manages partnerships and programs to ensure inclusive innovation through JCSU’s STEM Innovation Initiative.

He is Board Chair of the African American Community Foundation.

Family Care Physician, Novant Heath Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic Dr. Baker, III is a bilingual family physician who is passionate about partnering with patients of all ages and backgrounds to achieve their full potential and working to address inequity in Charlotte.

Saad Ehtisham

Senior Vice President and President of Novant Health Greater Charlotte Market Saad is the President of Novant Health Greater Charlotte Market and NHPMC. Saad is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and holds an MHA and MBA from TWU.

Tammy Jones

Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Tammy, a global marketing executive, is responsible for leveraging the power of storytelling, consumer insights and May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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digital innovation to elevate NH’s brand experience and deliver on the promise of providing remarkable healthcare.

Tamara Smith

Vice President, Community Engagement Tamara is responsible for ensuring that Novant Health’s reputation is strengthened through proactive, intentional, and strategic social responsibility programs, health equity and upward mobility programs, and community partnerships.

Premier, Inc. Allison Golding

Vice President, Employee WellBeing and HR Operations In addition to her human resources responsibilities, Allison leads the activities and manages the coordination of ten Employee Resource Groups.

Stacy Mason

Vice President, Employee Relations Stacy leads the employee relations team and is a Champion for diversity initiatives, serving on the Employee Resource Groups and is a primary contact for Diversity partners like Pride Magazine.

Pride Magazine Tye Feimster

Distribution Manager Tye, with 15+ years with Pride, is responsible for distribution of the magazine.

He also handles accounting and payroll, provides photography, website and social media support and works behind the scenes on events and programs.

Pride Public Relations Nepherterra Best

Director and Chief Communications Officer A co-founder of Pride Public Relations, Nepherterra’s PR acumen and highly developed skills as a strategist and tactician have positioned the organization to effectively serve governmental, corporate and nonprofit entities.

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Rodgers Builders James Clayton

Senior Director, Diversity and Community Development James’ responsibilities include outreach and prequalification of MSWBE and HUB trade contractors and helping them build their capacity. He also engages with organizations that promote the utilization of MSWBE and local businesses.

Conroy Parchment

Construction Manager Conroy leads the onsite project operations staff during the preconstruction and construction phases of a project and oversees all phases of construction, working closely with teammates to accomplish the project goals.

Self-Help Credit Union Donnetta Collier

Senior Financial Coach Donnetta leads the financial capability work in the Charlotte Region. With 30 years of experience, she is uniquely qualified to provide financial coaching and workshops to help the underserved achieve their financial goals.

Truist Bank Rondell Gaddist

Vice President & Business Banking Relationship Manager for the Metrolina Region Rondell manages a large lending and deposit portfolio of businesses across the Charlotte Market. As a top performer, he is a Truist Performance Award recipient.

Len Lopez

Senior Vice President Division Investment Director, Truist Wealth Len leads a team of investment professionals for the central and western divisions of Truist Wealth and serves as the co-enterprise lead for the Hispanics Organizing Purpose & Engagement (HOPE) BRG.

Lissa J. Miller

Senior Vice President/Chief Supplier Diversity Officer Lissa is responsible for working with Truist lines of business and functions to expand the utilization of qualified minority, women, veteran, disabled, LGBT-owned and small businesses.

UNC Charlotte Byron White, Ed.D.

Associate Provost, Urban Research & Community Engagement Dr. White is a transformational leader who works to connect UNC Charlotte and the community through research, collaboration, and engaged scholarship to help build a thriving, inclusive region.

WCNC Juanita Barrett

Sales Account Manager Juanita is the key point of contact for clients after ad solutions are sold. She coordinates the fulfillment process to ensure clients achieve the desired business results.

Michelle Boudin

U.S. Bank Ashley Cumberbatch

Vice President, District Manager Ashley oversees consumer banking operations and digital strategy. She is passionate about building and serving a diverse customer base and making a difference personally and with her team.

Jeffrey Gatica

Vice President, Community Affairs Manager Jeff spearheads community engagement, corporate contributions and strategic partnerships that are aligned with community needs and the bank’s commitment to supporting family financial stability and building sustainable and equitable communities.

Jasmine Johnson

Affordable Housing Strategy and Operations Project Manager; U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation Jasmine supports strategic initiatives and operational improvement within the Affordable Housing business line. She also serves on the Advisory Committee for Freedom Communities, which supports investments in the Northwest corridor.

Investigative Reporter Specializing in investigative journalism, Michelle is a key part of the station’s “Where’s The Money” franchise helping consumers and businesses solve problems.

Stephanie Mackey

Brand Manager As part of a diversity and inclusion group, Stephanie leads the development of programs designed to drive meaningful and lasting change and create a culture where everyone is valued.

Larry Sprinkle

Weather Anchor Larry reports the weather at WCNC. When not on TV, he often serves as a fundraising auctioneer for community events and has helped raise over $12M in the past 20 years. P

James McDuffie

Community Lending Area Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Region James’ focus is boosting home ownership within diverse communities and ensuring that U.S. Bank provides attention and support to consumers fairly and consistently.

May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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Charlotte Business INClusion can help you do business with the City of Charlotte.

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Call Charlotte Business INClusion to get started, (704) 336-4137 or visit charlottebusinessinclusion.com.

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Corporate Champions

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Give or learn more at CommunityLinkNC.org

PEEP Is Being Reborn

By Alicia Benjamin and Kaycee McGee

R-i-s-e / Shuuterstock.com

W

hen Pride Magazine featured the story, “Who Will Save Our Children,” in a 2006 issue that told the daunting story of how many Black children in the Charlotte area were severely neglected, Dee Dixon, Pride Magazine’s CEO and Publisher was motivated to do something to help the children.

The next year, Dixon founded the nonprofit organization, Pride Entrepreneur Education Program (PEEP), to empower African American youth.

The program is being revitalized, and the acronym PEEP now stands for the Pride Educational Empowerment Program.

“We're broadening Dee Dixon, CEO our scope, revamped our and Publisher of website, getting new board Pride Magazine members and planning dynamic programs," said Dixon.

Because many students of color don’t see career or entrepreneurial success for themselves, PEEP partnered with local corporations, nonprofits and small business owners to mentor students to help them succeed.

PEEP became instrumental in encouraging children to learn a trade or skill and prepared them to explore small business ownership.

For more than a decade, PEEP has awarded over $96,000 in scholarships to Former PEEP students, Dixon said. scholarship recipient, These scholarships Joi Emanuel, now have helped students serves on the organization’s board pay for tuition and books. of directors.

Former PEEP scholarship recipient, Joi Emanuel, is now one of the youngest and newest members of PEEP’s working board of directors. Emanuel is a graduate of Harding University High School and is currently a member of the CharlotteMecklenburg Police Department.

“PEEP helped me to go to school and helped to cover the cost of my

PRIDE $3.75

Charlotte’s African American Magazine

September - November 2006

Who will save our children?

Social ills cause our youth poor health, poor treatment, and damaged lives.

Type II Diabetes Not Just for Adults Young People Overcome the Odds of Serious Illness Too Many Black Children Weigh Too Much PM0906-Fin2.indd 1

8/24/06 10:38:52 PM

A cover story in this Pride Magazine 2006 issue motivated CEO and Publisher Dee Dixon to create PEEP to support, educate and inspire Black children in Charlotte to reach their full potential as future professionals and entrepreneurs.

books during my freshman year at Fayetteville State University,” she said. “Now I’m a board member and with me working with CMPD and being younger, I feel like I can give a younger perspective. I also feel like I’m able to listen to what the youth wants.

Emanuel said she would like to see more advocates join PEEP to help support the students. “PEEP needs a voice, and we want families to know that there are more methods and resources out there to help their kids go to college,” she said.

PEEP will now focus on teaching students career development, entrepreneurship and wealth creation.

“These pillars of learning are essential in all students’ development,” said Dixon.

Pride Magazine and Dixon are calling on the community to help.

“PEEP is looking for additional board members and we’re seeking donations,” she said. If you’re interested in speaking at an event, making a charitable donation or joining PEEPs board of directors, please contact Dixon online at PeepCharlotte.org, on Instagram @PEEPCharlotte or directly at dee@pridecommunications.net. P May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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NXT | CLT

Helps Small Businesses Succeed

Photo by Ebony Stubbs

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36

t can be challenging for minorityowned businesses to get off the ground, let alone remain sustainable for generations.

While full of potential, too often these enterprises aren’t given the opportunities necessary to grow to the next level. Recognizing this challenge, business accelerator NXT Charlotte (NXT | CLT) has stepped in to give these companies a step up.

NXT | CLT operates as a publicprivate partnership between the city of Charlotte, local companies and corporate partners and works to help Charlotte’s entrepreneurs of color succeed in high-growth sectors. The initiative helps create a pathway of success for high-potential small and new minority-owned businesses by helping to build their networks, secure new business opportunities and scale their businesses.

“What sets NXT | CLT apart from other programs is that we have the backing of business leaders from a cross section of our community advising our participants and connecting them with valuable networks so they can grow,” said Greg Johnson, NXT | CLT strategic advisor and founder and managing director of Orbital Socket.

“We don’t have a lot of relationships that some of our [white] counterparts may have,” said Derrick Davis, NXT | CLT community advisor and principal Derrick Davis, Principal and co-founder at Informatic Concepts of Informatic and NXT | CLT Advisor Concepts. “We don’t Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

have the same access to capital,” he said. “We don’t have that generational wealth. NXT | CLT wants to fill that gap and help the minority ecosystem flourish and thrive.”

To achieve these goals, NXT | CLT participants receive specialized guidance, mentorship, foundational resources and support to help them move toward identifiable business goals. The program focuses on three main areas: management education, market development and access to capital. This method informs why NXT | CLT cohorts are comprised of only 6 to10 businesses at a time, as they conduct an in-depth examination of the companies to uncover what they really need.

“We have a curriculum that’s custom-made for every cohort that comes in,” Davis said. “It helps participants manage their business and helps them look at their business in a different way,” he said. “What makes this so unique is every curriculum is unique to that class. Think of NXT | CLT as being a boutique as opposed to a box chain store.”

The program offers the participating businesses a team of advisors who are captains of industries within the Charlotte area and around the country. The advisors provide their knowledge and social capital by connecting the growing entrepreneurs to companies that they may otherwise be unable to broker on their own.

In addition, NXT | CLT provides a $15,000 investment to all participants.

“This is not a blank check for the participants,” Davis said. “This is a way to give participants the marching

Photo by Julia Murray

By Angela Lindsay

Greg Johnson, founder and managing director of Orbital Socket, and NXT | CLT strategic advisor

orders to make changes in their business. We’re giving them the tools to carry them out.”

NXT | CLT initially began with a meeting between its brainchild Greg Johnson and Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones. After the two leaders discussed the landscape of minority businesses in the Charlotte area, Johnson contacted several other local business leaders who then attended a series of meetings with Jones who provided them with the resources to start NXT | CLT. “The great thing about NXT | CLT is with it being developed by minority entrepreneurs, we really know what we want to see,” Davis said. “For myself, I’ve attended a lot of courses, and I always see what’s lacking,” he said. “So, we were able to develop what we wanted to see within the marketplace.”

To be eligible for selection, applicants must meet certain requirements. They must have: an ethnic minority business owner with 51% or greater ownership of the business, more than $250,000 in annual revenues, one other employee besides the business owner(s), been in business for at least three years, and headquarters in Charlotte. But the biggest consideration is the mindset

— Derrick Davis, Principal at Informatic Concepts and NXT | CLT Advisor of the participants, said Davis. “You have to be at a place in your business where you’re open to change,” he said. Program participants hold monthly, self-directed meetings where they exchange ideas and expertise.

The inaugural cohort was formed in July 2020 and included eight entrepreneurs who completed their 6-month process in early 2021. While participants represent a diverse range of businesses, the program particularly focuses on high-growth industries such as construction, real estate, professional services, fintech and technology. NXT | CLT is currently working with its second cohort of entrepreneurs which began in late March. The goal is to increase the number of these businesses in the area while creating an ecosystem of effective support for many more.

Although in-person connectivity isn’t possible at the moment due to the pandemic, Davis says NXT | CLT’s learning and community efforts weren’t terribly affected. “When we look at the isolation that a lot of us experience through the pandemic, NXT | CLT was definitely a welcome gathering of like-minded people,” said Travis Manigan, a participant and CEO of Gradify, a college and career engagement platform. Being

able to share business goals with cohort members helped to create a closer bond, Manigan said.

Manigan adds that while NXT | CLT is a program he would highly recommend to other entrepreneurs, they need to be prepared to fully engage in the program.

Participants have a responsibility to help nurture the small business ecosystem that NXT | CLT nurtures that will ultimately help all of the participants in the program succeed, Manigan said. “It’s a great honor to be selected, and entrepreneurs should wear it as a badge of honor, and they should bring their whole selves to the process.”

The cohort is just one part of the organization. Eventually, NXT | CLT plans to offer master classes, lectures and a curated environment for the community-at-large where collaboration and connections can lead to increased business expansions and greater success.

“One thing that was missing in Charlotte was connectivity for minority entrepreneurs,” Davis said.

“What we really want to see is this unit thrive, grow, connect and help each other. That’s where the real change begins.” P

Alana Weaver Bennett, Party In A Tent

Ana Sai, COMNet Group Inc.

Anita Stanton, Miles Enterprise Solutions

Nia McAdoo, Amped Events, LLC

Pushpinder S. Garcha, Golden Tech Systems, Inc.

Roland Udenze, RenzCo

Dr. Tracei D. Ball, OnCall Mobile Medical and Wellness

Travis Manigan, GAMEPLAN

Photos by Jon Strayhorn

“One thing that was missing in Charlotte was connectivity for minority entrepreneurs. What we really want to see is this unit thrive, grow, connect and help each other. That’s where the real change begins.”

Photos by Jon Strayhorn

The Inaugural NXT | CLT 2020 Cohort Entrepreneurs:

May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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Retail Closures Leave a Gap in the Job Market

By Sonja Whitemon

T

he retail industry has been a dominant source of employment in the U.S. for decades, employing more people than the airline, banking or hotel industries. But retail has been on the decline for years, long before COVID-19 came on the scene. The convenience of online shopping and selfcheckouts have contributed to a consistent erosion in retail jobs.

For 15 years or more, we have seen familiar brands permanently shuttered including Linens 'N Things, Toys R Us and Circuit City. Casual Corner, Sports Authority, The Limited and Payless Shoes all have closed their storefronts. Though still in business, retail giants like Sears and Kmart are just a shadow of their former selves.

These retailers have closed more than 3,500 stores and cut about 250,000 jobs in the past 15 years. The fate of JCPenney, now in bankruptcy, has been in question for nearly 20 years and local icon Belk recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, saving it from liquidation for now. Had the brand gone under, nearly 22,000 workers would have lost their jobs.

These store closing announcements come and go. The stores are here and then they are gone and are mostly forgotten, but when you consider the total impact on employment and the industry as a whole, this is no small matter. Behind every store that closes, there are people who have lost their incomes. While America mourns the loss of 8,000 coal mining jobs last year, nearly 400,000 jobs were lost in retail, according to MSNBC. Some analysts believe many of these jobs may never come back.

Despite the decades long decline, nothing has impacted the industry like COVID-19.

While all jobs are important, retail is one of the most important employment sectors in the country for a number of reasons. Retail jobs were in abundance.

Even during the later declining years, before COVID-19, there were always jobs available and on-the-job training made it a great source of employment for those who needed employment quickly and those with little work experience. Retail also offers flexible hours, evenings and weekends, popular with

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Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

“A lot of people don’t look at retail as experience, but it definitely is, especially if you have worked in management.

I think employers should consider that you have worked with people.”

— Lorraine McBee, former manager of Stein Mart in Pineville, N.C. students and those needing a second source of income.

So, what happens to retail workers when these stores go out of business? CareerFlex is a company that specializes in helping retail employees left behind after store closures.

According to Dominick Keefe, founder of CareerFlex, laid-off retail workers often go into other retail jobs.

“Despite job market constraints imposed

by Covid, most CareerFlex job seekers have found success transitioning from one retailer to another while those that don’t, switch industries altogether,” said Keefe.

In fact, some sectors of the retail industry are still doing well. Home improvement stores and grocery stores, for example, are thriving and hiring amid the Coronavirus outbreak. Burlington, formerly Burlington Coat Factory, announced plans to expand its store count from 1,000 to 2,000 this year.

Lorraine McBee agrees. A 27-year veteran of retail management, she was most recently the manager of Stein Mart in Pineville, North Carolina, until the store closed in October, leaving about 40 employees out of work.

According to McBee, some employees have found other retail jobs, but for those interested in moving into other lines of work, she points out that many skills used in retail are skills used in every business and therefore transferrable to other industries.

“A lot of people don’t look at retail as experience, but it definitely is, especially if you have worked in management. I think employers should consider that you have worked with people,” McBee said. “There are people who have left and totally changed careers. The people that I’ve talked to have also gone into different things like banking and finance and teaching.”

As retail is declining, the call center business is exploding. There are more than 100 companies that hire for call center work in Charlotte. These companies are in banking, insurance, retail chains, health care and more. Like retail, call centers also provide on-the job-training. They often pay slightly more than store-based retail jobs.

Other careers where retail skills might be valuable are bank teller, real estate agent and insurance agent. In real estate and insurance there are other support positions that could be available as well. Other positions that might be of interest include dental hygienist, registered nurse, massage therapist, HVAC technician, cosmetology and phlebotomy technician. Most of these careers require some advanced training.

CareerFlex recommends those who are facing layoff in retail, make a plan.

CareerFlex Vice President, Alex McKeown, encourages job seekers to “be intentional with your efforts.” He recommends that applicants customize their application for the job. “Read the job description carefully, understand what the [employer] is looking for and tailor your application to fit that description,” McKeown said. “It may take more time to apply to each job, but it will pay dividends and help you stand out from the crowd.” P

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May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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Tips, Tools and Resources for Black Business Owners Looking to Make a Strong Recovery in 2021

By Les Lambert, Charlotte-Triad Business Banking Market Executive, Bank of America

L

40

ast year, 2020, was a challenging year for all. While small businesses nationwide faced unique obstacles brought on by the coronavirus, Black small business owners, in particular, have been disproportionally impacted by the pandemic – with one study showing that half may not survive. Despite these challenges, new research from Bank of America, based on a survey of 300 Black entrepreneurs nationwide, found they remained resilient and flexible as they navigated through an evolving and uncertain business landscape. In response to the impacts of the pandemic, 48% of Black entrepreneurs retooled their

to reignite growth and plan for financial success this year.

Reevaluate your business plan. Given today’s environment, it’s critical to evolve and adjust your business plan by mapping out key areas of need and growth, and identifying potential risk areas uncovered during the pandemic. Ask yourself, how did your business track last year against the projections you made heading into 2020?

Are there successes from the second half of 2020 you can build on? What solutions worked best for your business as you managed the impact of the coronavirus? As we’re still in a time of uncertainty, err on the side of caution and ensure your plan allows room for evolution and adjustment.

operations – a figure that’s double that of the national average. Many Black business owners also found creative ways to reinvent themselves by developing new products or services, and even more donated resources to support relief efforts in their local communities.

While it’s challenging to predict what exactly our path to economic recovery will look like, Black small businesses will play a significant role. To support this vision, Black entrepreneurs can take three steps

Explore financing options. Our team at Bank of America is taking steps to directly engage with minority business owners to ensure they have access to the tools and resources necessary to secure funding. Our small business bankers will continue to support business owners as they navigate the Paycheck Protection Program process. They’ll discuss traditional loan product options to fit individual needs such as purchasing inventory, refinancing debt or financing account receivables.

Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

When exploring financing options, a few questions to consider include: What goals have you identified that require additional financing? Are you looking to boost your head count? Did you have expansion plans that you paused? Are any structural or technological enhancements needed in the coming year? Once you identify 2021 goals and beyond, sit down with your small business banker to determine the right financing solution for you.

Bankers can also help connect business owners who may not qualify for traditional bank financing to our network of community development financial institution (CDFI) partners across the country, that are working to increase access to capital for business owners who have historically faced barriers. Bank of America is the largest investor in CDFIs in the U.S., with more than $1.6 billion in loans and investments to over 250 CDFIs. We also recently committed $200 million to direct equity investments in Black- and Hispanic-Latino-owned businesses, to help supply growth capital as well as to invest substantially in programs to create future entrepreneurs.

Go digital. Businesses nationwide have had to adjust aspects of their operations due to the pandemic, including enhancing sanitation practices, changing primary revenue streams and shifting sales from brick-and-mortar to online. As we continue to adhere to social distancing requirements, consider banking digitally to limit in-person interactions, and free up time to remain focused on running your business. Connect with your banker on digital options available to you. For example, at Bank of America, we offer a full suite of small business digital capabilities, including Cash Flow Monitor, a no-cost dashboard that provides an easy way to manage, track and project your business cash flow.

The pandemic has challenged Black business owners to find new and innovative ways to meet the needs of their businesses, employees, customers and communities.

Following the steps outlined above can help address opportunities and challenges 2021 may bring. Some especially encouraging news for the small business community in Charlotte is that our research found that four-in-five Black entrepreneurs say once we’re on the other side of the pandemic, they believe small business will return to being the backbone of the U.S. economy.

We look forward to partnering with you and your business to make that a reality! P

PrideBusiness

money back? This question will be posed in different ways, but ultimately investors are in the business of making money grow.

There are some key business elements that need to be in place and make conversations with investors a bit easier.

1

Be clear on the business that you are in. Many entrepreneurs find themselves doing several things to bring in revenue. While multiple revenue streams are generally thought to be a good thing, all revenue lines should be relevant to your core business. This will tell potential investors that you are out of the discovery mode and will not be brainstorming on their dime.

2

I

n the business investing world there is a common joke: “What is the secondbest day of an entrepreneur's life?

The day you get an investor! So, then what is the best day of your life?

The day you get rid of your investor.

While the joke might be corny, it very accurately depicts the tricky terrain that an entrepreneur must navigate as it relates to investment. Capital is necessary to adequately grow and scale a business, but many Black businesses find it difficult to attract funding. The traditional sources for money for a new business include personal savings, credit cards, friends and family, and bank loans. These methods of “bootstrapping” or self-funding your business can get you only so far.

If you really want to scale you may need to attract an investor. But if you want to catch an investor, you have to think like one. Every investor, whether an individual, a venture capital fund, or a bank, only wants to know the answer to one question — How am I going to make my

Know who your customers are.

Exactly who is your customer base? No, the answer is not everyone will want what I am selling. That answer is a major red flag for a potential investor. You should be able to tell the potential investor exactly who your revenue is most likely to come from.

This information may include gender, age, level of education, marital status, purchase habit and so on. This will demonstrate that you are tuned in to your customer base and it will tell them how many other potential customers are still left untouched. Having a customer base that is too small could mean your growth potential is limited, which translates to less money returned in investment.

3

Know your numbers. This is often the weakest area for startups. Many people shy away from the financials, but numbers do not lie. You will need to know what your traction is — in other words, how much are you making? This may be measured as year-over-year, month-over-month or even week-over-week growth. The point is, you should be able to show movement.

This shows consistency, which is not a bad thing. It shows a reliable customer base and may highlight the need for some investor fuel to grow. Do not be ashamed of where you are. All businesses start somewhere.

Make sure you are transparent and honest.

There’s no need to inflate your hard work.

The other important number to include is how much it takes to run the business every month. Also referred to as your burn rate. This lets the potential investor know how long the money will last.

4

Map out the future. Know how you want to grow your business.

This may include plans for staffing up, expanding into a new territory, changing the marketing strategy or developing a new product. By having a well thought out plan, you will be able to easily explain how you will use the funds. Keep in mind every investor is different, so they may not be willing to fund some costs. For example, providing a full-time salary for the founder of the company may not be something investors want to cover. While it has been shown that a full-time business owner/ founder is more successful than someone who has to struggle to make ends meet, a six-figure salary may not be in your near future.

Bringing on an investor is a major step that can either ramp up your growth or lead to frustration. Attracting a good investor is like finding a life partner. You will both need to have aligned purpose, expectations and definitions of success. It is important to get to know your potential investor. Do your research. You should ask questions about their previous investments, understand how involved they may want to be, pay close attention to how they communicate with you and your team.

Remember, investing is typically a longterm commitment and there is usually no such thing as a silent investor. I advise many entrepreneurs that if you want my money then you also want my opinion. The two are not sold separately. As you prepare to take your business to the next level, make sure that you are truly ready to take on more capital, have additional oversight, and make everyone’s money move. Still want that investor? P May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

alphaspirit.it / Shutterstock.com

By Dr. Shanté Williams

So, You Think You Want an Investor?

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PrideBusiness FYI News & Notes Compiled by John Burton, Jr.

The Charlotte Museum of History Raises $500,000 to Save Historic Black School The Charlotte Museum of History announced it raised $500,000 in cash, pledges and in-kind donations earlier this year to save the historic Siloam School.

These gifts bring the project halfway toward its $1 million fundraising goal and will be used to restore and preserve the historic school building and make it available as a community resource and center for history programs.

An African American community centered on the Siloam Church in rural northeast Charlotte built the school in the early 1920s to give their children a quality education despite segregation.

“When this project is complete, the restored Siloam School will become an important tool in teaching future generations about the history of discrimination, injustice and inequity that still impacts us today,” said Fannie Flono, chair of the Save Siloam School Project and trustee of The Charlotte Museum of History.

“Equally important, the school will serve as a tangible testament to the African Americans who built it and whose children thrived there despite the scourge of segregation,” Flono said.

“It is heartening to see the Charlotte community meet this fundraising milestone and stand up together to save this history.”

My Brother’s Keeper Charlotte-Mecklenburg Receives Non-Profit Status My Brother’s Keeper Charlotte-Mecklenburg (MBKCLT MECK), an organization that serves to lessen the persistent opportunity gaps that boys and young men of color experience, announced that it is the first in the National Alliance to receive its independent 501(c)(3) status. The organization was established as part of former President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance.

My Brother’s Keeper Charlotte-Mecklenburg joined the National Alliance in 2018 and uses an innovative approach to support boys and young men of color throughout Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

“The charge of My Brother’s Keeper CharlotteMecklenburg is a simple one — to ignite the greatness of every boy and young man of color in our community while removing barriers to success,” said Thomas.

“Having our nonprofit status and a formal Board of Directors is an exciting milestone,” he said.

My Brother’s Keeper Charlotte-Mecklenburg seeks to collaborate through a collective impact model, leveraging the power of partnerships and harnessing existing interconnected systems and relationships to make a collective impact.

U.S. Bank Working in Charlotte to Help Bridge Racial Wealth Gap Minneapolis-based U.S. Bank has launched a longterm initiative to address the racial wealth gap in the Charlotte market.

The U.S. Bank Access Commitment will focus on three primary areas: supporting businesses owned by people of color, helping individuals and communities of color advance economically and enhancing career opportunities for employees and prospective employees.

The ongoing work builds on the $116 million commitment made by U.S. Bank in 2020, including increased supplier spend, innovative products, services and transformative customer experiences and long-term place-based partnerships with the goal of addressing the persistent racial wealth gap, starting with the Black community.

“We believe access to capital for minority small business, housing and homeownership and workforce advancement creates opportunities for systemic change,” said Andy Cecere, chairman, president and CEO of U.S. Bank.

“Launching U.S. Bank Access Commitment is an important next step in our focus on addressing the racial wealth gap, which suppresses opportunity for all Americans, and creating opportunities for all stakeholders to realize their full economic potential,” said Greg Cunningham, U.S. Bank chief diversity officer.

WCNC Charlotte and Pride Magazine Announce Strategic Partnership WCNC Charlotte and Pride Magazine today announced a new strategic partnership that will share content resources across digital, social media, print and television.

The goal of the partnership is to collaborate and create meaningful stories and community engagement with lasting impact. Both Pride Magazine and WCNC Charlotte want to champion storytelling on those excelling in the community, breaking news across greater Charlotte and bring an increased focus to the annual Pride Awards and Pride Magazine's “Best of the Best.”

“Our team wants to be more involved in our community and no one knows Charlotte better than Pride Magazine Publisher Dee Dixon,” said WCNC Charlotte President and General Manager Joan Barrett. “She is a powerhouse in the community and a successful business entrepreneur. We're excited to work alongside Dee and grow this partnership further in years to come.”

“We're excited about our partnership with WCNC Charlotte,” said Dixon. “The station has been a stalwart in support of our Pride Awards event for many years, providing invaluable exposure for Charlotte's African American community.

We truly value our relationship with WCNC and feel this is a win-win for both entities.”

As part of the agreement, WCNC Charlotte and Pride Magazine will continue to work together for the annual Pride Awards. Pride Magazine will publish breaking news headlines from WCNC Charlotte on pridemagazineonline.com.

WCNC Charlotte will profile a story from each bi-monthly magazine issue to help expand WCNC’s franchise series “For the Culture.” Additionally, WCNC Charlotte will be able to tap into Pride Magazine’s audience with a half page ad in every issue.

“Partnering with Pride Magazine allows our teams to collaborate on stories which will serve more of our viewers and their readers,” said WCNC Charlotte Executive News Director, Carrie Hofmann. P May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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Life isn’t always easy.

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early 700,000 children touch the child welfare system each year.

Adoption, foster care, group homes, medical institutions—children placed (however temporarily) in any one of these settings face inherent trauma.

While family separation can’t always be avoided, Cardinal Innovations Healthcare is taking steps to prevent and counter it.

In early 2020, Cardinal Innovations began work on a pilot initiative designed for kids affected by the child welfare system called the Child Program. Its mission: “To build healthier systems and partnerships that contribute to healthier children, families and communities.”

Mental health challenges affect 80 percent of children involved in the child welfare system. Physical health problems impact 90 percent of them.1 It’s an epidemic and Cardinal Innovations is tackling it like one.

“I'm proud to say that as an organization, we have challenged ourselves to think differently about how systems work together to support children and families,” said Nicole Six, Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Child Program Director. “When we set out to do this work, we created clear goals.”

One major goal centered on community feedback.

Last year, Cardinal Innovations gathered a targeted executive advisory council. Families, health care providers and community partners involved in the child welfare system came together to construct a program that would put

children’s needs first. In other words— the Child Program wasn’t created for families. It was created by them.

Another main goal was to improve communication. Over the past few months, Cardinal Innovations has aligned 14 clinical staff members to work with local Department of Social Services (DSS) agencies across its 20-county service area.

These “DSS liaisons” help social workers connect impacted families to child welfare services and resources.

While prevention is the goal, if a child enters DSS custody, the liaison helps get the child and family familiar with Cardinal Innovations’ health plan.

Feedback for the liaison placement has been overwhelmingly positive.

“Folks in our counties appreciate having

a point of contact for all things Cardinal Innovations,” said Six. “They like having someone more proactively involved in the child space to prevent higherlevel needs.”

The organization has made other changes across the board to improve outcomes for children in the child welfare system.

They’ve added major family behavioral health providers, published curated child welfare resource brochures, and shortened the time it takes for children to get started with services.

The program marches on, hitting time-sensitive benchmarks and crafting a path for other managed care organizations to follow. Next on the agenda? Creating a Child Program member call line and email address devoted entirely to families involved with child welfare.

“It's been an honor to lead this work,” Six said. “I think this is just the start of what partnership and collaboration can look like.” P To learn more about Cardinal Innovations’ Child Program, visit cardinalinnovations.org/Members/Child-Program.

If you have questions about services or need help finding a provider, call the Cardinal Innovations 24/7 Access and Crisis line at 1-800-939-5911. If you or a family member is having a mental health crisis, dial **ASK (2-7-5) from your cell phone to speak with someone about crisis services.

1

Indicators on Children and Youth (2016).

May-June 2021 | Pride Magazine

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PrideHealth

By Dr. Paula Newsome

T

here are a few ocular emergencies that you could experience and retinal detachment is one of them.

The retina is the thin lining of the inside of the eye and is the only place in the body where we can directly look at arteries, veins and nerves without physically cutting. It also is the home of the light sensing and the seeing part of our visual system.

While it is paper thin in appearance it contains 10 layers which are critically important in seeing and thus, make retinal detachment a true ocular emergency.

The retina is part of the brain and central nervous system and like the spinal cord, once the retina is damaged, it does not regenerate and thus a complete retinal detachment can cause permanent blindness.

So, what are some signs and symptoms of a retinal detachment?

Flashes of light that appear like lightning flashes. Another sign is seeing floaters which can appear like little flecks through your field of vision.

Blurry vision can also be a sign of a retinal detachment, especially if it’s a sudden loss of vision or sudden blurring of vision. Gradually reduced side vision or peripheral vision may also be a sign of a retinal detachment.

Also, a curtain or a veil-like shadow over your vision may also be a sign of a detachment. Any of these signs are a cause for concern and warrant an in-person visit to your eye doctor for a dilated examination.

There are three main types of retinal detachments. The more common one is the rhegmatogenous detachment. This type of detachment is where a hole or tear in the retina allows fluid to seep behind it and thus causes the retina to separate from its

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Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

Dr. Paula Newsome is the first African American woman optometrist to open a private practice in North Carolina and owner of Advantage Vision Center, 1601 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C.

normal position. If caught early and depending on where the hole is, these detachments can be repaired.

If, however, they go undetected or undiagnosed, a complete and total detachment can occur and this could lead to permanent vision loss.

Tractional detachment is most frequently found in people with uncontrolled diabetes. It is where tissue grows on the retinal surface and that tugs the retina away. This

is yet another reason why people with diabetes should have their eyes checked on a regular basis.

The last type of detachment occurs because fluid caused by disease, tumors or inflammatory disorders get between the retina and the underlying vascular layer of the eye, the choroid.

This last type of detachment is called exudative and is seen in people with tumors, macular degeneration and some other inflammatory diseases.

In addition to signs and symptoms, there are also some risk factors for getting retinal detachments. Trauma is one that immediately comes to mind, including any type of physical insult to the eye or head. Aging is another risk factor. As we have more and more birthdays, the gel in our eyes that is immediately in front of the retina becomes liquid and that can tug on the retina, pulling it away.

Previous history of a retinal detachment makes you more susceptible to having a detachment in the other eye. Family history of a retinal detachment also is a risk factor. If people in your family have had a retinal detachment, you need to let your eye care provider know.

Any eye surgery or any eye diseases can make you more susceptible. High myopia or high nearsightedness can also make you more susceptible to a retinal detachment because, often times, the retina must stretch around a larger area.

There are no home remedies for this problem. The most important preventative tip is to make sure that you have your eyes examined regularly.

During the examination, you should either be dilated or have wide-field photography to make sure there are no holes or tears in your eye’s periphery.

You only get two eyes, make sure you take care of them for a lifetime of good vision. P

pio3 / Shutterstock.com

How Do You Know You Have a Detached Retina?

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