Our Team

Our dedicated team works tirelessly to keep the spirit of Black Bottom alive, curating programs, collecting stories, and building connections that honor the neighborhood’s legacy.

Marcia Black

Co-Executive Director, Archives & Education

Marcia (she/her) is a proud Detroiter, Black queer feminist archivist, memory worker, and abolitionist organizer. Marcia is an alum of Marygrove College where she received her Bachelors in Political Science and Sociology, and an alum of the University of Texas at Austin where she received a Masters of Arts in Womens and Gender Studies, and Masters of Science in Information Studies. She created and utilizes a Black queer feminist archival praxis in her work to ensure that Black people’s agency, Black cultural memory practices, and Black liberation are always honored and centered in preservation work. Her life’s work is to ignite and support the development of the archivist that exists within each one of us; and to preserve and share the histories of Black women, Black Detroit, and the Black radical tradition. Marcia is committed to Black liberation and believes that archiving and storytelling can be tools to get us there.

Lex Garcia Bey DRAPER

Co-Executive Director, Community Engagement & Programs

Lex Garcia Bey, Co-Dreamer, 4th generation Detroiter raising 5th generation Detroiters, and Helper to Humankind (her name’s meaning), is a proud Walsh College graduate with a BBA in Business Administration and an MBA in Management, specializing in Organizational Design and Systems. An event curator, storyteller, and family archivist, Lex is dedicated to preserving and celebrating stories, starting with her own family and extending to broader communities.

With over two decades of experience in logistical strategy for nonprofits, Lex is a powerhouse in community engagement, program development, and organizational design. She is known for her ability to align brands with organizations, fostering authentic collaborations that prioritize community needs and aspirations. Her expertise extends to curating events and programs that are as meaningful as they are impactful, creating spaces where innovation flourishes, social impact is tangible, and dreams are made manifest.