Current position and employer: Principal and Founder, Ozark Street Consulting
Hometown and current city: Houston, TX
Why did you choose McCourt? I chose McCourt, because of it’s positive standing & reputation along with the overall network of Georgetown & NUF.
What professional/ work experience did you have prior to coming to McCourt? I started out in Education as a Mathematics Instructor at an all boys charter school teaching 6th to 8th grade. I then transitioned to working for the Houston Area Urban League (local non-profit) full time for a little over 3 years while going to school in the evening to earn an MBA from the University of Houston. I then transitioned to corporate America to work in outside sales for about 5 years between Coca-Cola & Grainger. I ran for office Q1 of 2018 before ultimately launching my own social impact consulting practice in August of 2019. For the past 4 years I have worked with nonprofits and government entities on multiple public education campaigns like the 2020 Census and Voter Mobilization. Additionally, I have helped to develop community programs like Advocacy U to better educate citizens on civic engagement. Most recently working on policy and advocacy pertaining to voting rights in Texas. Over the past 14 years served on and/or led multiple nonprofit and city of Houston boards, most notably as the National President of the National Urban League Young Professionals.
What was the best part of your experience? The best part of my class experience was the dialogue/conversations that we had almost weekly on different topics concerning policy that pushed my way of thinking and made me better as an advocate/consultant. Also, the summer fieldtrip to meet with the then-House Whip, Congressman Clyburn. Overall, the most valuable part of my experience was my peers and the degree to which I was pushed to be better and think differently in identifying policy solutions.
What internships did you have during your time at McCourt? My fellowship placement with Imagine Justice/Think Common has allowed me to learn first hand how to do briefing books on policy, candidates, issues and serve as an advisor. It has also allowed me to test the strength of my network in connecting with advocates/policy makers/elected officials across the country. Lastly, also working to execute community activations like the “Justice Nights” on Broadway to bring light to the formerly incarcerated community along with S15A & S497A.
Undergraduate University, degree, and major: Morehouse College, B.A. in Business Administration, concentration in Finance
Hobbies / Interests: Fitness, Museums, Movies, Live Sports & Entertainment, Travel, New Restaurants & Good Food
Reach out to me about: leveraging relationships & network