OUR STORY
Embracing the Culture (ETC), LLC was formed by four phenomenal women from Ypsilanti, Michigan who share over 30 years of friendship. Dana, Jenelle, Kim and Nikkisha attended Willow Run Community Schools and shared the same classes together from elementary, middle school and high school.
The bond they share is like none other!
During the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020, the ladies relied on each other for support and comfort with weekly Zoom calls. As the racial and social tension was on the rise, they felt the need to get more involved within the black community. Thus, ETC was formed. In one of those weekly Zoom calls, the idea came about to do a road trip in the summer to visit historical landmarks and patronize black owned businesses, which soon would be called the Blackity Black Tour™. The ladies began to plan and create an itinerary for their assigned city and just like that, the Blackity Black Tour™ 2021 (BBT) became reality. On June 13, 2021, these four ladies met in St. Louis to start the road trip to Memphis, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Nashville.
During BBT 2021, ETC spent over five thousand dollars to support forty-three black owned businesses. The tour was such a gratifying experience that the ladies decided to make it an annual event and invite others who share the same values and efforts to embrace the culture!
MEET THE TEAM
DANA KITCHEN
Chief Operating Officer
Dana is responsible for ensuring that ETC is effectively organized as a business. What she loves about the black culture is how distinct, versatile, historical, and boundless it is. Our culture, the black culture is unique, and as the saying goes, “It is often imitated, but never duplicated.”
JENELLE BRANTLEY
Chief of Technology Officer
Jenelle enjoys serving in her church and community. She is a freelance graphic designer and has an undergraduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning.
What Jenelle appreciates most about black culture, is its uniqueness and creativity.
KIMBERLY THORNTON
Chief Communications Officer
As an entrepreneur, Kimmie knows first-hand the significance of supporting black owned businesses. She is committed to ETC and our mission to patronize, educated and encourage our culture. What Kimmie appreciates most about “Black Culture” is our ability to persevere and always remain resilient though adversity.
NIKKISHA MING
Chief Financial Officer
Connector, explorer, educator, and supporter are a few words that describe Nikkisha. She's always looking for ways to connect people, have new experiences and share all she's learned in support of others. Nikkisha believes the black culture is the exclamation point on everything. The effortless way we do simple tasks like walk, begs to be emulated by others. It's just our culture, it can't be ignored and she loves it!