When Credit Is Due: Recognizing Pastor Kyev Tatum’s Impact on Education, Community Empowerment, and Youth Development

When Credit Is Due: Recognizing Pastor Kyev Tatum’s Impact on Education, Community Empowerment, and Youth Development. By Black Texans, Inc.

For over three decades, Pastor Kyev Tatum has been a driving force in education, community empowerment, and youth development, particularly in underserved communities. His visionary leadership has created pathways for thousands of students, equipping them with the skills and opportunities needed to break cycles of poverty through entrepreneurship, workforce development, and financial literacy.

Yet, despite the transformative impact of his work, Pastor Tatum’s contributions have often gone unrecognized by the very institutions that have benefited from his initiatives. Fort Worth ISD, local universities, and state education officials have incorporated his models into their systems—without formal acknowledgment, financial compensation, or institutional support. It is time to correct this oversight and ensure that his legacy is properly honored, sustained, and expanded.

Building a Foundation for Success

Pastor Tatum’s influence is best seen in the students who have gained real-world business experience and industry certifications through the programs he pioneered. In 2012, he established the Brilliant Bulldogs Center to provide hands-on training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and leadership for Black and underserved youth. This initiative laid the foundation for what would become Fort Worth ISD’s Retail Entrepreneurship Program at Trimble Tech High School, a Gold Seal Program of Choice that has prepared students for careers in business, management, and finance.

Through his leadership, students have earned industry-recognized certifications, opening doors to careers in small business ownership, supply chain management, and retail operations—fields that foster financial independence and economic reinvestment in their communities.

Expanding Economic Opportunities

Beyond the classroom, Pastor Tatum has created initiatives that connect young people to emerging industries and sustainable business models. His Youth Coffee Expo & Inner City Coffee Exchange, developed in partnership with Texas A&M University’s Center for Coffee Research and Education, introduces inner-city youth to the global specialty coffee industry. Through this program, students gain knowledge of international trade, business ownership, and agricultural sustainability, expanding their career possibilities beyond traditional employment paths.

His Farm Fort Worth Initiative addresses food insecurity in the 76104 ZIP code—an area with the lowest life expectancy in Texas—by teaching young people urban agriculture, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Through a 4-H Club and a community farmers’ market, participants learn to grow, sell, and manage produce, equipping them with tools for self-sufficiency and generational wealth-building in historically marginalized communities.

The Fight for Fair Recognition

Despite the measurable success of these programs, Pastor Tatum has yet to receive the institutional recognition he deserves. His original research, curriculum, and program models have been implemented without proper credit or financial compensation. This is not just about one individual’s contributions—it is about ensuring that Black educators and community leaders receive equitable acknowledgment for their transformative work.

Why Recognition Matters

✔️ Equity in Acknowledgment – Black innovators in education deserve the same level of recognition as traditional educators.

✔️ Intellectual Property Rights – Pastor Tatum’s work has been formally adopted by educational institutions without proper credit.

✔️ Sustainability – Without financial and institutional support, the programs he created risk being discontinued.

A Call to Action

To address this oversight, Fort Worth ISD, city officials, and Texas legislators must take immediate steps to formally recognize and compensate Pastor Tatum for his contributions.

Action Steps:

1. Public Recognition – Fort Worth ISD must issue a formal statement acknowledging Pastor Tatum’s contributions and consider naming a program after him at Trimble Tech High School.

2. Financial Compensation – Schools and universities should establish consulting agreements, licensing fees, and grant funding to support his work.

3. Institutional Support – Expand Pastor Tatum’s business education model across Fort Worth ISD and Texas colleges.

4. Legislative and Community Honors – The Texas Legislature, Fort Worth City Council, and education organizations must formally recognize his impact through resolutions, awards, and congressional acknowledgments.

5. Media and Public Awareness – Feature his work in local and national media, produce a documentary on his contributions, and invite him as a keynote speaker at educational conferences.

Conclusion

Pastor Kyev Tatum has dedicated his life to ensuring that young people—especially those from historically marginalized backgrounds—have access to education, business opportunities, and financial independence. His work has reshaped business education and workforce development in Fort Worth and beyond.

Now, it is time for Fort Worth ISD, city leaders, and state officials to do their part.

✅ Formally recognize his contributions

✅ Provide financial compensation for his intellectual property

✅ Ensure institutional support for his ongoing initiatives

Pastor Tatum has done the work. The time to honor it is now.