Interview with Kim Guess

Interviewee

Kim Guess

Files

Interviewers

JB Brown

Description

This is an interview with the owner of The Xperience Kim Guess recorded in 2024. Ms. Guess was interviewed by JB Brown as a part of SHARE's “Standing on Her Shoulders” oral history project. During the interview Ms. Guess discusses the following topics:

• The significance of opening the first Black-owned multi-use entertainment venue in Kalamazoo;
• The struggles and pushback she faces as a business owner;
• Advocating for and diversifying (downtown) Kalamazoo;
• The importance of collaboration;
• Reviving the Kalamazoo Island Festival;
• Her pride in the work that she does;
• Being a Black Woman entrepreneur;
• Being an introvert;
• Being motivated by others in the community;
• Her advice to entrepreneurs;
• Her visions for the future, and;
• Standing on the shoulders of her enslaved ancestors.

Date of Interview

8-15-2024

Location of Interview

Kalamazoo, Mi

Series

Standing on Her Shoulders

Keywords

Oral History, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Business, Black Women

Disciplines

Business | Oral History

Notes

The Society for History and Racial Equity’s oral history archive is made possible through Western Michigan University’s Presidential Innovation Professorship program. All collection materials and copyright are owned by SHARE; Western Michigan University Libraries provide stewardship and digital access. Content is for educational purposes only and non-reproducible. If cited or linked, please do so through ScholarWorks with appropriate attribution. Please direct any questions to scholarworks@wmich.edu.

Language

ENG

Document Type

Interview

Recommended Citation

Guess, Kim, "Interview with Kim Guess" (2024). Standing on Her Shoulders: Celebrating, Capturing, and Cultivating Black Women in Leadership in Southwest Michigan. 6.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/standing-on-her-shoulders/6

Length of video

30:47

Length of video log

13 pages