Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Booker T. Washington.

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

To spotlight Booker T. Washington’s innovative work in real estate development—specifically his creation of micro home communities in Atlanta—and to inspire underserved communities to pursue homeownership as a path to wealth, stability, and empowerment.

🧭 Key Takeaways 1. Vision Behind Teche Homes

• Teche Homes builds micro home communities (not tiny homes) ranging from 400–1000 sq ft.
• Focused on affordable, accessible homeownership in urban areas, especially for Black communities.
• Projects aim to revitalize blighted neighborhoods and promote reverse gentrification.

2. Flagship Projects

• South Park Cottages: 29 homes on 2.8 acres in College Park, GA. Sold out before construction.
• Union Park Cottages: 26 homes + coffee shop in Union City, GA. First mixed-use micro home community in the U.S.
• Upcoming: The Park at Brawley in partnership with Killer Mike and Shay Render.

3. Affordability & Impact

• Average home price: $180K–$220K.
• Average buyer: 40 years old, $80K+ income.
• Mortgage: ~$1,800/month—comparable to rent in metro areas.
• Emphasis on ownership over renting to build generational wealth.

4. Community Features

• Full-size appliances, smart home tech (e.g., palm readers, motion lights).
• Shared amenities: gardens, grills, walking paths.
• No garages—shared parking to maximize land use.

5. Social Mission

• Tackles systemic issues: housing inequality, food deserts, underfunded schools.
• Generates tax revenue to support local services (e.g., teachers, police).
• Promotes “pride of ownership” and community uplift.

6. National Raffle

• $250 entry for a chance to win a fully furnished $250K home.
• Proceeds support down payment assistance and homeownership education.
• Winner announced Christmas Eve.

💬 Notable Quotes

• “You’re not locked out. You’ve just been stifled with a vision of home availability that you don’t know you can get.”
• “We call it reverse gentrification.”
• “You can’t allow your dreams to just sit inside of you… they’re God dreams.”
• “We took a $150K piece of dirt and turned it into $6.3M of real estate value.”
• “Faith without works is dead. And we do a lot of non-work in some of these Black communities.”
• “You’ve given away $240,000 in rent by age 37. That’s your down payment.”

🔗 Call to Action

• Website: techie-homes.com
• Instagram: @techiehomes | @mrbookert

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Brittany Benson.

***

### **Purpose of the Interview**

The interview on *Money Making Conversations Masterclass* aimed to:

* Showcase Brittany Benson’s journey as a **brand strategist**, **AI consultant**, and founder of **The Branding Bar**.
* Educate entrepreneurs and small business owners on **branding**, **social media strategy**, and the **impact of AI** on marketing.
* Inspire listeners to leverage technology and consistency to build authentic brands.

***

### **Key Takeaways**

1. **Early Branding Journey**
* Brittany unknowingly started building her brand in college through her TV show *On the Air with Brittany B*.
* She leveraged early platforms like YouTube and Facebook before “social media” was a term.

2. **Consistency is Key**
* Success in branding comes from **consistent engagement**, even before monetization was possible.
* Brittany grew her Instagram following to over 130,000 by focusing on consistency rather than chasing trends.

3. **Influencer Myth**
* Large follower counts don’t guarantee success; **engagement matters more than numbers**.
* “If I have 2,500 followers who listen to me, that’s more powerful than 100,000 who don’t.”

4. **Paid vs. Organic Growth**
* Paid ads can help, but **organic growth builds trust**.
* Best practice: build an organic base first, then use paid ads to amplify.

5. **Pivot to AI**
* Brittany pivoted from a traditional social media agency to **AI-driven branding solutions**.
* She creates **AI twins** for business owners—digital replicas that can produce content without the owner being physically present.

6. **Generative AI in Marketing**
* AI tools can create graphics, videos, and even voice clones.
* Brittany emphasizes AI as a **tool to enhance workflow**, not replace human creativity.

7. **Consulting Approach**
* Offers strategy calls to identify problems and recommend AI tools.
* Services range from **strategy planning**, **consulting**, to **done-for-you solutions**.

***

### **Notable Quotes**

* **On branding:**
*“I was always building a brand, even when I didn’t realize I was building a brand.”*

* **On engagement vs. followers:**
*“If I have 2,500 followers who listen to me, that’s more powerful than 100,000 who don’t.”*

* **On AI’s role:**
*“AI is just a tool. It’s not going to replace your job—it still needs human direction.”*

* **On staying ahead:**
*“I’ve been told I have the gift of insight to see what’s coming, even if it’s not popular yet.”*

* **On her pivot:**
*“I started generating AI twins for business owners so they could show up online without showing up.”*

***

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Felecia Hatcher.

Purpose of the Interview

• To spotlight Black Ambition, a national initiative founded by Pharrell Williams that funds and mentors Black and Brown entrepreneurs.
• To promote the upcoming Black Ambition Demo Day and Fundable Founders Forum in Miami.
• To inspire entrepreneurs by sharing insights on scaling businesses, accessing resources, and building wealth.

Key Takeaways

1. About Black Ambition

   • Founded by Pharrell Williams to close the opportunity gap for Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs.
   • Has invested in 131 companies over five years.
   • Provides capital, mentorship, and holistic support (including mental health).

2. Event Details

   • Demo Day (Nov 14): Entrepreneurs pitch and receive funding.
   • Fundable Founders Forum (Nov 15): Masterclasses with industry leaders like Steve Stoute, Nancy Twine, and Linda Clemens.
   • Focus on actionable strategies, not just inspiration.

3. Competition Structure

   • Annual national competition with 2,500–3,000 applications.
   • Categories include HBCU founders, national finalists, top prize winners, and people’s choice.
   • Process: Applications → 250 semifinalists → 3-month cohort → Top 20–25 awarded funding.

4. Challenges & Advice

   • Many entrepreneurs fail due to rushed applications and lack of preparation.
   • Success requires persistence: “Apply again” if you fail.
   • Building a team is essential—Black Ambition does not invest in solopreneurs.

5. Impact on Black Women

   • Fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs but often limited by resources.
   • Need to shift from solopreneurship to team-building for scalability.

6. Pharrell’s Motivation

   • Believes in democratizing opportunity.
   • Inspired by those who invested in him early in his career.
   • Goal: Close wealth and opportunity gaps quickly—“Wealth has a need for speed.”

7. How to Get Involved

   • Visit blackambitionprize.com and join the newsletter for alerts and resources.
   • Past winners share insights in info sessions.

Notable Quotes

• On closing gaps:
  “People are too comfortable wasting the time of Black entrepreneurs with misaligned resources and low vibrational mentorship.”

• On persistence:
  “If it doesn’t work on you in that moment, it works for you in that moment. Either way, it works.”

• On Pharrell’s vision:
  “Talent is not equally distributed by zip code, but opportunity can be.”

• On entrepreneurship mindset:
  “We have to start enjoying the process that molds us, not just say, ‘I didn’t make it, I’m upset.’”

• On Black women entrepreneurs:
  “They’re the fastest growing, but largely solopreneurs. We need them to think about building teams.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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