A nonprofit magazine, movement, and youth-development studio that puts Black Tampa on the record — its businesses, its organizers, its kids, its streets.
01 / Mission
For the city
they don't
print about.
Black N Tampa was founded in 2020 by Charlea Bing after the murder of George Floyd — a comprehensive guide to the Black organizations, restaurants, businesses, and organizers the mainstream never made room for.
Today Black N Tampa is a nonprofit publishing a living archive of Black Tampa Bay while running five community programs — tutoring, literacy, youth entrepreneurship, a neighborhood garden, and free mental-health care — in partnership with local schools and community centers. The rooster is our reminder: loud, local, and first up in the morning.
- 2020
- Founded after George Floyd
- 2K+
- Petition signatures mobilized
- 2023
- BVBJ Fund Awardee
- 5
- Community programs
02 / Year One
Year one wrap up
What a city can build in twelve months when nobody waits for permission.
01
Bail funds
Raised and redistributed bail support for protesters arrested during the Tampa uprising.
02
Community garden
Broke ground on a neighborhood garden with the HOPE Center — free produce for the block.
03
Black N Therapy
Launched free mental-health sessions for Black Tampa residents, no insurance required.
04
Voter registration
Registered and re-engaged voters across Hillsborough County ahead of the 2020 election.
05
Book drives
Collected and distributed books by Black authors into schools, barbershops, and homes.
06
The directory
Published the living guide to Black-owned businesses, organizers, and orgs in Tampa Bay.
03 / Our Work
Five programs. One block.
Every program answers the same question: what would Tampa look like if Black kids grew up with the tutors, books, capital, and food they deserve?
Power Hour
Two hours. Homework, study skills, and a mentor in the chair beside you.
A weekly two-hour virtual tutoring session for Tampa students, co-run with student volunteers at United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa) in Nairobi. Kids bring what they're stuck on; volunteers bring patience and Wi-Fi — Tampa and Nairobi in the same Zoom.
- Format
- Weekly, 2-hour virtual sessions
- Ages
- Elementary – high school
- Partner
- USIU-Africa student volunteers
- Roots
- Built on Charlea's free tutoring in Hillsborough County elementary schools
04 / Volunteer
Show up on the block.
Pick a workday at the garden, claim two hours a week tutoring Tampa kids on Zoom, or apply for an internship. Two clicks and you're in.
Pick a workday
Workdays are the 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month at the HOPE Center garden in Belmont Heights. Select a Saturday to reserve your slot.
Only 1st & 3rd Saturdays are selectable
05 / Archive
Tampa People Protest
August 12, 2020. A visual record of the Tampa uprising against police violence, photographed by CDL Tampa.
Location Downtown Tampa, FL
Frames 143 · 72dpi edit
Rights © CDL Tampa
01 · On the megaphone, Curtis Hixon
02 · Fist up, downtown Tampa
03 · Hands up at the intersection
04 · Fists in the air
05 · Calling it out
06 · The crowd answers back
07 · Outside Tampa Police HQ
08 · Face to face on the front line
06 / Founder
"Building sustainable, joyful futures for marginalized communities through innovation and art."
Charlea Bing · ASALH National Conference
Charlea Bing is an award-winning civic leader and project coordinator with a decade of documented public impact — featured in the Tampa Bay Times, USA Today, and Le Nouvel Obs, and recognized by the Black Voices for Black Justice Fund. She was appointed PAC Chair of the NAACP Florida State Youth Council at age 13, spoke at the March for Our Lives rally in front of more than 15,000 people at age 15, and was archived by Duke University in their youth activist class at age 19.
When George Floyd was murdered, Charlea was still in high school. She staged a school-wide walkout and then founded Black N Tampa — launching a community magazine, restoring a Belmont Heights garden, delivering free tutoring across Hillsborough County schools, and creating Black N Therapy, a free mental-health program. She helped mobilize 2,000+ petition signatures that contributed to Jamie Bullock's felony sentence reduction and co-led COVID-era Operation Takeback Prom for 2,000+ students.
A 2025 Florida A&M graduate in African-American Studies & Music Industry, U.S. State Department Gilman Scholar (Kenya), and Scrum-certified PMP candidate, Charlea has since presented her thesis on quantum mechanics and African spirituality at the ASALH National Conference, guest-hosted Black History Month radio at USIU-Africa, and served as an ambassador at Kenya Model UN.
On the ground · Nairobi, Kenya
In session, Nairobi
Black History Month, USIU-Africa
Kenya Model UN delegation
BHM rooftop, USIU-Africa
07 / On the record
Press & recognition
What outlets, funders, and conferences have said about Charlea Bing and the work of Black N Tampa.
- Black Voices for Black Justice Fund2023
“Driven by her passion for equality, Charlea Bing is a powerful voice in the ongoing struggle against inequality.”
Read → - Darryl S. Tookes · FAMU Music Industry2024
“Charlea's diligence, passion for empowering others, and forward-thinking approach make her an outstanding candidate for any opportunity she pursues. Her exceptional character and contributions have left a lasting impression on our program.”
Read → - Patrick Mulindi · USIU-Africa2025
“An exemplary student-scholar as well as a person of tremendous character with significant leadership and organizational skills… I believe she will be an asset and an invaluable member of the Fulbright program.”
Read → - Khary Henry · Young Engineers Tallahassee2025
“Charlea's exceptional classroom management skills and ability to connect with her students have made her an outstanding educator. She has a talent for motivating her students to achieve their full potential.”
Read → - Tampa Bay Times2021
“Meet the next generation of Black activism in Tampa — the organizers, artists, and publishers reshaping the city post-2020.”
Read → - ASAA 6th Biennial2025
“Founder of Black N Tampa, connecting creatives to resources and preserving Black stories — grassroots activism with global insight.”
Read →
08 / Newsroom
The local show
We're building a neighborhood news show for Black Tampa Bay — short episodes on the people, blocks, and fights the local stations skip. Filmed here, cut here, aired here.
Selected video work · Charlea Bing
▶Tampa People Protest
Documentary short · 2020
▶Youth Business Fair
Event film · 2024
▶Books to Barbers
Mini-doc · 2024
▶Ground Up: The Garden
Field piece · 2024
▶Nairobi Notebook
Travel series · 2025
▶Speaking Circuit
Talk reel · 2025
10 / Support
Put your name
on the record.
Every dollar prints another cover, funds another workshop, and keeps a young Tampa creative paid for their work.