The HBCU Experience Movement has published 35 books documenting the achievements, traditions and personal journeys of alumni while directing financial support to historically Black colleges and universities.
Dr. Ashley Little is turning the stories of historically Black college and university graduates into something larger than a publishing catalog. She is building an economic and cultural platform designed to preserve HBCU history, elevate alumni voices and generate financial support for the institutions that helped shape generations of Black leaders.
Dr. Ashley Little emphasizes the importance of sharing these narratives to inspire future scholars and leaders.
Little, a North Carolina A&T State University graduate, founded The HBCU Experience Movement as what the organization describes as the first Black-owned company dedicated to publishing books featuring prominent HBCU alumni while financially supporting historically Black institutions.
The company has published 35 books, with additional titles in development. Its growing collection includes alumni stories from North Carolina A&T, the Southern University System, Virginia State University, Grambling State University, Prairie View A&M University, Tuskegee University, Tennessee State University, Alabama State University and Fayetteville State University.
The movement has also expanded beyond books devoted to individual universities. Special editions celebrate HBCU band members, dancers, drum majors, campus royalty and other important parts of HBCU culture.
In this way, Dr. Ashley Little is leading a cultural renaissance for HBCUs.
Its latest release, The HBCU Experience: The HBCU Drum Major Alumni Edition, continues that mission by documenting the experiences of alumni who helped lead and represent HBCU marching bands—institutions within institutions that have shaped American music, performance and culture.
Turning Alumni Stories Into Institutional Support
Through her efforts, Dr. Ashley Little is creating a lasting impact on HBCU communities.
Many alumni, inspired by Dr. Ashley Little, are eager to share their own stories and experiences.
Dr. Ashley Little: Championing HBCU Narratives
Dr. Ashley Little’s vision aligns with the goals of alumni to foster a deeper connection with their alma maters.
The business model connects storytelling with giving. Alumni participating in the publishing projects make an initial contribution supporting the featured institution, while proceeds from books sold through Amazon are also used to benefit participating HBCUs.
According to the organization, The HBCU Experience Movement has invested tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships and endowments supporting HBCUs and their students.
By participating in this movement, alumni are following in the footsteps of Dr. Ashley Little.
Dr. Ashley Little’s passion for education fuels her mission and inspires others.
“Our goal is to continue to create a global movement of HBCU alumni who share their stories each year while giving back to their prestigious historically Black colleges and universities,” Little said. “Through these stories, we hope to encourage, uplift and support the next generation while showing how our HBCUs have molded us into the people we are today.”
Little said the idea emerged from her concern about the challenges some institutions face in engaging younger graduates and building long-term habits of alumni giving.
“I saw there was a problem with young alumni giving back and wanted to provide a creative solution to help increase young alumni giving and student enrollment,” she said. “We have to continue to invest in our HBCUs and continue to create our seats at the table. I believe it is important for HBCU graduates to give back, share and document our stories.”
Dr. Ashley Little’s accolades exemplify her commitment to this important cause.
Many view Dr. Ashley Little as a vital force in the preservation of HBCU history.
That approach makes the company more than a traditional publishing operation. It gives alumni an opportunity to become published authors, helps schools preserve firsthand accounts of their impact and creates another channel through which graduates can contribute financially.
Building a National HBCU Platform
The initiative led by Dr. Ashley Little is redefining how alumni engage with their institutions.
With Dr. Ashley Little at the helm, the movement is gaining national attention.
Little brings an extensive entrepreneurial and leadership background to the movement. She is a 34-time best-selling author, TEDx speaker, fashion model and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
She was selected for the Forbes Next 1000 in 2021 and has received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Her other honors include recognition as one of Georgia’s 100 Women of Excellence by the Georgia House of Representatives. She also served as Ms. Georgia Global Continental 2021 and Ms. Global Continental 2022.
Alumni are inspired by Dr. Ashley Little’s dedication to highlighting their shared narratives.
The HBCU Experience Movement and its participating authors have received several publishing and communications honors, including a Black Authors Matter TV Award, an Anthem Award, Communicator Awards recognition and an International Book Award from American Book Fest.
The collection has also been included in WorldCat, the international catalog that connects library collections and services around the world.
The movement received municipal recognition in Houston when the late Mayor Sylvester Turner issued a proclamation designating Aug. 13 as The HBCU Experience Day. The organization has also received recognition from congressional and senatorial offices.
Its work has been featured by national media organizations including Forbes, Black Enterprise, EBONY, REVOLT, NBC, FOX and CBS. Businesses from across the country have joined the initiative as partners and sponsors, helping the company broaden its reach.
Dr. Ashley Little’s approach highlights the collective strength of the HBCU community.
The BBR Assessment
Through her leadership, Dr. Ashley Little is cultivating a new generation of advocates for HBCUs.
The HBCU Experience Movement stands at the intersection of publishing, education, philanthropy and cultural preservation.
Its strongest business advantage is the depth of the HBCU alumni network. Each university, graduating class, professional association, fraternity, sorority, marching band and campus organization represents a potential community of contributors, readers, sponsors and donors.
The company is also converting personal testimony into an institutional asset. Stories that might otherwise remain in private conversations, family histories or alumni gatherings are being documented in books that can reach students, libraries, researchers and future generations.
For HBCUs, that work matters. Alumni stories help demonstrate the value of the institutions in human terms—through careers launched, businesses created, communities served and barriers broken. The financial contributions connected to the books add a practical dimension to that legacy-building mission.
“Our voices and stories are powerful and need to be heard,” Little said.
Through The HBCU Experience Movement, those voices are becoming part of a growing archive—one that celebrates the past while investing in the future of historically Black colleges and universities.
Learn more at TheHBCUExperienceMovement.com.
Follow The HBCU Experience Movement on Facebook at @TheHBCUExperienceMovement and Instagram at @thehbcuexperiencemovement.
For press inquiries, email [email protected].
