From Dream to Legacy: BEMu Founder Natalie Speech Featured by Women’s Business Center (NEW-WBC)

We are incredibly proud to announce that Natalie Speech, the visionary founder of the Black Entertainment Museum Foundation (BEMu), has been featured in an inspiring new article by the Women’s Business Center (NEW-WBC).

The piece, titled “Echoing Voices- From Dream to Legacy,” beautifully chronicles Natalie’s journey from her roots in performing arts to becoming a writer, director, producer, and ultimately, a champion for Black cultural heritage in entertainment.

The feature highlights that for Natalie, creating BEMu was more than just starting another project; it was a necessary act of preservation.

Natalie Speech (Founder of BEMu)

Growing up in the spotlight in Kansas City and later producing award-winning theater at San Jose State, Natalie has always lived at the intersection of history and pop culture. However, as a mother and grandmother, she recognized a painful reality: the vital contributions of Black artists are too often pushed to the sidelines of mainstream history.

As she shared in the article, establishing BEMu became a "personal mission... to ensure that my grandchildren and future generations are fully informed about the significant contributions made by Black individuals to the entertainment landscape."

Finding a "Life Raft"

Launching a non-profit requires immense determination, especially when starting during the uncertainty of a global pandemic. The NEW-WBC article shines a light on the crucial support system that helped Natalie navigate those early challenges.

Natalie described the NEW-Women’s Business Center as a "life raft" during uncertain times. Through more than 30 webinars and over 20 hours of one-on-one counseling sessions, the NEW-WBC provided the tools, expert advice, and community connections needed to transform BEMu from a vision into reality.

Celebrating Community and Resilience

We are deeply grateful to the NEW-WBC not only for this wonderful feature but also for being a guiding light for entrepreneurs and dreamers like Natalie. This article is a powerful testament to what happens when a clear vision is met with the right support.

We encourage our entire BEMu community to read the full story of Natalie’s resilience and dedication. Read the full feature, "Echoing Voices- From Dream to Legacy," on the NEW-WBC website here.