If you know one thing about Corner to Corner, know that our team believes in the work we are doing so much, that the vast majority of our staff are Academy graduates themselves!

Including Tara Holt, our Operations Director and the owner and founder of Elevate Now, a consulting firm that helps people elevate professionally and personally by offering courses such as public speaking, time management, stress Management and creating customized microlearning videos. 

A Fall 2019 graduate, Tara enrolled looking for something to fulfill a desire that she had longed after for several years: the ability to own something of her own. 

“I knew I had a specific skill set, but I didn’t know how to translate that skill set over into making it a business and monetizing it.” 

The Academy helped her do just that, guiding her through identifying a target customer and understanding your business’ bottom line. 

And because our relationship with graduates doesn’t end after the 10-weeks of The Academy, we were able to connect Tara to an incredible opportunity: Goldman Sachs’ Black in Business program.  

“At Goldman Sachs, I was surrounded by a room of amazing Black women who all had the same desire as me, to own their business.” 

With the foundational learning of The Academy, and the connection to Goldman Sachs to further her education, Tara worked on building systems that set a path for her business to grow and scale.  

“It helped me solidify that feeling, that ‘yeah I can actually do this!‘ Being a Black woman entrepreneur can feel lonely. But Corner to Corner helps connect us all. Because we are not by ourselves, and the only way that we’ll realize that is if we build community, build a support system to get that guidance from each other, and just share our experiences ” 

Tara has seen many successes, both as an entrepreneur and as our Operations Director. “Understanding that I have something that people need, that’s the mentality that I use when I walk into a room.” 

Watch Tara’s full interview here.  

This all started in Johnathon’s driveway.

An informal men’s group, led by Johnathon’s dad, gathered together once a week to discuss mental health issues in a comfortable, familiar way. But when COVID hit, those conversations came to a sudden halt. Johnathon knew he needed to create a new way for him and his dad to connect with their community.   

His original idea was to start a podcast – it’s what encouraged him to seek out The Academy at first. But throughout the 10 weeks, Johnathon learned more about business foundations and realized something.

“Corner to Corner gave me a sense of confidence, and I knew I wanted to make this bigger than just two guys and a mic.”

So, he founded Black Men Vent Too LLC, a nonprofit organization that focuses on Black men and mental health issues. Now, his podcast helps promote their mission!  

“God wove all the ideas together, and it’s been a blessing.”  

Corner to Corner provides neighbors with a variety of paths to move forward – like Johnathon says, you can be in class next to someone who has been in business 5 years, with a website domain and an Instagram, and on your other side is someone who doesn’t even have a business name, only an idea.

“No matter where you’re at, [Corner to Corner meets] you there. They are very inclusive, and I have only good things to say about their program.”  

With a network of 1,600+ and growing graduates from our program, the support of our Academy Alumni is something that sets Corner to Corner apart. Because we know that business growth doesn’t stop after just 10 weeks – and Johnathon knows that, too.

“The Academy Alumni program is like a cheat code! Any opportunity that could further your business, Corner to Corner provides it or shares an opportunity to help you keep growing.” 

With these resources and Johnathon’s incredible work ethic, the Black Men Vent Too podcast has grown in subscribers and features an inspiring lineup of neighbors who get to share their stories.   

“Corner to Corner gives you that opportunity to try; Wherever you are, they meet you there.”  

We believe that every single one of our neighbors deserves to thrive on their own terms, to pursue that business dream they’ve kept tucked away in the back of their minds, to provide an innovative economic engine for their families.

With the support of our donors, we are able to provide this program and the support of our alumni program to passionate neighbors like Johnathon!

If you want to get involved in supporting your local businesses growth, donate to Corner to Corner today.

P.S. to watch the full interview with Johnathon, check out this Instagram post.