Today, we’d like to introduce you to Jabari Taylor. Jabari was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Dr. April J. Lisbon.
Jabari , thank you so much for joining us today. We’d love for you to bring our readers up to speed – can you introduce yourself and share your story?
How did I start? After being released from prison, I started a 501c3 to help others. Along my journey before being incarcerated, I was a victim of numerous trauma throughout my childhood and adulthood. The trauma continued once I left corporate America and wanted to become an entrepreneur. I received minimal to no support from those who were closest to me. In turn, it created a space of depression and anxiety.
During the progression of my life, I encountered betrayal, near-death experiences, frustration, and homelessness. These unexpected circumstances motivated me to push harder and stay focused on my goals, including advancing the lived experiences of individuals with mental illness, homelessness, and incarceration.
We’ve heard great things about your organization. For our readers who might not be as familiar, can you please tell them about the organization?
Airtight Movement LLC offers programs focused on uplifting the community and helping Veterans and ex-convicts seamlessly reintegrate into society. We host workshops on financial literacy, resume writing, and political consciousness to help our people navigate the ever-changing social climate. Our mission is to create a global movement to empower and teach that we all have moral, civic, and political responsibilities. What separates me from others is that I am a veteran and an ex-felon who suffered from mental illness and homelessness, so I speak from experience. It has opened the door for me to create a structure where we are authentic and passionate about helping others. As a brand, I am proud that we empower others to maximize their potential despite systemic challenges.
Dr. April J. Lisbon has been a great friend to us and I know you’ve got a great relationship as well. Maybe you can tell our audience a bit about Dr. April J. and your experience with them.
Hmmm… what is it like to work with Dr. April J. Lisbon? Truthfully it’s been a pleasure so far working with Doc April. She has a plethora of knowledge. She’s powerful and extremely humble. I enjoy working with her because although she is firm, she wants what’s best for me. I’ve learned so much from her in our short time working together. And we have great chemistry.
I’ll be honest, Doc April creates some ideas that are eyebrow raising. There have been times when I asked myself if I made a mistake hiring her. However, once her ideas manifested, I realized there was no mistake–she was the best fit for my brand. I love watching her work as she is no nonsense. She pushes me to my fullest potential affording me opportunities like these and many others. It hadn’t even been 60 days of working together before I started seeing results. For example I was featured on the cover of the June/July Men Win Magazine and a swag bag sponsor for the 2023 BET Awards.
Website: www.airtightmovement.org
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jabari_taylor_atm
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jabari taylor
Image Credits
Donzaleigh’s Photography
