The first two places I went now that it feels (a little) safer to be in public
So this is what the real world is like 🤔
Hi friends,
Well, I did it. I went outside of my house for a meeting. Something that, pre-March 2020, I was kind of the master of. Many of my entrepreneurial friends have heard me espouse the benefits of consistently and frequently meeting with people. There were times when my goal was 20 meetings/calls a week (and there were many weeks where I would beat that average).
Then COVID hit, and everything stopped. And with my two youngest children having significant health conditions, we went on lockdown in the most extreme way possible.
And so it wasn’t until this week that I felt like it was time to start getting back out into the world…a little. I took my double-vaccinated self and chose places and people that I was dying to see, and headed out into the world once more.
First Stop: Jay Bailey and the Russell Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
The Russell Center has been on my list to visit for a long time. They describe themselves as Atlanta’s Home for Black Entrepreneurs, with a goal of achieving Black prosperity multiplied through business ownership.
I had Jay on my podcast earlier this year (podcast + YouTube) to talk about the incredible work they’re doing, and I was eager to see it for myself.
After Jay shared the vision for the Russell Center in what, in classic Jay fashion, was meant to be 30 minutes but ended up being an hour (and I could have listened to him share his passion all day), we took the tour of the building to see their plans in action.
There are few times in my life when I’ve been exposed to something as mind-expanding and far-reaching as the Russell Center. I talk a lot about ripple effects, and the Russell Center is going to be making WAVES of positive, needed change in the world.
There are many ways I’m looking to get plugged in to help, and if you are eager to get to work helping their efforts, you can start here.
Side note: Jay Bailey is on the Board of Advisors for my nonprofit, Ripples of Hope 😎
Second Stop: Jay Jackson and RYSE Creative Village
Jay Jackson and I were first connected during the pandemic, and his vision for RYSE Creative Village was something that I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of.
And boy, does he have vision! Similar to the Russell Center, Jay is focused on areas of our community that are under-represented and marginalized. Situated in Venetian Hills, his team is converting an abandoned school into a creative incubator complete with multiple production studios, a green screen, photography studios, a virtual reality studio, a gaming center, podcasting rooms, a recording studio, a screening theater, editing suites, meeting/ lecture spaces, a cafe, and a creative co-working space.
If you want to get involved in helping Jay with RYSE, you can join me in supporting their current crowdfunding campaign!
I’ll be having Jay on my podcast soon to share more, so make sure you subscribe! (Apple, Spotify, Other).
Side note: Jay Jackson is on the Board of Directors for Ripples of Hope 😎
The Point
One thing that the lockdown taught me was that our time is precious, and even though I’ve long been obsessed with time management, my goal is to be even more diligent with how and where I spend my time going forward. We all have the same amount of time — it’s how we spend it that makes the difference.
I hope you’re happy,
Jeff
PS - Yeah, good point
Recent podcasts
I produce a weekly podcast called, Begin the Begin. I hope you'll consider subscribing.
Why the world needs The Lola (with Eileen Lee): Spotify + Apple + Other
The Art of Trouble Making with Teresa Baker, founder of the Outdoor CEO Diversity Pledge and the African American Nature & Parks Experience: Spotify + Apple + Other
Until There Are Nine (with founder Bhavana Smith): Spotify + Apple + Other
Heroes Wanted (with Rodney Bullard, Chick-fil-A Foundation): Spotify + Apple + Other
Gladiators for Social Justice (with Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim): Spotify + Apple + Other