After devoting Season 12 to conversations with those that played roles in the development, designing, building, and opening of The Center for Black Excellence and Culture, Dr. Alex Gee takes some time to reflect on this long journey of seeing his vision come to life. He shares some of the biggest highlights from the process of The Center coming together as a reality for the Black community. Listen in to hear five lessons that he learned from opening The Center and insights into his process.

Susan Pierce Jacobsen is a community connector and advocate who has worked in many different positions. Through several of Susan's roles she has supported The Center for Black Excellence and Culture. Dr. Gee shares about Susan's support and their relationship in development projects in the community.

They discuss some of the various connections that Susan helped bring together with The Center from architects, community organizers, and company leaderships.

alexgee.com

Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme

Join the Black Like Me Listener Community Facebook Group

How did the vision for The Center for Black Excellence and Culture find its shape? Dr. Gee talks to Jim Bower about how their collaboration helped shape the vision for what was valuable for the Black community in Madison. Jim's role was to continually clarify Dr. Gee's vision and find a way to make it a reality. He saw Dr. Gee as a social innovator, who had something important he wanted to change in society that needed to have a track for the project to move forward on.

Dr. Gee explains how the cross-cultural partnerships involved coalesced around the vision despite issues that the community and country were facing. The project is a rare example of a team of people unified around the vision that they invested so much of their skills and heart in.

alexgee.com

Support the Show: patreon.com/blacklikeme

Join the Black Like Me Listener Community Facebook Group