We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristin Braye. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristin below.
Kristin , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Black Recipes is a platform dedicated to multicultural programming and digital storytelling, working in partnership with community organizations, leaders, and culture architects to preserve and uplift Black culture. Founded as a response to the rising challenges against Critical Race Theory, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and diverse storytelling, Black Recipes emphasizes the celebration, appreciation, and resilience of Black cultural traditions.
In this context, “recipes” represent more than just culinary elements—they encompass a blend of ingredients, behaviors, customs, and instructions for creating or experiencing something meaningful. The platform’s “recipes” include not only food but also a rich tapestry of experiences, traditions, sounds, modes of communication, and cultural nuances within African American culture.
Our mission involves a continuous exploration across America’s four regions to highlight the distinctive traditions, cuisine, music, and cultural practices that shape Black American heritage. Through Black Recipes, we offer a unique opportunity to learn about, understand, and engage with our cultural legacies in a world that increasingly seeks to marginalize Black history and storytelling.
Our journey includes impactful partnerships, such as our collaboration with Black Boy Art Show to showcase 25+ Brooklyn-based artists in an exhibition tour. This initiative highlighted the work of Black male visual artists and artisans, exemplifying our commitment to celebrating diverse expressions of Black culture and storytelling. Through projects like this, Black Recipes emphasizes the importance of art, heritage, and cultural exchange within and beyond local communities.
Kristin , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a passionate diversity thought leader, creative storyteller, and HR professional with over 7 years of experience, including expertise from The University of Texas at Austin. My career is dedicated to crafting compelling content, orchestrating meaningful events, and developing impactful programs that align brands with diverse consumer audiences. My goal is to make “DE&I” not just an acronym, but a core part of a brand’s identity and conversation. My services include Multicultural Marketing and creating campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences. I am passionate about building strong partnerships and programs that support equity goals. I have grown to love developing and executing strategies to attract diverse consumers, and crafting messaging that reflects and promotes inclusivity!
If you should know one thing, it is that I am passionate about bridging gaps and fostering understanding through innovative storytelling and strategic diversity initiatives. Thinking out of the box is where I thrive and I love to infuse creativity into my planning process. In my career, I am most proud of the partnerships, events, and programming that have specifically supported Black Arts. Whether it was bringing Broadway to Barclays Center, or partnering with Black Boy Art Show to support 25+ local Brooklyn Artists in a vendor pop-up, supporting the Arts has a huge place in my heart.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
The few characteristics that has helped build my reputation is being kind, having Integrity, and being a creative problem-solver. Being kind is an underrated skill, especially nowadays. We all think it should come naturally but it’s becomingly increasingly aware that not everyone has the ability to lead with kindness. Kind leadership often translates into memorable and positive experiences for those you work with. As people share these experiences, your reputation as a compassionate and effective professional grows, positioning you as someone who delivers quality work through a thoughtful and collaborative approach. Approaching challenges with empathy and understanding makes it easier to find common ground and resolve conflicts constructively. This leads to more effective collaboration and ultimately better results. Kindness encourages a culture of psychological safety, where people are comfortable sharing ideas and taking calculated risks without fear of harsh judgment. This allows for creativity, innovation, and higher-quality work to flourish. How kindness relates to trust and loyalty is when you lead with kindness, colleagues, clients, and partners feel respected and valued. This trust makes them more likely to collaborate effectively, communicate honestly, and support shared goals, which leads to stronger outcomes.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Early in my 20s, I had always been passionate about photography and creative work. One day, I was shopping in Target and I wanted to buy a camera. I didn’t have enough to get the camera but I had met a gentleman who had inquired why I wanted the camera. I told him a little bit about myself, my dreams, and my goals. I ended up leaving Target and a little boy came out of the store with a box. The box had a camera and it turns out, I was casually speaking with the General Manager of that Target. That moment started my career and I realized the power of kindness. What started out as a side-hustle turned into my main occupation, which has grown into different lanes of interest. I’ve had the opportunity to work with various influencers, creatives, magazines, and countless events all relating to the common goal of sharing diverse stories. While I no longer shoot because I have set my sights higher on other projects, I am proud of what I was able to achieve in a short amount of time. I developed a strong presence on social media and through word of mouth, was able to scale my business to a 5-figure income.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @kbraye
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brayekristin/
