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100 BLACK MEN OF ATLANTA, INC. NAMES ANTHONY FLYNN NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

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ATLANTA (July 5, 2018) – Anthony Flynn is the newly appointed Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the 100 Black Men Of Atlanta, Inc. (The 100), one of the city’s most influential African-American organizations focused on leadership development, educational support, economic empowerment, and health and wellness. In his role as Executive Director and COO, Flynn will oversee the day to day operations, strategic planning, external relations, and fundraising initiatives for The 100.
As a successful leader in the business world with numerous Fortune 100 giants (e.g. Kraft Foods, RJ Reynolds and 3M) and a pioneering executive in numerous, multi-million-dollar non-profit ventures, Flynn has a proven track record for converting ideas and theories to actionable achievements. He is the founder of The Gifted Education Foundation (www.iamgifted.org) which produces marketplace leaders from low-income communities across America. In its first three years of existence, the organization supported just over 100 students earning more than $18 million in scholarship. Its students have received full scholarships to Stanford, Dartmouth, Princeton, Emory, and more.
Mr. Flynn graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program in 2017 where he won the business pitch competition for his cohort. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Sales from The University of Memphis where he graduated as the top student in his major and he also holds a Master of Arts in Religion degree from Memphis Theological Seminary where he also graduated with honors.
He is also the author of two books: “The Execution Pipeline: A Step-by-Step Guide to Moving Your Business Idea From Dream to Reality” and “The Happiness Map: Finding Fulfillment in Work and Life” and has been a featured keynote speaker at Harvard University, Emory University, Georgia Tech, The University of Memphis, Biz1190 (Wall Street Journal syndicated radio show), Q Conference. He also serves as a coach and consultant to a number of high net-worth individuals, companies, professional athletes, small businesses, non-profit organizations and churches.
Originally from Memphis, TN, Flynn moved to Atlanta from Southern California 9 years ago with his wife of 17 years, son (15), and daughter (12).  In his TEDx talk “The Intangibles,” Flynn shares his personal story of poverty and addresses the criteria needed for students and families to escape the grip of detrimental generational cycles. Mr. Flynn’s unique perspective is one that Larry Johnson, Chairman Of The Board says will help expand the reach of the organization, “The 100 Black Men of Atlanta is fortunate to have found someone who has such a perfect combination of corporate and non-profit executive experience to lead our organization. Anthony Flynn is the right leader at the right time and we are confident that his innovative ideas, diverse management, and personal triumph will help to connect the organization with the people who we serve and expand the solid foundation we have achieved over the past thirty plus years.” Flynn will add value to The 100 by bringing his professional and personal experience to 100’s Project Success program which include: 100 Robotic Scholars Alliance (a S.T.E.M. program), B.E.S.T. Academy Pathways of Developmental Success (a leadership development program), and Project Success (a college preparatory and tuition assistance program). The program provides mentorship to at-risk youth living in vulnerable communities in the Atlanta metro area. In fact, 100% of the students who completeProject Success have graduated from high school and 80% have graduated from college in four years, far outpacing the national averages.
Beyond their impact to the community, Flynn is committed to expanding the reach of 100’s members. “Our members are some incredibly talented men, of high capacity, high stature, and high standard. It’s important that we leverage their capacity, skillset, and business acumen for the good of the organization and the communities we serve throughout the Atlanta Metro area,” shares Flynn. “Atlanta is a global city. There are a lot of people who have moved into the city and with that comes diversity of experiences, diversity of race, diversity of ideas and more. I’ve never seen so many high-powered and prominent African-Americans in roles of leadership making a tremendous impact in business, nonprofit, government, community. I’m very impressed with the levels of talent and business acumen in people of color in Atlanta,” shares Flynn. “I see my appointment as having an opportunity to leverage greatness in our city and also within the membership. There’s a lot of awesome things happening with the members themselves both individually and collectively and progressive initiatives happening on the ground in the trenches of the communities we serve. I look forward to tapping into our potential and taking 100 Black Men of Atlanta to the next level.”
Visit www.100blackmen-atlanta.org for information and to make charitable contributions to Project Success.
About 100 Black Men of Atlanta Inc.
100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc. is a non-profit organization providing college preparatory services and mentorship to at-risk, Atlanta youth through its flagship program Project Success. Since its inception in 1987, 100% of the students who complete Project Success have graduated from high school and 80% have graduated from college in four years, far outpacing the national averages.
                              
Project Success is differentiated by the strength of its civic-minded mentors who comprise the membership of the organization. Members dedicate their time and talent to helping boys and girls break the cycles of poverty, under-achievement and violence that plague their communities thus enabling them to seek their highest potential.
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We Speak Actors

Marvel Actor Sebastián Capitán Viveros (‘Capi’) Stars as Series Regular in ‘Fightland’

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Sebastián Capitán Viveros, better known as ‘Capi,’ has quietly built an impressive international career, appearing in major productions including Marvel Studios’ ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ and ‘Eternals,’ alongside acclaimed series such as ‘Halo,’ ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth,’ and the thriller ‘9 Bodies in a Mexican Morgue.’ He now stars as series regular Lazaro in the action crime drama ‘Fightland,’ now streaming in the U.S. on STARZ, with a UK release on Sky Atlantic and NOW planned soonExecutive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, the series marks another major milestone for one of the industry’s most exciting rising international talents.

Having grown up between Mexico, the United States and Switzerland before establishing himself in the UK after graduating from the prestigious Drama Centre London, Capi brings authenticity, emotional depth and remarkable versatility to every performance. In this exclusive interview, he reflects on his multicultural upbringing, working on blockbuster productions, landing the role he believes he was born to play, and why ‘Fightland’ represents the most exciting chapter of his career so far.

For readers discovering your work for the first time, could you tell us a little about your acting journey? Having grown up between Mexico, the USA and Switzerland before building your career in the UK, how has your multicultural background shaped you both personally and professionally?

The universe chose me to be an actor; there is nothing else that would sit right in my soul than living through the expression of my art. Growing up across different countries and learning several languages allowed me to see both the world and myself from different perspectives. Being away from my home country since I was five years old, theatre became my refuge. It gave me the freedom to discover who I truly was alongside my twin sister and soulmate, Ilse. We both found a sense of security on stage. My first acting coach, Judith Hall, taught me what it truly means to be a professional actor and helped me earn my place at Drama Centre London. That experience shaped me into the man I always dreamed—and knew—I was meant to become.

Courtesy of STARZ

Throughout your career you’ve appeared in productions including ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home,’ ‘Eternals,’ ‘Halo,’ ‘The Man Who Fell to Earth,’ ‘9 Bodies in a Mexican Morgue’ and now ‘Fightland.’ Looking back, which projects are you most proud of to date, and why?

“I went from serving Malaysian food in Camden Town to standing on a boat with Tom Holland and Zendaya in Venice while filming a Marvel production.”

That was my very first screen role in ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home,’ and it completely changed my life. It connected me to my higher self and made me feel aligned with my destiny. ‘9 Bodies in a Mexican Morgue’ was another unforgettable milestone because it was my first leading role. Filming alongside one of my closest friends from Drama Centre while portraying a Mexican lieutenant inspired by my grandfather—who was an admiral in the Mexican Navy—was incredibly meaningful. But ‘Fightland’ is on another level. The filmmaking, the people, the experience… It was one of the most profound, joyful, and unforgettable experiences of my career.

In ‘Fightland,’ you play Lazaro, a series regular. What attracted you to the role, what can audiences expect from your character without giving too much away, and what was it like working alongside such a talented cast?

The moment I read the audition scenes, I knew I was born to play Lazaro. An actor’s responsibility is to tell the truth, and Lazaro is my truth—apart from the criminal side! He’s a Mexican raised in the United States, and I connected deeply with him. Audiences can expect violence, strength, emotional depth and plenty of authentic Mexican swagger. Working with such an exceptional cast was a gift. Great actors elevate one another, and every scene became an opportunity to feed off each other’s performances. The showrunners, Damione and Raphael, as well as directors Otto and Seb, created an environment where I learned and grew in ways I can’t fully describe.

Courtesy of STARZ

Your role includes action and physically demanding scenes. How did you prepare for them, and what was the most rewarding or challenging part of bringing Lázaro to life?

The most challenging—and enjoyable—part was training with legendary stunt coordinator Will Mackay. We spent countless hours practising fight choreography, gun handling and knife work. 

“Audiences should prepare for intense action that will genuinely keep them on the edge of their seats.”

For me, preparation comes down to repetition. You rehearse until everything becomes instinct. Then, once you’re on set, you let go of all that preparation and simply live truthfully in the moment.


Looking ahead, what excites you most about this next chapter of your career, and what do you hope audiences take away from your performance in ‘Fightland’?

What excites me most is seeing a future where I can continue doing what I love—telling stories through art. I hope ‘Fightland’ introduces audiences to my commitment as an actor and demonstrates my versatility. While I’m proud of my Latino heritage, I don’t want to be defined solely by it. I’m an artist, a human being, ready to play any role—to be vulnerable or strong, funny or serious—and I’m hungry for every life I get the chance to live through acting.

Featured photo credit: Courtesy of STARZ

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