Today we’d like to introduce you to Javar Juarez
Hi Javar, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story in Columbia, South Carolina, begins with my work with older adults at Benedict College and the Baptist Educational and Missionary Convention of South Carolina churches. Through church foundation programs, I assessed the needs of the community, particularly the Black community. While studying at Benedict College, Dr. Linda Kershaw recognized my work ethic and began inviting me to events outside the college, including those held at churches. The relationships I built during this time extended into the wider community.
Under the mentorship of Rev. Roderick Cummings at the Living Hope Foundation, and closely with the New Enoree Baptist Church in Newberry, SC, and Barbara Chapman, director of the Newberry Literacy Council, I learned to administer community-based programs, lead staff, and act as a community information hub. I connected families and small businesses to essential information, including funding opportunities for Black and female-led businesses.
With ten years of training, I founded and led the Broad River Business Alliance through the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, building relationships with local government to support businesses in the Broad River District, which was experiencing record crime beginning in 2019. Since then, I have launched one of the fastest-growing community news and information outlets, the Columbia Urban Broadcast Network (CUBNSC), emphasizing community voices and closing the information gap.
The pressing issues I encountered inspired me to run for Senator of South Carolina’s District 19 seat. In 2024, I released two new singles, which became popular in the adult contemporary market, marking my reintroduction to soul music, inspired by my great uncle Al “Show and Tell” Wilson. Today, I confidently continue my work, knowing that successful outcomes require solid community organizing, talent, drive, and the confidence to challenge oppressive systems and institutions. I also enjoy my work immensely.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey to becoming a recognized community organizer has been anything but smooth. I’ve faced significant challenges while working against systems of oppression that drive rampant poverty and crime. My entire career has focused on ensuring the survival and well-being of Black families. Ironically, some of the most significant obstacles have come from Black Democrats who have sought to censor or suppress my voice.
In Richland County, South Carolina, I’ve witnessed some of the worst poverty and the ways in which the state government, particularly the Republican-led House, has continued to polarize and isolate people. To combat these challenges, I’ve had to be steadfast in my prayer life, continually educate myself, and connect with people to help them see a better way. By providing more information, I’ve aimed to empower them to make better decisions in life.
Often, it feels like those in power positions within my own community resist my efforts to share critical information about funding, opportunities for advancement, and property development in underserved areas. What I do is not easy; it’s often thankless work, and the community at large is largely detached from the toxic politics and entrenched corporate interests that affect our everyday lives.
As things become increasingly difficult for African Americans nationwide, South Carolina serves as a prime example of what not to do.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
The Columbia Urban Broadcast Network (CUBNSC) is an independent media company based in Columbia, South Carolina, that emphasizes community voices, issues, stories, and features directly connected to the Midlands. With 5,000 daily readers, our growing network connects marginalized communities across the state to vital information. We prioritize providing accessible news and information without paywalls, staying true to our mission of serving the community and continually expanding our influence.
I am the Founder and President of the Broad River Business Alliance (BRBA), an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and South Carolina State Public Charity. Our primary objective is to foster growth, expansion, and support for small businesses, their owners, employees, budding entrepreneurs, and potential job candidates within the Broad River Community. For local business owners seeking crucial information, we serve as a comprehensive resource center, providing data on business and consumer trends, supply and demand metrics, industry forecasting, and relevant research material.
We also engage our community through the BRBA Partnerships division, including collaborations with organizations like Keep the Midlands Beautiful to adopt Broad River Road and work towards the conservation of the adjacent Broad River Dam and Canal.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
To stay prepared. What made COVID-19 so dangerous to communities of color was the combination of a lack of information and the spread of disinformation, which is intentionally misleading and untruthful information. Navigating businesses through the sometimes confusing PPP loan process was also challenging. While serving the community, I contracted COVID-19 twice. The first time, without the vaccine, was brutal and took a long time for me to recover. This was during my campaign for Richland County Council in District 2.
COVID-19 brought a great deal of desperation to an already struggling community. Young Black men were being killed by each other and by the police. Crime surged, and the mental health of our young people suffered greatly. I organized and marched at a pace that felt unsustainable, and eventually, COVID-19 forced me to slow down for many months.
Even today, I struggle with my weight due to the long-term effects of COVID-19 and have developed a fatty liver. This experience has underscored the importance of staying informed and prepared in the face of public health crises.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://JavarJuarez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justjavar/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/javar.juarez
- Twitter: https://x.com/CubnNet
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cubnsc
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/javar-juarez/1723851886
