Today we’d like to introduce you to Roshunda Buchanan.
Hi Roshunda, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey began in high school with uncertainty. I knew I wanted to own a business one day, but I didn’t know what kind. At that time, career exposure wasn’t what it is today. There weren’t many pathways presented to us. So I created my own exploration process.
I began working through temporary staffing agencies, using each assignment as a way to discover my strengths and interests. That experience became my career laboratory. I developed strong data and administrative skill sets while working for high-end banks, title insurance companies, and retail organizations as a teenager and young adult.
In my early twenties, I was introduced to the nonprofit sector — and everything shifted.
With an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology, I knew I loved helping people, but I wasn’t sure in what capacity. Working with organizations such as Porter-Leath Children’s Center, Structured Employment Economic Development Corporation (SEEDCO), the City of Memphis Office of Business Diversity and Compliance, Persevere , the University of Tennessee Psychiatry Department, and Southwest Tennessee Community College shaped my understanding of workforce development, nonprofit management, grant compliance, and data systems. Over the past 20 years, those experiences built my foundation in workforce and community development.
In 2008, I launched 2Unique Community Salvation Foundation with one goal: to help youth and young adults identify their career path and be placed on a structured journey toward career succession and since August 2009, Roshunda serves as the Publisher of 2Unique Magazine.
2Unique Magazine was created as a publication platform to Inform, Influence, and Impact our community. It is more than a magazine — it is a civic voice rooted in the heartbeat of Memphis, Tennessee.
Roshunda believes it is imperative that leaders take a stand to position the city of Memphis for greatness. The publication highlights the importance of unifying educators, leaders, families, and community stakeholders in an effort to dream bigger for Memphis. The goal is to inform a network of young professionals who are eager to become active in their community while also addressing the real and often difficult issues that many face today.
2Unique Magazine intentionally delves into topics that require courage — poverty, leadership gaps, civic responsibility, community healing — while also celebrating culture, entrepreneurship, and excellence believing that communities thrive when integrity, character, and collaboration guide our relationships and our responses to local needs.
The cultural fabric of a city reflects who we are as a society. It is a responsibility to preserve and elevate the quality standards within our neighborhoods through accountability and unity.
Over the years, 2Unique Magazine has provided media coverage at both local and national prestigious events, including the Essence Festival in 2015 and the BET Awards and BET Live Experience in 2016. Through this work, Roshunda has served as a public and community relations professional and authentic celebrity journalist, appearing on local television and radio platforms while coordinating media coverage alongside national public relations agencies.
The magazine has received notable recognition, including the Best of 2019 Local Business Award, the Mtenzi Award Honoree for Best Activist Publication, and being named one of Memphis Flyer’s “20 Under 30” making a difference in Memphis in 2010.
2Unique Magazine represents our commitment to shaping narrative, elevating voices, and documenting the work happening in our city. It reinforces the belief that storytelling is a form of leadership — and that informed communities are empowered communities.
I realized that the same experiential learning that helped me discover my niche could be systematized to help others find theirs.
That realization led to the launch of our “Find Your Design” Career Track & Leadership Program in 2013 — built on the belief that before you can help others discover their purpose, you must first discover your own.
Over time, that model evolved into our Workforce Development Specialist Registered Apprenticeship program. By 2024, we expanded to include multiple apprenticeship tracks such as Lean Six Sigma, Musician Artist Development Specialist, Culinary Arts, and healthcare pathways including Clinical Medical Assistant, Phlebotomy, and Patient Care Technician. That year alone, we received 236 completed applications, identified 94 eligible participants for funding, approved 70, and celebrated 55 graduates.
Along the way, I became a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Inter City Capital Connections (ICCC) certified executive professional with over 20 years of experience in workforce and nonprofit development and higher education. I earned my Bachelor of Liberal Studies from the University of Memphis with a concentration in Nonprofit Development & Organizational Leadership, was honored as a Forbes Next 1000 honoree, completed Leadership Memphis in 2010, and later earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Humanitarianism (Business). Each credential represents not just achievement, but responsibility.
Our model is built around collaboration — partnering with small businesses, higher education institutions, and community organizations to create contracting opportunities and centralize services into a workforce hub approach.
In addition, we operate the 2Unique Closet Boutique located inside Hickory Ridge Mall, providing professional attire, clothing, hygiene products, and essential resources at no cost to program participants and families throughout the community. Because workforce development is not just about training — it’s about dignity, access, and holistic support.
Ultimately, my journey has been about alignment. I had to find my design before I could help others find theirs. And today, everything we build at 2Unique reflects that mission.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey has definitely not been smooth. Entrepreneurship especially in the nonprofit and workforce development space comes with both visible wins and unseen battles.
One of the early lessons I had to learn was that you won’t be invited into every room, and not everyone will understand or acknowledge the work you’re doing. That can be challenging, especially when your work is deeply rooted in service. But I’ve grown to understand that purpose is not about popularity. I am driven by alignment, aligning with people, partners, and communities I am called to serve. The impact matters more than recognition.
Another significant challenge has been funding. For many years, I worked a full-time job while building and sustaining my nonprofit. I personally reinvested my time, energy, and financial resources into the organization because I believe in Memphis and in the potential of our youth and young adults. Funding in the nonprofit sector requires resilience, compliance, data tracking, reporting accuracy, and relationship building all while continuing to deliver services. It requires faith and strategy and working together.
Perhaps one of the more difficult realities in workforce development is navigating participant readiness. I am deeply committed to helping individuals succeed, but success requires partnership. There are moments of disappointment when opportunities are presented and the effort is not reciprocated. We can provide access, training, and resources but transformation requires individual accountability. Over time, I have learned that not everyone is ready at the same moment, and that is part of the process.
These challenges, however, have strengthened my leadership. The have refined my focus, clarified my mission, and reinforced why structured pathways, accountability systems, and wraparound support are necessary. The road may not always be smooth, but it has purposeful and that purpose continues to guide the work.
We’ve been impressed with 2Unique Community Salvation Foundation , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
2Unique Community Salvation Foundation is more than a nonprofit — it is a workforce ecosystem designed to move individuals from exposure to execution.
When I think of 2Unique, I think of “Uniquely Saving Communities for a Purpose.” That statement reflects our heart and our strategy. We don’t believe in temporary fixes — we believe in building structured pathways that restore identity, dignity, and economic mobility.
We specialize in career pathway development, apprenticeship programming, and centralized workforce support models that connect youth, young adults, and underserved families to sustainable opportunities. Our approach blends structure, compliance, data accountability, and compassion — ensuring that impact is measurable and meaningful.
At the core of our brand is one clear message: You Too Are Unique. We help individuals recognize their value first. Skills can be developed. Credentials can be earned. But confidence and identity must be awakened.
One of our signature community initiatives is 901 on Ice Christmas Towne Village. What began as a seasonal activation has grown into a workforce engagement platform that brings together families, small businesses, nonprofit partners, and training providers in one centralized space. It’s festive and community-driven, but it is also strategic — connecting attendees to apprenticeship programs, vendors, resources, and economic opportunity pipelines.
We are also proud of our “Find Your Design” Coloring and Activity Book, which serves as an early career exposure tool for youth. It introduces entrepreneurship, leadership, and workforce concepts in a creative and accessible way. The message is simple: purpose starts with awareness.
In addition, we operate the 2Unique Closet Boutique, located inside Hickory Ridge Mall. This is more than a clothing resource — it is a dignity-centered workforce readiness hub. We provide professional attire, hygiene products, and essential items at no cost to participants and families. Because preparation changes presence — and presence influences opportunity.
What sets us apart is that we combine vision with systems. In 2024 alone, we processed 236 completed applications, approved 70 participants for funding, and celebrated 55 graduates across multiple apprenticeship tracks. Our model is built to scale through collaboration with small businesses, higher education institutions, and community organizations.
We are intentional about creating environments where people not only receive support but are repositioned for sustainability.
At its core, 2Unique exists to remind individuals and communities alike:
You Too Are Unique — and your purpose deserves structure.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is seeing Memphis, Tennessee evolve into a more vibrant, safe, and thriving community.
I care deeply about the overall health of our city — not just economically, but socially and emotionally. A strong community is not built by opportunity alone; it is built by addressing the root causes that prevent people from accessing opportunity. Poverty, untreated mental health challenges, and substance abuse are interconnected issues that impact families, workforce participation, and neighborhood stability. If we truly want a safer city, we must invest in solutions that are preventative, structured, and compassionate.
What also matters to me is igniting creativity and restoring dignity. When individuals discover their skills, talents, and purpose, they move differently. They contribute differently. Creativity opens pathways to entrepreneurship, innovation, and self-sufficiency — especially for youth and young adults who may not see traditional career paths as attainable.
I am equally passionate about rebuilding customer service and professionalism training models. Soft skills, leadership development, accountability, and presentation matter. These are often overlooked, yet they determine long-term sustainability in the workforce. When we rebuild how we prepare people — not just technically, but holistically — we strengthen businesses and communities at the same time.
Ultimately, what matters most to me is transformation at scale. I want to see neighborhoods thriving, families stable, small businesses growing, and individuals operating in purpose. When systems are aligned and communities are supported with both structure and opportunity, safety and vibrancy naturally follow.
That is the future I am committed to building.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.2unique-csf.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/2UniqueCSF/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roshunda-buchanan-ba-cssbb/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RoshundaBuchanan2UniqueCSF
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/The2UniqueBoutique/
