Cultural capital is greater than only a phrase at the center of historic black communities; it is a lifeline.

Derek Fleming, Senior Director of HR&A and the entrepreneurial powerhouse behind the acclaimed Red Rooster restaurants, has dedicated his profession to uplifting underserved communities through strategic real estate development while preserving the physical landmarks of those experiences. His work, particularly in partnership with celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, has transformed neighborhoods and created economic opportunity for residents.

The tradition of oral histories inside families and communities has all the time been essential to the black community. Due to the results of slavery and racism, many black families have struggled to maintain physical records of their ancestors. In addition, there was a recent trend of erasing or changing documented black American history at school curricula across the country.

BLACK ENTREPRENEURSHIP We caught up with Fleming to discuss his community involvement, the facility of business partnerships and his commitment to cultural capital in economic recovery.

Economic recovery

“Discovering my passion for real estate early on while I was at Berkeley was a blessing,” Fleming says. “For me, it was always about using the power of development to uplift communities that were unfairly disadvantaged.”

This philosophy has guided Fleming’s work, primarily through his HR&A firm’s cultural capital practice. Here, he works on projects that revitalize communities by creating latest opportunities for wealth creation for residents. His approach combines design, marketing, and public-private partnerships with an authentic representation of cultural heritage.

Fleming’s commitment to economic recovery is evident in his response to the challenges facing the hospitality industry within the wake of the pandemic. “We’re not just dealing with inflation,” he explains. “We’re facing a whole new set of challenges. Supply, labor, inventory—costs have skyrocketed. But we’re not sitting back and letting that happen.” Fleming and his team have been proactive, specializing in sourcing and staffing to keep up quality while managing costs. “It’s a tough road, but we’re navigating it with resilience and determination,” he adds, highlighting the strategic changes which have allowed red rooster prosper.

Community and Collaboration

Fleming and Samuelsson’s partnership is proof of the facility of collaboration and the impact it could have on the community.

“Marcus and I have been friends for almost 20 years,” Fleming says. “After graduating from business school, Andrew Chapman and I joined forces to launch Rooster as a brand that would have a positive impact on the Harlem community. The jobs we’ve been able to create, the embracing of our community and its aesthetic, and the placemaking have proven the power of our culture when shared with respect and purpose.”

Designing the space for Red Rooster Overtown (Miami) was a deeply personal project for Fleming. “I allowed myself to be inspired by the icons that were there and socialized there,” he says. Once an area gathering place for Miami’s black diaspora and frequented by celebrities like Aretha Franklin and Muhammad Ali, the space reflects a vibrant mixture of Southern, Caribbean, and Afro-Latino cultures. “Overtown is unique in Miami and in our national cultural landscape,” Fleming explains. “We hope the space appropriately represents that distinction while also retaining its cultural capital.”

Pool Hall, a recent addition to Red Rooster Overtown (Miami), is a hybrid community space and entertainment venue that hosts neighborhood gatherings and events to support local nonprofits while also providing an area “to host holiday gatherings, celebrating the rich mix of music from our diaspora,” Fleming says.

With its wealthy cultural offerings, this space has develop into a catalyst for further revitalization efforts in Overtown, demonstrating the inspiring power of culturally significant places to spice up economic recovery.

Equality and Integration in America’s Cities

Fleming’s commitment to community development and cultural capital extends beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors. As a board member of Harlem’s a hundred and twenty fifth Street Business Improvement District and Neighborhood Charter School, and a participant within the Mayor’s Institute on City Design, he collaborates with other leaders to handle problems with equity, inclusion, and resilience in urban America.

His dedication and energetic participation in these initiatives provide us with assurance in regards to the way forward for urban America. “I look forward to doing more of this work and investing in properties that holistically align with policy efforts to uplift BIPOC, particularly African American and Latinx communities across the country,” he says.

Through his work, Fleming continues to construct bridges between economic opportunity and cultural preservation, ensuring that the living histories of those neighborhoods are remembered and celebrated. His work gives us hope for the longer term of those neighborhoods.