Nationwide — Dr. Ashley Little, an award-winning serial entrepreneur, 34-time best-selling author, TEDx speaker, and graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, continues to expand The HBCU Experience Movement, a Black-owned company dedicated to sharing the stories of Historically Black College and University alumni while financially supporting HBCUs. Through a growing collection of books featuring prominent alumni from institutions across the country, the movement documents how the HBCU experience has shaped graduates personally, professionally, and culturally. To date, the company has published 35 books, with additional titles planned for release.
Dr. Little, who was also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, founded The HBCU Experience Movement to help change the narrative surrounding Black people and historically Black institutions. Her company brings together alumni who share personal accounts of their college experiences and the impact their HBCUs have had on their lives and careers. At the same time, the initiative is designed to encourage alumni giving and help introduce a new generation of students to the value and legacy of HBCUs.
Giving back is a central component of the movement. To date, the company has invested tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships and endowments supporting HBCUs and their students. Participation in the book projects includes an initial donation to support the featured HBCU, while proceeds from books purchased through Amazon are also used to support participating institutions. The model allows alumni to preserve and share their stories while creating a financial impact for the schools that helped shape their lives. “Our goal is to continue to create a global movement of HBCU alumni who share their stories each year while giving back to their prestigious Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” said Dr. Little. “Through these stories, we hope to encourage, uplift, and support the next generation while showing how our HBCUs have molded us into the people we are today.”
Dr. Little says the idea grew from her desire to address the challenge of engaging younger alumni in giving back to their institutions. “I saw there was a problem with young alumni giving back and wanted to provide a creative solution to help increase young alumni giving and student enrollment,” she said. “We have to continue to invest in our HBCUs and continue to create our seats at the table. I believe it is important for HBCU graduates to give back, share, and document our stories.”
The HBCU Experience Movement has now published 35 books, including multiple editions featuring alumni of North Carolina A&T State University, the Southern University System, Virginia State University, Grambling State University, Prairie View A&M University, Tuskegee University, Tennessee State University, Alabama State University, and Fayetteville State University. The collection has also expanded beyond individual universities with special editions highlighting HBCU dance alumni, HBCU band alumni, Royal University Queens and Kings, and other aspects of HBCU culture and history. Most titles bring together multiple alumni voices, allowing readers to experience each institution through the perspectives of those who attended.
The movement and its authors have earned recognition for their work. Honors include the Black Authors Matter TV Award, an Anthem Award, Communicator Awards recognition, and an International Book Award from American Book Fest. The books have also been included in WorldCat, one of the world’s largest networks of library content and services. The HBCU Experience Movement was further recognized in Houston when the late Mayor Sylvester Turner issued a proclamation designating August 13 as The HBCU Experience Day in the city. The company has also received recognition from congressional and senatorial offices.
Dr. Little herself has built an extensive record of entrepreneurship, leadership, and public service. She was selected for the Forbes Next 1000 in 2021 and has received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Her accomplishments also include serving as Ms. Georgia Global Continental 2021 and Ms. Global Continental 2022, working as a fashion model and being recognized as one of Georgia’s 100 Women of Excellence by the Georgia House of Representatives. Her work as an entrepreneur, author, and speaker has centered heavily on creating opportunities, amplifying Black voices, and encouraging others to build lasting legacies.
The HBCU Experience Movement and Dr. Little have been featured by national media outlets including Forbes, Black Enterprise, EBONY, REVOLT, NBC, FOX, and CBS. Businesses from across the United States have also joined the movement as partners and sponsors, helping expand its reach and support its mission. Dr. Little hopes to continue partnering with additional HBCUs and alumni communities as the publishing platform grows. “Our voices and stories are powerful and need to be heard,” she said. Through The HBCU Experience Movement, she aims to ensure those stories are not only documented but transformed into a vehicle for preserving HBCU history, encouraging future students, and giving financially to the institutions that have played such an important role in Black education and achievement.
Learn more at the official website at TheHBCUExperienceMovement.com
Most recently, they have released another bestseller, the first-ever The HBCU Experience: The HBCU Drum Major Alumni Edition available on Amazon.
Be sure to follow the brand on social media:
Facebook: @TheHBCUExperienceMovement
Instagram: @thehbcuexperiencemovement
For press inquiries, contact thebcuexperiencemovement@gmail.com