Community Voices with Chantel Mack
Images by Kathryn Charlsworth for CNK Daily
There are many creatives thriving within the sneaker/streetwear space, and building bridges that lead us back to a common bond. While we salute them, this next journey we’re sharing is not about connecting the community. IT IS THE COMMUNITY. Chantel Mack is not just a wife or fellow cool mom of two beautiful kids, she is a true conduit for impactful change. She is a woman of her word whose passion is reverberated in everything she does. Whether Chantel is sending a morning text message to fill our day with empowerment or brainstorming ways to engage communities through grassroots initiatives, she wants to see us win in every way possible.
Living by her motto, “Don’t be a jerk - You can’t lead if no one wants to follow you” foreshadows the integral role she plays at The Whitaker Project. You literally feel the energy of the community woven through the common thread of fellowship, and Chantel is not new to the game. Before she joined to co-lead The Whitaker Project non-profit initiatives, Chantel was clearing paths for the next generation to flourish. Serving as the Community Relations Manager, utilizing a ‘people first’ intentionality creates the ethos for The Whitaker Project. Chantel also brings her deep understanding of navigating community development through core values of dignity, honor, and respect. She notes that all of these attributes are “very valuable when you talk about being a change agent in Black communities.”
“To whom much is given, much is required. So we must use our platform to give back and uplift others...because why not?”
As we have been witnesses to how community continually creates a sense of belonging, Chantel and The Whitaker Project don’t necessarily aim to be a voice of purpose within sneaker culture. The mission and vision have deep roots at it’s core to build out community through deliberate purpose and excellence. Sneakers and streetwear create a catalyst to do so, as many of us resonate with a connection beyond something in our closet.
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…our very identity is birthed from our leader’s community experience. From our name, to our build outs... it’s all about community.”
Chantel’s vibe is confident, cool, and all about collaboration. Narratives are starting to shift within the sneakers/streetwear space and authenticity has evolved into a barometer for success. Chantel makes moves as the change agent that believes we don’t need to connect dots to the community, because they already exist. Her strategy with The Whitaker Project is not only about amplifying social change that begins on a local level, but activating grassroots initiatives that shift the trajectory of lives in the Black and brown community. Through that discovery of how connection truly happens, we get to the epicenter of how that in itself can be magnified to the world. Her and The Whitaker Project’s focus on creating change through a lens of disruptive compassion drives the importance of ensuring all the contributions of Black communities are well documented, preserved, and known about.
“If we all hold the light up in front of someone else, we all get some shine.”
When we first met Chantel, it was immediate to see that female empowerment was one of her superpowers. Her magnetic personality proved that The Whitaker Group not only puts the right people in the right positions, but that supporting women in key roles is critical to community building. Being in a front row seat to an ever-evolving sneaker culture, we have consistently felt that Chantel’s joyful spirit is moved by her advocacy for sisterhood.
The recent release of The Whitaker Group’s collaboration with Jordan Brand showcased the way women are extremely pivotal in our lives. The strength and resilience of women was felt through ideation to design elements to the release of this very special Air Jordan 3 silhouette. Women create space for others and hold the power to impact the culture directly or indirectly, which in turn encourages the sneaker community as a whole.
“Women were considered and held up in every part of the process; from the way we care for others to the experience purchasing sneakers in this traditionally male-dominated environment.”
“I would love to see more boutiques owned by women. I’d love to see more women in executive positions other than community initiatives.”
“To fully and unapologetically consider women is to consider us all!”
Chantel is the epitome of a change agent. It’s no longer about passive participation and now leans into the art of active collaboration. At times it can be challenging to see the legacy being created when you’re knee deep in the grit. However, Chantel has her own way of creating the grace that motivates us to want to do more for our communities. As Black women, the hustle and hunger may seem like natural ingredients, but she ties her drive to all that is already written. Her love for Jesus, Black women, and her Aunt Billie created a trifecta of spiritual and mental leadership that lifted her into cultivating empowering environments for others. Her gift is service.
What’s next for the non-profit side of The Whitaker Group? Aside from stepping out in her favorite Jordan 4s, 13s, or adidas Fiorucci sneakers, there are a variety of community initiatives Chantel mentions are on the way.
As she shared with us:
“On Juneteenth, we are first and foremost closed for business across all The Whitaker Group. We will be activating with Run With Zha - a digital running activation focused on channeling the power of sport to shed a positive light on Black history. Then on 6.20 we will be having Father’s Day Cuts at our beSocial locations in Charlotte, Atlanta, Houston and East Liberty. Young women and men of the community can bring their fathers to beSocial on that day for a free haircut to celebrate them. On an ongoing basis we do host Free Game every last Thursday of the month, hosted by James Whitner, and Smart Money, our financial literacy program - both currently still digitally on Zoom.”
You can learn more about The Whitaker Project HERE, and connect with Chantel Mack HERE.