We recently connected with Roosevelt Williams III and have shared our conversation below.

Roosevelt , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

“Roosevelt Williams, III, founder, family man, and visionary formed Young Black & N’ Business with the hopes of providing a ladder for upward mobility for his community. This ladder would do more than help people leave the “physical” hood, but release the mental shackles formed by systematic marginalization. Today, Young Black & N’ Business is proud to bring early entrepreneurs out of the darkness and into the light by helping them grow their professional network, providing high value exposure opportunities, and entrepreneurial content from real entrepreneurs. Early entrepreneurs across the nation can read our digital magazines, join our virtual release parties, and keep up with us through our bi-weekly newsletter and social media. Connect, follow, and like @ybandnb on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.”

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Mr. Roosevelt Williams, III is a native San Diegan who is an industrious, conscientious, disciplined and self-motivated small business owner who currently holds the title of being San Diego’s only African-American Cobbler. As a cobbler, he repairs men and women shoes, handbags, luggage, zippers, purses, belts and much more. He is also the 2021 CEO and President of Young Black & ‘NBusiness, also known as YB&NB. YB&NB is a community organization devoted to serving and motivating the overlooked and the underserved majority working together as one to be healthy, happy and successful.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Beginning in 2018, under his leadership, Young Black & ’NBusiness has hosted quarterly networking mixers and two festivals, a Soulful Christmas which over 2,000 toys were given away to opportunity youth, business acumen clinics, along with courses on public speaking, consulting and event planning. Roosevelt Williams III has also created a poster that is going on its third year called Black Faces in High Places which highlights and recognizes community pillars and industry leaders within San Diego.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

A short but impressive list of his accomplishments thus far include: Being a three time pageant winner for Mr. Gold Coast Classic in 2004, Mr. Black San Diego in 2008 and Mr. Heritage in 2010.
President of the San Diego’s Urban League 21st Century Youth Leadership Team from 2000 – 2003.
President of the Urban Leagues College Career Club from 2005-2007.
He has also written policies and ordinances for the City of San Diego to benefit the low to moderate income communities and underserved populations in San Diego County and drafted The Responsible Banking Ordinance to help eliminate Red Lining by big banks to restore Environmental Justice and Equal Opportunity for all. It was passed unanimously by San Diego City Council in 2008.
Lead consultant for the Reinvestment Task Force Board of the Fourth Council District from 2009-2012
Liaison for the San Diego Youth Commission from 2009 – 2012. During this same time period, Mr. Williams served as a Council Representative and Community Liaison to 18 different communities within Council District Four using his consulting services and leadership skills to positively impact his community.
In 2011, he was inducted into the Walls of Excellence on Imperial Ave and Willie James Jones Avenue.
In 2012, he was afforded the opportunity to spend three months in Washington, D.C. participating in an internship called the Presidential Classroom where he was able to learn about the political process and its effect on the nation.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joinybnb.com
• Instagram: ybandnb
• Facebook: Roosevelt Williams III
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC_zLf3fjlLJzQSy1CH5gq4g

Image Credits
Images taken by Ed Wallace, DJ Doc, Roosevelt Williams III