Draft:Brian Gorman
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Submission declined on 5 February 2026 by Star Mississippi (talk). This draft's references do not show that the subject meets Wikipedia's criteria for inclusion for music. The draft requires either:
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Please add references that meet these criteria. If none exist, the subject is not yet suitable for Wikipedia. It is often easier to prove the notability of an album or artist than an individual song or band member. If the subject is not yet notable, consider improving a relevant existing article instead.This draft is not adequately supported by reliable sources. Wikipedia's verifiability policy requires that all content be supported by reliable sources.
Declined by Star Mississippi 4 months ago.
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Comment: Unsourced. bonadea contributions talk 10:06, 6 February 2026 (UTC)
 | This article is an autobiography or has been extensively edited by the subject or by someone connected to the subject. (February 2026) |
Brian Gorman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Education | Columbia College Chicago (BA, Music Business Management) |
| Occupations | Cultural organizer, publisher, community activist, media producer |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Known for | Chicago Community Activism, Diverse City of America Inc., Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum |
Brian Gorman is an American cultural organizer, community activist, publisher, and media producer based in Chicago, Illinois. He is the founder of Diverse City of America Inc., Gorman House Publishing, and Custom Resources NFP, and a co-founder of the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum. His work spans event production, community organizing, workforce development, media production, and cultural preservation.
Early life and education
Brian Gorman began working at a young age in Chicago. From 1982 to 1985, he worked as a child model. In 1987, he operated a paper route and started a lawn care business that expanded to include car washing, property cleaning, and painting.
Gorman attended Illinois State University beginning in 1994 as an International Business major. In 1996, he co-founded a student activism organization called Black Rage with James Washington, which organized protests and formed a coalition with a Latino student organization known as Flames of Resistance.
In 1997, after taking an Intro to Music Business course taught by Dr. Frank Suggs, he transferred to Columbia College Chicago. He graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Business Management.
Early career
Atom Entertainment and Atom Magazine
During the mid-1990s, Gorman worked with Atom Entertainment and Atom Magazine as an event coordinator and associate publisher. He collaborated with Joseph Anderson, Ernest Temple, and James Potter III to produce events at venues including the Elks Lodge, the Prop House, Riverwest Brewery, and the House of Blues. Atom Magazine covered Chicago’s underground music scene and featured interviews with national artists appearing in the city.
The World’s Apex
In 1997, Gorman co-founded and incorporated a company called The World’s Apex with LeRoy Willis, gaining early experience in business formation and corporate structure.
Music and cultural work
Music and Entertainment Training Institute
From 1998 to 2000, Gorman served as executive director and student president of the Music and Entertainment Training Institute (METI), a student-run record label and training program. During this period, he helped produce the METI Platinum Bound conference and worked on projects including the Sprite All-Star mixtape and Hip-Hop Unity Fest. Artists associated with METI won the WGCI Radio Showcase in 2000 and 2001.
Diverse City of America Inc.
In 2000, Gorman founded Diverse City of America Inc., a Chicago-based organization involved in event production, marketing, and cultural programming. The organization supported concerts, festivals, branding, and promotions, and later released several music projects.
Housing and redevelopment
From 1999 to 2001, Gorman worked as sales and marketing director for Neighborhood Housing Services Redevelopment Corporation, placing more than 50 residential properties under contract. From 2002 to 2004, he served as sales and marketing manager for Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago.
Festivals and large-scale event production
Essence Music Festival
From 2002 to 2005, Gorman worked as a main stage production assistant for the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans, assisting with production logistics and coordination of sponsor and artist appearances.
Chicago Football Classic
Gorman worked with the Chicago Football Classic from 2001 to 2007. In 2001, he served as youth coordinator, facilitating attendance for hundreds of young participants. From 2003 to 2007, he supported marketing, promotions, and design for the event.
Media work
From 2007 to 2010, Gorman worked with The Standard Newspapers in Chicago and the South Suburbs as managing editor, art director, and lifestyle editor.
Soul Selector DJs
In 2009, Gorman became chief operating officer of Soul Selector DJs. His responsibilities included managing operations, coordinating bookings, and overseeing technical production.
In 2011, he developed a training curriculum for the Soul Selector DJ Program in collaboration with DJ World, DJ INC, and DJ Eddie Mills. From 2012 to 2016, he created and produced the Soul Selector DJ Picnic.
Activism and community organizing
Chicago Community Activism
In 2014, following the police shooting of Laquan McDonald, Gorman helped organize protest activity in Chicago, including demonstrations that disrupted commercial activity along Michigan Avenue. That same year, he founded the Chicago Community Activism Facebook group, which became a platform for coordinating volunteer work and civic engagement.
Justice or Else and 10,000 Fearless
Gorman later participated in the Justice or Else local organizing committee and helped organize volunteer efforts known as 10,000 Fearless, which focused on community presence and violence reduction.
Custom Resources NFP
In 2017, Gorman founded Custom Resources NFP, a nonprofit focused on workforce development, job readiness, mentorship, and employment access for low-income individuals, people experiencing homelessness, and veterans.
Publishing and media platforms
In 2018, Gorman founded Gorman House Publishing. In 2020, he launched Chicago Community Activism Magazine. In 2021, he founded the Bronzeville Podcast Studio, which produces programs including ITZ Podcast, Hip Hop Unplugged, and the Chicago Community Activism Podcast. That same year, his publishing company released The Black Agenda.
Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum
On July 3, 2021, Gorman co-founded the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum, an organization focused on preserving and documenting Chicago hip hop culture.
Civic leadership
In 2024, Gorman became president of the board of directors of the TRECC Community Development Foundation. That same year, he became vice president of civics for FBRK Brands, where he develops civic education curriculum and programming for high school students.
Personal life
From 2012 to 2015, Gorman served as president of the Lenart Parent Group, advocating for student equity and parent engagement within Chicago Public Schools.
Category:Living people Category:People from Chicago Category:American activists Category:American publishers (people) Category:Community organizers Category:Columbia College Chicago alumni
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or multiple published secondary sources that:
Please add references that meet these criteria. If none exist, the subject is not yet suitable for Wikipedia.
It is often easier to prove the notability of an album or artist than an individual song or band member. If the subject is not yet notable, consider improving a relevant existing article instead.