50 Objects _ celebrating YBM "from Hackney to Atlanta"

"Six (6) years ago today [on the 15 March 2016] a group of young Black men put their faith in me to give them a life-changing experience which would allow me retrace my own steps of 22 years ago. My charitable work with young people across London, spans well over two (2) decades and in recognition of every young Black man that I have interacted with, nothing compares to the human connection and the empowement of others. I have had the dutiful opportunity to touch [and hopefully improve] the lives of many and with the help of three key #AmericanIcons, Von Nkosi of Liquid Studios, Samuel Gude III of Gude Management Group and the infamous Egbert LJ Perry of the Integral Group; this six (6) day trip went ahead with amazing outcomes. It remains my most humbling career milestone to date" _ Abisogun OBE

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ the group of YBM arrive at HJIA at 1600 in the City of Atlanta

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ day view from our 49th floor office window in the Georgia Pacific Building, Peachtree Street, Downtown Atlanta.

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ office c/o Gude Management Group [Atlanta]

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ night view from our 49th floor office window

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ early start enroute to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ prompt arrival at the Fed Reserve Bank of ATL _ for 7am

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ Warm discussion with Andre Anderson - Snr VP, FRBATL

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta - YBM focus 1 of 2

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ more conversations with Black Businessmen at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta - YBM focus 2 of 2

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta [2016] - Historic Photo!!

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ Chris Burke _ Community & Student Development for GT

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ 'knowledge drop' with Chris Burke, Georgia Tech [ATL]

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ the scared 'resting place' at the King Centre [Atlanta], for both Dr MLK Jr & Mrs King [RIEP]

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ signposting for cultural and 'ethical' business success

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ where in Atlanta, successful Black men 'come of age'

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ self explanatory, sacred ground, nothing more to say

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ male bonding; #IronSharpensIron

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ the birthplace and home of Dr Martin Luther King Jr

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ the birthplace of Dr Martin Luther King Jr, a #BucketList destination

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ 'feeling the energy' of Dr MLK Jr's positive legacy

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ the Centennial Park 'Olympic Badge'

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ 'Knowledge drop' by the CEO at the National Centre for Civil & Human Rights

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ an interesting perspective and stroryline of ATL's journey

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ male bonding with Uncle Von; #IronSharpensIron indeed

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ Atlanta in 50 Objects with and led by Dr MLK Jr

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ founded in 1971, with a bus network that began on 17th Feb 1979, the 'rapid transit system' began on 30th June 1979 MARTA in 1971. The effort which culminated as an Olympic legacy project in 1996, was all care of the visionary 53rd Mayor of Atlanta, Sam Massell - who as the first Jewish Mayor in the city's history, sadly passed away, last weekend on 13th March 2022 [RIEP]

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ despite the tragic nature of his untimely death, Dr MLK Jr left a strong and enduring legacy, which triggered a seismic 'societal shift' across the USA [taken at the National Centre for Civil & Human Rights]

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ the sacrifice was real and required, the legacy lives on

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ following the blood sweat and tears, the legendary 54th, and 56th Mayor of Atlanta made a commitment to broker an economic waterfall that created Supplier Diversity. His move to legislate for Affirmative Action in the early 1970's created a scaleable vehicle which led to the creation of a sustainable 'Black Middle Class'; the legacy of which continues to the current day; via 'minority participation' _ public dollar contracts in key sectors including construction. Like Dr MLK Jr, the legacy of Maynard Jackson, the first ever Black Mayor, who went on the serve three (3) consecutive terms, lives on in 2022, almost two decades after his passing in 2003.

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ the Mercedes Benz Stadium, accrued a $1.6bn construction cost, [which far exceeded the original budget] and delivered a massive minority participation component

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ Atlanta Hawks

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ gratuitous hospitality offered to [and warmly received by] the YBM from local Black businessmen, based in the City of Atlanta

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ attending the Atlant Hakws game at the CNN Centre

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ Morehouse College, 1867 delivering Black excellence for over 150 years.

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ 'Morehouse Men' have values that speak to #Ethical #Leadership, #Compassion #Integrity & #Service [to others].

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ conversely the 'elite' college of #Spelman continues to nurture, develop and equip Black Women to thrive in all sectors across the spectrum of Business & Civil Society

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ attendance at the Annual Construction Skills Event

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ HJ Russell the home of 'Black Excellence in Construction' leveraged through minority participation, and where my own journey of exploration and intrigue into successful Black businesses in construction began in August 2000. Credit to the industry giant, the infamous Mr Herman Russell Sr; as does his legacy, may his blessed soul forever RIEP.

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ HJR local investments across an array of business sectors

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ the YBM enjoyed lunch with a successful Black billionaire

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ the home of Atlanta Developer, Integral Group and the incredible location for business 'The Commerce Club, Atlanta' _ "where ideas are born and relationships formed".

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ Group Lunch for the YBM at The Commerce Club

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ legendary Atlanta developer, Egbert L J Perry [centre]; Group Chairman & CEO, Integral Group LLC

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ the hugely successful Atlanta based construction & program manager, Samuel L Gude III of Gude Management Group 'GMG' sharing his #livedexperience with YBM; 1 of 2

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ powerful insights from Samuel L Gude III of Gude Management Group 'GMG' sharing his #livedexperience with YBM; 2 of 2

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ with the support of my 'Big Bro' Michael Williams, I was regularly in tune with an ability to reflect on 'my why'.......

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ last day at my office in ATL and preparing to leave with the YBM, enroute back to London / Shreeveport, LA

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ "ultimately it was all about doing something for the young Black men that related to my own journey _ from Hackney to Atlanta _ and clearly deserved something that was in my gift to give them" _ Abisogun OBE

Credit: Bola Abisogun OBE / Urbanis Limited _ all of the YBM arrived bacl safely [and many reluctantly!] in London, on the 22.03.16. We give Him thanks and praise; their #life #journey continues.

You can learn more about Bola's other charitable work via the award winning, pan-London Moving On Up initiative [here].

The Inclusive Employer Toolkit is a key resource targetting Employers in the Construction, Technology and Finance sectors. Do get in touch if you'd like to get involved and actively support us in building a more diverse, representative and inclusive civil society for all.https://www.gmgcpm.com