S1:E10 - JT Flowers

In this episode of The Pitch Black Podcast, Stephen Green sits down with one of Portland’s own, JT Flowers—a former Ivy League basketball recruit turned Rhodes Scholar, now investing his life and work back into his hometown.

From the hardwood courts of Northeast Portland to the halls of Yale and Oxford, JT’s journey is anything but linear. He shares how injury rerouted his identity, how higher education expanded his sense of purpose, and why—despite every opportunity to stay elsewhere—he came home to help reshape Portland’s future.

Together, Stephen and JT explore the power of perspective, the importance of storytelling, and the urgency of reclaiming Portland as a place where Black excellence can thrive. As Director of Advocacy and Strategic Partnerships at Albina Vision Trust, JT is helping lead the largest restorative redevelopment project in the U.S., centered around Black community, culture, and well-being.