Meet The HIBT Fellows: Katie Mitchell & Celena Gill

Good Books Vision

Katie Mitchell envisions a transformative future for Good Books, aiming to establish a fleet of bookmobiles in cities rich with Black literary history, such as Atlanta, Selma, and Harlem. She sees this as a hybrid model that combines for-profit and social good, partnering with groups to provide books to incarcerated individuals and students for free. "We do things that, like, profit isn't our first motive," Katie explains, emphasizing the importance of community engagement and education 1. This vision reflects a commitment to creating spaces for learning and cultural exchange.

   

Freres Branchiaux Goals

Celena Gill and her sons aim for global expansion with their company, Frères Branchiaux, envisioning stores worldwide and a presence in major retailers like Target. Their mission includes a social aspect, planning to build a homeless training center alongside their new warehouse. "We can buy a warehouse and then build a homeless center next to it," Celena shares, highlighting their commitment to community support and employment opportunities 2. Despite challenges, their determination and innovative mindset have driven them to achieve seven-figure revenues even during a pandemic 3.