undefined

Meet the Founders

Philip McCandies & Tasha Bell

Co-founders of The Kuumba House - a Creative Consulting Firm and Brand House dedicated to empowering communities of color through creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurship.

Guided by the KUUMBA Principle
Meet the Co-Founder

Philip McCandies

Founder of The Kuumba House • Seasoned Creative Consultant • Community Development Leader

Strategic Visionary

15+ Years of Experience

Philip McCandies is a seasoned Creative Consultant, Strategic Advisor, and Community Development Leader who has dedicated over 15 years to driving transformative social and economic change.

His professional journey spans leadership roles in SaaS implementation, customer success, and financial services. As Chief Innovation Officer, he spearheaded digital transformation strategies that increased revenue and improved operational efficiency.

Strategic Leadership Focus

Driving Innovation & Community Development

Committed to creating sustainable business solutions that align profitability with social responsibility, fostering economic growth in underserved communities through strategic partnerships and innovative funding approaches

Connect with me on LinkedIn
MBA in Finance Ph.D. Candidate - Business Psychology
Philip McCandies
Founder & Visionary

Areas of Expertise

Strategic Advising

Guiding startups, small businesses, and community initiatives with strategic planning and development expertise

Operational Efficiency

Driving process improvement and cross-functional team coordination to maximize organizational effectiveness

Economic Development

Advocating for equitable economic development through innovative funding strategies and community partnerships

"My leadership at The Kuumba House is rooted in the Kwanzaa principle of Kuumba—creativity—and focuses on aligning profitability with community upliftment."

Philip McCandies

Founder, The Kuumba House

Meet the Co-Founder

Tasha Bell

Co-Founder of The Kuumba House • Community Engagement Specialist • Program Developer & Business Advisor

Tasha Bell
Co-Founder & Community Leader

Community Champion

10+ Years of Experience

Tasha Bell is an accomplished Community Engagement Specialist, Program Developer, and Business Advisor with over a decade of experience empowering entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth in underserved communities.

Her professional background includes leadership roles such as Business Instructor at Uptima Entrepreneurial Cooperative, where she guided entrepreneurs through business plan development, financial forecasting, and funding pitch preparation.

Community Impact Focus

Empowering Entrepreneurs & Building Communities

Dedicated to creating inclusive spaces where artists, performers, and small businesses can thrive both creatively and professionally while addressing systemic barriers to success

Connect with me on LinkedIn
Psychology Degree - Dillard University Certified HUD Housing Counselor

Areas of Expertise

Program Development

Designing culturally relevant programs that address systemic barriers to success and promote equitable opportunities

Grant & Funding

Securing grants and sponsorships to fund community-driven initiatives and sustainable business development

Workshop Leadership

Leading workshops on branding, marketing strategies, and scaling operations to help entrepreneurs achieve sustainability

Cultural Relevance

Tasha's leadership emphasizes cultural relevance and equity-driven programming, ensuring that all initiatives celebrate creativity as a tool for empowerment while addressing the unique needs of underrepresented communities.

  • Culturally relevant program design
  • Equity-driven initiatives
  • Community-centered approach

Operational Excellence

Her work at The Kuumba House reflects her passion for fostering growth among underrepresented groups while maintaining operational excellence and achieving measurable community impact.

  • Operational leadership & management
  • Community engagement strategy
  • Measurable impact delivery
"My work at The Kuumba House reflects my passion for fostering growth among underrepresented groups while celebrating creativity as a tool for empowerment."

Tasha Bell

Co-Founder, The Kuumba House

Perfect Partnership

Complementary Leadership

Philip and Tasha bring together strategic vision and operational excellence, creating a powerful synergy that drives The Kuumba House's success

Philip's Strategic Vision

Business Development & Innovation

  • High-level strategy development and long-term planning
  • Stakeholder engagement and partnership building
  • Process optimization and operational efficiency
  • Financial strategy and resource allocation

Tasha's Operational Leadership

Community Engagement & Program Development

  • Operational refinement and day-to-day management
  • Funding opportunities and grant acquisition
  • Impactful program design for entrepreneurs
  • Community engagement and cultural relevance

Shared Commitment

Together, they embody the Kwanzaa principle of Kuumba—creativity—by blending innovative consulting strategies with culturally relevant programming

Equitable Growth

Fostering opportunities that address systemic barriers

Community Focus

Uplifting communities of color through creativity

Sustainable Impact

Aligning profitability with social responsibility

The Perfect Synergy

Philip's strategic vision in business development aligns seamlessly with Tasha's operational leadership and community engagement focus. This complementary expertise ensures that The Kuumba House remains a beacon for collaboration, creativity, and sustainable development.

Strategic
+
Operational

Combined expertise driving success

Innovation
+
Culture

Blending business acumen with cultural relevance

Vision
+
Execution

Turning dreams into measurable impact

Ready to Connect?

Join Philip and Tasha in their mission to empower communities through creativity, collaboration, and entrepreneurship