Meet Tiffany Blackman Program Officer, Consultant & Speaker

Tiffany Blackman

Tiffany Blackman is one of the most creative, people-focused, faith-filled people I know. She recently started her own consulting and public speaking business!

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m 35 years old. I am a mother of four (ages 16, 14, 11, and 5). I am a Christian, a black woman, a recent divorcee (2^nd time, same man), a community volunteer, and a passionate person. A hard worker and first-generation college grad.  

What’s your day job?

Well… as of six months ago, I have a day job and a second job. During the day I work for the Battle Creek Community Foundation as a Program Officer. During the night I work as a consultant and traveling speaker. What I enjoy about my day job is I get to use one of my greatest skills; connecting. I meet and build relationships with organizations and groups that are looking for grants to help fund their charitable programs/projects. From start to finish I help oversee the process of helping organizations apply for grants, having committees of volunteers review them, and making sure that the grants are awarded.

What has been your greatest joy as a program officer? The biggest challenge?

The people. They are my greatest joy. I get to work with some amazing people but even more, I get to rub shoulders with many more. Our volunteers are amazing and genuine and the organizations and groups seeking grants are just the best. Everyone cares very deeply about our community and I love being one of the resources to help them figure out how to do that best with the grant process. As with most of my jobs, the biggest challenge is prioritizing the different aspects of my work. With deadlines, volunteers, donor and details, it's really about relationship building. The goal is to help everyone feel accepted and leave smiling, knowing we are all after the same thing in many different ways; building a better community.

What is your second job all about and are there joys and challenges there?

In 2018, I realized that I was doing a lot of consulting work for free. Mainly for Junior League as a volunteer. I’ve sat on panel discussions about fundraisers and development for a few years at the Michigan state level. Also, I volunteered to give my first presentation on a larger scale in March 2018. I gave a 75-minute presentation on diversity and inclusion for the Association of Junior Leagues International in Memphis, Tennessee. I was so excited to start traveling to do this type of work as I have been presenting trainings and orientations within my career over the past ten years. However, when the Association of Junior Leagues reached back out with feedback and asked what’s next, I let them know I would now be looking for paid consulting work. In October of 2018, I booked my first paid speaking arrangement with the Michigan State Council of Junior Leagues (Lansing Community College). By the end of October 2018, I had a website and blog set up and was starting to create marketing materials. By the end of the year I booked my second paid speaking arrangement with the Association of Junior Leagues International, in New Orleans, LA., and recently came back home from this engagement. There is more opportunity on the horizon as we have already spoken about a few more potentials for this year (spring and fall). I also have leads to head to a few more states to help with diversity and inclusion efforts within individual Junior Leagues. 

The joy of doing this work is that I’ve had to start my own business and it’s official! Blackman Capacity & Solutions was introduced to the world this past weekend at a local business pitch competition. After being encouraged by the women who hosted the event, I decided to have some fun and put myself out there. I have really enjoyed this process because it’s caused me to be brave and think of myself differently than I ever have. I think, like myself, many people of color haven’t thought of themselves as business owners, entrepreneurs, or even philanthropists.  It’s still settling in that I’ve started my own business. I don’t think it’ll feel as real until I go file for my DBA this week. But I’m already getting inquiries.

It’s fun because I’ve been able to use my graphic design skills to create my business proposal, business cards, and website. The challenging part, as with anything for me, is work and life balance. Because I’ve entered a new season in my life, I have time for additional work. However, I always want to be mindful that this endeavor isn’t taking time from my children. I typically work when they go to sleep and on days they are with their father. Setting goals around the number of consulting projects I will take for the year is also a way I plan to balance as well.    

What steps have you taken to get to where you are in your life and what would you say someone considering this type of work? 

Well the past five years, even ten, have been about learning. I wasn’t raised to value education to the extent that I needed it for my career so my focus has been there. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management in the spring of 2017. That was a goal of mine because I saw many barriers in the business world without the degree. My degree has not helped me immensely financially, at least not yet. However, it has given me a more comprehensive understanding of organizing and managing people. A business is only as good as the people who are employed. I think in the grand scheme of things my degree gives me credibility. In the business field locally, you often aren’t considered for positions based solely on merit and experience. Unfortunately, the old school mentality of training is often not the option. As such, I found it extremely important to actively address not having a degree as a barrier. I spent 4.5 years in community college and 2 years in an accelerated BA program. If I could give anyone advice it would be to know who you are and what you want. If you know you want to go into a particular field quickly find out what attributes and training/schooling is needed. More importantly, know who you are because that determines what you will do. 

You are involved in the community in many ways. What motivated you to become a member of the Junior League and what is most significant about your experience?

I joined the Junior League (JL) back in 2014. I joined because I was invited, I wanted to broaden my network, and I wanted to volunteer in a very different way. What intrigued me about JL  is that they train their volunteers extensively. From local organizations coming in to inform us of services at general meetings, to paying for members to travel to other states to learn more about project/program management. I often tell people that JL is the best professional development I’ve had. Junior League has experts in the field leading our women in practical application. I took the fund development track and have learned a lot about fundraising and fund development plans. In 2016 I asked our members to be brave and follow me on a journey to start a new fundraiser and mission-based development opportunity; the Annual Women’s Summit & Brunch was born. The summit has been an excellent way to involve a diverse group of women in women empowerment efforts. Every year we engage about 60-120 women in a lively panel discussion on a topic about women as leaders. This year is about self-acceptance and walking in our own individual greatness. Prior years were women’s health, self-confidence, and women in business. Although I had the idea and championed much of the work initially, it took the entire JL to make the one-day event happen each and every year. 

I am also the Immediate Past President of the Junior League of Battle Creek (2017-18) and I was the first African American president. This was a significant accomplishment because it signifies the effort to diversify all JL’s internationally. On a local level my league is diverse in religious beliefs, socio-economic status, and the family dynamics each member has or has been raised in. However, racial diversity is something we are still working towards and that is a culture shift and an inclusion shift internationally. I also started the Women of Color Affinity group for AJLI. To date, we have connected over 800 women of color to provide a safe place to grow, develop, and learn from each other for the good of JL. We have much to do still in formulating plans for professional development and mentorship. However, the most important part for me was to connect women of color as we often feel like one of a few in our own JL. This isn’t unique to JL as an organization, it happens for minorities at jobs, churches, and schools. There has to be a concerted effort to help different cultures feel welcomed, accepted, and free to be who they are. That is what I am advocating for.      

You also direct a girl’s empowerment program in Battle Creek. Can you tell us a bit about the I Like Me Society and what the motivation to become involved?

I created I Like Me Society (ILM) back in 2010 because my oldest daughter complained of having no one to play with. At our apartment complex, the boys were purposefully excluding her as well. After asking a few moms at school if they like to get together play dates, I Like Me Society was born. My best friend has been by my side supporting the group and helping to manage it ever since. Playdates quickly turned into giving life lessons and hands-on experience with arts, culture, and educational endeavors. The girls have learned about budgeting, sewing, cooking, values, character traits, and more. The purpose of ILM is to encourage girls (junior high and high school) to know their worth and become the woman she desires to be by giving her resources and tools. We’ve been able to take the girls to place in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, and Detroit learning hands-on experience with fabric design, culinary arts, glass making, theater, and African American history. College campus tours our in our programming as well. We’ve been to U of M and are heading over to Albion College this spring. It is amazing to see how far a little volunteerism and funding can go. We are so thankful that organizations and groups like the Miller Foundation and Women of Impact have risen to help fund our program. The Woman’s Co-op is our fiscal sponsor.     

If you were speaking before a group of young people, what would be the first thing you’d tell them, in regards to preparing for the future? Or life wisdom, in general.

The advice I’d give to youth is: Never stop learning. Often times adults feel confused and stuck in life because think they’ve learned all they could. Education is the combining of classroom learning and real-life experience. Experience life early, explore career fields (even as a volunteer), and know that your life will have phases. The average adult changes jobs/careers about 11 times in their life. The goal is to know your interest and how you would enjoy spending your time and effort. I’d say explore those interests early, even as early as late elementary and early junior high.  

Your faith is a very important part of your life. Could you tell us why?

My faith is of the utmost importance when it comes to everything. It’s who I am. I was a bus kid growing up and I saw people care deeply for me that barely knew me for quite some time. They helped me discover a loving God in my often-chaotic environment. In a world I couldn’t control they helped me understand that there was a Savior in control and that he has my best interest at heart. Jesus has been my rock every since that time. I’ve fallen short and held back my faithfulness at times in my life but he has never proven unfaithful. I often say that I feel like there is this edge that God has never let me come close to. This street where I can wander to that he would never let me go past. I think that is the edge of faith and the room I needed to explore growing up. Everything I do I pray and ask God to show me the way. To open doors or close them. Through ups and downs I have this rock that I can always lean on. I try to instill this same faith in my children the best I know how and ask God to fill in the gaps. It is a group effort and I am so thankful for family and friends that assist me in the effort. They mean so much to me and I want them to know God for themselves as well.  

Could you name two of the people you most admire, and why you admire them?

Maya Angelou because she was so real and authentic in everything she did and wrote as a poet. As a black woman, I identify a lot with her struggle and successes. She just had an amazing way of articulating her strength.

I admire my mom because she is one of the most resilient people I know. She has experienced a lot in her life and she still managed to raise seven children that were all in her care by the time she turned 19 (with two sets of twins included). My mom has always supported me and cheered me on. She challenged me to be a better person. She gave me access to my church even though she wasn’t tied to it herself; this created most of my value system. My mom and my family are my support system. When I went to night school, had to travel for work, or went to volunteer training my mom helped me figure out the logistics. My grandmother on my dad’s side was 70 years of age and caring for my children each week when I went to school for my BA. It is a beautiful testament to the tapestry of family values that women weave to help each generation better themselves.        

To contact Tiffany Blackman or find more information:

Instagram: tblackmanspeaks
email: tblackmanspeaks@gmail.com
website: https://tblackmanspeaks.wixsite.com/inspire