Barak Bomani - Soul Food
Educator and Entrepreneur, Barak Bomani, is skilled with recipes. One of his favorite memories is helping out in the kitchen as his grandmother cooked up lots of deliciousness. He wasn't trying to learn how to cook, but that's what happened. He started off serving up treats for events while he was at Dartmouth University. Now he runs City Catering which serves up "smoked meats, sides and sweets" based in Compton, California.
He also figured out a recipe for student success. He returned to his hometown, Oakland, in the early 2000s to open a charter school. The Board of Education not only approved his approval for a new school, they funded construction of a new $9,000,000 campus to boot. He contributed to the school's design; hired a diverse and committed faculty; and then sprinkled generously with a love for his students. For four years running, his students graduated filled with education and entrance into at least one four-year university to boot.
He shares the moments and individuals that had a significant impact on his becoming the huge contribution he is today. Like all Brothers, he drops wisdom throughout the conversation.
Barak Bomani is the co-owner of Cultivating Hope, an educational consulting firm. He and his wife also operate Unearth and Empower with a mission to create pathways to college, employment and entrepreneurship for Compton youth through engagement with education and the arts.
Lastly, whenever you know you'll be in the South Bay on a Friday eve, visit the City Catering Facebook page by Thursday to see what's good with their "smoked meats, sides and sweets."
Barak's favorite words are Maya Angelou's "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."
Barak's favorite song is Someday We'll All Be Free by Donny Hathaway.
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About this podcast: In each episode, a Brother reflects on his life; explores the experience of being a Black man in America; shares his interactions with law enforcement; and answers the question "If America was a woman, what would you say to her?"
Every interview starts with getting-to-know-you questions about favorites, accomplishments and then goes deeper. You won't find a collection of conversations with Black men like this anywhere else. Hear their wisdom.
Host, Rahbin Shyne, is an author, educator, creative and avid half-marathon walker. Follow on Instagram @allthingshyne or on Facebook.
Interested in being a guest? Click here.
Special thanks to Sonji Walker, Shedrick Sanders, Abigail Gonzalez, Don Davis and William Hamilton for their generous support.