Carl Settles is the visionary Founder and Chief Executive Officer of E4 Youth, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and technology start up in Austin, TX whose mission is to Engage, Empower, Educate, and Employ the young talent of color an equitable future demands by ensuring that they are Seen, Heard and HIRED. Mr. Settles is also the creator of What Once Was, a location-based mixed reality (XR) platform that explores the impacts of gentrification by leveraging the power of storytelling and Web 3.0 technologies to build community and close the digital divide.
Additionally, Carl leads the Cultural IQ Initiative, a national coalition of schools, nonprofits, and businesses that takes a systems approach to measuring and developing cultural competency to improve education, economic, and health outcomes for people of color. Mr. Settles serves as Chair of the City of Austin Economic Development Corporation and former VP of Education / Information Technology for 100 Black Men of Austin.
Chelsey Barnes is the Executive Vice President of Operations at E4 Youth. She is also a results-driven nonprofit leader with a decade of experience designing and managing culturally-informed, youth-centered programs. Her expertise lies in driving organizational growth through community-centric program design, talent management, community engagement, and fostering strategic partnerships.
Chelsey has a proven track record in scaling operations and implementing innovative solutions that advance the mission of youth-serving nonprofit organizations. She is committed to leveraging her executive leadership skills to drive lasting impact and propel nonprofit organizations toward sustained excellence.
Florinda Bryant is an interdisciplinary performance artist, activist, and educator who has the privilege of serving as E4 Youths Education Director. Florinda has over twenty-five years of experience as a senior-level executive who masterfully uses creative practices as a social justice tool to develop and grow non-profits, small businesses, artists, and communities.
Florinda has successfully developed and implemented multiple full-scale programs and events, designed data collection methodologies, and managed budgets and community engagement initiatives for the City of Austin’s African American Cultural and Heritage Facility and Austin Community College’s Drama Department. She has also held leadership roles at Creative Action, Sista Flow Productions, and Torch Literary Arts, where she has demonstrated her commitment to fostering creativity, building relationships, and achieving organizational excellence.