BEGINNINGS

Born and raised in Alabama Kesha recalls the beauty associated with growing up in the South but also the limitations. As a child she enjoyed reading, painting rocks, and exploring (albeit mostly imaginary explorations beginning and ending in her head). However, it was perhaps her fondness for reading that nurtured Kesha’s natural curiosity for learning any and everything.

“I don’t know where my passion for reading stems. Although, I’m sure it has something to do with the fact that my Great-Grandmother ,who lived in Anniston while I was growing up, would bring small gifts/treats for the grand kids when she and her sister would make their monthly doctor’s visits in Birmingham.  Along with my treat, I’d also get carefully clipped pieces of the funnies from, I assume, the Anniston Star.  My Great-Grandmother would clip them just for me and they often included puzzles/games, mind teasers, and coloring pages (of which Granny would color for me!). I would read them,  try to crack the puzzle and then place them in my scrap book. I can’t pick up a newspaper today without searching for and reading the ‘funnies’.”

…..I always had to know what was coming next. As I read, my mind would paint a picture, a movie of all the scenes, smells, people…whatever I was reading about at the time I was engrossed in it. One of my guilty pleasures was going shopping at the Alabama Thrift Store with my Grandma. Ordinarily most kids would have been super embarrassed by this. And I’m sure I had some slight embarrassment. But this particular store had a great used book section and this is where my Grandma (who could shop for hours) would allow me to hang out….in paradise reading, skimming, looking at the pictures until it was time to go.”

Not surprisingly, Kesha excelled in school and graduated with honors and numerous college scholarship opportunities. She humbly and excitedly accepted Dillard University’s offer of acceptance and began a remarkable journey of growth and exploration during her years at the small liberal arts college.

Notably, while at Dillard, Kesha was awarded the Luard Scholarship from the English Speaking Union of the United States. It is the experience of living and studying for a year in London that Kesha credits as one of her major life milestones.

“I learned so much about myself during this time away from everyone I knew and everyone who thought they knew me…..I also came to the realization that prior to traveling to London my exposure to opportunities and the dynamic possibilities of life had been limited. I hadn’t seriously thought about what I wanted my life’s mission to be…my vision was limited…..I was just on the fast tract to purposeless success.”

It was during the 6 years after London that Kesha began nurturing her life vision engaging in work, volunteer, and public service opportunities dedicated to improving access (domestic and international) to educational opportunities for African American and United States minority youth.

NOW

Kesha is on the journey to execute her life’s purpose and inspire others to live their best life. She is working on the 12to28 project, setting the stages for the other business pursuits, and evaluating the educational offerings of various graduate and professional programs in Law, International Education Policy and African American studies.

She spends her days engrossed in 12to28, volunteering, writing, reading and exploring life.

FUTURE

Kesha is an author, consultant, explorer, philanthropist, activist and scholar and is contributing to the radical evolution of the Public School System in the Southern United States. In addition to her role as producer, occasional correspondent, and CEO, Kesha is the founder of a co-educational International Academy in Bessemer, Alabama. When she is not traveling, she enjoys guest lecturing at HBCU’s, volunteering, and acting in film and theater projects with progressive scripts. Kesha is a proud donor to the United Negro College Fund, Dillard University and several Alabama educational initiatives.

ALWAYS

food, life fulfullment, God’s Path, music, good people, real love, opportunity, acting, the genious of Stevie, Travel, reading, writing, daydreaming, family, shooting the breeze, newness, peace, the soul and spirit, education, art, Maya Angelou, exploration, creativity, living and experiencing, breaching the unknown, friends, rain and wind, health, the south, computers and gadgets, documentaries, PBS, southern accents, Oprah, self employment, upliftment, photography, courage and uncertainty, impact, law and policy, community involvement, Change, breaking the rules