#SmartBrownVoices - Learning from Diversity

Hey guys. It's been a while. As you may have heard, Mr. Mike Street passed away on March, 10th 2022. To honor him, we are releasing some of the episodes of Smart Brown Voices, starting with this one. You will hear a new voice at the start of the episode. That is Mr. Everett Street, better known as Ev, who is the new owner and host of this show. Yay. Thank you all for hanging in there as we figure this thing out. We are here for the ride and we hope that you come along with us.  Enjoy.

A personal look at why I had to take 2019 off and get myself together.

Founder and CEO of Fueled by Culture Marcus Damas chats with us on Smart Brown Voices! Fueled by Culture is a NY-based marketing agency that specializes in connecting and empowering brands with influencers through innovative content and experiential event programming. 

The annual National Urban Technology Center Gala Awards Dinner – co-hosted by award winning journalist Alicia Quarles – will take place in New York City on June 13th at The Pierre Hotel. This year’s honorees are private equity firm Founder & CEO of Grain Management, David J. Grain and wife Dr. Lisa Grain - who has dedicated her career to healthcare, education, and mentorship and currently sits on the board of trustees at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital - along with honorary chair Vernon E. Jordan Jr., who is the Senior Managing Director of Lazard. The evening’s program, which will highlight Urban Tech’s commitment to help provide a proactive approach in preventing bullying in schools, will entail a silent auction with seats for three different phenomenal Broadway shows up for bid: Hamilton, Boys In The Band and Iceman Cometh.

In a post-Obama era where Blacks in America are still proclaiming "Black as the new Black," it's continuously surprising to see Black-owned businesses shy away from serving their own people. What European brands do so intently and without apology by showcasing imagery of only European models - Black businesses steer clear of such displays for fear of "limiting themselves." Storyteller Amber Williams is at the forefront of the move to dispel this myth of limitation by pushing Black businesses towards more sophisticated-unapologetic branding. Her platform Punky Flair is a brand storytelling agency that teaches Founders and CEOs how to improve their sales through stories built around their true customers. Amber has crafted brand language for Armani, CVS, The U.S Olympics and now she uses her talents to service black owned startups such as Camille Rose Naturals, Heat Free Hair, and Shea Radiance. Amber's aim is to shift the idea of merely "buying Black" to "serving Black.”