WS Chronicle

By Busta Brown

In 2019, while working as senior marketing and communications coordinator for Innovation Quarter in Winston-Salem, Abrea Armstrong was also working tirelessly to establish her own company. 91-2 Infinity Creative Collaboratives provides a full suite of marketing services and digital strategy from an inclusive perspective. 

I really dig the company’s name and it’s fitting for Armstrong’s personality. She’s the millennial version of elegance and intellect, which is very impressive. She has the class and wisdom of Michelle Obama and Oprah, and can also roll with the grit of the hip-hop industry. As a radio personality, I was truly impressed with her spiritual and artistic vibe. It’ll connect with everyone from Nina Simon to Cardi B. She has business savvy and is extremely intelligent, and a true class act. 

Yet, as I mentioned, the Salem Academy High School graduate doesn’t shy away from embracing the hip-hop culture. “91-2 Infinity comes from a song by Joey Badass. He did a song called 95 until Infinity. It’s about the idea of forever and legacy. Going beyond your dreams and not seeing the sky as a limit, and wanting to make an impact on the world. I was born in ‘91, so that’s where the name 91-2 Infinity came from,” said Abrea. 

I have to admit, I’d never heard of Joey Badass until now. After meeting Abrea, I’m looking forward to checking him out. 

The Winston-Salem native put her plan into action after graduating from high school, where she was editor and chief of the Art and Literary publication. Abrea moved to New York City to attend St. John’s University, where she graduated with honors and earned a degree in Spanish language and literature. Her dual majors helped her land freelance work with some incredible publications, such as XXL Magazine and Revote TV, to name a few. She also did an internship with Epic Records. 

“l thought it was a great time for me as writer. I wasn’t making a lot of money, so I asked myself, how can I monetize my passion?” says Abrea. She put her journalistic skills to work. “I did some research and found out about the different programs at Wake Forest Business School. I applied and they offered me a full scholarship in business management … and my parents were not going to let me say no to that. And that is what brought me back to Winston. While in business school, I realized this is what I’m supposed to do, the marketing and creative world, and that’s where I found myself ever since,” said Abrea. 

While working at a creative agency in Greensboro, she noticed there wasn’t a lot of creatives of color in the Triad. “What I mean by creatives, are writers, graphic designers, copy writers, and digital strategists. People would come to me for help to put together an email, inclusive campaign, or to build their clientele. So, I always told myself, if I had a little more time at home, I would start my marketing consultancy. Then COVID-19 hit, and this summer allowed me to reset and find the time needed to make it happen. On May 14, 2020, I began working with women and minority-owned businesses that wanted to grow their businesses. A lady that owns a photography company told me that they wanted to do better, but didn’t know how. So, I helped come up with social media content, I helped her develop a statement, next steps, and even a nonprofit that she can give money to that aligned with her company’s realm. What we do at 91-2 Infinity, we gather the best and brightest creatives from diverse backgrounds to focus on four key areas: storytelling; community engagement; diversity and inclusion; and business development and multicultural and millennial marketing,” said Abrea. 

How will 91-2 Infinity take businesses into the future and give them longevity? “We help them understand that the world is going to be more diverse and colorful. So, if your company wants to tap into the minority community, we teach them how to do so, by learning the language and how to speak to our audience, also how to provide outreach and resources as well. There are lots of businesses that understand they need to build a website, write copy, and have a social media and email campaign. That’s where I come in, because this is what you’ll need to succeed going into the future. I also help guide business on how to address these fundamental issues that’s been happening in our communities for decades. I guide on how to do it in a meaningful way and how to integrate into their brand. I help them develop what that looks like,” says the CEO. 

Abrea Armstrong said 91-2 Infinity also brings information, resources, assets, and more to audiences of color locally so that they can choose how to better their lives. “If a company has an opening, we make sure people of color have the opportunity to lay eyes on it.” The company also helps with refreshing resumes, branding your business, and job interview prep. 

Abrea has a real passion for developing young professionals as well. “We have to be on it immediately, because there is no professional buffer for us or time to grow. That’s why one of my greatest joys is to reach back to educate middle and high schoolers, to get them on the right path. So, I created the Professional Young Professional video series, which helps build their brand and transition from college into corporate America.” Visit meetbrea.com to see the Professional Young Professional video series. 

I also dig how Abrea refers to her family. “My village has put a lot into me. They made sure we knew that we were Black, and that the Black experience wasn’t monolithic. We took cruises to the Bahamas to see how other Black people lived. I’ll never forget seeing my first island and everyone was Black. The doctors, lawyers, everyone was Black. My mom has an MBA and father is an accountant, so the combination helped me become who I am today.”

I asked where does she see 91-2 Infinity in five to ten years. “I’d love to have a building and a full staff, as long as I’m able to serve them locally, and continue to provide them with the quality of service to remain successful into the future. I’m perfectly satisfied. I truly appreciate my customers.”

It’s clear why this phenomenal woman has so many accolades. Abrea was named as part of the inaugural class of the 20 in their 20s by the Triad Business Journal, 40 Under 40 Most Influential African Americans in the Triad by Black Business Ink Magazine, and was a 2019 recipient of the Leadership Award by the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce. 

You can find 91-2-Infinity on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/91-2-infinity, Facebook and Instagram @crazycorporatecool. 

Abrea Armstrong ended with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Trust thy self. God doesn’t want his work done by cowards.” And then she added, “That’s why I move with gusto. I know God doesn’t want me doing anything in vain.”