We had the good fortune of connecting with Pre’Knechia J. Carter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pre’Knechia, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Back in 2013, I was working at a job that didn’t really care about me or my family. I was an employee and they needed me at their establishment to run their business. I was one of the best employees that they had and I simply asked to be off for 3 days to go to Orlando, Florida for a family vacation I planned for them. After being declined more than once, I decided that my family was more important and I quit my job. After spending time with my family, I decided that I wanted to continue to bring people together for travel experiences to fellowship together in a safe environment where we could enjoy one another. Melanin Voyage was born.

As far as Brunch & Biz I wanted to bring two things I absolutely loved together, brunch and business. It was a no-brainer considering that I am a self-proclaimed brunch expert and a business mentor!

What should our readers know about your business?
Melanin Voyage is a travel & media company founded in 2019. I originally started off as a travel content creator and I was just trying to be heard. After having a few of my posts go viral, Melanin Voyage blossomed into something that I could have never imagined. We became a full-blown travel company curating and specializing in group travel experiences for the African Diaspora. What sets my travel company apart from others is that we provide a safe space for people who look like us to come together and travel domestically and internationally. Our group trips aren’t called trips, they are called EXPERIENCES because that’s what we provide for our attendees and clients.

Having a passion for travel and bringing people together has fueled my ambition to make sure that Melanin Voyage is everything I could’ve dreamed it could be. After super-long nights writing blog posts, researching my industry, and learning more about how to be a better business owner, my businesses flourished. It definitely was not easy being strict and disciplined when it came to my brand, but I wouldn’t trade any of it for anything! Nothing that is worth having is going o be easy to come by. When I wanted to give up, what motivated me is reaching a place where I could focus on my businesses solely and not have to give my much-needed time to a company that doesn’t care about me or my dreams. There are so many lessons I’ve learned as a business owner, but the one that has stuck with me the most is, “If there isn’t a lane for what you want to do, CREATE ONE.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m from Birmingham, Alabama. Most people know us for Civil Rights. I would definitely take them to the Civil Rights Museum and make sure they know the history of the city. We also have a really amazing food scene here in Birmingham. Some of my favorite places include Green Acres, Travis’ Chicago Style Food Truck, Black Market, and so many more. We’d visit the Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham and have a picnic there.

For the best views in the city, Vulcan would be the move. It has a clear view of the entire city of Birmingham and it is stunning. We are a slow-paced city but that doesn’t mean we lack things to get into.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate this to the culture and my family. Without both of those influences, I would not be the woman and business owner that I am today. Culture has taught me that people from different walks of life can teach you things you never thought could alter your life forever. My family has always encouraged me to be a free spirit and follow my dreams, which has led me down the path I’m on today.

Website: www.mvexperiences.com

Instagram: melaninvoyage

Twitter: melaninvoyage

Facebook: www.facebook.com/melaninvoyage

Other: www.brunchandbiz.com facebook.com/brunchandbiz instagram.com/brunchandbiz

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.