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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS PRESENTED BY
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PRESENTING SPONSORS PEGGY HARRIS Assistant Vice President Office of Diversity & Inclusion
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Senior Vice President Consumer Engagement and Corporate Health
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SUPPORTING SPONSORS Machell Mims VP HRBP Supply Chain & Shared Services
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Diversity and Inclusion Manager
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MARGARET “PEG” BERNHARD, DPA
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JOAN BARRETT
Chief Digital & Client Experience Officer and member of Truist Executive Leadership Team
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WELCOME TO PRIDE AWARDS 2021 BRIDGING THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP We chose this theme because it matters and arguably, the wealth gap could be the crux of racial inequality not only in America, but around the world. Please understand, according to data from the Federal Reserve, “White people own 86% of wealth and make up 60% of the population in our country. Black households own 4.2% of wealth with Hispanics owning 3.1%. In addition, White wealth is diversified among real estate, equities and other assets, whereas non-white (Black) wealth is mostly in pensions and real estate.”
THE GREAT DEBATE With the understanding that there is a HUGE wealth gap in our country, Pride Awards 2021 will include a debate, stemming from the following claim: Blaming systemic racism for the racial wealth gap in America hinders the Black community from building generational wealth. Two outstanding individuals from our community have stepped
DEE DIXON
up to compete: Dr. Shanté Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Black Pearl Global and Jamall Kinard, Racial Equity Trainer and Executive Director Of Lakeview Neighborhood Alliance. It’s going to be bananas.
SHAUN “LUCKY” CORBETT WILL BE HONORED We are pleased to bestow this year’s prestigious Pride Award to Shaun Corbett for his business acumen, entrepreneurial achievements and motivation to build generational wealth for his family and others. Be sure to read our feature story about him moving forward with his life and making a difference in the lives of young men and women in our community in the January issue of Pride. To top it off, this year’s monetary donation will be made to the Cops & Barbers Foundation, founded by Shaun and Sheriff Garry McFadden, as a way to bridge the gap between the community and the police. We hope this year’s theme, “Bridging the Racial Wealth Gap” will be more than a passing event. We want it to be an awakening that sparks a true movement forward.
DEE DIXON
CEO/Publisher
ALICIA BENJAMIN Editor
T E A M
NIKELLE FESPERMAN Sales Manager
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NEPHERTERRA ESTRADA-BEST Public Relations
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P R I D E
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HON O R IN G
SHAUN “LUCKY” CORBETT
Shaun “Lucky” Corbett is the owner of Lucky Spot Barbershop, Inc. His interest in hair began when he was 13 years old and he has been able to turn that interest into a successful business that is dedicated to precision cutting and personalized customer service. Lucky Spot Barbershop is the first Blackowned and Black-operated barbershop to open in Walmart stores. In addition, he has worked diligently to build a brand that is known for creating a culture for community engagement and second chances. He is the executive director of Cops & Barbers, a nonprofit organization established in 2015 with Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden. Shaun moved to Charlotte from Brooklyn, NY, as a teen and made several bad decisions, namely selling drugs, that had negative, life changing consequences. He ended up going to jail. While incarcerated, Shaun took positive steps to better himself, including getting his GED. After his release,
conversations between the community and police officers.
he worked several minimum wage jobs, just trying to survive.
Because of the success of Cops & Barbers, Shaun was invited
Realizing that he needed to do more to create a positive and
to the White House to speak to President Barack Obama’s Task
productive future, he enrolled in No Grease Barber College.
Force on 21st Century Policing. In 2015, he was recognized by Charlotte Magazine as the “Charlottean of the Year.” The
After graduating from Barber College in 2006, Shaun worked
Cops & Barbers Initiative now has been implemented in other
in the barbershop that he now owns and manages. He also
cities and states.
works tirelessly in the community, hosting various annual events, such as back-to-school book bag donation events,
In August of 2019, Lucky Spot Barbershop made history by
free kids haircuts and community turkey giveback events.
opening the first African-American owned and operated
To date, Lucky Spot Barbershop has supported more than
barbershop in Walmart Stores. The second Lucky Spot
10,000 families in need. In addition, he regularly returns to
Barbershop opened in the Gastonia Walmart in November
No Grease Barber College to speak to the students about life
2020. Shaun’s goal is to open barbershops in more Walmart
in the barber industry, giving them an honest assessment of
store locations.
opportunities and challenges they will likely encounter. Shaun says, “my aim is to never forget my humble beginnings, In the wake of the slaying of Michael Brown, Shaun decided
work twice as hard to improve the quality of life and make
that something more needed to be done to improve the
a difference where I live and work.” Shaun Corbett is living
relationship between young Black men and law enforcement.
proof that your starting point doesn’t determine your ending
He and Garry McFadden created the “Cops & Barbers”
point and with determination, grind, passion and vision, you
initiative to facilitate much needed dialogue between the
can achieve your dreams.
community and police. This initiative resulted in meaningful 8
MEET OUR NONPROFIT RECIPIENT
COPS & BARBERS The Cops & Barbers initiative, a nonprofit organization, was created in 2015 by Shaun Corbett, owner of the Lucky Spot Barbershop, and Garry McFadden, a retired Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department detective now Sheriff of Mecklenburg County in the wake of the Mike Brown shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. The barbershop has historically served an important social function in the Black community. It has been a place where Black people talked about social, political and other issues important to the community. Shaun saw that the barbershop could play a significant role in meeting the critical need to bridge the gap between the police and community they serve. Cops & Barbers’ goal is to create a forum for real, open and honest conversations on policing in the Black community. In addition, the organization strives to engage in meaningful activities and programs that will build trust and address generational poverty in Black neighborhoods. Initially, the idea was a simple one, meet people where they are and where they go, namely the barbershop, and start a conversation between officers and people of all ages. The response was enthusiastically positive and represented community engagement at its best. For broader based participation, town hall meetings have been held where participants from the community learned about their rights and how to interact with the police appropriately. They also discussed how officers must conduct themselves with the public. Cops and Barbers was highlighted as part of the national 21 Century Policing Taskforce progress report on police-community relations and Shaun was invited by President Barak Obama to participate in the taskforce’s forum at the White House. Other Cops and Barbers programs and activities include annual free back-to-school haircuts, annual school bag giveaway and an annual turkey giveaway. There is also a scholarship program open to young men and women ages 16-25 who have an interest in the barbering profession but lack the financial resources to attend school. While in school, the student is paired with a police cadet with the hopes that the two will continue the organization’s goal of building relationships with officers.
Fred Shropshire anchors the 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. newscasts at WCNC-TV NBC Charlotte. Upon his arrival in the Queen City, Fred hit the ground running, field anchoring the station’s shooting. He has also field anchored the station’s coverage of the Keith Scott shooting and the Carolina Panthers’ Super Bowl 50 appearance from San Francisco. Fred has established himself as one the market’s lead field anchors. Prior to coming to WCNC, Fred anchored the 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. newscasts at WTVD-TV in Raleigh, NC. Majoring in
OUR HOST
FRED SHROPSHIRE
WCNC-TV NBC Charlotte
journalism, he graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and in 2006 was honored as a distinguished Nelson Benton Lecturer.
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award-winning coverage of the Charleston Church
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JAMALLWEALTH KINARD GAP DEBATERS THE RACIAL THE CLAIM:
BLAMING SYSTEMIC RACISM FOR THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP IN AMERICA HINDERS THE BLACK COMMUNITY FROM BUILDING GENERATIONAL WEALTH.
JAMALL KINARD Jamall Kinard is a community organizer/ consultant and a trainer with the Racial Equity Institute (REI). He attended his first REI workshop in 2016, where his life was changed forever. After 10 years of service as an Educator and Coach in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System, Jamall joined REI in August of 2019.
SHANTÉ WILLIAMS Dr. Shanté Williams is the CEO of Black Pearl Global Investments, a $25 million venture capital fund. She is a distinguished venture capitalist, business owner, inventor, intellectual property strategist, and private investor. She is also the author of Black Angels Among Us in which she shows investors of color how to take control of their communities by capital investment. Using her scientific knowledge and passion for innovation, she has solved complex problems across the industries of health, finance, and real estate. Dr. Williams has a proven track record of excellence and leadership and has been an integral part of growth for many individuals and businesses.
DR. SHANTÉ’ WILLIAMS
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As a community organizer and consultant, he devotes much of his time serving as the executive director of the Lakeview Neighborhood Alliance (LNA). In this role, he is leading the charge on revitalization efforts in his community by focusing on revitalizing neighborhoods, preventing displacement, facilitating family stability and increasing civic awareness.
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The goal of his consulting company, Conscious Leadership, is to create a “community and cultural organizing” blueprint of principles for communities, organizations, and institutions to follow, creating an environment where strong families are cultivated and racism is dismantled. He is also committed to educating neighborhoods on this country’s history and its systems, the importance of building generational wealth and the empowerment of the Black community through conscious and consistent leadership. Jamall holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in computer science from Gardner-Webb University and a Master’s Degree in sports leadership from Northeastern University. He also holds nonprofit business management certifications from both Wake Forest University and Duke University.
She is a graduate of Winston-Salem State University (BS in chemistry), The Ohio State University (PhD in integrated biomedical science specializing in neuro oncology and pharmacology) and Queen’s University of Charlotte (MBA). Dr. Williams has received numerous awards for her business and entrepreneurial efforts, including the 2020 Charlotte Inno Opportunity Champion Award, 2019 Charlotte 50 Most Influential Women recognition and the 2018 Athena International Young Professional Award. Dr. Williams serves the community as chairman of the board of directors for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Black Chamber of Commerce and Heal Charlotte. She is also a community advisory board member for NPR affiliate WFAE 90.7 and a community advisor for Shelter to Shutters, a nonprofit that deploys marketplace solutions to solve homelessness.
PONDER THIS...
Sarah Rector: “The Richest Colored Girl in America” In 1913, Sarah Rector, then 11 years old, was known as the “Richest Colored Girl in America,” earning more than $300 a day from oil found on land allocated to her as a descendant of slaves owned by the Muscogee Creek Indian Nation. Sarah’s land was infertile, not suitable for farming; better land was reserved for Whites and members of the Indian tribe. Since the land was infertile and its sale prohibited, the land was leased to Standard Oil in 1911 and oil was discovered in 1913. As news of her wealth spread, Sarah received marriage proposals from White men from around the world, although she was only 12 years old. In 1913, the Oklahoma Legislature attempted to have her declared “White” under the guise of allowing Sarah to “reap the benefits of elevated social standing,” such as being able to ride in the first-class car on trains. The actual motivation of the legislature was that as a legal “White” woman, White men could legally marry and seize control of Sarah’s land and finances, thereby appropriating her wealth to the White community. Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois and the NAACP became concerned with the welfare of the Rector family and intervened on their behalf; the legislative effort was averted. Sarah was enrolled in a boarding school at Tuskegee Institute and upon graduation attended the college. At 18, she was a millionaire. Sarah lived a comfortable life, enjoyed her wealth. She died in 1967 at the age of 65.
Source: commons.wikimedia.org, public domain, author unknown Source: Facebook.com/rankerweirdhistory
Lili’uokalani: Black Hawaiian Queen Very few people are aware that the original Hawaiians were Black people. Most archaeologists believe that human beings evolved on the African continent and spread from Africa into Europe, Asia, the Pacific Islands and the Americas. At some point, Blacks explored and settled various islands of the Pacific Ocean such as New Guinea, Fiji, New Zealand and thousands more. The first people to reach what is now Hawaii were Blacks from Polynesia. Lili’uokalani was the first and last Black Queen of Hawaii. She succeeded her late brother to the throne in 1891. During her reign, she attempted to draft a new constitution that would restore the power of the monarchy and the voting rights of the economically disenfranchised, which were lost under her brother. White American businessmen and other pro-American elements in Hawaii, threatened “protect” American interests, making it impossible for the monarchy to defend itself. The coup paved the way for the annexation of the islands to the United States. After an unsuccessful uprising to restore the monarchy, the Queen was placed under house arrest in 1895 and was forced to abdicate the Hawaiian throne, ending the monarchy. Queen Lili’uokalani made other attempts to restore the monarchy and the rights of her people to no avail. She lived out the remainder of her life as a private citizen and died at her residence in 1917. Source: Hawaii State Archives, public domain
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by her actions, overthrew the monarchy in 1893. US Marines were dispatched to
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CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG RACIAL WEALTH GAP FACTS
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In Charlotte, nearly 1 in 3 Black households have zero or negative net worth.
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In Charlotte, 44% of Black Households lack sufficient savings or assets that can be used to pay for basic needs for three months without income.
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Black households are twice as likely as White households to be unbanked or underbanked in the Charlotte region.
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On average, Asian and White incomes in Mecklenburg County are double that of Black households.
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In Mecklenburg only 2.6% of Black children born in the bottom quintile of income will rise to the top income quintile compared to 12% of white.
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Black men from Charlotte are 9.6 times more likely to be incarcerated than White men from Charlotte.
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In Mecklenburg, Black mortgage applicants are denied a home loan twice as often as White mortgage applicants.
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Business ownership has proven to be a strong wealth builder for communities of color.
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Over 60% of Black households do not have retirement savings through traditional retirement accounts.
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Wealth is transferred from parents and grandparents; but Black families must support parents or older family members twice as often as White families.
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Although education attainment is a predictor of wealth for all groups, a college education does not close the wealth gap for Black households. Source: The Racial Wealth Gap Charlotte-Mecklenburg, November 2019 -UNC Charlotte Urban Institute
“You must gain control of your money or the lack of it will forever control you."
- Dave Ramsey
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTICIPATING SPONSORS As of February 19, 2021
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SPECIAL THANKS TO ….. Jamall Kinard Dr. Shanté Williams Francene Marie Mark Weber Kenneth Snow The Main Event Dana Sidberry Nance Riffe Pride Team Synergy Marketing Solutions Barbara Grier Spark Publications Idania Hutchens Volunteers