Celebrating Black History Month with Nancy Johnson
- Feb 11
- 3 min read
Building Tech-Enabled Futures with Black and Brown Founders
February is a time to honour the leaders, educators, and visionaries shaping the future of Black communities. This Black History Month, we are proud to spotlight Nancy Johnson, Founder of Black and Brown Founders Inc., a powerhouse educator and nonprofit leader who has spent decades building pathways to opportunity.
Nancy is not new to this work. She has been in business for over 40 years, attended her first nonprofit workshop at Harvard in the late 1960s, taught accounting and business at both community colleges and four-year institutions, served on accrediting commissions, owned her own school, and led a national chain of 300 schools across the United States.
As she puts it:
“Everybody wants to start a nonprofit and shake the cup. But it doesn’t work like that. It’s a process. It’s blood, sweat and tears.”
And she would know.
The Mission Behind Black and Brown Founders
Black and Brown Founders Inc. was born from both experience and necessity.
The idea began with Nancy’s granddaughter, who developed patented electronic jewellery — earrings and necklaces that played music. When funding challenges surfaced, Nancy stepped in. What started as a family effort evolved into a larger mission: helping small businesses become tech-enabled and financially prepared.
Today, the organization supports entrepreneurs by:
Teaching digital tools and AI literacy
Strengthening financial education
Providing business development training
Offering workforce upskilling programs
Nancy’s philosophy is clear:
“AI is a tool. It’s not going to do it all. If you can’t write, you can’t use AI. If you can’t read well, you can’t use AI.”
In a world rushing toward automation, she emphasizes foundation before acceleration.
Tech-Enabled, Not Tech-Dependent
Nancy believes technology must be paired with common sense and application. Whether someone runs a mom-and-pop restaurant or a growing AI startup, digital literacy is no longer optional.
Through programs like:
Business Support Specialist
Designed to upgrade and enhance professional skills for individuals already in the workforce, this program helps people confidently navigate new digital systems instead of feeling left behind when new tools are introduced.
Smart Money
Approved in partnership with the FDIC, this financial literacy program covers everything from basic banking to financial statements and taxes. It also includes a business assessment tool that evaluates:
Financial readiness
Marketing strength
HR and management planning
Overall operational health
Nancy has seen firsthand that many entrepreneurs — and nonprofits — start with passion but lack infrastructure.
“Hang out your shingle and they will come? It doesn’t work like that.”
Why Nancy Turned to Vee
When Nancy connected with Vee, it was out of necessity.
She was juggling proposal writing, funder meetings, and strategic planning. Writing grants alone was no longer sustainable.
“I just knew I needed help.”
Like many nonprofit leaders, she needed a way to engage every piece of the organization without burning out.
At Vee, we believe in supporting leaders like Nancy — leaders who have the vision, the wisdom, and the drive, but need scalable tools to move faster without sacrificing quality.
Redefining Success
After decades in education and nonprofit leadership, Nancy defines success differently.
Success is not one size fits all.
For one person, it’s writing a complete sentence.
For another, it’s building a structured paragraph.
For someone else, it’s developing a full thesis with documentation.
Her philosophy is simple: meet people where they are, and move them forward step by step.
Not overnight. Not magically. But strategically.
Honoring Black Leadership in Tech and Business
Black History Month is not only about reflecting on the past. It’s about investing in the future.
Leaders like Nancy Johnson remind us that digital transformation must be inclusive. Access to AI, financial literacy, and business education should not be a privilege — it should be a pathway. Black and Brown Founders is building that pathway. And we’re honored to support the journey.
Get Involved
Interested in volunteering or learning more?
🌐 Website: www.bbfounders.co📧 Email: accounting@bfounders.co📞 Phone: 910-445-1850
At Vee, we believe when nonprofits and founders are equipped with the right tools, communities flourish. This Black History Month, we celebrate builders like Nancy, leaders who turn experience into opportunity and wisdom into action.
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