The Architect
By Michealangelo Hayes
I'm an architect.
"Oh what buildings or structures have you built?" I don't physically build structures, I just build, period.
I'm Michaelangelo Hayes, aka Maurice Valentino. I currently coordinate a private business venture called Valentino's Workshop, serving clients and different communities all across the world through Tutoring, Journalism, and Business Consulting. I make myself a tool wherever I go for towards the liberation of as many people and communities as possible.
I am no stranger to Revolution as much as I am no stranger to versatility. If anyone who knows me could describe me, they know I could do anything I set my mind to. As a child I was forever enthralled by fantasy heroes such as Naruto, Yusuke Urameshi, and others that displayed to me that with boundless optimism, courage and valor, I could burst through the glass ceilings of the world's prejudices of my trajectory and into the heavens.
As a young man with the blessing to attend 3 HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges & Universities) in the United States of America (Morehouse College, Bowie State University, Morgan State University), I would become forever inspired learning about the proud resilience and brilliance of my Black lineage into today's time in every category imaginable.
As a lover of Hip Hop Culture ever since I can remember knowing how to even pronounce words, I was forever inspired by the history of a global culture with 5 elements that has changed music, fashion, technology, politics and so much more through present day.
Being cognizant of my influences, I surmised at the very least years ago that it would be an insult to everything I learned, myself, and even God to not use every thing in my arsenal towards the betterment of this world. That being said, I have been no stranger to Revolution and being an Architect: crafting structures, movements, plans and whatever I can imagine to benefit my community.
As a college student I started a Black male mentorship personally funded by me and a select few colleagues with our own thousands of dollars, accumulating over 200 members strong over 3 years that produced college graduates, future Teachers, business owners, STEM leaders and more.
I met the CEO of POPOUT zine whilst running a 3-year nonprofit movement organizing and conducting programming towards positive Hip Hop cultural interactions between students and faculty of every background--The AUC (Atlanta University Consortium) Hip Hop Revolution. I would start a record label called Mic Check Entertainment LLC with a college brother giving resources, information and opportunities to paid college interns and aspiring artists.
Graduating from college, my back was against the wall, with a bad job market in my hometown of Baltimore, and a lackluster environment in my hometown with few viable options for mobility and breaking of generational curses. I realized that if I was stuck solely in my environment of Baltimore and in the canon of what others imagined my life being for THEIR benefit, I would be disrespecting the aforementioned influences and therefore God. I left home, went homeless and through other trials in the formation of Valentino's Workshop with a sole purpose: to forever build.
For the Revolution in my eyes, as it primarily involves the holistic liberation Black people and all other marginalized groups of the world, I vowed to use my skills and platforms to teach, organize and whatever else. I have traveled the world from Harbin China, Paris France, Johannesburg South Africa and more inspiring, teaching, speaking and helping.
I've assisted in fundraising tens of thousands of funds for students to further their collegiate education, used my business acumen to promote artists across the world and have been a public servant whenever demanded. It's no limit to what I can do and what I can build. Furthermore, there is no choice on whether or not to be infinite when the revolution needs every talent you can muster.
So, until the very end, I'll continue to build.
MEET MICHEALANGELO