Written by Tanya Terry
Antonio Sweeney, Cricket Wireless HBCU Campus Ambassador, recently gave Comma Bookstore & Social Hub a $1,000 grant to help support the bookstore’s nonprofit arts clinic.
“When I was introduced to Comma Bookstore my senior year of high school, it definitely became a place where I felt like I was welcomed,” explained Sweeney to the Courier.
He added: “It was a place where community was felt.”
Sweeney remembers hosting open mics with his friends, as well as meeting different people at Comma that have helped him in his career.
Sweeney appreciates the fact the bookstore supports various Black-owned brands, including his own brand, Tenacious Apparel.
“Comma has always been a place to bring people together, from the vice president of the United States of America, all the way down to one of your neighbors next door,” Sweeney said.
The Cricket Wireless HBCU Campus Ambassador Program allows HBCU students to act as ambassadors for the Cricket brand. It allows the students to grow their professional development skills and marketing skills.
Over the past four years, Comma has hosted over 200 events for the community, including for people impacted by incarceration, homelessness and poverty. For example, through the bookstore’s program Books Not Jail, free books and resources are provided to alternative education students and juvenile detention centers.
The $1,000 grant will help support this work when it comes to buying supplies and bringing in more guest speakers for the youth, for incarcerated individuals and for other community members.
Comma Bookstore owner Egypt Otis offers events for the public about twice monthly through the arts clinic.
“Cricket’s initiatives and goals align with my personal goals,” stated Sweeney. “I believe in giving back and people helping people. When I was introduced to the Cricket brand, it was an instant ‘love connection.’ The work Cricket is doing not only is supporting me and my community with this $1,000 grant, but also different other ambassadors who award different grants in their communities as well.”
As a former Boys and Girls Club participant, Sweeney told the Courier Cricket’s partnership with the Boys and Girls Club was close to his heart, as well. Through this partnership, Sweeney was able to help host a collegiate give-back panel.
Sweeney serves as incoming Junior Class President at Morehouse College, is an Oprah Winfrey Scholar, was the 2022 HBCU Young Mogul of the Year Winner by HBCU Tour, owns a consulting business(AS Consulting LLC), owns an apparel business (Tenacious Apparel) and is a co-owner and chief marketing & communications officer for Amazing Tents & Chairs. He is also a former National Clean Water Collective Youth Ambassador and is a fellow of the Chevrolet Discover the Unexpected Program.
Sweeney is a Business Administration Major & Leadership Studies Minor at Morehouse College (HCBU) in Atlanta, GA. Comma Bookstore played a huge role in helping him get to Morehouse by connecting with HBCU alumni and students
Sweeney also said the Cricket Wireless HBCU Campus Ambassador Program is helping him in the area of professional development by helping him enhance his skills. Sweeney said he feels fortunate to have met Cricket’s CEO.
“When it comes to amplifying Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Cricket has always been one of the leading organizations to help do so. I’m so proud to be part of the panel.”
To learn more about Comma bookstore, click here: https://www.commabookstore.com/
For more information about Cricket activities, including those supporting HBCUs and their students, click here: https://sponsorships.cricketwireless.com/hbcu/
