You know the expression “turning lemons into lemonade” but what if you could turn lemonade into… opportunity?
That’s one of the tenets of Black Lemonade, a solution-oriented nonprofit founded in 2020 and dedicated to providing opportunity to minority and underserved communities. The organization serves to invest in those who face systemic barriers, educating and equipping students with tools needed to reach their full potential.
GTIA recently gifted $50,000 to Black Lemonade to help support its programs, part of GTIA’s giving program that plans to contribute $1.5 million to nonprofits by the end of the year. The announcement was made at ChannelCon in Nashville, where we asked Kaymi Butler, founder and CEO of Black Lemonade, about the organization and how important gifts like GTIA’s can help make a big impact in the world. Here’s what she had to say.
Who is Black Lemonade, and what is your mission?
Black Lemonade is a solution-oriented nonprofit dedicated to turning lemons into lemonade for our minority and underserved youth. We have the approach of a holistic mindset of delivering not only high-quality year-round programming, but resources, intervention, and prevention initiatives for the guardians attached to our youth.
How are you helping students in underserved communities li?
One of the biggest challenges in helping minority and underserved communities is the lack of access to consistent technology and reliable and consistent transportation. Black Lemonade continues to address this by providing paid internships, sustaining key partnerships to access digital tools, and community-based programming that meets youth where they are. We remove barriers by offering transportation support with the help of partners, supplying available equipment, and ensuring students gain hands-on experience in tech and leadership, empowering them to thrive in spaces where they are historically underrepresented.
What will GTIA’s gift help you accomplish?
GTIA’s gift will help us provide computers, tech tools, software, and a curriculum focused on coding, media literacy, and digital skills development. Most importantly, it will support transportation, a critical barrier for many of our youth, ensuring they can consistently access and engage with the program. Your support allows us to move forward in delivering hands-on tech education and leadership training to students who need it most—bridging gaps in opportunity and representation.
How can GTIA members make a greater impact in their local communities?
Tech and business leaders can make the greatest impact by donating their time—because education is the fastest-returning investment we can offer a young person. Mentorship, guest speaking, or helping develop real-world solutions alongside our youth elevates their knowledge far beyond the classroom. While donations are always appreciated, there’s nothing more powerful than immersing yourself in our programs, falling in love with the mission, and letting that authentic connection inspire giving and word-of-mouth advocacy that lasts.
Beyond donations, what advice would you share with ChannelCon attendees about volunteering, mentoring, or other ways to help?
Beyond donations, my biggest advice is: be consistent in whatever you choose to give—especially your time. Many of the youth we serve come from home environments where consistency and support are lacking. That’s where we step in, and that’s where you can fill the gap. Find something you're genuinely passionate about and willing to commit to. Be the person a young person can look back on and say, "If it wasn’t for you, I would’ve taken a different path." It may sound cliché, but be the light—consistently.
To learn more about GTIA’s giving programs, visit here.
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