1 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: What's up is where yea put? Angela? 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 2: Ye, I'm here for Wealth Wednesday with my girls Stacy Tisdale. 3 00:00:08,119 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 3: Happy Wealth Wednesdays everybody. And today we have we're gonna 4 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 3: call it Comeback Day. Yes, because we are so honored 5 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 3: to be joined by doctor Kevin James, who is the 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 3: CEO and president of Morris Brown College in Atlanta, and 7 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 3: we're calling him the comeback Kid. Yes, because when you 8 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 3: started there, I think enrollment was it twenty twenty? Now 9 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 3: it's over over five hundred, Angel, its only five hundred 10 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 3: and thirty six? Yes, how did that happen? What inspired you? 11 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 4: What happened? Yes? 12 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 5: Well, I guess I started the beginning Morris Brown College, 13 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 5: historic HBCU in Atlanta, Georgia. What makes us very unique 14 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 5: is we're the only HBCU in Georgia that was actually founded, funded, own, 15 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 5: and operated by African Americans, black folks, former slaves. Started 16 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 5: this institution. 17 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 6: In eighteen eighty one, eighteen eighty one, eighteen eighty one. Yeah, 18 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 6: and we were charted in eighteen eighty five. We started 19 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 6: in eighteen eighty one, was very unique. Six months after 20 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,319 Speaker 6: we filmed the movie Drumline. You all remember the movie 21 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 6: drum Line. We were in the movie drum Line. We 22 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,479 Speaker 6: were the feature school in the movie drum Line. Six 23 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,119 Speaker 6: months after that movie made so much money, the school 24 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 6: loss us accreditation. 25 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: How does that happen? 26 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 5: Yeah, well, it was some financial mismanagement at that time, 27 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 5: and the school loss us accreditation and the school literally 28 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 5: went from three thousand students to about fifty students overnight. Yeah, 29 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,120 Speaker 5: it was crushing, and you know, that should have been 30 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 5: the end of Morris Brown College, but we kept pressing 31 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 5: for the mark. The school never closed. We had somewhere 32 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 5: between twenty and forty students over twenty years, right, And 33 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 5: I came in in December of twenty eighteen. 34 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 3: What's that like to have a college of twenty to 35 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 3: forty students? 36 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 4: I know, I don't know. 37 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,640 Speaker 5: I wasn't there at the time, but it was a 38 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 5: very very small institution, an institution a group of folks 39 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 5: that said, we're not gonna close, We're not gonna give up, 40 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 5: We're gonna keep trying. And so the school held on 41 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 5: by a thread. Thirty five million dollar bankruptcy, the loss 42 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 5: of land, the loss of reputation, the loss of so 43 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 5: much and so anyway, I came in interviewed for the 44 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 5: position in December of twenty eighteen. Started in the spring 45 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 5: of twenty nineteen, and I walked through the doors and 46 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 5: I said, oh my god, what in the world I just. 47 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 4: Walk in too. 48 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: I mean, challenge you like a challenge? 49 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 5: Well, you know, I knew it was gonna be tough, 50 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 5: but I didn't really know how tough it was until 51 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 5: my very very first day. You know, I walked into 52 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 5: the building. I saw the faculty and staff. They were 53 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 5: seven paychecks behind. I mean they literally, oh yeah, I 54 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 5: mean they were at work, and they were at work 55 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 5: with a smile, not getting paid. I never seen anything like. 56 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 5: To make a long story short, we've made history as 57 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 5: the first black college to literally come back from death right. 58 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 4: We're not fully accredited. 59 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 5: We have our federal financial aid reinstated, we have our 60 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 5: vetermans benefits reinstated, we have online programs, and we're growing. 61 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 5: I started six and a half years ago twenty students, 62 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 5: as of today five hundred and forty students and. 63 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 3: The very bold goal of doubling, Yeah, that enrollment over 64 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 3: the next five years. How are you going to do that? 65 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 5: Well, just continuing to do things like this tell the 66 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 5: story of the resurgence of Morris Frown College, really promoting 67 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 5: historical black colleges and universities. No other organization affects the 68 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 5: black middle class like our historical black colleges and universities 69 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 5: altely and so just making sure that the world knows 70 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,919 Speaker 5: that Morrisprown College is back. We never went anywhere. We're 71 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,480 Speaker 5: accredited and we're open for business and we're doing great things. 72 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 2: You know, doctor Kevin James, I have to ask you 73 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 2: what made you take that challenge on. I know you 74 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 2: said you didn't know how difficult it would be, but 75 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: when you were interviewing for the job, and then you 76 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: knew the history of what had happened, and I have 77 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 2: to imagine it has to feel amazing to be in 78 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 2: this position now. But back then, what gave you the 79 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 2: foresight to say this is something I want to do. 80 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:44,240 Speaker 5: I feel like God sent me to do the work. 81 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 5: I mean, I can speak now now that we're on 82 00:03:46,560 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 5: the other side. So many times where a normal common 83 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 5: sense person would have quit on the spot, I mean 84 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 5: so many times, but every single time when that door 85 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 5: opened for me, I said, we're not going to close 86 00:03:57,360 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 5: this door. We're going to keep pushing. And so I 87 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 5: feel like God sent me to do the work. I 88 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 5: wanted to be a college president, and I just felt 89 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 5: like it was my destiny to bring back this historical 90 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 5: black college. And so we assembled a phenomenal team. It's 91 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 5: not just me. I'm a phenomenal team. They're working very 92 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 5: hard to do great things as we continue our resurgence. 93 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 1: And you're the youngest president ever. 94 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 4: Yeah. 95 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 5: Well no, well at Morris Brown. 96 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 2: Say so that's a big deal too, that that fresh 97 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 2: young blood coming in Yeah, and reviving thing. 98 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 4: I think that's why they picked me. 99 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 3: So I knew somebody needed a lot of energy. 100 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. 101 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 5: I became a president when I was forty one years old, 102 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,039 Speaker 5: and I think they picked me because it was like, 103 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 5: you know what, we're at the bottom of the barrel. 104 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 5: We we gotta find somebody who's gonna come in young, crazy. 105 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 3: You know. 106 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,280 Speaker 5: I did a Ted talk and the title of my 107 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 5: Ted talk was you must be crazy. And I got 108 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 5: that because everyone said, Kevin, you are crazy to go 109 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 5: to Morris Brown College. But again, we've done the work. 110 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 2: What was the process like getting the accreditation back? Because 111 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 2: I know it's been three years now, right, is that correct? 112 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 2: Since you guys have been a credit again, So tell 113 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,040 Speaker 2: me what that process was, like, what does that take? 114 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 5: Yes, So the whole premise of accreditation. Accreditation is symbolic 115 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 5: of quality, right and going through the different standards set 116 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:14,560 Speaker 5: forth by the United States Department of Education accredited organizations 117 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:18,280 Speaker 5: at accredited institutions. So we're credited through the Transnational Association 118 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:20,480 Speaker 5: of Christian Colleges and Schools. We wanted to go back 119 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:22,799 Speaker 5: to our Christian roots. We were founded in the basement 120 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 5: of Big Bethel Amy Church, African Methodist Episcopal affiliated institution. Yes, 121 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 5: and so we went through the process, we reached out 122 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 5: to them, we started the process. It took us about 123 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:33,720 Speaker 5: three and a half years to become accredited, where we 124 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 5: had to go through and prove that we met all 125 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 5: of the different rigorous standards to be accredited. And so 126 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 5: we've met those standards and so now we're up. We 127 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 5: got a credit for our first five years. Now we're 128 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 5: up for our ten year reaffirmation. So spring of twenty 129 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 5: twenty six we anticipate being reaffirmed for another ten years. 130 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 3: That's fantastic, really interesting. You're seeing college enrollment down across 131 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,359 Speaker 3: the country, but HBCUs are bucking that trend and actually 132 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 3: enrollment rose nearly six percent last year. Why do you 133 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 3: think so many people are turning towards HBCUs. 134 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 5: Well, there have been some cuts regarding DEI across this country. 135 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 1: We've noticed, yes, yes, yes. 136 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 5: And so my stance on this is you should go 137 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 5: where you are celebrated and not tolerated. And so we 138 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 5: have seen increases across the spectrum of historical black colleges 139 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 5: and universities. Again, Morrispine went from twenty students to over 140 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 5: five hundred and forty students, right, And so I think 141 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 5: that the whole premise that I want to go somewhere 142 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 5: where I am celebrated, not just a number they know 143 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 5: me by name, culture, the whole cultural component. I think 144 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 5: that's definitely impacted the increase. 145 00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 3: We talk to entrepreneurs a lot, and some of them 146 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 3: were of that come to minor of the mindset that 147 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,880 Speaker 3: college isn't relevant anymore, and there seems to be a 148 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 3: lot of that going around. So I'm wondering if the 149 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 3: fact that federal funds to HBCUs four hundred and thirty 150 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,479 Speaker 3: five million dollars, and I know that you were among 151 00:06:58,560 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 3: the colleges at the Arthur Blank family gave fifty million 152 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:03,960 Speaker 3: dollars to and you can directly funnel that to students. 153 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 3: Is that helping? 154 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 4: Oh, absolutely, with the enrollment. 155 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 5: The whole premise of raising money is the crux of 156 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 5: the matter for historical black colleges and universities. I don't 157 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 5: know if you all are watching the news, but billionaire 158 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 5: Mackenzie Scott right now absolutely giving yes, oh my god, 159 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 5: so much money to historical black colleges. I mean, listen, 160 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 5: Morris Brown hasn't gotten the call yet, but I am 161 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 5: patiently waiting. 162 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: Yes and putting it in the atmosphere. 163 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 4: I'm putting it in the atmosphere right now. 164 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:34,040 Speaker 5: I just saw today that Howard got eighty million from 165 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 5: Mackenzie Scott. 166 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 2: Some of that, Oh Mackenzie Scott, we are here and 167 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 2: you know, my goodness, and even just thinking about like Spellman, Morehouse, 168 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 2: Morris Brown, Clock Atlanta University, that whole like four. 169 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: Group of schools, the whole AU. 170 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 2: Center and supporting each other too, because those universities, you guys, 171 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 2: also are very supportive of what each university has going on. 172 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 5: Absolutely, we are sister institutions. We've all been there for 173 00:07:57,760 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 5: hundreds of years, for a very long time. Morse Brown 174 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 5: this year, celebrating one hundred and forty five years of existence, 175 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 5: and so we're sister institutions. 176 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 4: We worked well together. You know. 177 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,239 Speaker 5: I just saw today that Spellman got thirty eight million 178 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 5: from Mackenzie Scott, so we're. 179 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 4: Hey, oh my goodness, Scott. 180 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 5: Yes, here, if you're listening, Mackenzie Scott, Morris Brown College 181 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 5: is here. Yes. 182 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 2: I also saw that Bishop td Jakes was the commencement 183 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 2: speaker and also gave one hundred thousand dollars too as well. 184 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 3: Yes, we were very very hap hanging out of HBCUs. 185 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: Yeah. 186 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,400 Speaker 5: Yeah, you know this Morris Brown story. We invited td Jakes. 187 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 5: He came and did a phenomenal job. He inspired our graduates, 188 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 5: and you know, we're just very very excited about again 189 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:38,200 Speaker 5: this momentum that we have. 190 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:40,440 Speaker 2: I think even I was looking at an article about 191 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 2: the valedictorian this year too, and she was a breast 192 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 2: cancer survivor and also taking care of her family, and 193 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,480 Speaker 2: just a really powerful story to see somebody graduating from 194 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 2: Morris Brown that's been through all of that but still 195 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 2: really thrived and survived the way that she did. 196 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 5: Morris Brown College. That is our special sauce we call 197 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 5: ourselves a haven for all hungry souls. That is a 198 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:06,679 Speaker 5: line for my Alma model, and the second line of 199 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 5: the Alma Mada says, and feeding them shall be our goal. 200 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 5: The whole premise is, if you are hungry, no matter 201 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 5: who you are, no matter what you're going through, no 202 00:09:14,600 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 5: matter where you start, it's not about where you start, 203 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 5: it's about where you finish. Morris Brown will pour into you. 204 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 5: And that is a perfect example of a student. She said, 205 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 5: nothing's going to stop me from graduating. And not only 206 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 5: does she graduate, but she was our valatorian and right 207 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 5: now she just took the LSAT so she can go 208 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 5: to law school. 209 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:32,599 Speaker 4: So we're very, very proud of me. 210 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 3: I heard you get interviewed recently about as a school 211 00:09:35,800 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 3: grows and as you get more money and you're going 212 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 3: to be adding more programs like sports and everything. Yes, 213 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 3: but I thought it was great. And when hy you 214 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 3: did it, you first stuff, you added a mental health counselor. 215 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 5: Yes, yes, you know the whole premise of our students 216 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 5: today they really need someone to talk to. And right now, 217 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 5: going through the holidays and going through so much, what's 218 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 5: going on in this country, people losing their jobs, you know, 219 00:09:58,280 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 5: snap benefits being cut so much, we wanted to make 220 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 5: sure that our students had a holistic experience, and so 221 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 5: we added some new health counselors and a different team 222 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 5: members to make sure that our students had someone to 223 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 5: talk to during difficult times. 224 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 2: Also saw at Morris Brown College, you guys opened up 225 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 2: your doors to another university, Limestone University. Yes, they announced 226 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:19,440 Speaker 2: that they were closing. So imagine you paid to go 227 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 2: to school and now all of a sudden, this university 228 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:24,640 Speaker 2: was closing, and you guys have opened up your doors. 229 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, we did. 230 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 5: You know, we know personally what that feels like. In 231 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 5: two thousand and two, two thousand and three, Morris Brown 232 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 5: loss as creditation and our students had to go somewhere else, 233 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 5: and so other institutions helped our students transferring to their school. 234 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 5: When I saw that story, I said, we have to 235 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 5: repay and do the same thing, and so we opened 236 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 5: up the doors to them and we did receive some 237 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 5: of those students who did come over. 238 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 1: That's amazing. I love this. It's like family. 239 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:49,679 Speaker 4: Yes, you know for real. 240 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 2: Now I want to ask you about something that was 241 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:55,080 Speaker 2: in the media entertainment recently, and I want to get 242 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 2: your take on it. As the president of Morris Brown 243 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 2: College and HBCU, Kiki Palmer's under fire. I don't know 244 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 2: if you saw this story, but there is a show 245 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 2: that her network, KEYTV is producing. It's called Southern Fried Rice, 246 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 2: and so people were mad, it's about a Korean American 247 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 2: girl who's going to an HBCU. 248 00:11:14,559 --> 00:11:15,439 Speaker 1: I don't know if you saw, did you? 249 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:17,400 Speaker 4: I think I saw a sprinklup. Yeah, right. 250 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:19,480 Speaker 2: So she got a lot of backlash for that because 251 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 2: it's like people were asking, why are you centering the 252 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 2: story of an Asian person at an HBCU at this time? 253 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 2: This feels tone deaf, And she responded she didn't create 254 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 2: the show, She's just putting it on her network. 255 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 1: I want to know what your thoughts are. 256 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 3: Well. 257 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:38,199 Speaker 5: I can understand people asking the question because historically black 258 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 5: colleges are for African Americans. But here's a very important component. 259 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 5: We have always been inclusive and open to everyone, including 260 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:49,679 Speaker 5: white students, and so telling that story, I don't know 261 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 5: where that angle came from, but in general, black colleges 262 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 5: are open to everyone. The premise of black and brown 263 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 5: students at historical black colleges, again, we do the best 264 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 5: job of educating folks who look like us. And it again, 265 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 5: it's not just black students, but it's all students. 266 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 1: I remember a different world. Remember they had the one. 267 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 4: The one white student was that? 268 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:13,560 Speaker 1: Yeah? 269 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 4: I remember that? 270 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 3: Oh yeah it was. Are you seeing a pickup and 271 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 3: enrollment in diverse students overall in HBCUs. 272 00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 4: Yes, I am. You know. 273 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 5: We actually are one of the few schools in Atlanta 274 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,000 Speaker 5: that partner with the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, And 275 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:30,800 Speaker 5: that was a purposeful partnership because Gwenette County, which is 276 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:32,959 Speaker 5: thirty minutes right up the street, has one of the 277 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 5: largest Hispanic populations. So again, Morris Brown College, we are 278 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 5: open to all. Again, a haven for all hungry souls, 279 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 5: and that world all is very important. 280 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,040 Speaker 2: What are the like if somebody was to go to 281 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 2: Morris Brown College, what would you say are some of 282 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:51,439 Speaker 2: the standout majors? Because I know certain schools are better 283 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 2: for certain things. So if you had to say, okay, 284 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 2: if you want to be in hospitality, this is where 285 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 2: you would come. 286 00:12:56,920 --> 00:13:00,079 Speaker 5: Well, it's interesting that you mentioned hospitality. Morris Brown is 287 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,559 Speaker 5: the only HBCU in the state of Georgia that has 288 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 5: a degree in hospitality management. And in fact, yes, in fact, 289 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 5: the Arthur Blank Family Foundation just donated three million dollars 290 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:13,960 Speaker 5: to Morrisbroun College to scale that program. 291 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 2: I like that because I always feel like that's a 292 00:13:15,720 --> 00:13:18,439 Speaker 2: skill you can take anywhere. Absolutely, and I was saying 293 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 2: transfers over yeah, no matter like you could be in 294 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 2: another country. Hospitality is something that is no matter what needed, 295 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 2: but also just a really valuable skill to be able 296 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:30,079 Speaker 2: to have. And there's so many different layers that come 297 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 2: with that. As a business owner myself, yes, yes, yes. 298 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 5: So Hospitality manager is one of our unique programs. Actually 299 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 5: we're the only school in Georgia that has a degree 300 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 5: in esports, performance gaming and building esports. 301 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:45,839 Speaker 1: Okay, yeah, the multi. 302 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 5: Billion dollar industry. And it's not just about video games, 303 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 5: it's the business. 304 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:53,040 Speaker 6: Listen, do you know I'm doing this streaming and podcast 305 00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 6: many artists. 306 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 2: I saw DDG recently was at Complex Conn and he 307 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 2: was saying that he makes more money off of streaming 308 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 2: than he has as an artists. 309 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:02,199 Speaker 5: Absolutely, and so I want some of my esports to 310 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 5: to come in maybe intern here. That would be wonderful. 311 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 5: I think that would be great. 312 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 2: But yes, definitely, that's amazing yeah, because that really is 313 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:10,960 Speaker 2: a business and everybody wants to figure out how do 314 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 2: I monetize that. Grizzly talk about how much money he 315 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 2: makes doing that. I also saw you had past the 316 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 2: chory teaching a class a guest. 317 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah, talk about R and B and hip hop 318 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 5: and how it affects you know, music and how it 319 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:24,800 Speaker 5: affects business. 320 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 4: And so he came and spoke. 321 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 2: I always think there's so much that you can learn 322 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 2: from artists because it's exciting to like meet a celebrity 323 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 2: that's in the classroom that's been through some things, but 324 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:36,920 Speaker 2: then to like dissect lyrics and talk about the history 325 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:39,080 Speaker 2: because there is such a strong history when it comes 326 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 2: to our music, yes, and what it represents. Even now 327 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:44,760 Speaker 2: we're looking at all these different things happening with streaming, 328 00:14:45,240 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 2: you know, with Drake, with lawsuits, and I think those 329 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 2: are really valuable discussions that you can take from inside 330 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 2: the classroom into real life. 331 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,480 Speaker 3: Absolutely, all those people have to be entrepreneurs. 332 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 4: Absolutely, it's all business. 333 00:14:56,760 --> 00:15:00,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, you have you have special things for entrepreneurs. I 334 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 3: wanted you to talk about some of the programs that 335 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 3: people can get with you. 336 00:15:02,640 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 5: So we're one of the few schools that also has 337 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:08,520 Speaker 5: not only degree programs, but certifications and certificates as well. 338 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,080 Speaker 5: When we were going through this hard reset and bringing 339 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 5: back Morris S. Brown College, what we found from the 340 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,000 Speaker 5: community was everyone doesn't want to go to school for 341 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 5: four years. Some students want to come in and get 342 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 5: a quick credential so they can go straight to work. 343 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:24,080 Speaker 5: So we have a certificate, a one year certificate in 344 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 5: business entrepreneurship where you could come in, get that skill 345 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 5: and go straight to work. So we're very excited about 346 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 5: that as well. 347 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 3: That's an awesome option for people. 348 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 2: Absolutely absolutely, because even thinking about like you know, you 349 00:15:35,680 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 2: don't want to have to go through like you said, 350 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 2: all of that school's. 351 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,000 Speaker 1: Expensive and it's expensive. 352 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:42,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's not to get four years out of Everybody 353 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 3: can't take four years out of there. 354 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, yeah. 355 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 5: And I also want to just note that also Morris 356 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 5: Brown College is the most affordable Black college in the 357 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 5: city of Atlanta as well. It was my goal as 358 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 5: the president to make sure that not only can students come, 359 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 5: but they can afford to pay and leave and graduate 360 00:15:58,400 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 5: without being saddled down in a lot of debt. And 361 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:03,239 Speaker 5: so it's our goal to get a lot of philanthropists 362 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 5: and funders to come and help, you know, breage that 363 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:07,520 Speaker 5: gap so these students can graduate with a little to 364 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 5: no debt. 365 00:16:08,160 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 2: Is there a broad study of broad program? That was 366 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:13,520 Speaker 2: one thing I regretted not doing in college. I wish 367 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 2: I would have taken advantage of something. 368 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 5: Like we haven't done our study abroad quite yet. But 369 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 5: we're going to be bringing that back. 370 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:20,080 Speaker 1: So yeah, bringing everything back that way, We're bringing it 371 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 1: all back. 372 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 4: Everything is coming back. Greek life is back on the. 373 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 3: Yard you're talking about. You're gonna start with golf and. 374 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 5: Start with some of the small ones that don't require 375 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,200 Speaker 5: huge facilities, like golf and bowling and soccer. We're bringing 376 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 5: everything back because again HBCU experience requires that student life component. 377 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 5: And so we brought back to Divine nine, the Omegas, 378 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:41,680 Speaker 5: the Delta's the aka. 379 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 3: HBCU Baby North Carolina. 380 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 4: Oh wonderful. Wow, that is wonderful. Yeah. 381 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 5: So you know, that whole component is very, very unique 382 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 5: to the experience, and we brought it back. So students 383 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 5: are very excited. 384 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:55,360 Speaker 1: Now, did you go to an HBCU. 385 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:55,760 Speaker 4: I did. 386 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 5: I went to South Carolina State University. I went to 387 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 5: Winthrop University. I went to separate schools. 388 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 2: So what would you say made that experience different for you? 389 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:05,680 Speaker 1: Like, what are the things that you appreciate from having 390 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 1: gone to a. 391 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 4: SBCU going to an HBCU. 392 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 5: Seeing faculty that look like you, seeing other people who 393 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 5: have a similar background that you have and can relate 394 00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 5: to your experience is always good. All the difference the 395 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 5: student activities. You know, you have to assimilate into college. 396 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:23,919 Speaker 5: You don't want to be a loner. It's not a 397 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:25,919 Speaker 5: no man's land. You got to you gotta find family 398 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 5: and friends and something that you really really hone to 399 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 5: hone in on. You know, I see that my students 400 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 5: they come in, you know, they join the honor Society 401 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 5: or the NAACP, or the fraternity or sorority, or the 402 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:39,560 Speaker 5: dance club or the modeling troop or the cheerleading team. 403 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 5: These components help and it's been proven with retention of 404 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 5: students and also students in their classes. At Morris Brown, 405 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:49,479 Speaker 5: we were pried a three point zero to join. So 406 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 5: students who want to join delt Signatata or Alpha Kava 407 00:17:53,359 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 5: Alpha or whatever, Okay, get your grades up right, And 408 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:58,439 Speaker 5: it's working because students want to join, they get their 409 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:01,080 Speaker 5: grades up so it's really really helping and which is 410 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:04,880 Speaker 5: very very excited to offer an experience to students where 411 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 5: they can. 412 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 4: Feel at home. 413 00:18:05,880 --> 00:18:06,760 Speaker 3: How is homecoming? 414 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 4: Oh my god, homecoming was off. Oh my god, home 415 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 4: coming was off the. 416 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 5: Chaine this year we had a great time. I mean, 417 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 5: family and friends came back. Thankfully, we didn't have any issues. 418 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 5: You know, we've seen some issues at some HBCUs. 419 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,160 Speaker 4: We honed in on our security. 420 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 3: Are you doing about that? 421 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,639 Speaker 5: Yeah, well we increased our security this year just to 422 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:28,639 Speaker 5: make sure, even though more so fround this small and 423 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 5: family environment. We wanted to make sure that everybody was 424 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 5: safe and that everyone had a great experience and that 425 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:35,760 Speaker 5: we had no issues. And thankfully we didn't have any 426 00:18:35,800 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 5: issues this year. 427 00:18:36,600 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 2: Have you been affected at all by this presidency or yeah? 428 00:18:41,160 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 2: I would like to know, like what are some things 429 00:18:43,119 --> 00:18:46,040 Speaker 2: or have there been obstacles? I know he talks a 430 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 2: lot about funding HBCUs and providing you know that support. 431 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 5: One of the biggest things that could negatively affect black 432 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 5: colleges and universities is. 433 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 4: If they cut pale. 434 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:01,880 Speaker 3: Many students at HBCUs audience. What are the. 435 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:04,119 Speaker 5: Pale grants are the funding that you don't have to 436 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:07,720 Speaker 5: pay back for the most disadvantage group, the most disadvantaged 437 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 5: students in populations coming from disadvantaged populations. And so for example, 438 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,119 Speaker 5: at Morris Brown's, seventy percent of my students are held eligible, 439 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:18,320 Speaker 5: which means they are eligible for some funding where the 440 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 5: government will give them funding that they don't have to repay, right, 441 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:25,160 Speaker 5: And so if PALE gets cut, that is going to 442 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:28,240 Speaker 5: negatively impact historical black colleges and universities. 443 00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:30,680 Speaker 3: This is just such a flashback. We did a special 444 00:19:30,760 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 3: in I think twenty twenty about real estate Reset, and 445 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 3: we focused on student loan debt yes and still being 446 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 3: able to become a homeowner yright and the Blacks weren't 447 00:19:40,520 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 3: allowed to get PEL grants. That's how I mean, that's 448 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:46,880 Speaker 3: really how they were used to segregate colleges, and that's 449 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 3: it's just so interesting that that's coming around again. 450 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:53,040 Speaker 5: Yeah, well today many black students are PALE eligible and 451 00:19:53,080 --> 00:19:55,000 Speaker 5: they need that funding to be able to go to college. 452 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:58,000 Speaker 5: But it's a lot of conversations going on simultaneously around 453 00:19:58,040 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 5: this country. 454 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 2: Yeah that I think that's by design and to kind 455 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 2: of confuse people, so you're focused on one thing, but 456 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 2: then this slides through and You're like, wait, I didn't 457 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,280 Speaker 2: because I haven't heard anybody talk about the pelgrams potentially 458 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 2: being you know, that hasn't been in the headlines. 459 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 1: You know, for me, a. 460 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 3: Lot happening with student loans under this administry. 461 00:20:15,119 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 2: And I have to imagine that goodness, you have the 462 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:20,120 Speaker 2: mental health aspect because during this time it is really 463 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:22,960 Speaker 2: tough to see. I feel like people have been a 464 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:26,200 Speaker 2: lot more forthcoming with racism now and being able to 465 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:28,359 Speaker 2: say whatever it is that they want in spaces on 466 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 2: television and news, you know, cops ice that's been you know, 467 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,639 Speaker 2: just watching like the even looking at the news and 468 00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 2: looking at social media. It sometimes makes me feel like 469 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 2: I don't even know, like you feel really helpless. 470 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 5: It's so many things going on, which is the reason 471 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 5: why going back to HBCU enrollment increasing. We need a 472 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 5: safe space and what's the safest space for a black 473 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 5: man right now in this country? 474 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:53,680 Speaker 4: And my viewpoint is at an HBCU. 475 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 3: That's a great, great, great point. 476 00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 4: Yes. 477 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 5: So next next week I'm bringing together all of my 478 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 5: males students. We're gonna have a flash mob in suits. 479 00:21:01,880 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 5: We're gonna show up to the school everybody in suits 480 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 5: and the premise and the idea around it was, Wow, 481 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 5: look at three hundred black men and we're all in 482 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 5: suits on campus. That safe space, that environment, that welcoming environment, 483 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 5: is gonna positively continue to impact our student satisfaction. Right 484 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:24,280 Speaker 5: and so with everything that's going on, and that's just 485 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 5: one example everything that's going on in this country, there's 486 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 5: no place greater for someone to be right now than 487 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 5: a historical bum. 488 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 3: We want to bring wealth Wednesdays and financial education to 489 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 3: your school as well. 490 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:35,080 Speaker 4: I would love that. 491 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:36,399 Speaker 3: We will be doing that. 492 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 4: I would love it. 493 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 3: What do you want to tell people our audience right 494 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:44,159 Speaker 3: now about what's happening with HBCUs, what's happening with your college? 495 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:45,399 Speaker 3: What are you feeling right now? 496 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:46,119 Speaker 4: Right now? 497 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:50,960 Speaker 5: Morris Brown College's experience is phenomenal transformation, doing something that 498 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:54,920 Speaker 5: no other HBCU has ever done in history, rebounding after 499 00:21:55,000 --> 00:21:58,879 Speaker 5: a nearly twenty year hiatus, going from twenty students to 500 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 5: over five hundred and four for these students in a 501 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:05,879 Speaker 5: little over three years, and doing something very transformative of 502 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:09,760 Speaker 5: being able to provide a phenomenal education to students who 503 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:14,760 Speaker 5: need an opportunity. And we're in downtown Atlanta directly across 504 00:22:14,800 --> 00:22:17,879 Speaker 5: the street from the Mercedes Benz Stadium. We are having 505 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:20,080 Speaker 5: for all hungry souls, like I've mentioned a few times, 506 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 5: where individuals can come to Morris Round College enroll, get 507 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 5: all the skills that they need to be able to 508 00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:28,120 Speaker 5: go out in this world and compete and do it 509 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 5: with an affordable cost. And so this transformative HBCU really 510 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:34,880 Speaker 5: wants to pour back into our community in the city 511 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,320 Speaker 5: of Atlanta, throughout the state of Georgia, this region, and 512 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:37,920 Speaker 5: this country. 513 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 1: Well, I love it. Watch us, doctor Kevin James. I'm sure. 514 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 2: And what I love is that I feel like you're 515 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 2: accessible to people and open to different creative ideas. 516 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 4: People sometimes think I'm a student. 517 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,840 Speaker 3: I'm a student. 518 00:22:52,760 --> 00:22:55,119 Speaker 4: I mean, yeah, they think of a student. 519 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 5: So yeah, we have an open door policy at Morris Brown's. 520 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 5: Students see me in the hallway, hey, doctor, pulled me 521 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:02,119 Speaker 5: to the side and have conversation, you know. 522 00:23:02,160 --> 00:23:03,800 Speaker 4: And and again that's why we're very unique. 523 00:23:03,880 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, And that's how unique partnerships can happen to to 524 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 2: be accessible and open to those things and letting people 525 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 2: know we're here, we're growing, and this is a perfect 526 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 2: time to get in absolutely all right, thank you, thank you, 527 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 2: so much. 528 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 3: For having me, Thank you, enjoying the conversation. Happy Wealth Wednesdays, 529 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:19,040 Speaker 3: everybody