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Meet Bem Joiner of #AtlantaInfluencesEverything in Downtown

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Bem Joiner.

“A natural & cultural “Zelig” that reps. inside {Interstate} 285 (the highway interstate system that circles Atlanta), but thinks and yearns to understand the world, i.e. earth outside of 285.” Bem is a native of Atlanta, Georgia who was born December 28, 1978. He was raised in Atlanta’s diverse and Historic West End and his grade school years were spent across town in the affluent and multi-cultural area of Buckhead. After graduating from Jackson State University in 2002 with a degree in Mass Communications (concentration: Marketing, Advertising and PR), he returned to Atlanta in the middle of its transitional stage.

A natural “Zelig” and early adopter, Bem began to immerse himself in ALL facets of Atlanta’s many sub-cultures, with the understanding that Atlanta was establishing itself as the capital of the “NEW SOUTH”. This landed him a job at Tower Records where he was Head of Consignments of Atlanta’s world renown local music scene as well as national and international independent artists and In-Store Events. In 2005, armed with many contacts, a passion for culture and a still un-quenched thirst for information, he set out to and became “ATLANTA’S CREATIVE CULTURE CONSULTANT”.

Please tell us about how you started. 
A friend of mine and business partner, Ian Ford we always had a marketing company and it has changed over the years. When we dealt with marketers, they always wanted a piece of the Atlanta market. Atlanta has this ability to attract people from all around the country, and they bring their culture here and mix it with the Grady baby culture. The larger result of that is this sauce that brands Atlanta. So, Ian came to me saying we should do a shirt saying Atlanta vs. everybody. I immediately pushed back because I see the swag, dances and the slang that everybody else is using and told him if anything we are influencing. Ian immediately said that is it and that is how the “Atlanta Influences Everything” started.

As a founding member of the creative branding agency, The Tmrrws (tmrrws.com) and as the #CreativeCultureCurator as I am known by has managed and/or consulted on many Lifestyle/Cultural Immersion projects for a variety of clients including Sprite, Mississippi Dept. of Education, truth.com, National Black Arts Festival, Nissan, Jack Daniels, Vitamin Water and countless others. I have also booked “early-adopter” shows for Drake, Kendrick Lamar, the Goodie Mob reunion as well as the brand/slogan #AtlantaInfluencesEverything.

I am also one of the founders of CreativeCall.org which is a community service effort/collaboration between Atlanta and Stockholm creatives and is currently the Community Engagement Manager for the Center for Civic Innovation in South Downtown Atlanta. I am also currently sitting on the boards of three non-profits, Chop Art & The Wren’s Nest and the Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project.

Has it been a smooth road?
Anything but, actually. In order to launch something, from the angle in which I was choosing anyway, I had to gain the buy-in of influencers from all parts of the city’s eco-system, from the music industry to the city’s municipality, which took the time that couldn’t even begin to prepare for. Being a Gen. Xer at times means that I’m part of a forgotten generation which makes it difficult to connect with decision makers.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with #AtlantaInfluencesEverything – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
#AtlantaInfluencesEverything is the part of The Tomorrows, LLC. Agency that leverages Atlanta’s cultural capital to assist the city in coming up with innovative solutions to solve everyday problems as well as assisting in the brand building of the city.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the cultural gumbo that is “Atlanta”. I dislike the layers of silos, dysfunction and classism mixed in with transplants that don’t really know Atlanta’s true history, therefore, treats the city like a glorified mistress instead of being loyal and faithful to the city that they now reside in.

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Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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