Meet Cory Elliott

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cory Elliott. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cory below.

Hi Cory, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from witnessing the realities of life from a young age. Growing up in a single parent household, witnessing family members suffer from addiction, feeling the absolute love, support, love, and happiness-black joy in particular; gave me a faith and a resilience that cannot be diminished.

I grew up knowing I had one option and one option only-that was to succeed. To try my very best. To be a leader. and to never forget who I represent and that I walk with God.

My resilience comes from failures, my resilience comes from success.

My resilience comes from growing up in spaces where I was the only black kid. Learning to get used to the looks, the questions, the curiosity and the racism. Learning that there is love and light in everyone, and there are always a few bad apples – and even more who are inexperienced or misinformed. Understanding that people will stare and judge anyway, so you might as well do what you want in life.

I was always in rooms I did not ‘fit in’. From going to independent schools the majority of my life, to growing up in certain neighborhoods where my family dynamic was considered privileged. To being a kid who stutters. I was always an outsider, and I knew the only way to survive was to stand strong, to walk my own path, and to be an individual and a leader at all times.

My resilience comes from seeing my mother cut my hair, take out the trash, cut the grass, wash her car & cook dinner for me and my younger brother all in one day.

My resilience comes from my grandfather; a man who didn’t matriculate past the 6th grade- and yet he worked hard, stayed on the straight-and-narrow, and created a foundation for generations to come.

My resilience comes from God. From that voice in the back of my head that will not let me give up. From that jolt one may get in the morning and the voice telling me ‘Cory get up’.

My resilience comes from the pain of losing loved ones at a young age. Children passing away to gun violence. Uncles that I resemble but never met. Family members that died in prison. I’ve always felt like I was chosen. I’ll never forget my loved ones who didn’t deserve to die the way they did; and I know for a fact if they were still here with me they would tell me to keep going. They would be upset if I ever faltered, if I ever doubted myself.

My resilience comes from knowing that with God, my mind, my mind and my spirit I can accomplish anything and everything.

My resilience comes from the visions that keep me up at night. I see things; how my life will go; what I can do for the world; what tomorrow should look like. These visions tell me what I need to do. Sometimes they manifest into ideas-events, moments, ways to continue going. Other times they’re artistic expressions that I have yet to discover the proper medium to share. I am a visionary; and my visions give me resilience.

My resiliences come from the simple fact that ‘somebody’s gotta do it’.

I believe that I can provide financial freedom for me and a million others.

I believe that I have the dedication to set an example that so many people have never seen or forgotten about.

My resilience comes from life.

My resilience comes from the mirror.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Cory Elliott
Native of Richmond California

I worked as a teacher for 10+ years, achieving a Masters in Teaching from Relay Graduate School in Manhattan, NY. Prior to New York I graduated from Howard University, and began my collegiate career at Morehouse College.

I’m the President, CEO & Co-Founder of the non-profit ‘The Black Neighborhood’. We spread love. We focus on providing authentic and safe spaces where black people can live, love, and thrive. This includes: TBN Mental Health Hikes of Healing, Domestic Violence Prevention Workshops After-school programs, Free Food Giveaways, Scholarships, Book Clubs, GameDays and so much more.

I also created a consulting firm titled: Elliott & Consulting Group. We focus on youth advocacy, leadership, violence prevention, community building and grant writing.

I’m a board member and department Chair of Prospect Sierra Schools. I am also a board member of The Chat Project.

I’m most excited about having the privilege to give; to be a beacon and an anchor of support in so many communities. I have a strong belief that optimism heals; laughter is infectious, and we can and will create a better tomorrow starting today.

Follow me here!
@theblackneighborhood
@Cory_e

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Being a good human being is the number one quality that is the most impactful in my life.
Second, be yourself. By being yourself you will naturally become a leader.
Third, Stay Positive. Each day is a new day and by letting go of yesterday and being optimistic about tomorrow we can continue to move with a happy and light spirit.

Being good, being yourself, and being happy will give you a freedom in life that I believe is an essence to life.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am always interested in meeting and connecting with good people. No matter who you are, where you come from, what your political beliefs are; I connect with good-hearted human beings.

We don’t have to be similar, we don’t have to usually or often agree. If we can be sincere, honest, and ourselves I look forward to collaborating.

Dreamers. Hard workers. Idea-makers. Leaders. Complexities. Simplicities. Travelers and Explorers.

From going sky diving to jumping into a book.

This world is ours, and together we can make things happen and have a ton of fun in the process.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Sareya Shorter

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