SCFU Scholarship for HBCU Business Students

Growing up, education was always a primary point of emphasis in my family’s values. This was especially true for my late father, a proud Rattler and member of Omega Psi Phi, who instilled in me a deep appreciation for the transformative power of HBCUs. His belief in HBCUs’ impact on students’ lives shaped my understanding of education as more than just a personal endeavor and more towards finding a community, creating a legacy, and creating opportunities for those who come after us. Thus when I chose to attend Fisk University, it wasn’t only for its rich history; it was because I wanted to be part of something greater. From my first day, I was surrounded by people who challenged me to step up as a leader. Most notably, this same community played a pivotal role in helping me cope with the death of my father which served as a key turning point in my life during my freshman year. Before I knew it a year had passed and I found myself honoring his legacy by joining the Eta Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi and serving as President of my chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity while simultaneously directly impacting the campus of Fisk as Student Government Publications Director. Both roles left me with the valuable lesson that it’s not about elevating oneself but lifting others and that leadership is about service and collective growth. This impacted my approach to work and prepared me for future endeavors, including my first few internships and projects. My first internship with the Los Angeles Lakers was a pivotal experience that reinforced this purpose and clarified how I wanted to make an impact. While working on a social media strategy research project for over 25 professional sports teams, I saw firsthand how teamwork and collective vision lead to impactful results. The Lakers’ emphasis on collaboration showed me that success is built by bringing people together just as in my fraternity and school. This laid the groundwork for my next major collaboration with NASA as an HBCU White House Scholar. Alongside a diverse team, I helped pitch a financial literacy game that aimed to solve youth attention span issues by using NASA’s CBCM technology. Working on this project fueled my passion for leveraging teamwork to create innovative solutions that could directly benefit communities. Inspired by these experiences, I knew I wanted to make an impact utilizing digital design and business strategy. Thus I founded two businesses, "HBCU Designs" and "The Scholarship Champ," both of which are centered on empowerment and collaboration. Through HBCU Designs, I’ve been able to work closely with students and small businesses, helping them develop strong, lasting brand identities. Our team not only provides services like logos or marketing consultations; we work side-by-side with our clients to ensure their stories are authentically told and their goals achieved. This has profoundly impacted students who might not otherwise have the resources to build their brands. The Scholarship Champ similarly, focuses on access to education and improvement within the community. With this platform, we intend to help HBCU students find scholarships, and internships, and learn how to secure them. By helping students navigate these opportunities, I’m contributing to their academic and professional growth, which is crucial in leveling the playing field for minority students. All in all my ultimate purpose is to continue building platforms and opportunities that uplift not just individual students but the entire HBCU community as well as honor my late father and the many other mentors that have played a role in my life.

Economic empowerment and business innovation have the potential to make a lasting change in minority communities that are underrepresented. New jobs could be created, opening up more opportunities and building wealth. These two factors have a critical role in decreasing poverty and addressing the systemic barriers that many underrepresented groups face. When a community is economically empowered, it can thrive and be independent. One of the most significant ways business innovation helps underrepresented communities is through job creation. When people start businesses, they create employment opportunities for others, directly benefiting the local community. One of my career goals is to own and operate my own business. My business will stimulate the local community and economy by increasing employment in my community, as well as fulfilling the needs of my community. This creates a circle of job growth because when more people are employed, more people are earning money, which increases purchasing power and the demand for a business. On top of creating jobs, new businesses give people the opportunity to learn new skills. Businesses need employees with various abilities in fields such as customer service, technology, or conflict management. By offering professional training and development, businesses help to provide their employees with valuable skills that will eventually help them in their future careers. I worked at Chuck E. Cheese’s for 2 years. There, I learned many beneficial skills, such as conflict resolution, multitasking, and communication. Opportunities like this can be extremely helpful for young people, especially ones who come from communities with limited access to job training and high-quality education. One of the biggest problems people who plan to start businesses face in marginalized communities is access to funding. Much like college, without funding like loans, grants, or investors, many prospective businesses simply will not come into fruition. Part of economic empowerment is creating easier access to these resources. Business owners with access to these resources have the potential to reinvest the money in their community, improving infrastructure, supporting schools, and combating local issues. Successful business innovations open up a path for the building of generational wealth, and successful business owners can serve as role models. They can create assets like property or investments that will eventually grow in value over time. These assets can be passed down to future generations, which allows families to build financial security and freedom. When young people see successful business owners that they relate to, whether in race, background, or gender, it can inspire them to pursue their own goals and show them that success is possible for people like themselves. It shows that success is not limited to one particular group of people. Many successful business owners from marginalized communities often become advocates for policy changes that positively affect the community they come from. The success they earned gives them the ability to have a platform and a louder voice to speak out for changes for the benefit of their community. Economic empowerment and business innovation are extremely critical components to the uprising of underrepresented communities. They allow people to build wealth and improve the quality of these communities. Successful entrepreneurs give younger people a relatable model to look up to, which in turn helps economic empowerment and business innovations to break down barriers associated with starting a successful business and create a lasting effect on future generations.

As a rising sophomore political science major at Tennessee State University, my vision for economic empowerment and business innovation is rooted in my aspiration to own a law firm that serves as a catalyst for social equity and justice. I believe that a law firm can be more than just a provider of legal services; it can actively contribute to uplifting underrepresented communities. By focusing on civil rights, employment discrimination, and social justice, I aim to use the legal system as a tool to address systemic inequalities and advocate for marginalized groups. My goal is to create a practice that prioritizes access to justice, ensuring that quality legal representation is available to all, regardless of socioeconomic status. To achieve this vision, I plan to implement initiatives such as a robust pro bono program that offers free or low-cost legal services to underserved communities and community legal education workshops that empower individuals with knowledge about their rights. Additionally, I intend to prioritize diversity in hiring and establish mentorship programs for aspiring lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds, fostering an inclusive environment within the legal field. Collaborating with local nonprofits and community organizations will further enhance our collective impact, allowing us to address community needs holistically while promoting economic growth. My current experiences are already shaping my path toward these goals. As a Community Organizer with Rhizome, I am honing my skills in community engagement and youth leadership development, understanding the power of grassroots organizing in creating change. My involvement in Tennessee State's Pre-Law Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity has provided valuable insights into the legal profession and networking opportunities. Additionally, participating in the Moot Court Team has sharpened my advocacy skills and deepened my commitment to justice. Through these experiences, I strive to empower my peers and create a lasting impact in our communities, aligning my career goals with my desire to drive social equity and justice. Furthermore, I recognize that economic empowerment extends beyond the courtroom. As a future law firm owner, I plan to implement innovative business practices that not only ensure the firm's success but also contribute to the economic growth of the community. This includes creating job opportunities for local residents, partnering with minority-owned businesses for services, and investing in community development projects. I believe that by demonstrating successful and socially responsible business practices, my firm can serve as a model for other enterprises, encouraging a ripple effect of positive change throughout the community. My commitment to this vision is further reinforced by my role on the Marketing Team of Tennessee State's Student Trustee Committee. This position has given me insights into organizational leadership and the importance of effective communication in driving change. I plan to leverage these skills in my future law firm to not only advocate for our clients but also to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities in broader social and policy discussions. By combining legal expertise with strategic communication and community engagement, I believe we can create a powerful platform for systemic change and economic empowerment.