Sylvester Blackwell’s outlook on economic opportunities was formed through his life experiences, including his partnership with Sol Divyne, founder of The Black Holistic and Natural Community (TBHNC). Growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood with limited access to positive professional role models, Blackwell’s perspective was further shaped by his incarceration for a crime he claims he did not commit. This experience led him to consider the impact of structural barriers on individual outcomes, ultimately driving him to explore the infrastructure needed to create a better future.
Establishing the Foundation
Blackwell’s journey to develop this infrastructure spanned over a decade. Following his release, he launched his first business venture and found guidance in Glenn Schurr, who taught him the essentials of running a company. Blackwell reflects on this experience as a key moment. “I had no clue about business at the same time,” he recalls. “As he taught me a lot of things, that started the journey, and then I started looking at how money moves and how I could use that to help my community.”
The Black Holistic and Natural Community (TBHNC) emerged as a result of Blackwell’s reflections. He envisions TBHNC as a membership-driven business ecosystem, focusing on a key issue often overlooked in discussions about Black-owned businesses: the state of their underlying business structure. “I find that systemic racism does exist,” he states. “But more importantly, a lot of times that Black folk are denied things is not because of the systemic racism. Yes, it plays a part. But I find the biggest problem is most of them do not have the paperwork together.”
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Consequently, TBHNC prioritizes building a solid foundation rather than solely focusing on ambitions. Through its partnership with Wyoming LLC Attorney, the organization provides members with access to services such as business formation, registered-agent support, funding assistance, business banking, insurance, and corporate documentation. Blackwell’s reasoning is straightforward: without proper establishment, accessing capital becomes more challenging, and incomplete supporting systems hinder business growth.
Linking Members to Markets
According to Blackwell, TBHNC’s community reaches approximately 600,000 individuals across its platforms, generating around 90 million to 140 million views annually. Businesses that meet the organization’s product standards can tap into this audience through membership, which Blackwell presents as a cost-effective alternative to substantial advertising expenses. “One thing I know about registered agent services, they offer you compliance, but they don’t give you an audience in which to grow from,” he explains.
Membership and Future Initiatives
Membership revenue funds a broader community investment strategy. Blackwell has discussed partnerships with automobile manufacturers to provide temporary vehicle access to housing participants. A planned agricultural initiative would give Black farmers and local producers physical marketplace space to reach members.
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The organization routes customers directly to participating companies without taking a transaction fee. This allows businesses to retain their sales revenue apart from standard processing costs. Blackwell sees this model as a financial foundation for future growth.
Expanding Beyond Housing
“Most people don’t have a substantial amount of money to donate,” Blackwell notes. “If 300,000 individual people could commit a dollar every month, then that means every month we’d be able to extend the reach and help as many families as possible,” he says.