1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: The day that we got a credit. I'll never forget 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: at April twenty six, twenty twenty two, when I sat 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,800 Speaker 1: in the boardroom and told my faculty and staff that 4 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: we had been accredited. One of the most touching things 5 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,399 Speaker 1: was one of my employees who had been there for 6 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: thirty five years. He just broke down crying because he 7 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: had seen it all. He stayed during bankruptcy, lost its retirement, everything. 8 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 1: He just broke down crying and just couldn't believe it. 9 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: And so just the most rewarding thing is that we 10 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: actually pulled it off. 11 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 2: Thank hey, everybody, welcome to another episode of Butter I'm 12 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 2: the host, Brandon Butler found the CEO of Buttery Tail. 13 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:41,280 Speaker 3: And today we got somebody special in the building. Yes, sir, 14 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 3: we got somebody's. 15 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 2: Out here making things happen, you know, making change and 16 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 2: just doing some amazing working around Atlanta in the community 17 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 2: that missed the one the only Doctor Kevin James, Sir, 18 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:50,480 Speaker 2: how are you doing. 19 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 4: I'm doing fine, man, Thank you for having me. 20 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 3: Man, Thank you for pulling up man. I know you're 21 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 3: busy man. 22 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 4: Yes, sir, hey man, I had to get here to 23 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 4: see you. 24 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 2: Now now now, doctor James you were the president of 25 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 2: the illustrious Morris Brown College. Yes, sir, also a remember 26 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 2: the hundred black min Atlanta, you know, saying a shout 27 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:05,240 Speaker 2: out to everybody. 28 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 3: Man, we really appreciate you pulling up. Man. You're doing 29 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 3: amazing work over there. 30 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 4: Thank you. Man. We're doing the best that we can. 31 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 4: You know. 32 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 1: We are now in the resurgence of the institution. I've 33 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: been the president six years and we're just trying to 34 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:17,919 Speaker 1: do some great things to restore our Morris Brown College 35 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: Historical HBC you founded in eighteen eighty one. 36 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 2: Absolutely now for everybody, comes on. I like to do 37 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 2: something a little bit special. 38 00:01:24,280 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 4: Okay. 39 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 3: You know a lot of times people say, you know, 40 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 3: tell me about yourself and all this stuff. 41 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 2: I like to ask chat cheap et ouh oh to 42 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 2: write a little short bio on my guests, and I 43 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 2: like to read it to them and say, this is 44 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 2: what it's said about you. 45 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 4: Oh man, I would love to hear it. 46 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 3: And I just want to not want reading, and I 47 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:39,679 Speaker 3: want you to know, is it on? Is it all three? 48 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 2: Even make a couple of phone calls. Get this tightened up? Okay, okay, 49 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 2: all right, So let's see. So doctor Kevin James is 50 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 2: an accomplished educator and transformative leader, best known for spearheading 51 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: the remarkable comeback of Morris Brown College Wow. Serving as 52 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 2: the institution's nineteenth president, he has successfully navigated Morris Brown 53 00:01:55,720 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: through a rigorous rebuilding and reaccreditation process during national recodition 54 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 2: for restoring one of Atlanta's most historic HBCUs to its 55 00:02:03,640 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 2: rightful prominence. 56 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 4: Wow. 57 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 2: Under doctor james visionary leadership, Morris browne has significantly grown 58 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 2: its enrollment, revitalized student life, and attracted meaningful partnerships with 59 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,239 Speaker 2: influential organizations such as the Arthur Blank Foundation, Chick fil A, 60 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 2: and renowned figures including bish of TD jakes. His mancha 61 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 2: for striving for the highest and his belief that there 62 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 2: are no excuses for success implify his hands on, solutions 63 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 2: focused approach to leadership and education. Doctor James remains committed 64 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 2: to empowering the next generation of leaders through education, community engagement, 65 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 2: and strategic collaboration. His work at the intersection of academia, culture, 66 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 2: and business continues to drive impact will change, making him 67 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:43,959 Speaker 2: a respected voice in both higher education and community revitalization. 68 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 3: Wow. 69 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 2: That's what chat said about you. You know what's so interesting? 70 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 2: I love chat GBT. 71 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 1: I have never done that to myself, so I think 72 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:53,080 Speaker 1: it was pretty accurate. 73 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 4: Man, that was amazing. 74 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 3: Hey man, will you get it? It pulls they get it right. 75 00:02:56,320 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 4: Sometimes you get it right. 76 00:02:57,160 --> 00:02:58,959 Speaker 3: Sometimes, you know, it's always interesting when you got to 77 00:02:58,960 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 3: look it up and ask it. Man. 78 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 2: You know, the rebuilding, the resurgence, the comeback of Morris 79 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: Brown has been amazing. Yes, what's been the most fulfilling 80 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 2: part of that journey for you? 81 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: I think the most fulfilling component of me being the 82 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 1: president of Morris Brown was actually making the history of 83 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:16,839 Speaker 1: us getting accredited again. When I became the president six 84 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: years ago, nobody and when I say nobody, I mean nobody, 85 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: nobody believed that what we were trying to do is possible. 86 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 1: I mean, if you think about it, twenty years had passed, 87 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: the loss of accreditation, thirty five million dollar bankruptcy, the 88 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: loss of students, the loss of our brand, the loss 89 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: of our reputation. And when I became the president, it 90 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: was eye opening to me because people they wouldn't even 91 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: they wouldn't take my meetings. They ay, man, get out 92 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: of here, you know. And so the day that we 93 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 1: got a credit I'll never forget it. April twenty six, 94 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two, when I sat in the boardroom and 95 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: told my faculty and staff that we had been accredited. 96 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 1: One of the most touching things was one of my 97 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: employees who had been there for thirty five years. 98 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 4: He just broke down crying because he had seen it all. 99 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 4: He stayed during bankruptcy, lost his retirement, everything. He just 100 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 4: broke down crying and just couldn't believe it. And so 101 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 4: just the most rewarding thing is that we actually pulled 102 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 4: it off. The second thing that I would say is 103 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 4: my first accredited graduating class. That was amazing because again, 104 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,480 Speaker 4: twenty years had passed and here we got students walking 105 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 4: across stage with an accredited degree from Morris Brown College. 106 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 4: That was amazing as well. So it's just, you know, 107 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 4: humbling experience. 108 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: I am so grateful to God that he has allowed 109 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: me to be in this time, in this place and 110 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: be able to lend my leadership to lead Morris Brown College. 111 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 2: For it, absolutely, and you're the person for it. But 112 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 2: I have a question, man, I just wonder about this. 113 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 2: How does one even get that kind of opportunity in 114 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 2: the first place. Like something tells me like this wasn't 115 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 2: listed on LinkedIn or glass like that. 116 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:52,279 Speaker 4: Right, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, so it's crazy. 117 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 1: In December of twenty eighteen, I was at home watching 118 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: the news and I saw on the news president of 119 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: Morrisbrown College retires designs. I sat there for a few 120 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 1: moments and I literally out loud said wow, I wanted 121 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: to be the next president of Morris Brown College. I 122 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,919 Speaker 1: went to the website, googled it. Job wasn't posted to 123 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 1: your point, wasn't posted, and I saw that Morris Brown 124 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 1: was affiliated with the Ame Church. So then I googled 125 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:19,279 Speaker 1: Aamme Church and the sixth district of the Aame Church headquarters. 126 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: Phone number came up and it was at seven o'clock 127 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 1: at night. I called, and the way God set it up, 128 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: the chairman of the board of Morris Brown College. 129 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:30,640 Speaker 4: His assistant answered the phone. Wow, and I introduced myself. 130 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 4: You don't know me. My name is Kevin James. 131 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 1: I just saw your president retired resign from Morris Brown 132 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:37,839 Speaker 1: and two complete strangers. We talked for forty five minutes 133 00:05:37,839 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 1: on the phone, and at the end of that conversation, 134 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: she said, send me your resume. 135 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 4: I'm going to put it directly in the chairman's hands. 136 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 1: About a month later, I got an interview three interviews 137 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: later here, I am. 138 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 3: That's amazing man. 139 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 2: So look, yeah, it really is just you know, making 140 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:53,359 Speaker 2: opportunities right, because I don't think a lot of people 141 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 2: saw that and made that connection. I Yet, when you 142 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 2: saw something, you said, I'm going to go for it, 143 00:05:56,680 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 2: and like, you know, when you stepped into this role, 144 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 2: like what was your mind set around like rebuilding and reaccreditation, 145 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 2: Like you know, was there a moment when you knew 146 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 2: it was gonna work? With there moments where you didn't 147 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 2: think it was gonna work, Like how did you approach that? 148 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:08,159 Speaker 4: You know? 149 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 1: It's interesting and this is an honest statement that I'm 150 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: about to make. I never doubted that we were going 151 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 1: to get accredited again. And people ask me all the time, well, 152 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: where did that come from? I don't know where that 153 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 1: came from. I went in and I'm gonna tell you, 154 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,160 Speaker 1: I'm going to write my book right, And it's at 155 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: least fifty moments at least fifty where a common sense, 156 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: every day regular person would have quit on the spot, 157 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:35,480 Speaker 1: and every single time I said no, we got to 158 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: overcome this obstacle. I didn't always know how we were 159 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: going to do it. But I just knew that there 160 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: were no excuses that we were going to get it done, 161 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:45,240 Speaker 1: and so we went in. We were able to build 162 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:49,440 Speaker 1: a team of phenomenal leaders, and in the beginning, folks 163 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: weren't even getting paid. I mean, that was one of 164 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: the craziest things that I saw when I went into 165 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: Morris Brown. When I first started at Morris Brown, three 166 00:06:57,279 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: major things. The first thing was we hadn't paid any 167 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: of our bisill we didn't have the money. We weren't 168 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 1: paying our bills. The second thing were the faculty and 169 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 1: staff or seven paychecks behind, but they were at. 170 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 3: Work, but they were showing up with a smile. 171 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: And then the third room, which was the biggest one 172 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 1: of all, we only had like seven hundred dollars to 173 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 1: our name. I literally had more money in my account 174 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: than Morsemroun College had. 175 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 3: That's crazy. 176 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:24,240 Speaker 4: So yeah, it was. So it was really really a situation. 177 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: I was dealt the hand that most people would have 178 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 1: just said, no, I'm not even gonna try it. But again, 179 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: God placed something in me to say, let's go get 180 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:33,320 Speaker 1: it done, and we did. 181 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:35,720 Speaker 2: What do you remember about like day one when you 182 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 2: first walked in that first time you walked in, the 183 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 2: first time you walked into your office, first time you 184 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 2: walked there, Like, how do you remember about that day? 185 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: Well, what I just mentioned, I said, those three things 186 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: they brought, and we hadn't paid our bills, stacked bills 187 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: this high again, we couldn't make payroll, and we didn't 188 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 1: have any money. I literally got up from my desk, 189 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: walked outside day one and I started walking around the 190 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: campus and I was talking out loud. 191 00:07:57,480 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 4: To God and saying, what in the world did I 192 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 4: just walk into? 193 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,760 Speaker 1: Because I know Morris Brown College had challenges, but I 194 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: didn't really know how bad it was until that very 195 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: first day. And so immediately we had to go to work. 196 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: Immediately had to go to work to figure out a 197 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: plan of restoring the institution. 198 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 4: And I didn't have all the answers. 199 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:20,280 Speaker 1: I just had a vision, I had ideas, and we 200 00:08:20,320 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: just set forth the mark and went ahead. 201 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 3: Yeah. 202 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 2: Like, one of my favorite things is always kind of 203 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 2: tell people like, I'm definite in my vision, but I'm. 204 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 3: Usually flexible with the details. 205 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, oh yeah, you know, cause you got again be 206 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 2: you gotta bendable things is going to happen. 207 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 3: You got to kind of achieve. 208 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 2: But like one of the things you talk about all 209 00:08:34,040 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 2: the time for your philosophy is, you know, striving for 210 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 2: the highest and there are no excuses, Like yeah, when 211 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:39,239 Speaker 2: it comes to fixing. 212 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 3: Things like how did that play out? As you started 213 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 3: to help rebuild Morris Brown. 214 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 1: You know, when I was pledging the Omegasci Fi Fraternity Incorporated, 215 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 1: we had to learn this poem called no Excuses. And 216 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: I don't know what it is, but that poem was 217 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: was really drilled into my psyche of who I am 218 00:08:56,200 --> 00:09:00,160 Speaker 1: as a leader that if there's a will, there's a way, 219 00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 1: there are no excuses. Figure it out, fix it, find 220 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 1: the answer, find the solution. And so that's how I 221 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: approached my leadership at Morrisbrown College, going in when they're 222 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 1: literally were no answers to many problems. I'll give one example. 223 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 1: When I first became president, maybe week two, I got 224 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: a phone call from Georgia Power, and Georgia Power's like, look, 225 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 1: we see y'all on the news and everything. You know, 226 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: new President Morris Brown. But you all, oh, what's four 227 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: hundred thousand dollars? We need you all to pay this money, 228 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: you know, if you want to keep the lights on. 229 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 4: Well, he didn't have four hundred thousand dollars? What are 230 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 4: you do in that situation? 231 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 1: I didn't really know what to do, but we figured 232 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: it out and we were able to come up with 233 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: a plan where. 234 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 4: The lights never got cut off. 235 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:48,280 Speaker 3: Yeah. 236 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: Right, So you know those kind of examples of just 237 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 1: figuring out answers to problems. You know, my leadership style 238 00:09:55,920 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 1: is getting the best people around you who even if 239 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:03,680 Speaker 1: it's tough, they're going to find a will make a 240 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:05,720 Speaker 1: way and get the problem solved. 241 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, what's your philosophy? 242 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 2: You know, even on team building, right, Like I think 243 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 2: a lot of times, you know, when you're the leadership positions, 244 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 2: I always say it's kind of about like editing the 245 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:15,839 Speaker 2: team to make sure you have the right people around Yes, 246 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 2: people can you know, one of the things I always 247 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 2: tell my team is do only the things you can do? Yes, 248 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 2: because you can do a lot of things, but like, 249 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:23,480 Speaker 2: what's that one thing that you're like really good at 250 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:25,080 Speaker 2: to Like, how do you kind of approach building that 251 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 2: team to make sure you have the people that you 252 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 2: need on board with you. 253 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:29,680 Speaker 3: To kind of start going through this process. 254 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: Well, the first thing I had to do is I 255 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 1: had to get people who understood the hand that we 256 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:36,160 Speaker 1: were dealt called Morris Brown College. You know, if you're 257 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:38,000 Speaker 1: going to come in here and think that you know, 258 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 1: we're driving rolls Royce's around and you know we are 259 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: swimming in it, this is not the place for you. 260 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 1: So I had to find people who really were hungry 261 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:49,199 Speaker 1: and had a desire of making. 262 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 4: The history of restoring Morris Brown. 263 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 1: That wasn't easy because again, most people would have quit 264 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: in the situations that we were in. You know, I'll 265 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: give one more example. Probably month three on the job, 266 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: we had a fire in our building where our building 267 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:10,920 Speaker 1: was literally destroyed. Okay, we didn't have insurance to get 268 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 1: it fixed. So what are you do in that situation 269 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,440 Speaker 1: where now all of your employees are displaced. Well, we 270 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:19,240 Speaker 1: had to figure it out, right, And so people who 271 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: are understanding, hardworking people who understood the culture of Morris Brown, 272 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 1: understood the culture of HBCUs and not only that, really 273 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 1: boots on the ground type of individuals. I didn't need 274 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: anyone coming into Morris Brown's building who was not prepared 275 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 1: to pull up their sleeves, put down deep roots, and 276 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:41,800 Speaker 1: really go to work. And so, again, building a group 277 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:45,199 Speaker 1: of folks around me who had that kind of mindset. 278 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: It wasn't easy, but we were able to get it done. 279 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 2: Now, y'all had some significant contributions and support from organizations 280 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 2: like Arthur Blaine, yes you know, TD Jakes and lots 281 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 2: of other people Like what does that? First of all, like, 282 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:09,079 Speaker 2: how do you how do you how do those kinds 283 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 2: of situations come about? Because again I thinkh people just 284 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 2: see the number, Like, first of all, how do you 285 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 2: create those relationships? You know, how do you get to 286 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 2: that point? But then also what does that mean? What 287 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:19,160 Speaker 2: did that? What does that kind of support mean for 288 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 2: the school and the students? 289 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 1: Yes, well it means everything because these are reputable organizations 290 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:28,080 Speaker 1: and companies and once they sign on, it brings more 291 00:12:29,040 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: trust and stability to who we said that we are 292 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 1: in our resurgence. You know, I mentioned at the beginning 293 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:38,720 Speaker 1: of this interview that when I first started, no one 294 00:12:38,760 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 1: would take a meeting with me, no one would talk 295 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,680 Speaker 1: to me. So I found out very early in my 296 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 1: presidency that I need to just pause from going to 297 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 1: major philanthropists and philanthropic organizations and corporations. It was two 298 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 1: organizations that I stopped, and I said, I need to 299 00:12:56,280 --> 00:13:00,440 Speaker 1: get these two groups to really believe again and to 300 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: pour into the institution. And those two groups are the 301 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:10,679 Speaker 1: alumni and the AAMI Church that's home grown. And if 302 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:16,319 Speaker 1: I can get our two home organizations groups to support us, 303 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:20,800 Speaker 1: then I can go outside and get other support. So 304 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 1: the hard reset is what we called it. The hard 305 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: reset was really surrounded by the alumni and the Amy Church. 306 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:32,320 Speaker 1: The resurgence and the hard reset was the first five years. 307 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:34,839 Speaker 1: Now that we're in our second five years, the resurgence 308 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:39,319 Speaker 1: is more of partnerships with outside organizations, continuing to work 309 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: with a course of alumni and Amy Church. But now 310 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 1: we can go to the tdjs of the world, the 311 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:46,880 Speaker 1: Author Blanks of the world, the Coca Colas of the world, 312 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: you know, the home depots of the world where we 313 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:54,600 Speaker 1: helped ourselves. I looked at it from a philosophy of 314 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: self help. First, let's pull our own selves up by 315 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: our own bootstraps and show the world first that we're 316 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:04,480 Speaker 1: about business, that we have process and procedure, that we 317 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 1: are credited again. And then when folks see that, then 318 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 1: they're saying, you know what, We'll take a meeting with you. 319 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:15,200 Speaker 1: Now you know the Arthur Blank relationship. It took me 320 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 1: five years to get that donation to us. But they 321 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: had been very receptive from the beginning, shortly after we 322 00:14:22,960 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 1: started the hard reset. But then you know, once they 323 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:27,840 Speaker 1: saw that we were credited, that we were growing, that 324 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: we had process procedure or everything, you know, then they 325 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: came in to help us, you know. 326 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:32,600 Speaker 4: But it took time. 327 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: And so you know, to all business folks, listening, it 328 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:40,280 Speaker 1: starts with helping yourself first. It starts with showing that 329 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: you have your house in order first, and then you 330 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:45,360 Speaker 1: can go out and partner with others. 331 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely, No, I'm a big believer in that same thing, 332 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 2: instead of going around and starting with just asking, yeah, 333 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 2: you got to do the work first. Absolutely, And it 334 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 2: also it just gives you leverage too, right, Like it 335 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 2: shows people you're not just here to just ask, you're 336 00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 2: actually willing to invest the time in yourself and in 337 00:14:57,880 --> 00:14:59,840 Speaker 2: your business and in just the organization to help make 338 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 2: that possible. I want to kind of unpack when you 339 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 2: said the first things you did was you went and 340 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 2: talked to the alumni in the A and ME church, Like, 341 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 2: what were those conversations? 342 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: Like, Yeah, so I went into a listening campaign. So 343 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: one of the very first things that we did. We 344 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: went over to the gathering spot and we had an 345 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 1: alumni listening campaign. I gave a vision of what I 346 00:15:16,760 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: wanted to do as a new president of Morris Brown College, 347 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:23,040 Speaker 1: and I literally opened up the floor for any questions. 348 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: You have to understand, I'm not on a love of 349 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: Morris Brown. I am not a and me and so 350 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:33,720 Speaker 1: these folks had no idea who Kevin James was. And again, 351 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 1: twenty years has passed, so a lot of trust has 352 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 1: been lost. And so ah, man, they gave it to me. Man, 353 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 1: you know, how are you gonna do this? What about this? 354 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:42,840 Speaker 1: How are we going to get a credit? It's been 355 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: twenty years. How are we gonna raise money? How are 356 00:15:44,520 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: we gonna you know? And I was able to articulate 357 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: a vision of Okay, the slow and the steady wins 358 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: a race. It's not gonna be an overnight solution. But 359 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 1: with your support and your love of your school, we 360 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,520 Speaker 1: can work together to be able to restore Morris Brown. 361 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 1: Going to give an opportunity to get to know me, 362 00:16:01,840 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: to hear me, to learn my vision, to learn my 363 00:16:04,480 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 1: style of leadership, to kind of just listen and see 364 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 1: what kind of connections I have and kind of the 365 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:12,640 Speaker 1: strategy around getting accredited again, and we were able to 366 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:16,640 Speaker 1: do that and the alumni. You know, three reasons Morseround 367 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 1: is back today. Number one God, number two the Amy Church, 368 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: and number three the alumni period. Also those reasons are 369 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: the reasons, those three entities are the reasons why Morris 370 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 1: Brown never closed. And so we were able to do it. 371 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: But it wasn't easy. It took time, and it took 372 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: the development of. 373 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 2: Trust absolutely absolutely, now beyond financial contributions, like what does 374 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 2: the right kind of partner from Wrris Brown look like? 375 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 3: Now? 376 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, Well, at the end of the day, what I 377 00:16:43,280 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: want is I want opportunities for my students. So every 378 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: partnership that we've been able to develop, it directly impacts students. 379 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: If it's internships, if it's scholarship dollars, if it's job 380 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:04,560 Speaker 1: or if it's touching our academic program, our curriculums, something 381 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:07,480 Speaker 1: like that, and so it usually is in one of 382 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: those veins of not all of those veins, right, And 383 00:17:10,040 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: so I just use one example, we're partner with Hilton 384 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:16,960 Speaker 1: Hilton Hotels. Well, Morris Brown is the only HBCU in 385 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: a state of Georgia that has a degree in hospitality management, 386 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:26,640 Speaker 1: so that partnership makes sense. That partnership directly impacts internships. 387 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 1: My students intern with Hilton Hotels. My students are able 388 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: to learn from some of the folks who work over 389 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 1: there teach for us, right, so they get to learn 390 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: hands on practical experience from experts who work in the field. 391 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 1: My students get job opportunities. Several of my students right 392 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: now are working at the Signia Hilton right there on 393 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:50,560 Speaker 1: North Side Drive, right. And then of course the philanthropic support, 394 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:53,479 Speaker 1: so we're working with different partners to get philanthropic support. 395 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 1: So you know, usually partnerships touches one of those veins, 396 00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: if not all of them. 397 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:00,919 Speaker 2: Absolutely, now one of the big things obviously, you know, 398 00:18:00,920 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 2: you can't have a can't have a school without students, absolutely, 399 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 2: and you know you're obviously looking to bring more students 400 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:06,879 Speaker 2: in and kind of grow that back. Like what is 401 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 2: the pitch to students about why they should come the 402 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 2: Moris Brown now and be a part of what you 403 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 2: all the rebuilding. 404 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:13,720 Speaker 1: Yes, well, let me first start by saying that when 405 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 1: I started six years ago, we had twenty students, Yeah, 406 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: twenty this fall, and I hope y'all got some clapping 407 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: thing over over there or something this fall. We're looking 408 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: at over five hundreds. 409 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 3: I'm clapping Brown. I'm playing Brown in the building. 410 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 4: You know, that's historic. Absolutely, that's history, man. And we're 411 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 4: just getting started. 412 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 1: You know, I talk to students all the time, you know, 413 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: at different career fairs, different places I go to speak. 414 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: You know, I have a phenomenal admissions team, and we 415 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:44,440 Speaker 1: talk about the small classroom. We talk about the fact 416 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:50,400 Speaker 1: that Morris Brown is a historic HBCU that specializes and 417 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:55,240 Speaker 1: holding your hand, walking you through application all the way 418 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: to graduation. We specialize in making sure that you get 419 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:02,199 Speaker 1: that hands on touch from everybody all the way from 420 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:04,240 Speaker 1: the president's office all the way down to the janitor. 421 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 4: Right. 422 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:08,199 Speaker 1: We are a small institution of family culture within the 423 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: Ame Church family. Our institution has phenomenal academic programs against 424 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 1: small classes, phenomenal faculty. You know, almost one hundred percent 425 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,919 Speaker 1: of my faculty have a PhD. Absolute, right, we have 426 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 1: the best faculty. Most of our faculty are practitioners, so 427 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: not only do they have the educational experience, but they 428 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: work in that field, you know, And so the students 429 00:19:30,040 --> 00:19:32,680 Speaker 1: are going to get a phenomenal education. They're going to 430 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:38,160 Speaker 1: get a phenomenal experience. We are personally focused on each 431 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:43,439 Speaker 1: in every student by name. You're not a number by name. Hey, Cedric, 432 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: how's class is going? When I see students in the 433 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 1: whole way, how are classes going? 434 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:47,199 Speaker 3: All right? 435 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: Tell me what's going on? What do you need you know? Oh, 436 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: doctor James, I need to meet with you. All right, 437 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: Let's meet tomorrow at three o'clock. 438 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 4: Boom. 439 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 1: That's the kind of different kind of hands on experience 440 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: that we have at Morris around college. And not only that, 441 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:01,680 Speaker 1: we're doing a great job of bringing back student life. 442 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 1: So this semester, Man, this spring semester, we went viral 443 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:06,400 Speaker 1: almost every single week. 444 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 3: We brought back. 445 00:20:07,000 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 4: Divine nine f attorneys and sororities. 446 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 1: The q's are back on the yard, the Sigmas, the Deltas, 447 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 1: the zetas, you know, and students are really really living 448 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:15,480 Speaker 1: it up man. 449 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:17,119 Speaker 4: So bringing back student life. 450 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:19,880 Speaker 1: You know, we have honor societies, we have the choir back, 451 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:22,360 Speaker 1: and we're just continuing to build that student life experience 452 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: as well. So you know, Morris Brown is back, you know, 453 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 1: will it be Morris Brown nineteen ninety No, it's different. 454 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: Will it be mors bround two thousand. No, it's different, 455 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:35,200 Speaker 1: but we are back historical HBCU. We are back the resurgence. 456 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, I spent some time the AUC and 457 00:20:38,520 --> 00:20:40,159 Speaker 2: kind of back in I'm gonna call it the heyday, 458 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 2: but definitely back in the late nineties, and I always 459 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 2: felt like just Morris Brown had a beautiful campus. There 460 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 2: was so much opportunity there, like it really again just 461 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 2: kind of comparing them to the other schools, right, like, 462 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 2: I always just love the campus and I love you 463 00:20:50,840 --> 00:20:52,879 Speaker 2: talking about like the student life, coming back, the yard, 464 00:20:52,920 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 2: coming back. Yes, I do got one question. This is 465 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:58,119 Speaker 2: something I've always kind of personally wondered, Sure, what is 466 00:20:58,160 --> 00:20:59,800 Speaker 2: the goal and what is the vision with the stadium? 467 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:02,360 Speaker 2: We all still have the stadium over there, because I've 468 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 2: been saying this for the longest time, and this is 469 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:06,080 Speaker 2: my hope. I'm like, but if they don't say, if 470 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:08,479 Speaker 2: they don't do anything with this, it just seems like 471 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:10,480 Speaker 2: they'll be the perfect partnership with the. 472 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,040 Speaker 3: Falcons or something like that. Oh yeah, man. 473 00:21:12,119 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, So a lot of people don't know that Morris 474 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: Brown College we filed bankruptcy. I mentioned thirty five million 475 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:20,879 Speaker 1: dollar bankruptcy we don't have the stadium anymore, actually lost it. 476 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:25,879 Speaker 1: Clark Atlanta University now owns the stadium, and I've heard 477 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 1: conversation that that stadium may be transformed into affordable housing, 478 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: but I don't know all those details. But Morstown no 479 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 1: longer owns the stadium. 480 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 2: Okay, all right, Now, what is the future like with 481 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 2: all the growth you're having? And like if you had 482 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 2: to kind of like fast forward a little bit, let's say, 483 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:42,000 Speaker 2: like five years in the future of everything happening, what 484 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 2: does Morris Brown look like in twenty thirty. Yes, Morris 485 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 2: Brown College is and will be a vibrant HBCU that 486 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:54,120 Speaker 2: is focused on bringing students in and giving them all 487 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 2: the tools that they need to be able to go 488 00:21:56,520 --> 00:22:00,120 Speaker 2: out into this world and compete and not only compete, 489 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 2: but win and succeed. That is what Morris Brown College 490 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,960 Speaker 2: will be. We will be a first choice institution for students. 491 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:10,199 Speaker 2: We will be a choice for students who may not 492 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,840 Speaker 2: think that they have the option or opportunity to go 493 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:16,959 Speaker 2: to college. It's so many people alums who come to 494 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,879 Speaker 2: me at homecoming in different places and say, doctor James 495 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:21,680 Speaker 2: Morris Brown is the only school that would give me 496 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:24,520 Speaker 2: an opportunity. And now I'm a lawyer, and no I'm 497 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:26,920 Speaker 2: a doctor and now own my own business, and now 498 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,680 Speaker 2: I'm doing great things in Atlanta, Georgia, this region, this 499 00:22:29,800 --> 00:22:33,040 Speaker 2: country right. And so Morris Brown College will continue to 500 00:22:33,119 --> 00:22:36,399 Speaker 2: be that safe haven for all hungry souls for students 501 00:22:36,440 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 2: to come and be educated. We anticipate, and we've identified 502 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:44,399 Speaker 2: this in our brand new five year strategic plan, that 503 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:46,040 Speaker 2: we want to double our enrollment. 504 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:48,560 Speaker 4: We're going to go from four hundred students to eight 505 00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 4: hundred students over these next five years. 506 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:53,679 Speaker 2: And when you think about the upcoming school, you're like, 507 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:55,399 Speaker 2: what are you most excited about this fall? 508 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:55,720 Speaker 3: Oh? 509 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: Man, I'm excited about the numbers Morris Brown. I don't 510 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 1: think any one ever thought Morris Brown would ever see 511 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 1: five hundred students ever. Again, I'm excited about student life Already, 512 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 1: students are getting prepared for new student orientation, hosting different 513 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: fairs and different events and parties and all kinds of 514 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 1: different things. I'm just very, very excited to see all 515 00:23:17,119 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 1: of the new students that are coming. We've already broken 516 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:24,640 Speaker 1: a record. Morris Brown already has over twelve hundred applications 517 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:28,719 Speaker 1: for admissions. We never thought that we'd ever see that 518 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: kind of interest in Morris Brown College. Doesn't mean twelve 519 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:33,679 Speaker 1: hundred students are coming to Morris Brown but have completed 520 00:23:33,680 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 1: a new application to say we're interested in learning more 521 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 1: about Morris Brown. You know that is historic in nature, 522 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:44,239 Speaker 1: and so we're just excited about continuing to grow and 523 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:45,360 Speaker 1: to research the institution. 524 00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:58,280 Speaker 2: One thing, other thing I want to back to, I 525 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 2: don't think a lot of people fully understand the relationship 526 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:02,840 Speaker 2: between Morris Brown and the AA and E Church. Just 527 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 2: for those that don't know, can you kind of explain 528 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:05,400 Speaker 2: with that relationship with yes. 529 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: So, in the late eighteen hundreds, a group of white 530 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: trustee members from Clark College approached the leadership of Big 531 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 1: Bethel Amy Church. Now that is very significant because Big 532 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:23,840 Speaker 1: Bethel is a historic black church, and everything black in 533 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:27,680 Speaker 1: the eighteen hundreds went through Big Bethel. As a matter 534 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 1: of fact, it had the nickname the Black City Hall 535 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 1: because that is where everything black went through Big Bethel 536 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: Amy Church. So these trustee members approached Big Bethel and said, 537 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:41,080 Speaker 1: can we use your church for classroom space? And so 538 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:43,119 Speaker 1: as they were sitting around the table, one of the 539 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:47,200 Speaker 1: trustee members said, well, if we're gonna let Clark College 540 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:51,199 Speaker 1: use our church for classroom space. Why can't we just 541 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:54,359 Speaker 1: start our own college. Now, these are former slaves having 542 00:24:54,400 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: this conversation. Yeah, and the pastor of the church, his 543 00:24:57,600 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 1: name was Wesley John Gaines. He stood up and said, 544 00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:02,879 Speaker 1: with the help of God, we can start our own college. 545 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:05,159 Speaker 1: And with the help of God, we will start our 546 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:07,720 Speaker 1: own college. And so he went to the Aame Church 547 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,280 Speaker 1: and said, we want to start a college in Atlanta 548 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:15,040 Speaker 1: for the education of Negro boys and girls. Henceforth, the 549 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: Aame Church started Morris Brown College. Now, why is that 550 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 1: so unique? Morris Brown College is the only college, the 551 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: only school in Georgia that was actually founded, funded, owned 552 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: and operated by Black people for black people. So started 553 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,440 Speaker 1: through the Aame Church. So we go all the way 554 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:39,160 Speaker 1: back to eighteen to the basement of Big Bethel Aam 555 00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 1: Church where we were founded. 556 00:25:40,359 --> 00:25:41,480 Speaker 3: No, that's great, that's great, man. 557 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:43,520 Speaker 2: And now with everything you've been building, and what's been 558 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:45,879 Speaker 2: the reception and the feedback from the alumni because you 559 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:47,800 Speaker 2: said that was one of the big you know, like 560 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 2: with the alumni been saying about this oversears. 561 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:50,200 Speaker 4: Oh my god. 562 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:52,440 Speaker 1: Again, a lot of people never thought that Morris Brown 563 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 1: would be back so the alumni are elated. 564 00:25:56,040 --> 00:25:56,280 Speaker 4: Now. 565 00:25:56,359 --> 00:26:00,400 Speaker 1: The alumni have always continued to support Morris Brown. We 566 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:02,639 Speaker 1: always had a homecoming every single year, even during the 567 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:06,280 Speaker 1: unaccredited years, we always had a graduation. Even though school 568 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:09,119 Speaker 1: wasn't accredited, every year we had a graduation. So the 569 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: alumni have had always stayed with the institution and they 570 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:14,879 Speaker 1: have been so supportive. As a matter of fact, we 571 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:17,560 Speaker 1: just broke a record this year. We hit our goal 572 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:23,160 Speaker 1: of one million dollars in alumni giving, first time in Yeah, 573 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 1: first time in twenty years that we were able to 574 00:26:26,080 --> 00:26:28,439 Speaker 1: raise that much money through the alumni. So the alumni 575 00:26:28,480 --> 00:26:30,920 Speaker 1: have been great that continue to support their institution and 576 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:32,400 Speaker 1: again they're part of this resurgence. 577 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I mean again, like I think a lot 578 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:35,600 Speaker 2: of people really got to understand too, Like, you know, 579 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 2: alumni are so important to schools, and you know, I'm 580 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 2: actually so I attended Georgia Southern University. I'm actually on 581 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:43,240 Speaker 2: the foundation board. I'm one the trustees down there, and 582 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:44,919 Speaker 2: so I go to the board meetings. 583 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:45,359 Speaker 3: I've seen it. 584 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 2: And when you look at how those endowments are running operated, 585 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 2: I don't think people really fully understand how important it is, 586 00:26:52,280 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 2: not just to say you're an alumni, but to stay 587 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 2: active and engaged because they helped support the school in 588 00:26:56,080 --> 00:26:56,679 Speaker 2: so many different way. 589 00:26:56,680 --> 00:27:01,960 Speaker 1: Absolutely, it is absolutely imperative that alumni of all schools, 590 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:07,480 Speaker 1: but it's specifically HBCUs that they support their institutions. Right now, nationwide, 591 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 1: the statistics show that only about thirteen percent of alumni 592 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:15,119 Speaker 1: at HBCUs give back to the institutions. Well, we have 593 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:18,560 Speaker 1: to change that. If our institutions have any hope to survive, 594 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 1: we have to give back to our institutions. And here's 595 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:24,280 Speaker 1: the thing, even if you didn't go to a Black college, 596 00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:26,920 Speaker 1: is important for the black community to pour back into 597 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 1: these institutions. These institutions literally are responsible for the black 598 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:38,280 Speaker 1: middle class. These institutions literally are responsible for opportunity for 599 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 1: so many black and brown folks who might not have 600 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 1: an opportunity to go to college elsewhere. These institutions only 601 00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:49,119 Speaker 1: account for three percent of all colleges and universities, but 602 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: yet graduate over twenty percent of all black bachelor degree holders. 603 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 1: Right black eighty percent of black judges went to HBCUs, 604 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:03,840 Speaker 1: seventy percent of lawyers, fifty percent of all business owners, 605 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:09,160 Speaker 1: and black teachers educated by HBCUs. If we don't take 606 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 1: care of us, why should anyone else take care of us? 607 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:17,240 Speaker 1: So it's absolutely critical that a lums of HBCUs give 608 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:18,320 Speaker 1: back to their institutions. 609 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:19,560 Speaker 2: Well, no, it goes back to what you were saying 610 00:28:19,560 --> 00:28:21,680 Speaker 2: to them again, right, like the same way you all said, 611 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:23,119 Speaker 2: we had to get our house in order first, Like 612 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:25,159 Speaker 2: I be able to start looking for looking to ourselves 613 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:26,719 Speaker 2: for that kind of help and support, because those are 614 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:29,000 Speaker 2: the opportunities to where again if you're if we're supporting. 615 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:30,719 Speaker 2: I mean, it's always good to have support from other 616 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,119 Speaker 2: organizations and partners, right, but like we have to the 617 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 2: kind of say like put the mask on yourself first, right, 618 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 2: absolute you help the next person I says, we have 619 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 2: to do at our schools. Now, we're looking for partners now, 620 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 2: like obviously, because that's always going to be a part 621 00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:43,760 Speaker 2: of it. Like what do you want partners to know 622 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:45,880 Speaker 2: about coming in and supporting Morris Brown? Like what are 623 00:28:45,880 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 2: they buying into? What are they supporting? What does their 624 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:49,960 Speaker 2: support go towards. 625 00:28:49,760 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 3: For the college. 626 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:54,120 Speaker 1: So when I partner with organizations, I mentioned that it 627 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:56,520 Speaker 1: always touches students in some kind of way. So the 628 00:28:56,560 --> 00:28:58,280 Speaker 1: first thing that I do is I talk about the 629 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 1: history about Morris Brown, about our resurgence, the hard reset 630 00:29:02,280 --> 00:29:07,400 Speaker 1: to the resurgence. Just telling that story alone should excite 631 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:12,520 Speaker 1: any philanthropists or any corporation because we're the first HBCU 632 00:29:12,800 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 1: to literally come back from death, to literally come back 633 00:29:16,080 --> 00:29:20,560 Speaker 1: after a nearly twenty year hiatus thirty five million dollars bankruptcy. 634 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:23,920 Speaker 1: So just that story in itself should get people excited 635 00:29:23,960 --> 00:29:26,480 Speaker 1: about supporting our college. And then when you add on 636 00:29:26,520 --> 00:29:28,640 Speaker 1: the fact of our history of being the first and 637 00:29:28,720 --> 00:29:32,680 Speaker 1: only founded by black folk in the state former slaves, 638 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:36,280 Speaker 1: that should excite you. When you talk about what this 639 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 1: institution has done for so many black and brown people 640 00:29:40,040 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 1: in the city of Atlanta, in the state of Georgia, 641 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 1: that should. 642 00:29:42,480 --> 00:29:43,320 Speaker 4: Get folks excited. 643 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: And then when I tell the stories about how wonderful 644 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:50,480 Speaker 1: our students are where they come from, their opportunity, that 645 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:53,520 Speaker 1: gets folks excited as well. And so just telling those 646 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 1: three stories should get everyone excited in it. From the 647 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:00,760 Speaker 1: success that we've had through partnership, it has gotten a 648 00:30:00,760 --> 00:30:01,680 Speaker 1: lot of people excited. 649 00:30:01,880 --> 00:30:02,480 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 650 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:05,280 Speaker 2: Now as you've gone through this process, again, there's been 651 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:07,520 Speaker 2: ups and downs. I'm sure there's been challenges, but like 652 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:10,160 Speaker 2: what if you learned about yourself as a leader through 653 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:10,800 Speaker 2: this process. 654 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 1: I'm going to tell you the number one thing that 655 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:17,520 Speaker 1: I have learned probably is resilience. Kevin, figure it out, 656 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:21,320 Speaker 1: figure it out. There is an answer. If there's a will, 657 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:25,160 Speaker 1: there's a way. I just recently did a TED talk 658 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:27,560 Speaker 1: and the title of my TED talk was you must 659 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:31,680 Speaker 1: be crazy. And I was talking about myself because when 660 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:34,480 Speaker 1: I first became the president of Morris Brown, everyone told 661 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 1: me I was crazy. And so at the title of 662 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:39,960 Speaker 1: my TED talk, I say, man, you got to be 663 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:43,040 Speaker 1: crazy to do something of this magnitude. You have to 664 00:30:43,080 --> 00:30:46,040 Speaker 1: be crazy to do something when people said that, you 665 00:30:46,080 --> 00:30:47,200 Speaker 1: know it's impossible. 666 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:48,800 Speaker 4: You know, I tell this story all the time. 667 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 1: I know what Noah felt like when he was building 668 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 1: arc and it was telling folks, hey, man, I got 669 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:55,240 Speaker 1: to build this art because it's about to rain and 670 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 1: it had never rained before, and people are like, man, 671 00:30:57,480 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 1: you're crazy. I know what he felt like because that's 672 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:03,280 Speaker 1: how people looked at me, and so you must be crazy. 673 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 1: So the number one thing I've learned is resilience, perseverance, 674 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: never giving up. 675 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:08,800 Speaker 3: Man. 676 00:31:08,840 --> 00:31:11,360 Speaker 2: Look it sounds like I mean, no, Well, here's the thing. 677 00:31:12,120 --> 00:31:15,120 Speaker 2: Anytime you take on something that nobody's ever done before, 678 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 2: or just like get those kind of challenges, right, Like, yeah, 679 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:19,480 Speaker 2: you do have to you have to have a little 680 00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:21,320 Speaker 2: bit crazy. I'm not going you gotta have a little 681 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:23,400 Speaker 2: bit of You're gonna have a little bit of just thumb, 682 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:25,320 Speaker 2: not even just crazy, but just you got to just understand, 683 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:26,880 Speaker 2: like you got to see something that other people kind 684 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:27,360 Speaker 2: of don't see. 685 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 4: You have to be courageous, right, And it. 686 00:31:28,880 --> 00:31:31,320 Speaker 2: Seems like even when again, even the way you approach 687 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:33,960 Speaker 2: that opportunity in the very beginning, seeing a new seeing 688 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:36,400 Speaker 2: something on the news, looking up how to get in 689 00:31:36,440 --> 00:31:39,520 Speaker 2: contact with the school, making a phone call, like that's 690 00:31:39,680 --> 00:31:41,960 Speaker 2: just somebody that again they see something that other people 691 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 2: don't see, and you kind of see an opportunity of that. 692 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:45,560 Speaker 2: But the thing about people that people need to understand 693 00:31:45,640 --> 00:31:48,760 Speaker 2: is the people that run towards those fires, right and 694 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:49,760 Speaker 2: see those opportunities. 695 00:31:49,840 --> 00:31:52,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's there's something amazing on the other side of that. 696 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:54,320 Speaker 2: Absolutely, and if you start to experience kind of just 697 00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:56,720 Speaker 2: the amazingness and again just just having the community come around, 698 00:31:56,800 --> 00:31:58,800 Speaker 2: seeing it come back to life, like I'm sure you 699 00:31:58,800 --> 00:31:59,720 Speaker 2: take a lot of pride in that. 700 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:01,760 Speaker 4: Right, takes so much pride. I'm so proud. Man. 701 00:32:01,840 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 1: One hundred years from now, they'll look back and they'll say, Hey, 702 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 1: that college, Morris Brown, that is so phenomenal. You know, 703 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:10,240 Speaker 1: they lost their accreditation in two thousand and two, two 704 00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 1: thousand and three, they went twenty years without accreditation, They 705 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:19,560 Speaker 1: overcame bankruptcy, they overcame all of those things, and now 706 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:22,480 Speaker 1: look at them now. I'm so proud. I'm so proud 707 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:24,840 Speaker 1: of my team. I'm so proud to be a part 708 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:27,239 Speaker 1: of it. And I'm just here to be used as 709 00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:27,560 Speaker 1: a tool. 710 00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:28,360 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 711 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:32,160 Speaker 2: Now, if anybody's listening and they're feeling inspired by this story, 712 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:34,880 Speaker 2: they want support, like how can they support the college? 713 00:32:34,960 --> 00:32:36,840 Speaker 2: Like how can they contribute to the mission of morse 714 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:37,920 Speaker 2: The first thing. 715 00:32:37,760 --> 00:32:40,320 Speaker 1: That I ask everyone to do is tell somebody, have 716 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:41,480 Speaker 1: you heard about Morris Brown? 717 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:43,800 Speaker 4: Hey, man, you know Morris Brown, That that school from 718 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:45,720 Speaker 4: the movie Drummond. You heard they lost their creditation? 719 00:32:46,120 --> 00:32:48,280 Speaker 1: Man, they got it back, man, first school to ever 720 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 1: do that, first HBCU to come back after twenty years. 721 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:51,840 Speaker 4: Tell the story. 722 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:55,000 Speaker 1: Help me literally be a walking billboard for Morris Brown College. 723 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:57,240 Speaker 1: That's the first way that folks can help us. The 724 00:32:57,360 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 1: second way that folks can help us is financially right. 725 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:04,680 Speaker 1: Go to our website Morris Brown dot edu, click on 726 00:33:04,720 --> 00:33:07,360 Speaker 1: that gift butt and give anything nothing too big, nothing 727 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:10,520 Speaker 1: too small. We would appreciate your financial support absolutely. 728 00:33:10,560 --> 00:33:13,160 Speaker 2: And for students that might be involved, like what does 729 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:15,120 Speaker 2: it take for a student to actually go to college? 730 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:16,720 Speaker 3: Like what are you looking for us? For our students 731 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:17,880 Speaker 3: that want to be at Wes Brown. 732 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:20,400 Speaker 4: So we're looking for students who want to better themselves. 733 00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:22,880 Speaker 1: We're looking for students who have a desire of coming 734 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:26,440 Speaker 1: to college, participate and have a great experience and of 735 00:33:27,080 --> 00:33:29,600 Speaker 1: giving all that you can regarding your academics. That's what 736 00:33:29,640 --> 00:33:32,080 Speaker 1: we're looking for, and we promise you if you have 737 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:36,000 Speaker 1: that those basic things that our faculty and staff will 738 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:39,280 Speaker 1: take you, hold your hand and pour into you and 739 00:33:39,280 --> 00:33:42,040 Speaker 1: give you everything that you need to succeed. We're looking 740 00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:45,440 Speaker 1: for students who are hungry, who are academically prepared, students 741 00:33:45,680 --> 00:33:47,520 Speaker 1: who really just want to come to college and get 742 00:33:47,520 --> 00:33:48,360 Speaker 1: a great education. 743 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:49,120 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 744 00:33:49,160 --> 00:33:51,640 Speaker 2: Now, one thing I always wonder about is say you 745 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:54,080 Speaker 2: can always kind of connect the dots looking backwards. So 746 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:58,200 Speaker 2: you know today in twenty twenty five, what would you 747 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:01,880 Speaker 2: have told doctor Kevin jan back when he started at 748 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:03,400 Speaker 2: the school knowing now what you know? 749 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:03,680 Speaker 3: Now? 750 00:34:03,800 --> 00:34:05,960 Speaker 1: Oh my god, that's a great question. I don't know 751 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:10,200 Speaker 1: the answer. What would I tell the younger president? 752 00:34:10,560 --> 00:34:11,520 Speaker 4: Oh? I know the answer. 753 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:15,799 Speaker 1: One of the things that I still work on are 754 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:19,760 Speaker 1: these politics. If you're going to be a college president 755 00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:23,240 Speaker 1: or a leader of a corporation or CEO or whatever, 756 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 1: you have to really really stay abreast of these politics. 757 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:31,640 Speaker 1: You know, right now we have a new president and 758 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:35,759 Speaker 1: it's a lot of things going on politically that have 759 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:39,480 Speaker 1: negatively impacted HBCUs and Morris Brown College. 760 00:34:39,760 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 4: Right, I just use one example. 761 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:45,520 Speaker 1: If they cut pale grants, that affects everybody in high ed, 762 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:50,760 Speaker 1: but it really affects black colleges because who are our students. 763 00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:54,239 Speaker 1: Many of our students are pale eligible, come from disadvantaged backgrounds. 764 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:59,600 Speaker 1: So being able to navigate politically and really really studying 765 00:34:59,640 --> 00:35:03,360 Speaker 1: that are arena and being prepared to work in that arena. 766 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:08,480 Speaker 1: I think the brand new twenty nineteen Kevin James as president. 767 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:11,759 Speaker 1: I've learned so much over these last six years when 768 00:35:11,760 --> 00:35:13,920 Speaker 1: it comes to politics, and you know, just continuing to 769 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:15,520 Speaker 1: improve in that area. 770 00:35:15,160 --> 00:35:17,960 Speaker 2: Absolutely with doctor James. Look, you've done amazing work. You know, 771 00:35:18,160 --> 00:35:20,880 Speaker 2: getting to school, like I said, through the rebuilding to 772 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:24,120 Speaker 2: the resurgence, revitalization, and again, like I don't think people 773 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:27,239 Speaker 2: really understand, to lose accreditation is a very big thing, 774 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,000 Speaker 2: not just for the school but for the alumni that 775 00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:32,880 Speaker 2: have gone before. Absolutely and again it's one of the 776 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:34,680 Speaker 2: most important things any kind of school has. And so 777 00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:37,120 Speaker 2: just going through that process and like pulling that school back, 778 00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:40,040 Speaker 2: like I said, from literally from death, from bankruptcy and 779 00:35:40,080 --> 00:35:43,239 Speaker 2: building something that's something you should obviously be so proud of. Yes, 780 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:45,680 Speaker 2: I think it shows your character as an individual. I 781 00:35:45,680 --> 00:35:48,120 Speaker 2: think it shows your vision as a leader. And you know, 782 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:50,400 Speaker 2: the school is lucky and blessed to have somebody like 783 00:35:50,440 --> 00:35:51,719 Speaker 2: you in there. So I just want to say, again, 784 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:54,600 Speaker 2: as a person that's seen everything that's happened over there, 785 00:35:55,520 --> 00:35:56,759 Speaker 2: honor for you to kind of come in here and 786 00:35:56,920 --> 00:35:57,880 Speaker 2: honor for you to be a part of this and 787 00:35:57,960 --> 00:35:58,960 Speaker 2: kind of tell this story. 788 00:35:59,239 --> 00:36:01,480 Speaker 3: Last I got to ask you, is if there's. 789 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:04,759 Speaker 2: One thing, one piece of advice, one thing you just 790 00:36:04,840 --> 00:36:09,320 Speaker 2: want anybody that wants to do something amazing or you know, big, 791 00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:11,520 Speaker 2: to know, what advice would you just give to that person? 792 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:13,960 Speaker 3: Just feels like it's not possible. 793 00:36:13,600 --> 00:36:17,839 Speaker 4: Yes, preparation, preparation, preparation. 794 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:21,560 Speaker 1: You have to prepare yourself for whatever it is that 795 00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:26,000 Speaker 1: you're doing or want to do. I literally study every 796 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:29,720 Speaker 1: single HBCU president. I literally have all of their pictures 797 00:36:29,719 --> 00:36:33,560 Speaker 1: on my in a database with their names, their titles, 798 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:37,040 Speaker 1: what they did, what they do, some of their phenomenal 799 00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:40,279 Speaker 1: things that they've done, and I study them. And so 800 00:36:40,760 --> 00:36:44,280 Speaker 1: while I'm already in the position, I still continue to learn. 801 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:48,680 Speaker 1: So I tell people to always prepare, prepare, prepare. And 802 00:36:48,760 --> 00:36:52,160 Speaker 1: also another piece of advice I get people learn from 803 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:56,120 Speaker 1: the mistakes of others. You don't always have to touch 804 00:36:56,120 --> 00:36:58,760 Speaker 1: the fire to know it's hot. Let that other person 805 00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:01,800 Speaker 1: touch the fire and be like, oh man, that really 806 00:37:01,880 --> 00:37:03,480 Speaker 1: was hot, it wasn't and okay, I'm not going to 807 00:37:03,480 --> 00:37:07,280 Speaker 1: touch that fire. And so I've also really prepared myself 808 00:37:07,320 --> 00:37:08,959 Speaker 1: by learning from the mistakes. 809 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:09,200 Speaker 4: Of other folks. 810 00:37:09,400 --> 00:37:12,239 Speaker 2: Absolutely well, doctor James, again, we're so hard to have 811 00:37:12,280 --> 00:37:15,200 Speaker 2: you on here. Congratulations on everything you've done at Morris Brown, 812 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:16,319 Speaker 2: everything you'll continue to do. 813 00:37:16,440 --> 00:37:16,759 Speaker 4: Thank you. 814 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:19,279 Speaker 2: Like I said, the students, the school, the alumni, all 815 00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:21,239 Speaker 2: those folks should be very honored and blessed to have 816 00:37:21,320 --> 00:37:22,200 Speaker 2: somebody like you a leader. 817 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:23,080 Speaker 3: Like you in that place. 818 00:37:23,120 --> 00:37:24,239 Speaker 4: Thank you man, And you know. 819 00:37:24,280 --> 00:37:25,520 Speaker 3: What that said? Y'all we out. 820 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:28,520 Speaker 2: That's the pod you've been listening to button Nomics and 821 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:29,760 Speaker 2: I'm your host, Brandon Butler. 822 00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:32,319 Speaker 3: Got comments, feedback? Want to be on the show. 823 00:37:32,520 --> 00:37:35,680 Speaker 2: Send us an email today at hello at butternomics dot com. 824 00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:38,920 Speaker 2: Butter Nomics is produced in Atlanta, Georgia at iHeartMedia by 825 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:42,359 Speaker 2: Casey Pegram, with marketing support from Queen and Nikki. Music 826 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:45,080 Speaker 2: provided by mister Hanky. If you haven't already, hit that 827 00:37:45,080 --> 00:37:47,560 Speaker 2: subscribe button and never missed an episode, and be sure 828 00:37:47,560 --> 00:37:50,000 Speaker 2: to follow us on all our social platforms at butter 829 00:37:50,080 --> 00:37:53,399 Speaker 2: dot atl Listen to better Nomics on the iHeartRadio app, 830 00:37:53,440 --> 00:37:55,960 Speaker 2: Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 831 00:38:00,280 --> 00:38:03,080 Speaker 1: Hump Pump out