Today we’d like to introduce you to Rell Black.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rell. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I always knew I’d make an impact on the world. While most kids I grew up with played Pokémon cards and watches Barney, I was busy being groomed for greatness. As a two-year-old, I got my first taste of being in the public eye when my grandma would dress me up in a full 3-piece suit in the hot Florida weather to perform Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone” for all her friends. By age of three, I was speaking Spanish and was the only student in my class to be able to read and comprehend complete paragraphs and sentences. I even called out my mom during our preschool graduation for misspelling my lines as I was the narrator for “Little Miss Muffet”. As I came into my own as a young child, I stood out for my personality, charisma and wisdom beyond my years. At nine years old, I was offered a fulltime modeling contract with ” Burdines Fashion*, but my mother declined the offer so I would focus on my studies. My mom believed education would free us of all of our struggles. I grew up in a poor neighborhood known as “Caroline Village” and my mom worked part-time jobs just to make sure I ate every night. Being the only child to a single mother, I learned at a very young age how to be independent and how to handle my issues. I was making my own oatmeal by three and was writing in cursive by 6. I always had an overwhelming drive for success. Throughout middle and high school, I maintained a 4.0 GPA, played football, ran track and weight lifted, and also was president of the Cultural Diversity Club, Black Leaders Of Tomorrow and was in all gifted classes. There was never a field trip or school dance I missed. I eventually graduated Spruce Creek High School as the “Senior Class Speaker” for the class of 2011. My childhood and teenage years were fantastic and I thought everything would end happily ever after.
However, graduating high school showed me the darkness of being an adult and making life decisions. Go to college or get a job? Get a car or keep riding the bus? Pay my lightbill or eat for the week? These decisions influenced me to carve out my own lane and I started to visualize a life with no barriers, no borders and no answers. A life where the individual is always in the driver’s seat. I didn’t wanna just be a 9-5 Average Joe with a miserable life and a 401k. I wanted to grow as a man, travel the world and expand my mind. So I gave up school, got a job at Burger King and collected my first five paychecks and got a car. Eventually, I got my own apartment and was finally beginning to feel that freedom and independence I had been manifesting since childhood. For the longest, I didn’t see myself as a young black man but as a young man who happened to be black. But one day, everything stopped. The night Trayvon Martin was killed, a piece of my innocence, childhood and confidence died along with him. It was the first time I experienced open racism and left me traumatized. Even though I had no personal connection to Trayvon, I felt his spirit and my life was forever changed. I finally understood what it meant to be black in America. And it was the scariest feeling I ever embraced.
Soon, the killing of young unarmed black men became an epidemic. Every day I would hear stories of black men, women and children being gunned down in cold blood by police officers all over this country. This very country that promotes equality and civil rights was turning their heads to domestic genocide. For the longest, as everyone would, I would sit back, get angry then go back to regular life. The entire time I would think to myself, what can I do? It’s just me; there’s no way I can stand up and become a voice. I assumed it took the work of a millionaire or a celebrity to advocate for justice. Finally, It wasn’t until my 23rd birthday that I realized that enough was enough. All these murders, black lives matter protests and constant media images of my people in turmoil truly fueled me to level up and say goodbye to the old me. I just couldn’t understand why slavery existed, why racism existed and honestly why my people have had to deal with these issues for so long. I wanted to make a change but I had no answer guide, no mentors and no money. Then, like a miraculous wonder, I had a vision. In that vision, I saw myself, on a podium, with a crowd of 275,000 people of all ages, races, creeds and orientations listening to every word I spoke. What seemed like a bizarre fantasy, soon became my reality. In January 2016, I launched my blog “Rell Black- Negus With Attitude” to expose and promote human and civil rights injustices, as well as promoting black businesses and our culture, and my life has never been the same.
“Negus” is an Ethiopian term for King or ruler, and I became.obsessed with ancient knowledge. As I began to do my research into the history of the world, I discovered a plethora of hidden facts and truly became enlightened. I learned about the incredible civilizations our ancestors ruled over, I even learned how agriculture, farming, metallurgy, and even electricity was discovered by our ancestors in Africa. The more I learned, the more upset I became with my teachers, my mother and the world as a whole for hiding the truth. I discovered the incredible works of Malcolm X and Marcus Garvey and studied up on how they truly got their movements going. I realized if I ever wanted to make a true impact, I would need a team. I searched high and low for like-minded individuals who believed in community building, empowering the youth and educating our people on their history and the amazing accomplishments we’ve led. So on January 2nd, 2016, Community Healing Project Inc, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, was born and as they say, the rest is history.
Today, I’m an award-winning activist, journalist, multi-media personality and community organizer changing the world, one community at a time.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Launching the organization was truly a blessing. Being that I don’t have a college degree, I had to maneuver on my own to determine my course of action. Therefore I made sure my team worked harder, longer and more efficiently than any other group. I pushed my mind, body and spirit ultimately to the breaking point. On June 16th 2018, I was diagnosed with Rhabdomylosis. A degenerative muscle condition that left me immobile and on my death bed. My muscles began breaking down, and as they degenerated, the enzymes would race to my kidneys, causing them to malfunction. I thought it was all over. I became so obsessed with this mission that I completely ignored my physical and mental health for the good of the cause. As a leader, I believe in sacrifices for the greater good. However, as my mind kept racing, my legs, and spine were out for the count. The pain was excruciating, but it was nothing compared to the pain I felt as I had to hear the doctors say I could never walk again. Well, as of today, not only can I walk again, I can run, jump and swim even better than ever. I still walk with a cane due.to the pain, but due to this experience, I am truly stronger than ever.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Community Healing Project Inc story. Tell us more about the organization.
Community Healing Project Inc, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, promotes educational advancement, economic empowerment and health awareness in urban and impoverished communities. Since our inception in 2016, we’ve served more than 7,500 families with our community initiatives as well as our clothing and food drives, health screenings, bookbag giveaways, holiday events, financial literacy courses, and student engagement programs. In August 2017, we were awarded the “Getting Results Award” live on CBS News for our consistent activism. In 2018 we were the leading organization for the National Warm Coats and Warm Hearts Drive, hosted by “Good Morning America”. Inspired by the works of Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X, we have developed a reputation for outstanding community service while focusing on empowerment and cultural awareness. Our lanaek event is our annual ” Malcolm X Day Community Bash” held to honor Civil Rights leaders, all while promoting local black businesses and exposing children to our rich and luscious African history. Beyond the awards, the national recognition and praise, Im most proud of our Fall 2017 trip to Houston, Texas to aid in the recovery of Hurricane Harvey. We took two trucks full of clothes, diapers, water, food, books, toys and medical supplies and drove 14 hours into Third Ward, Houston. That experience truly altered my mind frame and showed me how much the world needs our organization. Our organization works with state and county officials to offer community service outreach for former inmates as well as rehab participants so they can truly make an impact. Also on December 21st we will be hosting our second “Holiday Gift Grab” event to provide coats, gifts and books to local students for the holiday season.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
When someone says luck, it usually means you’re not supposed to be in the place you’re in. However, for me, I’ve always known I’d be in a position to influence my peers. I’m a very spiritual person so I’m constantly thanking my ancestors and manifesting the next goal for my team. If I am lucky for anything, it’s the fact that my organization has allowed me to finally understand my purpose and my true calling in this world. While some may argue I’m lucky to be alive, I’d say I’m lucky to have experienced such incredible highs and lows.
Pricing:
Contact Info:
- Address: Community Healing Project Inc
237 Strawberry Lane
Daytona Beach, Florida
32117 - Website: www.communityhealingproj@gmail.com
- Phone: 386-682-0650
- Email: communityhealingprojectinc.com
- Instagram: community healing project
- Facebook: chponline386
- Twitter: community healing project
Image Credit:
Community Healing Project Inc
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