Keshia Knight Pulliam will soon be teaching entrepreneurship classes at Clark Atlanta University in partnership with Now and Later.
The candy company has launched an initiative called #RecognizetheCHEW Class in Session Series which showcases the impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities on graduates.
The CHEW in #RecognizetheCHEW stands for Champion, Hustle, Empower, and Win. The goal of the initiative is to have HBCU alumni inspire the next generation of Black leaders.
Now and Later partnered with the Clark Atlanta University Department of Mass Media as well as Howard University’s Cathy Hughes School of Communications for the initiative.
Each school will be given a $10,000 donation for student scholarships to be awarded to participants in the #RecognizetheCHEW initiative. Knight Pulliam will teach entrepreneurship classes at Clark Atlanta University while BET’s Terrence J will teach at Howard University.
Knight Pulliam, who is a graduate of Spelman College, told the Root that having an educational experience at an HBCU is priceless. She added that she was excited about the initiative and sees the program as an opportunity to highlight HBCUs. She also noted that the classes would be streamed live so more students could participate.
“I’m excited to partner with Now and Later,” said the actress. “It’s an awesome opportunity to bring light to historically Black colleges and universities, but also to support them with the $10,000 financial grant toward starting a scholarship.”
“Also in bringing in myself and Terrence J,” she continued. “He’s going to Howard University, I’m going to Clark Atlanta University, and the classes that we’re doing will be live-streamed so that everyone will have the opportunity to view them. … So often we only share the highlight reel. This gives us the opportunity to tell students that the successful people aren’t the ones that have been knocked down, but the ones who keep getting up.”
Knight Pulliam’s brothers also went to an HBCU (Morehouse) and the actress said students will be able to ask her questions about herself and her brothers’ experiences. The actress said she is eager to share how HBCUs impacted her life as well as her siblings. “As you achieve, you teach. As you learn and grow, you impart that wisdom. So I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do,” she said.
The actress also spoke with WTVR about the initiative last month.
The actress encouraged those who couldn’t donate money to donate their time and stressed the importance of supporting young people. The Spelman graduate also began a partnership with entrepreneur Arian Simone. The two women launched a $5 million venture capital fund in 2019 called the “Fearless Fund,” to help Black women and other marginalized groups receive funding for their businesses.
The busy entrepreneur also recently got married. The 42-year-old newlywed married actor Brad James in September. The two met on the set of the television film “Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta” in 2019, and James popped the question on the couple’s one-year anniversary.
The actress announced the nuptials on Oct. 2 on Instagram.
“Last week my life forever changed,” she wrote. “I married my best friend at our home surrounded by family & it was magical!”
For more information about the #RecognizeTheChew Class Series you can click here.
