William Bradley III

Name: William Bradley III

Age: 28

College: California State Polytechnic University

Major: Business Management and Entrepreneurship.

Grad Year: 2006

About William: I have always been a serial entrepreneur from an early age. I was an avid baseball card collector and would often buy packs of baseball cards and sell off the most valuable cards for a profit. From buying candy at wholesale prices and reselling it to his classmates to selling hip hop magazine posters (I would get from his sisters for free), I has always had the natural ability for business and sales. My business skills have played an integral part in facilitating the launch of several start up companies.

In 2007, along with my business partner Adje C. Lassey, we co-founded First Integrated Credit Solutions, LLC (FICS) which is a credit education and credit improvement company where the mission is to “Increase and strengthen families credit standing so they can qualify to live a better lifestyle.” The downward spike in the economy has brought attention and the importance of the services offered by FICS. To better serve our target market, in 2010 we dissolved FICS as a stand alone entity and all credit improvement services will be offered FREE via the non profit Tunnel Of Hope.

After becoming not only the youngest but also the third top money income earner for my previous real estate company, which at the time had a nationwide sales force of 20,000 associates, the natural path of progression to pivot out and pour the concrete for my own real estate firm was inevitable. In 2008, working closely with my college friend and business partner, Adje C. Lassey, I co-founded The CEO Investment Group, Inc. which is a real estate brokerage firm specializing in the assistance of helping home buyers buy, home sellers sell, and investors invest in residential real estate.

I am a firm believer of giving back and volunteer with several non-profits that benefit today’s youth. I am active with CLIMB Inc. (Creating Leaders In Mind & Body), CAPS (Creating Aspiring Personalities for Success) and Corazon de Vida (where he takes a quarterly trip to a orphanage in Mexico to give love to kids who need it).

What is your life's mission?

I live a life of service. I'm trained to become a wolf, so I know how they think. I'm strong like them. However, my life is not about me. I'm purposed to become the shepherd. May my life be an example to follow so you may lead. My failures, a lesson plan. My success, hope. My words, motivation. My life, love.

What does being a black man mean to you?

Growing up bi-racial (my father is black and my mom is white) in a black community, I still had exposure to different cultures. I've come to realize that being black is not just the color of someone's skin. Being black is the perseverance of struggle. My grandfather, who now rests in Heaven, was the grandson of slaves. He went to college at Alabama A&M University and became a successful entrepreneur. He accomplished this at a time when racial adversity was more prevalent and racism was more blatant. These struggles made him stronger. When channeled correctly, the struggles that modern day blacks face have the potential to make us stronger. Part of being black is learning how to embrace those struggles to build our character and not destroy our own communities.

"I'm purposed to become the shepherd. May my life be an example to follow so you may lead. My failures, a lesson plan. My success, hope. My words, motivation. My life, love"

 

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Brittney Greene

Name: Brittney A. Greene

Age: 24

College: Georgia State University

Major: Sociology

Grad Year: December 2010

About Brittney: I consider myself to be a passionate young adult inspired by the ills of the world, with a serving heart. I take to challenging social structures in the world through various community initiatives. Attending school and majoring in a social service field takes passion and commitment. Not labeled with the six figure salary like other majors, I have always chosen to work with the people and not against them. I've always had my hand in the community passionately providing service to the people who need it most. My endeavors with Black Positive Image, Inc. directly reflect my commitment to the community. Although Rochester, New York is home, my heart is global and expanding to places were many may not pay attention. I'm seeking to help those who need help the most, by connecting with them on a personal level, establishing trust, the one element no relationship can go without. 

In 2009 I was working as a legal secretary where I had to read the Daily Report (the legal newspaper for Fulton County GA) everday. The paper Provided all legal news and happenings in the County as well as new businesses that were registered with the Secretary of States office. This section became of great interest to me as I noticed that several businesses were registered daily and I looked into the process of starting a business myself. At first I didn't have a clear direction in the field that I would like to go into, but as a person of service, I knew I wanted to help people. I decided to register as a non-profit corporation, knowing that in the future I would love to operate a nationwide non-profit organization. The name of the organization had to be strong and very relevant to the target group that I wanted to address. As an advocate for the black community and with direct emotional connections to the care of my people I decided to name the company Black Positive Image. With all the negativity that surrounded the image of Blacks in America on the television, newspapers and other media outlets I decided to combat this image by providing a social enterprise where people could unite together and become the positive force that our community needs.

Initially Black Positive Image, Inc. was a social enterprise that utilized various social media outlets such as facebook and twitter to connect with people in the community and begin opening a dialogue to combat the negative images in the community. By providing positive imagery through music, books, pictures, etc. We were going to be the alternative source to help people find positive information and resources for the community. Although this is still primarily our focus, the company has expanded beyond social enterprises and has begun to infiltrate the community with various programs. We support college students through our College Care Program, fight illiteracy and bring the joy of reading through our Home Library Campaign and help spread the stories of the people in our community through our Literary Series 'You Don't Know My Story'. Through our various initiatives we have begun to make a direct impact in the community by actively creating the image we would like to see in the community. The social media aspect of our organization is still very relevant and we will be expanding our initiatives to become the Community Resource Center for various topics and issues in relation to our community.

  

What is your life's mission?
My life's mission is to help guide people to love. My current work is reflective of community activism in various ways, but my true mission is to change the face of intimate relationships between individuals and open the sexual dialogue amongst Americans. I am a sexual liberation reformer committed to helping others understand sexual relations and helping individuals cultivate meaning relationships. This is matched with my plans to further my education and become a Relationship/Sex Therapist.

What does being a black woman mean to you?
To be is a linking verb by definition, so for me to be Black is linking me to the power in what has been identified as my color. To label an entire race based off the variation in hues of skin and label them as Black, a word that is negative in context in contrast to the purity of the color white may seem fleeting to many; but not my people. In the direct face the negative definition of soiled, wicked, dirty, sullen and a host of other names that have been marked with negativity, to be Black in regards to my people mean none of those things. Even with the filth that surrounds the term Black and how the world may relate to it, we have defined Black in our own terms, beyond the definitions in dictionaries. To be Black is to be defiant, to be non-complying to the unjust impositions that have been placed on us. To be Black links me to an ancestry of perseverance and undoubted self pride. To be Black links me to all that I know and that is proud!

"To be Black is to be defiant, to be noncomplying to the unjust impositions that have been placed on us"

Contact Brittney:
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Address:

Black Positive Image

P.O. Box 15356
Atlanta, GA 30333

Phone: 404-507-246

Monique Hicks

Name: Monique Hicks

Age: 24

College: California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB)

Major: Sociology

Graduation: December, 2010

Highlights: Sociology club, MAC peer advisor

GPA; 3.2

About Monique: I'm the only girl, born in a family of three boys. Growing up, I've always seen my dad work hard to get what he wanted and to provide for his family. I promised myself that I would do the same for my family. A quote that always sticks in my head from my dad is “I just want your kids to have a better life than you did.”

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the tender age of 29, just a few years after I was born. While growing up, I didn’t know that my mother had any type of disease. She didn’t seem sick; she seemed like everyone else’s mom. When I was in about 8^th grade, that is when things started to take a turn for the worst. My mom was getting smaller, her hair was falling out, and she had to resort to the infamous wigs. I was scared. Even though I was still young, I knew that things weren’t looking good. My mom was in the hospital for a week or two, and I thought everything would be okay. She then returned home, and was confident that everything was much better, until her bed was now in the living room, and she had a walker & a wheel chair. I remember the day my mother passed as if it happened yesterday. When I arrived home from school, I went to speak with my mother, and she was lying in her bed, breathing heavily. I just figured she was taken a nap, from a long day at home. A few hours later, she was in the same state as she was when I came home from school. My family all remained calm, and I just knew that something was not right. I sat at my mom’s bedside from then on out. I asked my dad hundreds of questions, wanting to know the status on my mom, and he just told me “it’s not looking good”. I couldn’t take it! No, my mom was just breathing, up & her normal self a few hours before I went to school. How could this all happen within a matter of hours? At around 9pm, she took her last breath.

I was 15 years old, I had to step up and become the woman of the house. That meant that while my dad attended work (24 hour shifts) I cooked for my younger siblings, cleaned the house, and looked after them. I was forced to grow up before I wanted to. While attending community college, I wanted to give up. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, I was discouraged and I felt that it was too much work to get to where I wanted to be. I then thought about the promise I made to myself, and also the promise I made to my mother the day that she passed away, and I pushed forward. Graduating from community college with a 3.0+ GPA, and being admitted into a university was the happiest day of my life. Before arriving at the university, I didn't realize how close I was to having my bachelor’s degree. A year and six months later, I am a college graduate with my bachelor’s degree! I'm glad I never gave up, and I pushed forward. My goal when I return back to San Diego is to work in Social Services. I really want to work with kids/teens in helping them to learn about STD's & HIV. I think it's really important for people to be aware of this, especially African Americans. My ultimate dream that I want to accomplish in the future is to participate in the Susan G Komen 3 day walk, in memory of my mother who passed away from breast cancer, and to help find a cure for breast cancer.

What is your life's mission?
My mission is to successfully support and empower women and families that have been affected by breast cancer and continue growing, learning and motivating.

What does being a black woman mean to you?
Being a black woman means to be great and powerful! 'Black is Beautfiul'

"I thought about the promise I made to myself, and also the promise I made to my mother the day that she passed away, and I pushed forward"

Contact Monique:
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Jmar Akai Montgomery

Name: Jmar Akai Montgomery

Age: 22

College: California State University Los Angeles


Major: BS - Mechanical Engineering


Highlights: CSULA's Early Entrance Program (EEP), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Engineering Computer Science &Technology Student Council, Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honor Society, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc




About Jmar: I am the youngest Engineer in my field for over 2 years. I started college at 14, and graduated Class of 2008 with my Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the age of 19. I was accepted into CSULA’s highly exclusive Early Entrance Program, (EEP), which allowed me to start college at a young age. While in college, I served in many capacities and was a member of numerous organizations. Graduating early was a great accomplishment but came with some adversity, my age proved to be an obstacle for me in the academic and professional world. I was competing with his peers, who were at least 4 yrs older than me, and vying for their respect to be recognized as their peers. I learned that through hard work and professionalism, people would see my young age, not as a detriment, but as an asset to innovative thinking; and would see me not for my age, but for my work. 

I'm currently studying for the Professional Engineering exam to become a licensed engineer in California. This license will allow me to achieve my goal of opening my own engineering consultation firm. This firm will not only provide consultation services, but also contract design and rapid prototyping services to small to medium sized business that do not have these capabilities. The idea of opening a consulting firm came from my father, who at one point, owned a successful screen shop and held a contractor’s license. My dad always said that 'it is better working for and paying yourself, than to have someone else dictate what you should be paid'. After working for the government, I see exactly what he meant. Also, while achieving this goal, I've applied for the Fall 2011 semester to various graduate mechanical engineering programs to specialize in either nanotechnology or fluid dynamics. I believe that an advanced academic foundation will better ensure a strong entrepreneurial future.

In the midst of my career and academic goals I try to maintain a healthy personal life as I am a student pilot working on obtaining my private pilot’s license, with a future goal of obtaining my commercial pilot’s license. Also, I'm an avid shooter who plans to start shooting competitively in various shooting matches in California. 


What is your life's mission?
I feel that my mission in life is to be a man that people look to for consultation. I believe that the only way to become cultured through life’s experiences is to not only network with others, but also understand their perspective on life. I want to always be accessible, in one form or another, so that if people need my help, I am there with an open ear and/or wise words. I am on the road to excellence and want to share the map with others along the way.


What does being a black man mean to you?
Being black means pursuing excellence in every endeavor and being disciplined enough to complete the task. It means operating with integrity and honor so that no one has a valid reason to NOT respect you in your field. It means extending a hand, arm, leg, torso etc. to those who need your help and going the extra distance to make sure that your people succeed. I wouldn’t have made it as far as I have if was not for those who went out of their way to help me, and it is only necessary that I do the same for those who come after me. I have come to realize that having a good relationship with God has been the foundation for all of my successes; while, not utilizing the knowledge and wisdom of others as the culprit for my failures. Being black means understanding that the playing field isn’t fair, but never using that as an excuse to not give your best. What they would call excellent, I call my average; I always have to set my bar higher and higher


"What they call excellent, I call average; I always have to set my bar higher and higher"

Contact Jmar:
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Fred Joseph Jr.

Name: Fred Joseph Jr.

Age: 25

College: Saint Peter's College. Jersey City, New Jersey.

Major: Business Management.  

Grad year: Graduated 2007

About Fred: I'm a Hatian native born in Cap Haitien, Haiti. At the age of two, I moved to Florida with my father, and then at four years old I returned back to Haiti. I resided there until the age of seven years old, where I attended the school Kay Frère. Afterwards, my family moved to New Jersey. It wasn’t an easy shift, but with their belief in the American dream, my family managed to overcome their trials and tribulations; where today not only do they value this dream but are living it. I believe that we have the power to create our own reality and helping others empowers each of us to create a reality that fulfills the heart’s desire.  My way of helping people encourages others to challenge themselves.

In 2007, I graduated from Saint Peter’s College, Jersey City, New Jersey. Although I studied Business, my desire of doing charity work only increased over the years. In August of 2008, I hosted a soccer tournament in Saint Raphael, Haiti. At this tournament, the youth began to fight. It was pretty severe where children and parents had to flee. I realized that the local children were in a dire need of a better environment; one that could not only provide for their families, but generations to come.  This was the birth of the Anasoule Wishes Foundation (AWF) named after my grandmother, Anasoule. AWF was founded to teach the children of St. Raphael to utilize their resources in order to better their lives and community.  In January 2010 alongside a college friend, Martine E. Pierre, I decided to expand on the AWF vision and create the Help Us Save Us (HUSU) organization. HUSU is a non-profit organization established to serve all areas of humanity by providing assistance in education, health, and agriculture. The organization is currently working to revitalize the educational institutions in Saint Raphael, Haiti. The town has gained many new residents displaced from the capital city, Port-Au-Prince, due to the tragic earthquake.

It wasn’t always easy for me to stay driven in wanting to help the people of Haiti. Although, I grew up in America and adapted to the American culture, I never felt accepted by my peers. They mocked my Haitian culture, which at times pained me because the image they portrayed of Haiti, was a false image of my home. In 2005 I lost my father in a car accident. This did not only toughen me to take responsibility of filling my father shoes but to start living my dream because tomorrow isn’t promised. Just as my parents took the challenge of coming to America in search of better opportunities, I want to return to Haiti to offer my fellow citizens more opportunities.

What is your life's mission?

My life mission is to be Noble for Haiti. I want to be remembered as a being great, someone who provided opportunities. I want to be in the encyclopedia and want to be statued. I know that sounds crazy but I love my country. I could have been a child in Haiti struggling. What if I was? What if I never knew what the U.S. looked like? What if I was poor begging for food? I was in Haiti, that could have been me?!? What if I struggled the same way my parents did? What if I had Cholera and died because I was too poor to cure it?  What if I went to school in Port Au prince and died in the earthquake? What if I was child in the HUSU camp and I had a guy name Fred Joseph Helping me? What if I never got a college degree? What if my father never died? He could have been alive if he lived in Haiti or maybe not? What it? 

What does being a black man mean to you?

Being black means I have one chance to make "What if" a reality. Life is not easy being African American, It's in the books. Slavery shows us what black means. Blacks are portrayed differently than whites. I want to beat the odds and show the world and Haiti! Black is equal and black is human.

"My way of helping people encourages others to challenge themselves"

 

Contact Fred:
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To learn more about Fred's Organization and to help Haiti visit Help Us Save Us' website.

Brandon Frame

Name: Brandon Frame

Age: 23

College: Morehouse College

Major: Business Administration w/concentration in Marketing

Grad year: 2009

Highlights: recipient of Morehouse Marketing Star Award, Morehouse Legacy Award




About Brandon: I am the Chief Visionary Officer of The Black Man Can. The organization’s mission is to actively promote a positive black male image. I currently work as an educator at The Fessenden School in West Newton, Massachusetts where I teach seventh grade English, coach basketball and co-facilitate the mentoring program focused on boys of African descent.

Getting to where I am now was not easy, one of the biggest adversities I have ever faced is myself. My earliest memory of such an event would date back to middle school where I questioned if I would be able to make it out of my neighborhood. I didn’t think that it was intended for me to abandon my current situation in search of one that would garner success. I often wondered if I were destined for greatness, if I were to make it out of my neighborhood. In my creation of 'The Black Man Can', I brooded over people’s interest and support in such an organization. I found myself questioning society’s desire to witness positive images of Black Men. I overcame these obstacles by taking the following three quotes/phrases to heart:

1) Benjamin Elijah Mays’ quote that states “every man and woman was put on this earth to do something unique and something distinctive. If he or she does not do it, it will never be done,”
2) M.K. Asante’s quote asserting that “if you make an observation, you now have an obligation,” 
3) the phrase that declares that each individual must use their mind to challenge the word’s  limitations that society has unfortunately bestowed upon them

What is your life's mission?
My life’s mission is to educate, elevate, empower, inspire and uplift young boys of African descent. I have decided on a few areas in which I can best employ my talents that will directly correlate with my life’s mission. My goal is to connect the various islands of success to allow the sharing of best practices. I have made it my mission to start my own schools for boys that will prepare them as socially conscious men with a global perspective who will embrace the concept of being a scholar-athlete. I plan to teach the boys the importance of being a lover of reading and knowledge so that they will be well-informed with the ability to think critically about the world. My overarching mission is to provide the positive contradiction to the prevailing Black Male representation of today by actively promoting a Black Male image everyday. I have a firm grasp on where my passion lies and it has led me to my purpose, which I am pursuing with impeccable effort.

What does being a black man mean to you?
Being Black to me means being so reminded of Malcolm and Martin, but so inspired to sketch my own path. Being Black means keeping it real and not reel. Being Black means to know the path less traveled will not be easier or shorter, but it will make all the difference. Being Black means to advance my genius, not my gangsta; to understand that I am beautiful in mind and have a heart that will change the world. I must be a gentleman of exceptional character and impenetrable self-worth. Being Black means to learn, know and respect the history of my ancestors because I will always be part of that framework.

Contact Brandon:
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Twitter - TheBlackManCan
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To learn more about Brandon’s organization, visit http://www.theblackmancan.org/.

Angelete L. Comford

   

Name: Angelete L. Comford

Age: 24

Degree: B.S. in Human Services received at California State University Fullerton in 2010.

About Angel: I was just a Jr. in High School when I moved to California from Prince George, VA in 2003. Who knew that I, a country girl from a small town, would be a motivated, personable business professional with multiple management level work history in a big city. Through many obstacles, I continue to exceed in achieving my goals as a young black professional. I try to remain humble as I defy stereotypes. It is my drive to succeed that motivates me to stop at nothing. One of my career goals is to become a Human Resource Director of a multi-billion dollar corporation, while also working as a Real Estate Broker on the side. I want to eventually own my own Real estate agency & Construction Business in residential and commercial acquisitions. I Plan on continuing my education in 2012 to pursue a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) specializing in Human Resource Management at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.
 

What is your life's mission?
To grow, to learn, and to evolve as an individual. To Motivate, inspire, and empower others. Building a successful, beautiful empire, whether it is my business, or personal as in my own future family. Break all "Glass ceilings" and show that strong Black women can surpass all barriers!

What does being a black woman mean to you?  

Being black is more than the shade of your skin, or the grade of your hair. Being black to me means being POWERFUL, LOVING, PRIDEFUL, a LEADER, STRONG, INTELLIGENT, CARING, SUCCESSFUL, and DIVERSE individual who plays a significant role in today’s society. Through personal growth, which ultimately leads to the growth of the black community, it is imperative that we set higher standards of achievement for ourselves and future generations. We have the power to impact many lives, and can create change. BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL!


"Through everything, Nothing is impossible."

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