Carmen Carter

Black Tech Saturdays has brought an energy and momentum to the City of Detroit’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, thanks to the efforts of Alexa Turnage and Johnnie Turnage. In just a year, this weekly event at Newlab has grown from a dozen participants to over 1,000+ weekly. Entrepreneurs show up to find talent, to find new opportunities, to connect with each other.  Why is this so important? The answer is simple math: 🧩Our Detroit population is comprised of over 80% black and brown people 🧩Less than 1% of venture capital goes to startups owned by black and brown entrepreneurs  🧩Tech jobs are like the automotive factory jobs our grandparents came to Detroit to fill over the past century that lifted them up and into the middle class 🧩Detroit’s resurgence has fueled increases in real estate values and added over $3Billion in wealth to the black community over the past decade TechTown Detroit, NPower, Venture For America and a host of other organizations are all collaborating and contributing to Detroit’s continued resurgence. https://lnkd.in/gZWazp7M

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🌟 **The Next Vision for Detroit: Why a Gen X Black Woman Mayor Matters** 🌟 In a compelling piece by Sarida Scott and Meredith Freeman, the call for a Gen X Black woman to be the next mayor of Detroit is powerfully laid out. The crux of the argument lies in the undeniable value of representation and the unique vantage point such a leader would bring to the fore. 🔍 **Why Representation is Crucial:** Detroit boasts a vibrant yet challenging history enriched and, at times, fragmented by its racial and political panorama. It's no secret that segments of Detroit's communities have been left feeling marginalized. Electing a Gen X Black woman as mayor isn't just a nod to diversity but a strategic move toward inclusive city governance. Their lived experiences as both part of Detroit's turbulent trials and its rising promises render them uniquely qualified to lead with empathy and insight. 👩🏾‍💼 **Unique Experiences and Resilience:** As constituents of a generation that straddles enduring resilience and transformative change, Gen X Black women have navigated through the city's steepest declines and rebounds. This duality in their life's narrative equips them with a deep-seated understanding of the inner workings of Detroit. Moreover, moving through a political landscape that has largely been male-dominated has armoured them with an indomitable spirit and a resolve to drive change. 🌐 **Community Connection:** Reflecting on organizations like the Detroit Black Community Food Cooperative and the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, it is evident that Gen X Black women have been at the helm of community-centric efforts—spotlighting their commitment to societal welfare and progressive agendas. 🗣 **Final Call to Detroiters:** As Detroit stands at a juncture, the choice of its next leader is pivotal. A Gen X Black woman mayor could be the beacon of change Detroit needs to navigate through its complexities and harness a future that resonates with every Detroit resident, ensuring no voice goes unheard. 📢 What do you think about the intersection of representation and leadership in urban development? Can the experiential perspectives of diverse leaders reshape city governance? Looking forward to your thoughts! #Detroit #RepresentationMatters #WomenInLeadership #UrbanDevelopment #CommunityEngagement #InclusiveLeadership https://lnkd.in/gYPR_9Nh

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US vs. Rahimi: A Supreme Court Decision We Will Run With While the Arc of Justice Unexpectedly Bends Towards Saving Lives Yesterday’s Supreme Court Decision on US vs. Rahimi to disarm domestic abusers and prevent gun violence is a decision we all must run and advocate with now, while the arc of justice bends towards and in favor of saving lives. This ruling is a win-win for both gun violence prevention and protecting domestic violence survivors, offering opportunities to pass policies leveraging this legal precedent to get funding, resources, initiatives, and programs to save lives and improve communities. What we do know is that the presence of a firearm in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%. (Source: Brady United Against Gun Violence) Take Action: Educate Yourself and Get Involved: Learn more about the US vs. Rahimi case and its implications. Follow organizations like National Domestic Violence Hotline, LIVE FREE USA, Brady: United Against Gun Violence, Cities United and organizations creating solutions. Resources for Support: If you or anyone you know are in need of support, resources, and hope and affected by domestic violence the U.S. Call/Chat/Text 24/7 | Text “START” to 88788. THE FACTS: Domestic Violence and Guns, Guns and Domestic Violence 1. Every 16 hours, a woman is shot and killed by a current or former intimate partner. 2. Every 12 hours, someone is shot and killed by a current or former intimate partner. 3. The presence of a firearm in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%. 4. In 2020 alone, over 21,000 people convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor or subjected to a domestic violence restraining order were blocked from completing an unlawful firearms transaction by the Brady Background Check System. (Source: Brady United Against Gun Violence)

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Kim Godwin’s choice to step down from her trailblazing role as the first Black woman to lead ABC News is a powerful testament to the complex realities Black women face in leadership. Her tenure, marked by excellence and resilience, also came with seemingly blatant backlash and scrutiny—a reality all too familiar to many of us. As leaders, the burden of exceptionalism can be heavy, especially when our efforts are met with undue criticism rather than the recognition we deserve. This environment underscores a deeper, lasting sting that Black women endure, one that is often misunderstood and rarely allowed the space for healing. Kim's decision to prioritize her well-being and family is an act of courage. Hghlighting self-care in a world that demands so much from us. Her move is a powerful statement on the importance of personal health and familial love over relentless professional pursuit. Be inspired from Kim’s example. Remembering to care of ourselves, support each other, recognizing our strength lies not only in our achievements but in our ability to prioritize our well-being amidst challenges. Kim Godwin’s legacy reminds us that true leadership includes knowing when to step back and embrace the love and care we deserve.

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Empowering Black Entrepreneurs: Breaking Stereotypes and Building Businesses Discover how a powerful fund is defying stereotypes and supporting black-owned businesses. Uncover the truth behind the myth and join the movement towards empowerment and success. #BlackEntrepreneurs #Empowerment #StereotypeBreaking #BusinessSupport #SuccessStories #CommunityEmpowerment #BlackExcellence #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessHelp #BuildingOpportunities

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It is for women like Kim Godwin that I host my retreats. Women of color who invariably find themselves facing the glass cliff, unreasonable expectations, and systemic and personal attacks the higher the rise in the corporate hierarchy. It is not easy to be a Black woman leader. The message we get is that when one thing ends we should rush out and find the next thing but truthfully we need to pause. We need to tend to our well-being. We need to rediscover rest in community. From that place of self-compassion, we can chart a new path for thriving in spite of what we face. (if this resonates with you, shoot me a message and let's talk about how I can support you)

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Tick-tock , the countdown continues.. Only 18 days to go! Save the date in your calendar. #JacobsAcademy #FashionExpo #StyleInspiration #ExpoGlam #FashionForward #Fashion #TrendSetters #SmallBusiness #SmallBusinesses #BlackBusiness #BlackBusinesses

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Black Man 101 Visionary One of the most important things I can teach any black man who is a visionary is to build your confidence based on your experiences in the field. Social media is a trap; likes and views don't really mean that you are impressive in real life. A majority of people are consumers, and they can’t even imagine what you are presenting to them. Make peace with that reality and move away from that group. You will have relatives and members of the peanut gallery who will try to convince you that doing it the old and safe way is the correct route. That is complete bullshit. It is important to know that the old ways are a frame of reference, but when you are building the future, you shouldn’t rely on what was; you have to focus on what will be. Take what you need from the old road playbook. Visionaries can see around the corner. Being a black man who is a visionary comes with a different set of problems because of the backwardness of systemic racism and social engineering. That entire system is based on an endless series of false narratives. So you will have to move differently based on that limp reality. In my professional and personal life, I do not waste time trying to explain how my electricity works to those who could never understand my process. Why waste my time? My attitude frustrates some people who are accustomed to mismanaging black boys and black men who are geniuses. As much as I care about my community, I am completely indifferent to other people’s opinions about how I create my electricity. If it was up to them, we would stay in the dark. Look around at the state of Black men and Black boys, left to them I would have been in prison or a drug addict. Based on the reality of my surroundings, these people are completely clueless about how to support a visionary like me and so many other brothers, so I keep it moving. Don’t be discouraged by their inability to understand you. Recognize that quickly, and don’t waste your time trying to convert them. Honestly, how long does someone have to stand in the sunshine to realize they are standing in the sunshine? The key to all of this is going to be how well you execute your plan. Whatever your vision is, you have to be an engineer at this. I am talking about how a very high level of engineering is needed to drown out the peanut gallery. Genius is in your blood. When you are really locked into this, you will not be shaken by anyone. Stay on your path. Remove those out of your circle who can’t let go of yesterday. Keep it moving. #BookofBalo #OkeebaTheMayor

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UNCF, the United Negro College Fund, known as the United Fund, is a philanthropic organization that funds scholarships for Black students and general scholarship funds for 37 private HBCUs. UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944, by Frederick D. Patterson, Mary McLeod Bethune, and others. UNCF is headquartered in DC. In 2005, UNCF supported approximately 65,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities with approximately $113 million in grants and scholarships. About 60% of these students are the first in their families to attend college, and 62% have annual family incomes of less than $25,000. UNCF administers over 450 named scholarships. UNCF’s president and chief executive officer is Michael Lomax. Past presidents of the UNCF included William H. Gray and Vernon Jordan. Though founded to address funding inequities in education resources for African Americans, UNCF-administered scholarships are open to all ethnicities; the great majority of recipients are still African-American. It provides scholarships to students attending its member colleges as well as to those going elsewhere. Graduates of UNCF member institutions and scholarships have included many Black people in the fields of business, politics, health care, and the arts. Some prominent UNCF alumni include Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Alexis Herman; Spike Lee; Samuel L. Jackson; General Chappie James; and Dr. David Satcher. UNCF adopted as its motto the maxim “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” This maxim has become one of the most widely recognized slogans in advertising history. The motto was notably mangled in an address to the organization by VPOTUS Dan Quayle, who stated: “And you take the UNCF model that what a waste it is to lose one’s mind or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is.” The motto, which has been used in numerous award-winning UNCF ad campaigns, was created by Forest Long, of the advertising agency Young & Rubicam, in partnership with the Ad Council. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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Since its inception, Hip Hop has been characterized by moments. From ODB telling the world "Wu Tang is for the children", to the artist then know as Kanye West telling the US "George Bush doesn't care about black people", to many more. This artform has time and again driven where urban culture goes. Funny thing is though, hip hop within itself goes through "renaissance" moments. These are often depicted in the rap battles pitting 2 artists in a clash for supremacy, relevance and bragging rights. Fuelled by "beef", which is a term for a disagreement, misunderstanding or friction between 2 or more artists, battles resolved on "wax" (strictly through music) using "diss tracks" have helped move the culture forward creatively and commercially. if you want to find out more about that, simply search for "BEEF 1 - 3" on YouTube, and you'll get a rundown of all the legendary battles that have taken place over the years. What interests me in this discussion is the fact that often, the clash between 2 rappers falls along the lines of "Keeping real" vs "selling out". Basically "Passion" vs "Gain". ...Got a call and lost my train of thought... In life, just like in rap, we get to a point where we have to choose money or passion. We have day-jobs which involve tasks that we learn. There is a difference between being innately good at something and learning to be efficient at something. That difference is what separates the happy and motivated from the mundane and bored. Finding the love for everyday tasks involves finding out why you're doing those tasks, why beyond a paycheck. Have you found it? let's talk about it in the comments. Oh and Kendrick Lamar is the perfect representation of love and passion, and the pursuance of perfection. He loves hip hop so much he went to war with Drake for the sake of what he believes the culture to be. Public opinion says he won (within the rules of engagement of hip hop battles), and held a celebratory concert in LA yesterday, uniting opposing gangs (The Bloods and The Crips). A true example of using your innate talent to get paid, and to change lives. Peace!

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Unpopular opinion: I think integration was one of the worst things that happened to the Black community. 400+ years of slavery and we’re still living in a modern version of Jim Crow. We are not wanted. They do not want us to thrive in their environments and yet whenever we build our own things so we can support ourselves, they kill that too (Tulsa, Rosewood, Oscarville, Seneca Village, etc.) So what does it say about an environment that won’t accept you and won’t let you go? Where do we go from here? It’s giving pearls before swine every time we enter a glass cliff situation and I’m tired of wondering where we would be if we weren’t continuously wasting our best talents on trying to prove we belong in a system that clearly is not built for us to survive (much less thrive). There will never be a voluntary wealth transfer. Yes, I know that hurts to read, but honest question — what incentive does a ruling class that was built by (and has never atoned for) theft, slavery, brute force, and intentional inequality have for making this equitable? Who desires diminishing their money and power, especially when it serves to keep a status of domination? The system is not designed to let us build that wealth within their systems either. So where do we go from here? It breaks my heart every single time I see a sister or brother achieve a level of success only to see the follow up story of how they’re no longer part of that company due to a glass cliff situation. I just wrote about my own experiences in this type of situation where you’re either brought in to fail, or not given the tools needed to support your work and then dismissed. Aren’t you tired? We deserve safety, success, and power too.

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