In this episode of The Pitch Black Podcast, Stephen Green sits down with one of Portland’s own, JT Flowers—a former Ivy League basketball recruit turned Rhodes Scholar, now investing his life and work back into his hometown.

From the hardwood courts of Northeast Portland to the halls of Yale and Oxford, JT’s journey is anything but linear. He shares how injury rerouted his identity, how higher education expanded his sense of purpose, and why—despite every opportunity to stay elsewhere—he came home to help reshape Portland’s future.

Together, Stephen and JT explore the power of perspective, the importance of storytelling, and the urgency of reclaiming Portland as a place where Black excellence can thrive. As Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships at Albina Vision Trust, JT is helping lead the largest restorative redevelopment project in the U.S., centered around Black community, culture, and well-being.

📌 Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome & JT’s Homegrown Story
08:00 – Navigating Between Worlds: Portland’s Many Realities
13:20 – From Basketball Dreams to Ivy League Reality
20:00 – What JT Found at Yale (And What He Let Go Of)
27:00 – Discovering Community as a Calling
35:00 – The Power of Perspective & Self-Compassion
41:00 – Why JT Came Back to Portland
48:00 – The Albina Vision: Rebuilding a Zip Code
55:00 – A Call to Black Talent: Now’s the Time
60:00 – Closing Reflections: Dream Bigger, Build Bigger

🌍 Organizations & Projects Mentioned:

• Albina Vision Trust – Reimagining 94 acres of Portland with Black community at the center

• 1803 Fund – Investing in Black Portland with a new model of philanthropic partnership

• Center for Black Excellence – The first publicly funded space of its kind in the U.S.