Charles Love on the importance of hands-on investing in communities at risk

In this episode, Ian and Nique are joined by Charles Love — Assistant Executive Director of Seeking Educational Excellence and author of the forthcoming book, Race Crazy. Charles discusses how his upbringing and adult life in Gary, Indiana shaped his view of the greatest challenges facing black Americans. Charles did not pay much attention to politics as a young adult. But he became concerned during the Obama presidency as a rift grew between the real-life experiences of middle-class black Americans and the rhetoric of race-based victimhood that seemed to prevail. Today, Charles believes the greatest need in impoverished minority communities is not more government programs, but more entrepreneurship and a renaissance in private giving toward mission-based nonprofits. Most importantly, Charles advocates for more successful black men to demystify success for the next generation in vulnerable communities by preaching what they practice in mentor relationships.

Later, Charles discusses how his work with Seeking Educational Excellence (SEE) is paving pathways to power for black boys and girls by advocating for quality STEM education in schools. In the words of Charles, “how you see a problem will dictate the methods you use to fix it.” SEE believes the core problem of poverty in minority communities is an insufficient pipeline funneling black men and women into great jobs — so they help more black boys and girls access a quality STEM education. Tune in to the full episode to learn more about Charles’s story and hear his words of advice for “Darryl.”

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