Meet Noah McQueen | CEO, Founder of Lifting Our Voices Inc.
We had the good fortune of connecting with Noah McQueen and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Noah, what’s your definition for success?
I am a servant of the people by nature. Success for me is the ability to foster and develop a healthy ecosystem for us all to live and thrive in. Connecting my passion and purpose continues to be the level of success I aspire to exude. I believe true impact and success is based on the number of lives you can touch and paths you alter for the better. Working with people from many diverse backgrounds, means every person’s key to success is different. The commonality in everything is everyone needs love, support and understanding. This is why Nonprofit and Philanthropy is my passion.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started this business out of communal necessity. In December 2019, as a Morehouse College graduate full of hope and opportunity at every corner I was excited about the next phase in my life. Then COVID-19 happened, Subsequently, I lost three high-level employment opportunities as the early impacts of the pandemic started to set in. By March, with the entire world at a halt, I started reevaluating my purpose and passion. Continually asking myself as many others were wondering “what does the future hold?”. Finally, I had a sudden realization that my stressors weren’t the most severe, many other individuals were suffering unbearable hardships such as food and clothing insecurity. I knew then I was most happy when serving others. May 2020, I decided that I’d do my part, I recruited friends to assist me in preparing, packaging and delivering meals throughout our local community serving over 2,000 people that month. Before we knew it, this practice would become a routine for us to come together despite our own stressors and do our part to decrease food and clothing insecurity. We haven’t stopped since, creating a weekly safe haven to release negativity through love, light and service to the communities that we benefit from. Currently we have distributed over 75,000 meals across 8 cities in the US working along side dozens of college campuses, hundreds of students to impact thousands of lives. Our brand and mission statement is “Created with, Guided by, and Thriving on Love.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Firstly living in Atlanta a week of fun isn’t hard to come by. The city has a flavor all its own, and being a foodie there are some must-try restaurants and experiences you can’t afford to miss. Atlanta has become the hub for minority businesses and has been coined the new “Black Hollywood”. We’d definitely have to do breakfast or brunch at Barney’s or Breakfast Boys both black owned restaurants with an amazing varieties of soul food. We’d surf Eventbrite for the nearest festival, whether it is the midnight food festival or wine festival in Marietta. We’d have to visit a ‘picturesque’ restaurant or lounge like the 404 restaurant and bar. Another Atlanta staple highlighting it’s thriving hip-hop scene, we cant miss a trip to is the Trap Museum. Some places that I would use as a place fillers would be barhopping in Buckhead, the mini fair on top of ponce city market, the world famous Coca-Cola factory and Georgia Aquarium.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would give credit to Michael Smith, he gave me guidance along many stages of my life by showing me the true meaning of mentorship and investment in a person’s life, long term. I would also give credit to my brother Ivan Gaskin, by way of Morehouse whom I met in my freshman year of attendance at Morehouse College. He had arguably the biggest impact on my growth and development as a visionary. He always taught me to “Pray like you’re talking to God”. I’ve been blessed to have guidance from organizations such as the Joseph E Lowery Institute learning under them for five years. In addition, the Morehouse Bonner program learning under them for four years. I’d like to give credit to my team and friends in the community that helped me bring this vision of impacting our community to fruition back in 2018, creating a space where people can build real relationships centered around service. Lastly, and most specifically my fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and my brothers, the Psi chapter. I had brothers like Matthew Kelly, Justin Lee, Amari Brown and others to invest into me since I was a senior in High School with no collegiate opportunities. Their investment is why I am here today. Without Broderick Johnson, Ka’Terri Kelly, and Kamau Marshall there is no Noah McQueen or Lifting Our voices. Their contribution yesterday, unintentionally, has impacted thousands of people today. I owe my village for bringing me this far.
Website: https://liftingourvoices.org
Instagram: @Noah_Mcqueen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LiftingOurVoice/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@liftingourvoicesinc.7599
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