What can I do about it?

This week, I attended the NCIDEA Foundation Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Conference in Raleigh with over 400 other leaders from communities across our great state that are passionate about fostering vibrant ecosystems of support for our innovators, job creators and heroes of main street. The agenda was packed full of thought leaders from across the country on entrepreneurship, community development and education such as Jonathan Ortmans, Founder & President, Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), Gary Schoeniger, Founder and CEO, The Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative (ELI), Publishers of the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program, Ted Dintersmith, author of the book “What School Could Be”, to name a few. 

I took away many bold ideas and best practices, feelings of affirmation for the ecosystem-building work that’s already taking place here and even some concerns and a sense of urgency based on the declining rate of entrepreneurship across the US, particularly in rural communities. 

The conviction, compassion and fearless grit of one of the invited speakers, however, truly inspired me. George Taylor is a serial entrepreneur in Wilmington, NC who has successfully founded nine companies throughout his career. After a senseless gang rivalry fueled drive by shooting snatched the life of a teenager five short blocks from his office, Taylor was so shocked and saddened by the killing that he vowed to end gang violence in his community. He called the District Attorney and law enforcement leaders of the Gang Taskforce and then spent the next two years meeting forging relationships with gang leaders throughout the city to learn about the gang culture and gain trust. In 2017, 11 rival gang members convened by Taylor to form TRU Colors Brewing and put a stop to the ongoing gang violence. Made up of active Bloods, Crips, and Growth & Development (formerly Gangster Disciples), according to their website, “{Together, they} fight day in and day out to change the perception of gang culture and create a safer world.”

You read that correctly, George Taylor employs active, rival gang members in their brewery. As matter of fact, as peculiar as it seems, to keep their job they must maintain their status as an active gang member in order to harness the dynamics of their influence over the hundreds of fellow gang members in the city to put an end to gang violence. Brewing and selling great beer is their business, but the mission has been to bring these street leaders together to resolve conflict through honest conversations & understanding and stop violence in their city. TRU Colors provides a livable wage (starting at $30,000 per year), options for career advancement and profit-sharing based on performance, but most importantly, Taylor also provides career and life-skills education to give purpose, hope and a future to these men, their followers and the generations that will succeed them. The impact has been BIG — I read that gang violence was down in Wilmington by 90% at the end of 2018.

His story left me with big questions regarding my own impact, how I’m utilizing my time, influence and resources. Can you imagine a community where everyone pointed the finger at themselves and asked “What can I do about it?” George Taylor utilized his influence and resources to tackle this critical community issue. He didn’t wait for permission — he made it happen. This is the definition of community leadership.  

To read more about TRU Colors Brewery and George Taylor, visit their website here: https://www.trucolors.co/”