Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank & La Keisha Johnson.
Hi Frank & La Keisha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
From getting ready for halftime shows with the Johnson C. Smith University Marching Band to making sure there was enough money to purchase books, I understand firsthand the importance of receiving financial support to stay in school. For me, however, a life-altering event would cause to make a decision that I later wanted no other HBCU student to experience. Approaching my senior year in college, I had to make the tough decision to drop out of college and help support my family due to financial hardship after my father became ill and later passed. Since my father paid for my tuition, I wasn’t eligible to receive financial aid and therefore I was not able to obtain my degree. Several years later, I decided that no other student will have to make the same decision I once made.
In 2018, my wife, La Keisha, who was a former dancer in the band and graduate of Johnson C. Smith University, and I founded HBCU Culture Legacy Foundation 501(c)3 to provide financial support for our HBCU institutions and students. Since 2018, our organization has successfully provided over $1.9 Million in scholarships and educational experiences to over 5,000 students through our annual HBCU Culture events.
Our upcoming 2023 event, HBCU Culture Weekend & Battle of the Bands, will be featured here in Atlanta, January 13th-15th. This exciting event will kick-off on Friday, January 13th with our Founders Gala at Ventanas Downtown Atlanta featuring event chair Dr. Kevin James, President of Morris Brown College and our 2023 HBCU Culture Honorees, Dr. Jamal Bryant, Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Camye, Mackey, Chief People Diversity & Inclusion Officer of the Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena. Next on Saturday, January 14th, we will host the HBCU Culture Homecoming Fest presented by Publix on the campus of Morris Brown College from 11am-5pm featuring a College & Career Fair, Food Trucks, Vendors, Live Stage Performances, and a High School ” Battle on the Block.” The weekend finishes with the grand finale, HBCU Culture Battle of the Bands at State Farm Arena. Doors will open at 4pm and the show will start at 5pm featuring Jackson State University, Southern University, Alabama State University, Alabama A&M University, Talladega College, and Benedict College. This entire weekend will kick off our 2023 $10 Million HBCU fund goal to continue providing scholarships and educational experiences to HBCU students.
Today, my wife and I are so honored to not only be from HBCU Culture but be proud supporters and advocates for the culture through our organization. It is our mission to be a direct resource to all HBCU institutions and make sure financial hardship never stands in the way of obtaining a college degree.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There were definitely challenges during the process of starting a nonprofit organization. For me, the fact that I didn’t have a college degree was something I hid for so long and wasn’t sure that I could have any impact. I finally realized that my testimony was a setup to be a blessing to so many students. While having to drop out of college was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make, it also became the very thing that has allowed me to give back and help HBCU students stay in school and become graduates.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
HBCU Culture Legacy Foundation serves as a direct resource to keep HBCU institutions open and students enrolled. I would say what sets us apart is the fact that my wife La Keisha and I not only attended a HBCU, but we also were marching band students. We are able to relate firsthand to the students we serve. At each HBCU Culture Battle of the Bands event, our organization provides scholarships in support of the participating HBCU marching band programs. Our organization also covers all transportation, meals, and lodging for participating bands. We understand what it’s like for band programs to have limited budgets as well as what it’s like to practice long hours and perform every weekend while working hard to maintain a good GPA. We also understand the positive impact the marching band had and still has made in our lives both personally and professionally. Whether it’s leadership, discipline, teamwork, or being punctual, the band is what helped shaped us who we are today.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Atlanta has been life-changing for us. We moved from Charlotte, NC in 2016 and making the move to Atlanta has opened unlimited doors that has led to intentional and impactful relationships.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hbcuculture.com
- Instagram: @hbcuculture
- Facebook: @hbcuculturelegacyfoundation
