Thank you to all of our applicants, and congratulations to our 2025 Black History Makers!
Frenchye Love Mike
Founder of #Premier Driver Education Services
“What an incredible honor to be selected as a 2025 Citi Trends Black History Makers Grant recipient! I am deeply moved and overjoyed that our mission to promote driver safety and education has been recognized in this way. This support means the world to me. Partnerships like this are not only vital to the growth and sustainability of small businesses — they are a powerful reminder that our work matters.
To the Citi Trends team, board members, and everyone involved in this grant program: thank you for seeing the vision and encouraging me to keep pushing forward. Your belief in me has reignited the flame of purpose, and I’m more motivated than ever to continue serving my community through this life-saving work.”
“What an incredible honor to be selected as a 2025 Citi Trends Black History Makers Grant recipient! I am deeply moved and overjoyed that our mission to promote driver safety and education has been recognized in this way. This support means the world to me. Partnerships like this are not only vital to the growth and sustainability of small businesses — they are a powerful reminder that our work matters.
To the Citi Trends team, board members, and everyone involved in this grant program: thank you for seeing the vision and encouraging me to keep pushing forward. Your belief in me has reignited the flame of purpose, and I’m more motivated than ever to continue serving my community through this life-saving work.”ildhood literacy and fill the diversity gap in children’s literature. With this support, we will be able to expand our reach, publish more diverse stories, and inspire even more children to develop a love for reading from an early age. Thank you, Citi Trends, for investing in our future and helping us make a lasting impact on the lives of young readers everywhere.”
What began in a storage closet inside Savannah’s oldest Black-owned funeral home, where civil rights icons like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson once gathered, has grown into Georgia’s top-ranked driving school. Founded in 2017 by Mrs. Frenchye Love Mike, #Premier Driver Education Services is grounded in a legacy of entrepreneurship, resilience, and service.
Named the #1 Driving School in Georgia by the Georgia Business Journal in 2024, #Premier Driver has helped thousands secure and maintain safe driving records through state-approved programs like defensive driving, DUI risk reduction, Joshua’s Law courses, behind-the-wheel training, and third-party testing. The school fills a critical gap in rural and underserved areas across Southeast and Middle Georgia, where access to quality driver education is often limited and road safety outcomes reflect that disparity.
With the acquisition of two acres of commercial land, #Premier Driver will launch a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) program in 2025, opening new career pathways for individuals from low-income communities and contributing to a workforce sector projected to grow steadily over the next decade.
At the helm is Mrs. Frenchye Love Mike, a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor with degrees from Albany State and Fort Valley State, a dedicated wife, homeschooling mother of four, and passionate entrepreneur. She is building more than a business; she is building a movement.
This isn’t just about driver’s licenses.
It’s about legacy.
It’s about access.
It’s about life.
And it’s about time.
Paulana Lamonier is the founder of Black People Will Swim, a purpose-driven organization working to smash the stereotype that Black people don’t swim. After learning how to swim with the help of coaches in 2009 at CUNY York College, Paulana nurtured her love for swimming and became inspired to teach others how to conquer their fear of water. For over a decade, she has shared her passion for swimming by working with swim clubs, teams, and gyms to build a community with her students. She’s also a multimedia journalist who has made a career out of telling compelling stories. She’s written for Fast Company, Forbes, Complex Magazine, and interviewed the likes of Queen Latifah, Loni Love, Venus Williams, and more.
“A simple quote is the safest and best bet I will always make is on God and myself.”
Paulana Lamonier
Founder of Black People Will Swim
Valarie McGhee
Director of Children Are Heroes Learning Center
Children Are Heroes Learning Center located in Richardson, Texas, is a childcare facility committed to providing high-quality early education at an affordable rate for middle income families. We serve a vital yet often overlooked group of families who earn too much to qualify for childcare subsidies but still struggle to afford private care while managing essential living expenses. At the heart of our mission is the belief that no parent should have to choose between affordability and quality childcare. More than just a daycare, Children Are Heroes Learning Center is a nurturing, community-focused environment where children learn through play while building strong foundations in literacy, math, and critical thinking. We blend Montessori-inspired methods with private school-level curriculum to prepare children academically and socially for Pre-K and beyond. Our goal is to close early learning gaps and ensure every child has a fair chance at success regardless of their family’s income.
“This award is more than a grant—it’s a lifeline,” said Brandy Sims, Founder and CEO of Elizabeth House Foundation. “It affirms that our work matters and that the lives of the women we serve matter. With Citi Trends’ support, we will be able to reach more women with the screenings and services that can literally save lives. We are deeply honored and grateful.”
Brandy Sims
Founder & CEO of Elizabeth House Foundation
Darlene Perkins
Founder of Mobile Laundry Detroit
“I am incredibly honored and grateful to be a recipient of the 2025 Black History Makers Grant from Citi Trends. This grant comes at a pivotal moment, as I left my corporate position earlier this year to pursue a vision that God placed on my heart five years ago. As I scale my efforts, I recognize the need for additional support to amplify my impact.
I plan to leverage these funds to further our mission of establishing a self-serve laundromat in Detroit, which will not only expand our business but also provide free community days for individuals in need. Thank you for recognizing me as a true change maker; it means more to me than you know.”
“I am incredibly honored and grateful to be a recipient of the 2025 Black History Makers Grant from Citi Trends. This grant comes at a pivotal moment, as I left my corporate position earlier this year to pursue a vision that God placed on my heart five years ago. As I scale my efforts, I recognize the need for additional support to amplify my impact.
I plan to leverage these funds to further our mission of establishing a self-serve laundromat in Detroit, which will not only expand our business but also provide free community days for individuals in need. Thank you for recognizing me as a true change maker; it means more to me than you know.”
Darlene Perkins is the founder of Mobile Laundry Detroit, a social enterprise dedicated to providing accessible laundry services to underserved communities in Detroit and the Metro Detroit area. Established in 2020, Mobile Laundry Detroit began as a part-time initiative to support single mothers, busy entrepreneurs, and senior citizens who faced challenges during COVID-19 when essential resources were scarce.
Darlene draws inspiration from her father, John Perkins Sr., whose remarkable achievements in the early 1990s laid the groundwork for her commitment to community service. As a community leader, John provided housing and operated a community laundromat for underserved neighborhoods, often opening the doors for free to promote economic empowerment. His transformative efforts instilled in Darlene a profound sense of responsibility to uplift her community.
After receiving numerous accolades and certifications in leadership throughout her career, Darlene transitioned from her corporate role in January 2025 to pursue her vision of creating sustainable solutions full-time. Under her leadership, Mobile Laundry Detroit has expanded its services, enhancing dignity and self-esteem within the community. Recognized as a change maker, Darlene is dedicated to fostering partnerships and mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women and minorities, empowering them to make a difference in their communities.
Darlene’s journey reflects her father’s legacy, as she continues to champion the values of service, resilience, and empowerment that he exemplified, ensuring that his impactful work lives on through her efforts- for her community and her children.
RBIII has always been a dreamer—a kid who found solace in music. Growing up in a modest household, his mother was his anchor, working tirelessly to ensure he could explore his passion. By age four, he was already singing and playing piano, using music as both an outlet and a sanctuary.
That early love for performing led him to Howard University, where he received rigorous training in jazz and musical theater. There, he honed his voice as a singer-songwriter and deepened his love for storytelling through music—creating songs that resonate, uplift, and inspire.
After the pandemic disrupted his performance trajectory, he relocated to Atlanta and began teaching privately. That season of transition revealed a deeper purpose and led to the founding of RBIII Academy, a music education studio based in Marietta, Georgia. Its mission is to nurture creativity, confidence, and technical excellence while ensuring that music education is accessible to all. The academy offers private lessons in person, online, and in-home across various instruments, including voice, piano, violin, guitar, and more. RBIII Academy was honored as “Best Music School of Marietta 2022.”
With support from the Citi Trends Black History Maker grant, the academy will enhance its offerings with new instruments and technology while expanding a subsidized program to eliminate financial barriers. Today, it proudly supports four talented students through scholarships—a full-circle moment that reflects RBIII’s journey and mission.
Music has always been more than performance for RBIII; it’s a tool for connection, growth, and transformation. As an artist, educator, and founder, he is committed to helping others find their voice—just as he found his.
RBIII
Founder of RBIII Academy
“I can’t teach people how to express themselves; I merely guide them to reconnect with what’s already within. Your voice is unlike any other, your purpose is unique, and discovering it is something only you can do. Thanks to Citi Trends’ investment in Black voices, visionaries, and businesses like ours, we can continue to empower creatives to explore the sounds, stories, and expressions that resonate with their soul. We focus not just on technical skill, but on nurturing inner confidence, overcoming limitations, and embracing the intuitive “knowing” that drives artistic purpose. I am deeply grateful to Citi Trends for selecting me as a recipient of this year’s Black History Makers Grant Program. Your support allows us to make meaningful strides and be a transformative step in each student’s journey toward discovering who they truly are.”
Sherrie Savage
Founder of The Coloring Museum
“I am incredibly grateful to be selected as a Citi Trends Black History Month Makers grant recipient. This recognition is an honor and a beautiful reminder that our work through The Coloring Museum is seen, valued, and supported.
This grant will help us expand our coloring products and services, giving us more tools to provide creative outlets that support mental wellness. Whether it’s new coloring kits, mobile coloring experiences, or accessible programming, this opportunity allows us to offer more ways for people to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression through art.
Thank you, Citi Trends, for celebrating Black makers and actively investing in our vision. Your support is helping us deepen our impact and better serve the community we love.”
“I am incredibly grateful to be selected as a Citi Trends Black History Month Makers grant recipient. This recognition is an honor and a beautiful reminder that our work through The Coloring Museum is seen, valued, and supported.
This grant will help us expand our coloring products and services, giving us more tools to provide creative outlets that support mental wellness. Whether it’s new coloring kits, mobile coloring experiences, or accessible programming, this opportunity allows us to offer more ways for people to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression through art.
Thank you, Citi Trends, for celebrating Black makers and actively investing in our vision. Your support is helping us deepen our impact and better serve the community we love.”
What began as a self-published coloring book titled Naturally ILLustrated has blossomed into a full-fledged movement. Through pop-up coloring events across Detroit, artist and founder Sherrie Savage invited the community to sit, color, and heal. These joyful experiences—filled with creativity, laughter, and emotional release—quickly became beloved staples, affirming the need for safe, artistic spaces supported in wellness and culture.
Now operating as The Coloring Museum (TCM), it has grown into a creative hub that continues to serve the community while partnering with major brands and institutions. TCM clients include the NFL, Detroit Tigers, Michigan WIC, the Belle Isle Conservancy, and more. Whether designing interactive coloring walls for large-scale events or creating custom illustrations that reflect diverse communities, TCM ensures that art is accessible, inclusive, and impactful. “We’re using the power of the crayon to combat mental illnesses, such as stress, anxiety, and depression.”
TCM’s mission is rooted in measurable community impact. 92% of surveyed participants reported decreased stress and improved mood after engaging with our work. We’ve partnered with over 25 local organizations and hosted 50+ pop-up events, bringing therapeutic art experiences to families, youth, and underserved neighborhoods. As we prepare to launch The Coloring Truck and build out our first brick-and-mortar location in the Grandmont Rosedale community in Detroit, MI, Sherrie remains committed to using creativity as a healing force—because everyone deserves a moment of peace, one crayon stroke at a time.
Ronda L. Meriweather is the founder and CEO of Transport-U, a non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) company providing safe, reliable, and compassionate transportation for individuals with mobility challenges.
Ronda’s mission is deeply rooted in her personal caregiving journey. Inspired by the struggles of her late paraplegic brother, her aunt living with Parkinson’s, and her experiences caring for her grandmother who lived to be 101 and her mother who passed from COVID-19 at age 87, she witnessed firsthand how the lack of dependable transportation can limit care, connection, and dignity.
With over 30 years of customer service experience and a background as a Certified Medication Technician, Ronda brings a rare combination of professional excellence and heartfelt empathy to everything she does. She founded Transport-U not just to provide rides but to restore peace of mind, respect, and reliability to families and individuals who deserve more.
Ronda L Meriweather
Founder and CEO of Transport-U
Aaliyah Strong
Founder of Tyme to Thrive
Aaliyah Strong is a mother, survivor, and nationally recognized advocate who turned unimaginable tragedy into unstoppable purpose. After witnessing the murder of her fiancé in 2022, Aaliyah founded Tyme to Thrive Beyond Grief, a healing-centered nonprofit built for survivors, by survivors.
Through her leadership, the organization has become a sanctuary for families impacted by violence—offering emotional support, financial relief, and a pathway to justice.
Her work has been honored at the White House and amplified through partnerships with city leaders, grassroots organizers, and national movements. Aaliyah doesn’t just speak about grief—she rebuilds lives in the wake of it. Her story is one of turning pain into power, and silence into systemic change.
Shana Sanders
Founder of We Create Tech
Shana “Digital” Sanders is an Emmy Award–winning educator, entrepreneur, and creative technologist who began her journey as a public school teacher in Georgia before founding We Create Tech, a nonprofit dedicated to closing the opportunity divide through culturally responsive STEM and STEAM education.
With a background in Career and Technical Education (CTE), Shana has spent over a decade equipping students with digital skills in the classroom. Today, she leads community-driven initiatives that expand access to coding, multimedia, AI, machine learning, and virtual reality — ensuring that underrepresented students aren’t just consumers of technology, but creators and innovators.
She holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music and Full Sail University (M.Ed., Education Media Design & Technology), and has led nationally recognized projects across branding, media, and instructional design. Shana remains deeply committed to creating pathways where culture, creativity, and innovation intersect — and where the next generation can not only see themselves in tech, but thrive in it.
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