Key Points:
- Dr. Tasha launches digital platform TMBP Media a platform amplifying marginalized voices through storytelling.
- The platform includes “Black in One Piece” a podcast featuring guests discussing various aspects of the Black experience and it’s available on many platforms.
- Dr. Tasha aims to show that every Black story has value.
Dr. Latasha N. Eley Kelly, or “Dr. Tasha” as she prefers to be called, is launching a new project of The Millennial Black Professor called TMBP Media, which she founded after receiving one of three Wichita Foundation Info Challenge Grants awarded in 2023.
TMBP Media is a digital platform designed to amplify marginalized voices through storytelling, ethical journalism and community engagement. Dr. Tasha says the goal of her new platform is to give people a chance to share their stories and insights with the community and help listeners understand that there is a wide range of Black experiences and your story still has value even if your experience is different.
At a gala event on June 17, Dr. Tasha introduced her concept to Black community leaders and representatives of Black media and launched her new podcast “Black in One Piece.” The podcast will introduce a cross-section of guests who share their thoughts on the experience of childhood, school, employment, success, failure, disappointment, celebration, pride, shame and ultimately holding it all together to create a life that is “Black in One Piece.”
The June 17 event included a screening of the first podcast episode, which dropped on Juneteenth, and introductions to the three guests who appear in the first three episodes.
The guest for the initial episode is Joseph Shepard, the Chief of Staff for the Kansas chapter of Lead for America, an organization that encourages young professionals to be leaders in their own communities.
Her upcoming guests will be Zoe Stone, Spark Community Business Academy graduate and founder and owner of Charcutistry Catering and Dr. Kevin Harrison-X, The Breathe Project Founder and WSU’s director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion who also owns Power Storytelling LLC.
Guests at the launch party were treated to samples of Stone’s culinary talent at a table loaded with sandwiches, meatballs, hot dip and a wide array of veggies and desserts.
Anyone interested in being a guest can complete the form found at https://forms.wix.com/f/7189593598579441754 or send an email to dr.tasha@tmbpmedia.com. The website domain is themillennialblackprofessor.com
“Black in One Piece” is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Audible.
Dr. Tasha is a first-generation college graduate. She coaches and prepares students from high school through doctoral level for academic and postgraduate success. She is originally from Newport News, Va., but is now happily settled in Park City, Kansas with her husband, Corinthian. She’s a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She says she loves to read, bake and spend time with family as well as attending concerts and seizing every chance to spoil her two godchildren and six nieces and nephews.
Other Info Challenge Winners
The three Info Challenge Grants Winners received a $30,000 grant from the Wichita Foundation to help them launch a platform to amplify the voices of minority communities and two years membership in the Tiny News Collective that provides tools, resources and community of learning to help people build sustainable news organizations that reflect and serve their communities
Other winners include Planeta Venus, founded by Claudia Amara to serve the area’s Spanish speaking community and The Shout, founded by Emily Christensen and Teri Mott to engage with artists.
Wichita Foundation entered into a partnership with Wichita entrepreneur Ti’juana Hardwell of Mamarazzi Communications and the Tiny News Collective for the implementation of the Info Challenge that attracted 22 applicants.
