The Positive Community
A privately held community media publication serving African American audiences in the New York/New Jersey metro area, delivering positive news and content on faith, education, culture, money, and health via print magazine, website, radio, and events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersMontclair, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The Positive Community does
The Positive Community is a privately held, for-profit community media publication founded around 1999–2000 and headquartered in the Harlem, New York and Montclair/Newark, New Jersey areas. It produces news and editorial content across education, culture, money, health, faith, and community affairs, with an explicit editorial mandate to provide positive representation of African American communities in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan region. The organization has grown from a print magazine into a multi-platform media operation encompassing a print/digital magazine, a website (thepositivecommunity.com), digital distribution via Issuu, a 24/7 online radio stream ("In Classic Black") under Positive Community Radio, an e-newsletter, video production, and social media channels.
Beyond core publishing, the company operates several community-facing initiatives and sub-brands, including the African American Cultural Narrative (a cultural literacy curriculum launched in 2012), the annual Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet, the Positive Music Hub and Positive Music Matters Foundation (2021), an Economic Justice Town Hall series, and the all-volunteer African Americans for Health Awareness (AAHA) advocacy group. Distribution and reach are anchored in a two-decade network of church, faith-organization, and community partnerships (including the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, HCCI, NAACP, and National Action Network).
The business monetizes through a mix of print and digital magazine subscriptions, corporate advertising and sponsorship from partners seeking to reach African American audiences (such as Prudential), and special events. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on church partnerships, community organizations, and cultural institutions rather than a formal sales motion. Leadership is centered on publisher Adrian Council Sr. and editor Jean Nash Wells. The company has taken no external institutional investment and has historically operated on limited resources described internally as a "shoestring and bubblegum" budget.
The Positive Community firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Positive Community
- Legal name
- The Positive Community
- Website
- https://thepositivecommunity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- A privately held community media publication serving African American audiences in the New York/New Jersey metro area, delivering positive news and content on faith, education, culture, money, and health via print magazine, website, radio, and events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Positive Community industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Media Publication
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community, Ethnic & Multilingual News Publishers (MPAJADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations (BPAGAFAC), Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD), Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)
Keywords
Where The Positive Community is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Montclair
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Positive Community business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Magazine Subscriptions: Print and digital magazine subscriptions providing ongoing revenue from readers
- Advertising & Sponsorship: Corporate advertising and sponsorship from businesses seeking to reach African American audiences, including partners like Prudential
- Special Events: Revenue from events such as the annual Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet and community forums
- Radio Programming: Positive Community Radio streaming content including 'In Classic Black' music format available 24/7 online
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Positive Community product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Positive Community is a multi-platform African American community-media publication producing positive news, faith, health, education, culture, and money content. Core offerings include a print and digital magazine, the thepositivecommunity.com website with regular editorial coverage, 24/7 online radio streaming under the Positive Community Radio / In Classic Black brand, and community-driven initiatives such as the African American Cultural Narrative curriculum and the annual Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet.
Product overview
The Positive Community is a multi-platform media organization offering a unified portfolio of print/digital magazine publications, websites, radio streaming, video production, and community initiatives. The core products include The Positive Community Magazine and thepositivecommunity.com website, supplemented by Positive Community Radio (In Classic Black) for streaming music, the Positive Music Hub for music content, the African American Cultural Narrative curriculum for cultural education, and the annual Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet. Additional offerings include the Economic Justice Town Hall series, African Americans for Health Awareness (AAHA) advocacy, and video production services. The organization also maintains social media presence and an e-newsletter.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Positive Community Radio: Radio programming featuring 'In Classic Black' - streaming music 24/7 online
- African American Cultural Narrative
- Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet
- Positive Music Hub
- Positive Music Matters Foundation
Products and services
- The Positive Community Magazine A print and digital publication covering news, faith, health, education, culture, money, and community stories focused on Black communities in New York and New Jersey.
- thepositivecommunity.com Website Official website featuring articles, news coverage, opinion columns, and multimedia content across categories including news, health, education, money, culture, and publisher sections.
- Positive Community Radio (In Classic Black) A 24/7 online streaming music service featuring classic Black music programming and the 'In Classic Black' format.
- African American Cultural Narrative A comprehensive curriculum and initiative promoting cultural literacy, history, community progress, and cultural pride for African American communities.
- Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet Annual awards ceremony celebrating achievements in the African American community.
- Positive Music Hub An online platform focused on positive music content and music industry coverage, part of the company's media ecosystem alongside the Positive Music Matters Foundation.
- E-Newsletter Digital newsletter delivered to subscribers covering featured stories and community news.
- African Americans for Health Awareness (AAHA) An all-volunteer community health advocacy initiative focused on health awareness in African American communities.
Companies that use The Positive Community
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Positive Community technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Positive Community partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- RWJBarnabas HealthcorePartnership with Union County to launch mobile pediatric unit and community health clinics, expanding access to medical screenings, health education, preventive care, and vaccinations in the community.
- MetroPlusHealthcoreOpened flagship location next to the Apollo Theater in Harlem to provide comprehensive health services including telehealth, nutrition access, and wellness programs to the community.
- Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC)coreCollaborative partnership supporting community initiatives including the Support Harlem Now GoFundMe campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic. GHCC President Lloyd Williams worked with The Positive Community on hunger relief, PPE distribution, and community support efforts.
- Silicon HarlemcorePartnership with GHCC and The Positive Community to address digital equity through the Support Harlem Now campaign, providing computers, hotspots, and digital literacy training to underserved Harlem residents.
- PrudentialminorCorporate sponsor that endorsed The Positive Community's African American Cultural Narrative initiative and displayed branding at the 20th Anniversary/Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet.
- NAACPcoreCommunity partner organization collaborating on Support Harlem Now initiative addressing COVID-19 impact and community development.
- National Action NetworkcoreCommunity partner organization collaborating on COVID-19 response and community support initiatives.
- Harlem Arts AllianceminorArts and cultural partner organization supporting community cultural initiatives and events.
- One Hundred Black MenminorCommunity organization partner in collaborative community development and support efforts.
- Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI)coreLong-standing community partner organization featured in coverage, including annual gala events and community development initiatives.
- Rethink Food NYCminorHunger relief partner in the Support Harlem Now initiative providing food assistance during the pandemic.
- West Harlem Assistance GroupminorCommunity partner in hunger relief and food distribution efforts supporting Harlem residents during COVID-19.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
The Positive Community competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Amsterdam News: The New York-based African American community newspaper, founded in 1909, covering Harlem and greater NYC. Directly comparable as a legacy Black community print and digital publication serving an overlapping NY metropolitan audience.
- The Root: A digital media outlet covering news, culture, and politics from an African American perspective, part of the Gizmodo Media Group. Comparable as a Black-focused news and opinion publication targeting similar demographics and advertisers.
- The Grio: A digital-first African American news and culture platform covering news, politics, health, and entertainment for Black audiences. Directly comparable as a Black-focused news publisher with multi-channel digital distribution.
- EBONY: Iconic African American media brand covering culture, lifestyle, and news across print, digital, and video. Directly comparable as a heritage Black community publication with multi-channel distribution and advertiser relationships.
Broad incumbents
- Essence: Major African American women's media brand spanning magazine, digital, and the Essence Festival. Comparable as a larger, established Black media platform reaching advertisers seeking the same demographic, though broader in scope and audience.
- NBC News BLK: NBC News' dedicated vertical covering stories within the African American community, distributed through a major national media network. Comparable as a Black-focused news brand competing for the same advertiser and audience pool, though backed by a much larger parent organization.
Regional players
- The Haitian Times: A multilingual, community-focused news outlet serving the Haitian diaspora in New York and beyond. Comparable as an ethnic/community news publication in NYC with print, digital, and community engagement.
- Philadelphia Tribune: The oldest continuously published African American newspaper in the U.S., serving the Philadelphia region. Comparable as a heritage Black community print and digital publication operating in a different but adjacent regional market.
Emerging players
- Blavity: Digital media company and cultural platform for Black millennials, with owned brands across news, lifestyle, and entertainment. Comparable as a digital-native Black media outlet competing for the same audience attention and ad dollars.
- Capital B: A nonprofit, local-to-national Black-led news organization launching local newsrooms in Black communities. Comparable as a community-focused Black news outlet building trust-based reporting for underserved audiences.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Positive Community social profiles
Digital presenceThe Positive Community financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Positive Community leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
The Positive Community funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Positive Community M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Positive Community
What does The Positive Community do?
The Positive Community is a multi-platform African American community-media publication producing positive news, faith, health, education, culture, and money content. Core offerings include a print and digital magazine, the thepositivecommunity.com website with regular editorial coverage, 24/7 online radio streaming under the Positive Community Radio / In Classic Black brand, and community-driven initiatives such as the African American Cultural Narrative curriculum and the annual Great American Emancipation Day Awards Banquet.
Is The Positive Community a public or private company?
The Positive Community is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Positive Community founded?
The Positive Community was founded in 2000. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Positive Community based?
The Positive Community is headquartered in Montclair, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Positive Community make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Magazine Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are advertising & Sponsorship, special Events and radio Programming.
Who are The Positive Community's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Amsterdam News, The Root, The Grio and EBONY. Broad incumbents are Essence and NBC News BLK. Regional players are The Haitian Times and Philadelphia Tribune. Emerging players are Blavity and Capital B.
Does The Positive Community have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Positive Community.
What industry is The Positive Community in?
The Positive Community's product category is Community Media Publication. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAG, Community, Ethnic & Multilingual News Publishers, with a secondary code of BPAGAFAC, Racial & Ethnic Justice Organizations. Its NAICS code is 81341.