McDonald’s Ten Black Visionaries of the 2023 Black & Positively Golden Change Leader Program Is Here

Kimberly R. McClary

McDonald’s has a long history of investing in Black leaders who are taking steps now to create a brighter tomorrow. And… this Black History Month, the popular food chain has partnered with KeKe Palmer to introduce McDonald’s Ten Black Visionaries of the 2023 Black & Positively Golden Change Leader Program–a collective of ten young, Black men and women who inspire and enact remarkable change in their communities and beyond.

Each change leader will receive $20,000, totaling $200,000 collectively, and will have access to elevated platforms to amplify their community missions, ranging from financial literacy to equality across the education system to mental health advocacy.

To further propel their leadership and underscore that Black history and excellence should be celebrated all year, beyond Black History Month, change leaders will be featured in a national advertising campaign voiced over by the multitalented award-winning actress, singer, and entertainer Keke Palmer. They will also attend culturally impactful events to elevate awareness of their missions and will have their stories profiled on McDonald’s Black & Positively Golden Instagram, @wearegolden, each month.

McDonald’s Ten Black Visionaries of the 2023 Black & Positively Golden Change Leader Program Is Here

“Historically, McDonald’s has celebrated the accomplishments of the people in the communities we serve, and we also recognize the importance of celebrating the community leaders who are starting something today to change everything tomorrow,” says Alexea Gordon, McDonald’s Manager of Cultural Engagement. “This program was created to provide the proper resources needed to help young Black community leaders succeed in their endeavors. These change leaders have the opportunity that we know will have a lasting impact on their communities, and we remain committed to not only celebrating but assisting change makers of the future”.

Much like the change leaders, Palmer remains passionate about uplifting young adults, highlighting Black excellence, and giving back to the community, making her the perfect ambassador for the Black & Positively Golden Change Leaders TV and radio spots.

“I am so excited to partner with McDonald’s again to pay homage to these young trailblazers who are creating the change they want to see in their communities,” said Palmer. “Each day, they are shaping history for the next generation, and I can’t wait for the world to see how they are creating a better tomorrow”.

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MEET THE 2023 BLACK & POSITIVELY GOLDEN CHANGE LEADERS

Andrew Ankamah, Jr. of Philadelphia, PA, Founder and Director of The Accountability Initiative. Andrew is a 21-year-old activist from North Brunswick, NJ, and resides in Philadelphia, PA, where he graduated from Temple University with a degree in Political Science. Andrew is the founder and director of The Accountability Initiative, an organization of young activists who advocate and seek solutions for underrepresented communities. He is also a youth mentor at POPPYN (A Youth Social Justice Media Program) and a Philadelphia Youth Commissioner, where he advises the city and helps to bring youth voices to politicians and other individuals in decision-making positions.

Brianna Baker of Arlington, VA, Activist and Founder of Justice for Black Girls. Brianna is a 28-year-old activist from Arlington, VA, who founded Justice for Black Girls, a social justice education space that serves Black girls’ needs for protection, safety, and belonging, through a holistic culture of care, coupled with Black feminist curriculum, grassroots collaborations, and academic partnerships.

Dr. Garrick Beauliere of Baltimore, MD, Postdoctoral Fellow. Dr. Beauliere is a 28-year-old postdoctoral fellow born and raised in Union, NJ, and currently resides in Baltimore, MD, where he is a postdoctoral Fellow within the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System. Dr. Beauliere received his PsyD in clinical psychology in August 2022 and his dissertation assessed vicarious trauma in Black Americans who have not experienced police violence. He is the only Black person and Black male clinician within his clinic, making his job that much more important in making Black veterans feel comfortable and seen. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Beauliere was also on the Association of Black Psychologists Student National Board for two years. Currently, he is the vice president of the DC chapter of the Association of Black Psychologists.

Kemia Bridgewater of Detroit, MI, Co-founder of First Generation Gems. Kemia from Detroit, MI, is a 21-year-old youth mentor and is passionate about empowering first-generation college students of color, which led her to co-find the non-profit organization, First Generation Gems.

Kamarie Brown of Atlanta, GA, Educator. Kamarie is a 20-year-old feminist scholar who was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia at Spelman College. Brown is passionate about amplifying the voices of youth in her community. She was elected as the first Black woman to be Los Angeles Unified School District’s Student Board Member where she contributed to important policies surrounding mental health, maternity support, and relief funding.

Hope Bryant of Houston, TX, Filmmaker. Hope Bryant is a 19-year-old filmmaker, photographer, designer, and writer from Houston, TX, attending Howard University in Washington D.C. Hope is passionate about creating films with Black representation. She hopes to use her education and passion to portray lesser-told stories that highlight the complexity of the Black female experience and de-stigmatize racial stereotypes within the film industry.

Nyla Choates of Atlanta, GA, Community Activist and Author of My Roots Are Rich. Nyla, originally from Milpitas, CA, is a 19-year-old community activist who is currently a sophomore at Spelman College in Atlanta Georgia. Nyla is passionate about sharing the rich history of African Americans, leading her to publish her first children’s book, My Roots Are Rich and founding her own non-profit dedicated to fighting systemic racism within the education system. Nyla also led one of the largest Black Lives Matter protests in the Bay area when she was just 18 years old.

Aaliyah Duah of Brooklyn, NY, Founder of Financial Revolutionn. Aaliyah, from Brooklyn, NY, is 20 years old and the founder of Financial Revolutionn, a platform created to expose people to basic financial literacy terms, concepts, and investing tips through daily social media content on Instagram and TikTok. She has published a book, entitled The Blueprint for Investing Vol. 1, that educates readers on the fundamentals of investing and financial literacy, she also hosts a podcast called Young & Dumb Show, about entrepreneurship and is releasing a financial literacy album.

Dorian Hollingsworth, Jr. of Norfolk, VA, Founder and Executive Director of Teen Care Network. Dorian is a 20-year-old mental health advocate originally from New York and now resides in Norfolk, VA, and is the founder and executive director of Teen Care Network–a self-started non-profit organization established to help break the stigma surrounding mental health in communities of color by offering free mental health resources to teens.

Aaliyah Alicia Thompson of Hampton, GA, Owner of Aaliyah’s Beauty Bar. Aaliyah, from Hampton, GA, is a 21-years old autistic advocate who made history as the first woman with autism in the country to open her own beauty bar, Aaliyah’s Beauty Bar. She hopes to serve as an inspiration to all people, particularly people, and families that deal with autism, that any dream is achievable when you follow your passions.

Since its inception, initiatives under the Black & Positively Golden platform—Change Leaders, HBCU student scholarships, and program funding—have invested in the voices of tomorrow to help serve up bright futures in the Black community. And for decades, McDonald’s has partnered with impactful organizations like the National Urban League, NAACP, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Hope Chicago, and more to help close the opportunity gap and provide meaningful resources to the community.

In fact, the brand announced this month a new partnership with Included Health to provide specialized physical, social, and emotional healthcare support that is culturally affirming and clinically competent enough to meet the needs of Black U.S.-based employees and their families.

How do you feel about McDonald’s Ten Black Visionaries of the 2023 Black & Positively Golden Change Leader Program? Let us know in the comments below!

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