Progress Playbook

08/05/2025

Dr. Lashante Briscoe is helping women awaken their inner goddess and step fully into their power ✨👑

Dr. Briscoe is the founder of Be the Light, a transformative coaching program designed to guide women through an 8-week journey of self-discovery, emotional healing, spiritual alignment, and financial empowerment. With a holistic approach, Dr. Briscoe helps women reconnect with their true identity, shift their mindset, and build the life—and wealth—they were always meant for.

She’s already helped countless women — from those without a home to those walking the halls of the White House — rise in alignment with their purpose… and she’s just getting started.

Want to support Dr. Briscoe’s mission?
🌟 Share this with a woman ready to step into her next chapter
💰 Donate to sponsor a goddess-in-training or
help expand the program

DM Dr. Lashante Briscoe on LinkedIn or Instagram ._barbie_.doll._ to connect and support!

Let’s make progress 💪🏾

07/29/2025

Michael “Zaki” Smith is helping the youth shape fades and their futures 💈🔥

Zaki is the founder of the Young Barbers Initiative, a hands-on, in-school barber training program that equips students with real vocational skills while fostering social-emotional development. Rooted in social justice, he works in high schools and juvenile detention centers, teaching professional barbering skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and leadership—empowering students to reclaim their narratives, build self-worth, and create brighter futures. ✊🏾✂️

Want to support Zaki’s mission?
🏫 Share this with schools or programs looking for new ways to engage youth
💵 Donate to help expand access to tools, training, and mentorship
💻 Follow the journey and impact on Instagram and on Zakithebarber.com.

Dm to connect and support

Let’s make progress 💪🏾

07/22/2025

Andre Richey is changing the game in basketball and in business 🏀🔥💪🏾

Andre is the founder of New Leader Hoops, a Brooklyn-based sports development organization dedicated to using basketball to build leadership, discipline, and community, amongst the youth. Focusing on kids ages 8-15 in underserved communities, their mission is to help young athletes develop the life skills needed to open doors both on and off the court.

They’ve already helped students earn scholarships and they’re just getting started 🎓✨

Want to support Andre’s mission?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Spread the word to parents, young hoopers, and youth-focused foundations/corporations who share the same vision

💸 Donate to fund the program, contribute to the scholarship fund, or provide event space and academic supplies for students.

🎙️ Subscribe to the New Leaders Podcast on YouTube to learn how we can use sports to shape our culture and community.

Follow ➡️ and 
DM to connect or support.

Let’s make progress 💪🏾

06/27/2025

“Let’s Get Lit”

A youth-led social enterprise powered by participants in Progress Playbook’s - The Empire Project (TEP). This event showcases the youth creative business ideas to bring lighting solutions designed to address public safety and visibility concerns in the Red Hook neighborhood.

Event Details:
📍 JP Miccio Community Center, 110 West 9th Street, Brooklyn, NY
📅 Friday, June 27th, 2025
⏰ 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
🎉 Free entry, giveaways, refreshments, and interactive activities

This event is co-hosted in partnership with Progress Playbook, Red Hook Community Justice Center, MAP, and NSTAT — and is a celebration of youth voices, entrepreneurship, innovation, and community care.

Let’s Make Progress

06/25/2025

Style that owns the block 🔥

Shout out to Samira Issa, founder of Sammy Bammy and proud Blueprint Project participant, for designing the official shirts for our Renaissance Summit! Her design brought this year’s theme—“Build Your Business and Block” to life with illustrations of Black-owned businesses, brownstones, hopscotch, and more, symbolizing the culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship that build and sustain our neighborhoods.

Be sure to check out more of Samira’s inspirational designs at

Let’s make progress 💪🏾

06/23/2025

At the Renaissance Summit, Danielle M. Chery, artist and founder of revealed a one-of-a-kind piece that captured the spirit of our theme: Build Your Business & Your Block.

Using donated tiles from a local tile-making factory and her signature epoxy resin technique,
Danielle constructed a reimagined NYC skyline layered with meaning by embedding real newspaper clippings about entrepreneurship, community, and access to resources.

The detail in Danielle’s work powerfully conveys that building something strong and lasting takes time, effort, and intention. This piece is a tribute to the dreamers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers shaping their neighborhoods and businesses from the ground up.

We’re deeply grateful to Danielle for contributing this powerful piece to our summit. To continue supporting her artistic journey and ongoing success follow her

06/23/2025

06/19/2025

Happy Juneteenth from all of us here at Progress Playbook. Today let’s honor our history, by investing in the future—black entrepreneurship. Swipe to see some of black owned businesses we have partnered with in 2025 that are reshaping our history ➡️



From the barbershops and beauty salons that help build our communities, to the teachers, artists, and change-makers shaping them today—black excellence is the backbone of our neighborhoods.

Shout out to every Black entrepreneur who continues to uplift, empower, and lead. You are the future. You are our legacy. You are the Renaissance ✊🏾💪🏾💪🏾

Let’s make progress

06/18/2025

BIG PITCH ENERGY 🔥💪🏾💪🏾

Andrea Davis Woods is on a mission to reclaim wellness and wealthiness for communities of color. As the founder of she created her fresh-ingredient juice company to combat the lack of healthy food options in low-income neighborhoods — because access to wellness shouldn’t be a privilege.

Last weekend at the Renaissance Summit, Andrea shared her inspiring vision to expand her mission by launching the Juiced It Wellness Center—a unique space featuring a juice bar and gym designed to nourish, empower, and heal from the inside out. 🧃🏋🏾‍♀️

This isn’t just business — it’s a movement for food justice and health equity.

Want to support Andrea’s mission?

✅ Work in education? Help bring Juiced It into more schools for student wellness visits.

🤝 In the wellness industry? Partner with Andrea to expand healthy access together.

🛒 Ready to begin your health journey? Buy Juiced It products and directly fuel the launch of her wellness center.

Follow ➡️ and 
DM to connect or support.

06/17/2025

We at Progress Playbook would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us for our Renaissance Summit this past weekend!

Together, we created a space that not only celebrated local entrepreneurship and community development, but also inspired others to take action.

This incredible event would not have been possible without the unwavering support of New York City’s remarkable local small business owners, dedicated community leaders, and of course, the amazing Progress Playbook team.

A special shout-out goes to our sponsors: NYC Office of Neighborhood Safety, Metro Plus Health, and the Bronx Tourism Council. Your contributions were instrumental in bringing this event to life!

Thank you to everyone who has embraced the Renaissance movement. Let’s keep the momentum going as we work together to uplift our communities and neighborhoods!

Let’s make progress 💪🏾

06/13/2025

Don’t miss your final opportunity to grab tickets for our Renaissance Summit happening tomorrow ! Doors open at 9:30 AM, and we can’t wait to see you there!

Let’s make progress 💪🏾

06/13/2025

Progress Playbook will like to give our flowers 💐 to all of our ambitious early-stage entrepreneurs participating in the Blueprint Project’s Clarify program.

We can’t wait to see you at the Renaissance Summit this Saturday! At Progress Playbook, we firmly believe that with the right tools and mentorship, any side hustle can evolve into a thriving business. These remarkable participants are living proof of that potential ❗️Join us at the Renaissance Summit on June 14th to discover how you can support these innovative startups, learn from their journeys, and ignite your own entrepreneurial dreams through the Clarify program.

Free tix are available in the bio 🎟️

Let’s Make Progress 💪🏾