Culture Matters presents another one of our 2011 African Festival of the Arts sponsors, Melvin Buckley of the Black McDonald's Operations Association.

Melvin Buckley is a native Chicagoan and an alumnus of Chicago State University, where he received a full athletic scholarship to mix it up on the hardwood. Since that time, Buckley has coached several youth basketball leagues and local high school teams (angle #1). A chance encounter at the Jordan Basketball camp led him to meeting a dean at Hamburger U, and the rest is history.

Buckley consistently gives back to the community. At his McDonald’s restaurant in Richton Park, he staffs seven upper managers and more than 50 employees. He commits himself to hiring males from the African-American community as a way to rejuvenate the work ethic in this population.

Not only does Buckley provide a service to the area with his McDonald’s restaurant, but it is obvious that his main priority is giving back and helping those in need. He is a passionate restaurateur who strives to improve his business by helping his employees elevate themselves.