Black men deserve their flowers too. This Black History Month we wanted to showcase wonderful Black Men who also happen to be Entrepreneurs doing their thing! Check out these fantastic men below.

Brandon Martin

Close Ties, Founder & CEO

Brandon Martin is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. He then went on to obtain his Master's Degree in Public School Leadership from Columbia University.

In addition to being the Founder and CEO of Close Ties Leadership Program, Brandon has nearly a decade of experience in the field of education serving in the capacity of teacher, grade level lead, and instructional coach at a public charter school in the Historic West End neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia.

Brandon was a 2020 TFA Social Innovation Fellow and he won the top prize at the 2021 Teach For America Shark Tank. Additionally, Brandon is a recipient of the 2021 Young Nonprofit Professionals Network 30 under 30 for his leadership, commitment, and innovation in the Atlanta nonprofit sector.

He lives by the personal philosophy, "The world deserves your gift. Give it freely."

He freely gives his gift of storytelling to connect with students and families in order to achieve desired outcomes both in and out of the classroom. He is also the founder and host of the podcast “Healing Centered conversations.”

Follow Him to Learn More @close_ties

Jahkari "JT" Taylor

Purpose Pushers LLC, Founder & CEO

Jahkari "JT" Taylor is an award-winning educational leader, researcher, author, and national speaker. He has presented at the national conferences of many professional organizations, including ASCD, NCTE, AMLE, and Learning Forward. JT has been featured in a WHRO commercial titled "The Teaching Profession" and has presented at K-12 schools, colleges, and universities across the nation. He has won numerous awards throughout his career, including Iota Phi Lambda Emerald Educator, Teacher of the Year at Oscar F. Smith High School, Overall City-Wide Teacher of the Year for Chesapeake Public Schools, and 2019 ASCD Emerging Leader. In 2021, JT was selected as one of Inside Business's 'Top 40 Under 40' in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia for exemplifying success in business and commitment to community service.

As the founder and Chief Equity Officer of Purpose Pushers LLC, JT partners with several educational organizations, university professors, district and building-level administrators, and K-12 educators to build competence and confidence. Using his unique and thought-provoking approach to adult learning, JT facilitates engaging professional development to help educators move from theory to practice. His research areas include educational equity, multicultural consciousness, culturally responsive practices, social-emotional learning, and special education.

JT's motto is simple: "Know Your Why!"

Follow Him to Learn More @purposepushers

Bobby Morgan, M.Ed.

Liberation Lab, Founder & Coach

Bobby Morgan is an educator, writer, speaker, and consultant who specializes in working with other educators to promote equity and culturally responsive teaching practices. With over a decade in education in under-resourced populations, Bobby is passionate about cultivating the brilliance in Black and Brown communities.

Through coaching, workshops, and meaningful professional development, Bobby desires to change the educational landscape, ensuring pathways of success for students. In addition to his work within educational institutions, Bobby works as an educational advocate partnering with allies in the fight for equitable policies and legislative priorities for all students. He founded Liberation Lab, an educational consulting firm to build pathways of internal and external accountability. Internal accountability for teachers to put liberatory practices to work, immediately benefitting student outcomes. External accountability to empower parents and families with resources to hold schools accountable for more than aspirations of equity.

Follow Him to Learn More @liberation.lab

Dr. Byron McClure

Lessons For SEL, Founder

Dr. Byron McClure is host of the Healing Centered Conversations podcast where he creates a space that is necessary and much needed in the mental health, wellness, and education industry. In this podcast, he gives listeners the insight to promote collective healing by putting people first, leading with empathy, and fostering a healthy sense of well-being through meaningful conversations. He also highlights educators, psychologists, entrepreneurs, and the backstories of dope people as we discuss ways to heal, thrive, and live our best life because we deserve it!

Dr. Byron McClure is a National Certified School Psychologist who redesigned a high school in Southeast, D.C. His work centers around influencing change and ensuring students from high-poverty communities have access to a quality education. Dr. McClure has extensive knowledge and expertise in mental health, social-emotional learning, and behavior.

Dr. McClure has done considerable work advocating for healing-centered practices for all students, particularly, for African-American boys. He has designed and implemented school-wide initiatives such as SEL, restorative practices, MTSS, and trauma-responsive practices. As a result of this work, led by Dr. McClure, his school won the 2019-2020 Whole Child Award.

Dr. McClure has presented across the country as a panelist, featured, and keynote speaker. He believes in maximizing everyone’s limitless potential.

Follow Him to Learn More @bmcclure6

Principal Amen Rahh

University Pathways, Revedx, Compton Legacy, K12Crypto; Founder

Amen Rahh--Principal, Speaker, and Author--is an Amazon Best-Selling Author paving the way towards educational revolution. Trained at the International Institute for Restorative Practices, he has been a leading voice in the quest to transform the education experience in America. He founded University Pathways Public Service Academy, now considered a model school for building a Restorative Community. Just two years into its establishment, and it continues to share its sweeping ideas with schools all over the country.

Proud Compton, California native, Amen Rahh has partnered with the LA Clippers for a new basketball court, ThinkWatts for a music program, Planet Fitness for a new weight room, the FBI for an academy, and a Law firm for a youth law society. These are just a few of some of the unique experiences he has brought to his school community. Nationally known for his creation of a unique house system which he uses to increase a sense of belonging on campus. The culturally relevant house system consists of four key secondary goals named after key individuals that represent these goals. Amen Rahh is the true definition of innovation and revolution in education.

Service in Watts Amen Rahh has been servicing the students and families of Watts for over ten years. Amen Rahh trained and assisted with engineering the Boys To Gentlemen Program led by Keith Linton that services 1,000 students in Watts. Amen Rahh established a relationship with the Los Angeles Clippers to establish a new outdoor sports facility as well as a new gymnasium and garden for the community. Amen Rahh annually takes students from Watts out of the state to visit Historically Black College Universities (HBCUs) This year, he is taking two of his students to Alabama to visit key landmarks with the goal of empowering his students to achieve their goals.

Follow Him to Learn More @principalrahh

Arelious Cooper, Jr

Art In The Paint, Executive Director

Art in the Paint is a nonprofit organization that specializes in revitalizing outdoor neighborhood basketball courts. We are a perfect mesh between sports, art, and community. Once we clean up a court, we work with a local artist to install a large-scale mural onto the court. This provides the community with a beautiful landscape as a basis for many more things. After installing the art, we partner with other neighborhood organizations to provide access to programmings such as yoga classes, food distribution, and study/literacy groups.

We pride ourselves on being able to reach children of the community that many other larger entities may not have access to. By creating a space in a park that the children of the neighborhood already have access to we are able to bring the programs to them, rather than have to figure out a way to get them to us. We have a larger reach than many organizations, due to the fact that basketball courts are pretty universal and found around the world. We are excited to see how our reach can help us to encourage growth around the world.

Follow Him to Learn More @artinthepaintorg

6 Black Male Entrepreneurs You Need To Know About