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Community developer shares entrepreneurship journey at 10th Men In Black Awards

By Diana Fedinec

Men In BlackDr. Derwin Sisnett, co-founder and partner of Maslow Development Inc. (Maslow), served as keynote speaker at the Tenth Annual Men In Black Awards virtual ceremony. This year’s theme was “Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset to Foster Change in the World.” The awards recognize the outstanding academic achievements and community service of M.O.S.T. members. 

Sisnett shared his life story and the past experiences that led him to become a community development entrepreneur and a force for change. Raised in public housing in Queens, New York, Sisnett’s outlook changed when he got the chance to attend a high school in an affluent neighborhood. That experience sparked his desire to become a teacher and, later, a real estate developer. 

“One of my first ‘aha’ moments (as a teacher) came in seeing the faces of my students who all had the same look around 2 or 3 in the afternoon,” Sisnett shared with the audience of nearly 50 attendees. “It caused me to step back. My students were being challenged by their life experiences outside the classroom.” 

Dr. Derwin Sisnett
Dr. Derwin Sisnett delivers his virtual keynote address at the 2022 Men
In Black Awards Feb. 11.

Sisnett says that pivotal moment reminded him of his own high school experience, causing him to rethink his own trajectory. He eventually decided to build his own school in the Hickory Hill neighborhood in Memphis, Tennessee, which reminded him of his old neighborhood. Throughout the process, he worked with community members to address their specific needs and community assets including affordable housing, schools, health and wellness and workforce development. It was his first foray into building community ecosystems and the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey. 

Today, Sisnett continues to be a change maker in public education and community development, advising and designing mixed-use communities where residents have equitable access to assets and resources that can help improve their life circumstances and well-being. According to Sisnett, “The only way to address the real need and core aspect of what’s happening with our students and families’ lives is to really look at the big picture. As I think of my own entrepreneurship journey, there were many challenges and it was not easy by any stretch, but we have to keep pushing forward.” 

Project M.O.S.T. Director Kariem-Abdul Salaam said Sisnett is an excellent entrepreneurial role model for each M.O.S.T. member to persevere and always evaluate his trajectory. “It’s important for students to always think about the ‘why’ in developing their entrepreneurial mindset, just like Sisnett,” Salaam said. “Our strength-based approach to student success focuses on intrinsic motivations like discovering what your purpose is in life. I congratulate all our award winners for their hard work in the classroom and in taking command of their own story.” 

Congratulations to the following MOST Award winners:
The All-M.O.S.T. Awards
Joe Rosser 

Outstanding Faculty Teamwork Award 
Yvette Eleby 

Outstanding Staff Teamwork Award 
Ronald Claxton 

The GRIT Awards
Antronis Bradford 
Derrick Boyce 
Kevion Moore 

To see the list of M.O.S.T. members recognized for their academic achievements, click here.

To watch Sisnett’s presentation and the Men in Black Awards on-demand, visit Southwest’s You Tube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAXTmA5fHtw or click the graphic below. 

Men In Black