We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kibbs Fortilus a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kibbs, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
1. Where do you get your resilience from?
My family fled from Haiti when I was four years old.
We arrived in Springfield, MA and my journey began here.
Navigating the space between two cultures widened my aperture. I spoke Haitian-Creole at home with my parents and English at school. I learned to embrace both the traditional, community-centered values of Haitian culture, and the independence and innovation of American culture. Balancing both ideals was an art that I loved to practice.
Later in life, my mentor, Jay Guilford, encouraged me to travel abroad. After my Bachelor’s degree, he helped me fundraise money to teach in Tamil Nadu, India for one year. After my incredible experience in India, I spent seven years in Germany. I learned German, earned my Master’s Degree at Freie Universitat in Berlin, and I had the privilege of traveling to different countries in Europe.
I credit the guidance of my parents and my mentor for the resilience I have today. In order to repay this tremendous debt, I teach scholars, mentor students, and help inner city youth travel abroad.
I mentor students through a nonprofit called, “Follow My Steps”. This is a nonprofit organization that pairs youth in the under-served communities of Springfield, Massachusetts with a mentor. I also have the privilege of teaching a group of gifted scholars through a program called, “Hartford Youth Scholars”, in Hartford, Connecticut.
As far as helping students travel abroad, I find exceptional scholars and coordinate their summer abroad adventure by partnering with an organization called “CIEE”, Council on International Educational Exchange. Two years ago, I fundraised money to send Yadira to Japan for three weeks over the summer. Last year, I raised the money to send Marvin and Gerzy to Spain for the summer.
This year, I am raising money to send Destiny to Alicante, Spain for three weeks this summer. I am very passionate about this mission because journeying abroad – willingly delving into the initial discomfort of cultural differences – is what has allowed me to be as resilient as I am today.
If you are able to make a donation, please do.
If not, please take the time to spread the word and support one of my scholars on this wonderful adventure.
GoFundMe Link : (#DestinedForSpain)
www.TinyURL.com/DestinedForSpain
YouTube Channel : (An Ocean Away)
https://www.youtube.com/@AnOceanAway413
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story.
— Kibbs Fortilus
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am passionate about cultivating safe spaces.
Hence, I cultivated safe spaces as a teacher and mentor, help my clients look for beautiful homes as a Real Estate Agent, and help students travel abroad to see foreign spaces as a travel abroad coordinator.
You can find my socials below :
GoFundMe Link : (#DestinedForSpain)
www.TinyURL.com/DestinedForSpain
YouTube Channel : (An Ocean Away)
https://www.youtube.com/@AnOceanAway413
Instagram : Humanity in Poetry
https://www.instagram.com/humanityinpoetry
Instagram : Fortilus Spaces and Places
https://www.instagram.com/fortilussp
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities that my mentor instilled in me :
— Choose the more difficult path if you are truly passionate about it.
— Cultivate a circle of people who love you, support you, and hold you accountable.
— Be eternally grateful.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Having a mentor who holds me accountable, encourages me to read, and inspires me to continuously raise my standards has been my greatest advantage.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.TinyURL.com/DestinedForSpain
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humanityinpoetry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/k.s.forti
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnOceanAway413
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
