Board Members/Volunteers

WELCOME TO THE BOARD AND COMMITTEE

We Are Excited to Have You Join Our Mission

We are honored to welcome you to the Board of Directors of Bantucola Inc. Your leadership, expertise, and commitment to advancing economic empowerment, cultural preservation, and sustainable opportunities for Black-owned businesses and communities are invaluable to our mission. We are excited to have you join us as we continue building a stronger and more connected ecosystem throughout Northwest Florida and beyond.

At Bantucola, our work extends beyond business support. We are actively developing an ecosystem designed to connect entrepreneurs, educators, creatives, researchers, media professionals, community leaders, and organizations through collaborative initiatives that strengthen economic growth and long-term community impact. Through programs such as business development initiatives, research projects, media platforms, workforce development, travel and cultural storytelling, internships, mentorship opportunities, and strategic partnerships, we aim to create pathways that increase visibility, access to resources, education, and economic sustainability for underserved communities.

As a member of the Board of Directors, you will play a vital role in shaping the vision, strategy, and growth of this ecosystem. Your insights, leadership, and advocacy will help us expand opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and create innovative solutions that support entrepreneurs and the broader community.

Here’s what you can expect in your role:

Strategic Planning & Governance – Help guide the organization’s mission, policies, long-term goals, and ecosystem development initiatives.
Community & Ecosystem Development – Support efforts that connect businesses, institutions, nonprofits, creatives, and community stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and economic impact.
Networking & Advocacy – Represent Bantucola within the community while helping build meaningful partnerships and opportunities that advance our mission.
Engagement & Leadership – Participate in board meetings, organizational events, strategic discussions, and key decision-making processes.
Commitment to Growth & Sustainability – Contribute to fundraising efforts, mentorship initiatives, program expansion, and resource development that support the continued growth of the Bantucola ecosystem.

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with our current programs, research initiatives, and upcoming projects as we continue creating innovative solutions that uplift our communities and foster lasting economic change. Please feel free to reach out at any time if you have questions or need support as you transition into your new role.

Again, welcome to the Bantucola Inc. Board of Directors. We look forward to collaborating with you and creating a lasting impact together through the continued growth of the Bantucola ecosystem.

Our History

Founding and Growth In November 2018, Bantucola was established with a mission to become the premier source of business information within the Black community of Northwest Florida. Since its inception, Bantucola has rapidly grown into the largest Black Business Directory on the Gulf Coast and one of the only Black-owned media outlets stretching from Pensacola to Tallahassee. Bantucola.com serves as a trusted platform, offering support to Black businesses and providing reliable news to the Black community.

Building a Black Business Ecosystem Chris Hendricks, the founder of Bantucola.com, envisioned a thriving Black Business Ecosystem through his 1Kx20 model. This innovative approach pairs small Black-owned businesses with events designed to promote group economics on a large scale. According to Chris, “We pair small Black-Owned businesses with events that promote group economics at scale. We aim to gather 1000 people to spend $20 at a local Black-Owned business. The Black Business Weekend is all about us being practitioners of what we preach, which is supporting the Black community and building its economic capacity.”

Transition in Leadership In 2023, Chris Hendricks stepped back from Bantucola to focus on other pressing commitments. He entrusted the organization’s leadership to Katrice Johnson, a seasoned entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience. Passionate about the Black community and economic empowerment, Katrice took on the role with a commitment to preserving Bantucola’s core mission while enhancing its reach and impact.

Under Katrice’s leadership, Bantucola has undergone significant transformations over the past two and a half years. She has streamlined operations and expanded Bantucola’s offerings to better serve the community. These new initiatives include:

Health Education
Business Development Workshops
Podcasts for Business
Branding and Marketing Opportunities
Special Events

What is Bantucola?

The name "Bantucola" is deeply rooted in African heritage. The term "Bantu" means "people" and is the root language for many African languages and tribes. Bantucola embodies the unity of African Americans, reflected in its motto: "Many Tribes, One Nation."

Why Bantucola

As the largest Black business directory on the Gulf Coast, Bantucola connects the Black community through its website, online streaming, social media platforms, and events. It provides a vital voice that ensures Black-owned businesses are seen and heard, bridging the gap between businesses and the community through group economics, education, and corporate engagement.

Bantucola focuses on 7 key areas:

1. Tribal Unity & Community Collaboration

Strengthening collective identity and connection by fostering unity, cultural pride, shared responsibility, and collaboration. This focus area builds strong networks between individuals, businesses, and organizations to create a more supported and empowered community ecosystem.

2. Business Development, Economic Growth & Ecosystem Building

Empowering entrepreneurs, small businesses, and organizations through training, mentorship, research, strategic partnerships, and access to resources. This includes building a sustainable ecosystem that supports long-term economic growth, innovation, and generational wealth creation.

3. Healthcare & Community Wellness

Promoting access, awareness, and education around physical, mental, emotional, and community health. This area supports initiatives that address health disparities and encourage healthier lifestyles and equitable access to wellness resources.

4. Education, Workforce Development & Leadership

Providing pathways for learning and advancement through internships, certifications, mentorship, training programs, research opportunities, and leadership development. This focus prepares individuals for academic success, career readiness, and entrepreneurial growth.

5. Faith, Values & Ethical Leadership

Encouraging spiritual growth, moral grounding, service, and ethical leadership within the community. Faith-based principles help guide compassion, accountability, resilience, and purpose-driven community development.

6. Self-Defense, Safety & Empowerment

Supporting personal and community safety through education, awareness, discipline, and preparedness. This includes physical safety, mental resilience, economic protection, and social awareness that empower individuals to protect themselves and their communities.

7. Inclusivity, Equity & Cultural Representation:

Creating spaces where diverse voices, backgrounds, and perspectives are welcomed and valued. This focus ensures equity, accessibility, representation, and fair opportunity across all programs, initiatives, and partnerships.

Together, these seven focus areas form the foundation of Bantucola Inc. and guide its ecosystem approach to building stronger communities through unity, education, wellness, culture, safety, and sustainable economic empowerment.

Principles to Build On for Bantucola Inc.

Mt1N – Many Tribes, One Nation

We recognize that strength comes from unity in diversity. Many backgrounds, experiences, and “tribes” can come together as one people with shared purpose, shared responsibility, and collective progress.

We are made in the image of God

We honor the inherent dignity, value, and purpose of every human being. This principle guides how we treat one another—with respect, compassion, accountability, and care.

We practice self-love

We believe personal well-being is foundational to community strength. Self-love includes healing, discipline, mental wellness, confidence, and the commitment to grow into one’s highest potential.

We practice group economics

We prioritize building, supporting, and circulating resources within our communities. This includes collaboration, entrepreneurship, cooperative economics, and strengthening Black-owned and community-based businesses.

We pursue equality and inclusivity

We are committed to fairness, access, and opportunity for all people. Inclusivity means ensuring that diverse voices are heard, valued, and meaningfully represented in every space we build.

We pursue higher education & experimentation

We value knowledge, learning, innovation, and curiosity. This includes formal education, skill-building, research, and testing new ideas that can lead to better systems, solutions, and opportunities.

We are ready to defend by any means necessary

We believe in protection, preparedness, and safeguarding our communities—physically, economically, culturally, and socially—while also emphasizing responsibility, discipline, and ethical action.

Together, these principles serve as the philosophical foundation guiding the mission, ecosystem, and long-term vision of Bantucola Inc..

Community to Depend On Bantucola is dedicated to rebuilding the Black community through economic empowerment. By fostering Black-owned businesses, the organization ensures that these businesses, in turn, reinvest in the Black community. However, for this cycle to be sustainable, the Black community must also actively support Black-owned businesses.

Bantucola stands as a beacon of unity, economic strength, and cultural pride, continuously working to elevate the Black community.

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