1. Michael you are a First Gen to college and Harvard success story. What is your personal path and how can others learn from your story?
I was born in Charlottesville, VA--the home of UVA and President Jefferson, amongst others. I detail a lot of my personal journey in my young adult novel,
Misadventure$ of The American Dreamer: Nick Ca$h Vs. Everyone,
as well as the music and film I've created through the years. My story is that of perseverance and faith. I have learned to grind and rely on faith and works. As much as I don't want to, I've learned to meet adversity head-on. It can be tough and exhausting to fight battles that are really more about creating a sustainable society than personal satisfaction, but I hope others learn that service above self is a necessity for a sustainable civilization. Leaders' paradigms and archetypes must ensure that the example we set is not solely self-serving or selfish, but sheds light and love. My path from some of the darkest crevices of Americana to the highest echelons is a daily battle and struggle for dignity in a land where others have been brainwashed into seeing my inferiority. If the youth and even my elders utilize my story and path, may all find the courage and faith to rise above pain, in order to demonstrate that anything is possible. May God be given glory, as God's grace has fortified my relentless ambition, despite times I was afraid, scared, lonely, and without material comfort.
2. As founder and CEO of MPAC solutions, how do you most want to move the capital to close the equity gap, reversing generations of poverty and lack of access to the wealth and networks your path has provided you at the young age of 33?
I want to democratize access to wealth and wellness. I plan to be apart of ushering in a Quadrillion-dollar macro economy and wealth transfer that makes America the land of opportunity for all, especially Black and Indigenous inhabitants. Businesses and communities of color need capital, contracts, clean and sanitary conditions, and access to opportunities based on merit, not arbitrary and capricious factors that have kept us behind for centuries. I want to own real estate developments that help creatives and entrepreneurs live/work/play and create thriving-wage economies in our communities.
3. If MPAC Solutions can exceed your wildest expectations, what would the U.S. and the world look like in five years? In ten years?
In 5 years, the US would be a Quadrillion-dollar macro economy. In 10 years, the US would be a multi-Quadrillion-dollar macro economy. The planet's economy would grow proportionately as well, but capital allocations and wealth transfers would be inclusive of all diverse and underserved nations and peoples.
Metrics of sovereign wealth would not just be confined to GDP, but focus on more important quality of life indicators ie reducing our egregious prison population in the States. In 10 years, access to capital would be completely based on merit, and not declined because of skin color. I want to help restore dignity and honor and democratize access to American Dream. I'm still searching for what it means to be free in this land, however in 10 years my hope is that my daughter, and many more sons and daughters will never feel constrained by their skin color. The US would achieve parity in the next 5 years, meaning institutional capital would reflect actual racial/ethnic demographics. MPAC will be the first Black-owned Trillion dollar company, because we have added tremendous value to so many others not participating in the capitalist system.
4. What do you most want to say to the Harvard network of which you are a part to enlist their bold support in achieving your vision? Since their endowment is equivalent to the sixteenth largest economy in the world, what responsibility do they have to lead Higher Ed and what responsibility does Wall Street have through MPAC to deliver these same outcomes?
Thanks for asking this. I would love my Harvard network to realize that we all have a duty to create a more perfect union. Our duty in Finance and Higher Ed is to utilize our resources to ameliorate social ills, and ensure that we bless the institutions that bless us. I would like everyone to know that if you are privileged, someone had to make sacrifices. Black Americans paid in Blood for the construction of Harvard and Wall Street. It's not just that we are smarter or better than anyone. There was a system put in place to disenfranchise Blacks and we must work deliberately and intentionally to ameliorate and create reparations. Until we restore and repatriate the disenfranchised creators of all things good, holy, and righteous in this land, we will never be free. The premise of America will be fraudulent until equality of opportunity is reality in this land, forevermore.
