We had the good fortune of connecting with Theo Edwards-Butler and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Theo, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Summer of 2019 I went on tour with a Childrens theatre. It was myself and one other person with me touring across the country. There were plenty of times where I wanted to eat some good soul food or shop at a Black owned establishment and I had the hardest time finding them on my road trip. A year later Covid hit, all of my post college gigs were cancelled and I was sitting at home wanting to do something that could help my community and also selfishly myself. I remembered learning about the Green Book and everything thing just clicked. I was able to combine my love for history, shopping and travel into one place to help others and continue a legacy.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Modern Green Book is a database that houses Black owned businesses, nonprofits, and creatives that consumers can support, hire and network with. TheMGB offers an online database for people to use on a daily basis ad well as quarterly publications that share the stories of Business owners from around the globe and an annual Publication that is reimagining the original Green Book. The Modern Green Book is more than just a database, while we do connect consumers to brands, we help these businesses and organizations go from surviving to thriving through marketing help, and opportunities of exposure. One thing we are gearing up to do is the launch of our Nonprofit arm of the company to provide grants and programming for entrepreneurs and communities. One thing I would like people to know about TheMGB is that it is a resource for everyone to use. The book is not limited for one group it is for everyone to use so they can all support Black Owned.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a hard question. My friends and I love to go places where we can talk drink and eat and occasionally Karaoke. On a week long visit we usually go to new and interesting restaurants around the city, but we always make a trip to Yo Mamas and Purple Onion. We always try to do something outdoors like hiking, going to some kind of outdoor attraction. I love to cook so most of the time is spent at home enjoying each others company, watching movies and going out on the town. Because I am originally from Louisville KY, My friends usually like to come down and stay for a few days and then we go to the beach. We are more travelers than visiting each other so most of our trips are to new places.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my parents who have been with me every step of the way in the creation of The Modern green Book acting as sounding boards, editors, PR and just an amazing support system and I would also like to dedicate this to my boyfriend Justin Foster, who has literally been there with me for every up and down of the company. he also owns a business and has given me amazing advice that has helped me grow The Modern Green Book to what it is today and I could not be more thankful for them.

Website: www.moderngreenbook.net

Instagram: @themoderngreenbook

Twitter: @moderngreenbook

Facebook: The Modern Green Book

Youtube: The Modern Green Book

Image Credits
Mockups – Kennedy Street Stage – Blair Butler

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