We were lucky to catch up with AliShah Watson recently and have shared our conversation below.
AliShah, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I found my purpose by simply living life, paying attention to what truly mattered to me, and reflecting on my own journey. Over the years, I started to develop a set of core values that guided how I wanted to show up in the world. I realized that I had a deep passion for my people—Black people, people of African descent. Our history is unique, filled with both struggle and beauty, and it has left us scattered across the globe, often disconnected and oppressed. But no matter where we are, we share a common thread in our experiences.
As I got older, I began to understand just how much we were stripped of our culture, and not only that—taught to see it as something inferior or shameful. This disconnect from our heritage started to weigh heavy on my heart, especially as I noticed the impact it was having on our young people. Black children were growing up without a true sense of who they are and where they come from, because our history was not being properly taught, and our culture wasn’t being celebrated as it should.
That’s when it hit me: My purpose is to serve my people, particularly our youth, by providing culturally competent, relevant education and activities. I wanted to fill in the gaps left by schools, social media, and sometimes even within our own families or communities. My goal became to empower young Black children by helping them reclaim pride in their roots and offering them a fuller understanding of their identity. In many ways, my purpose found me when I recognized the needs of my community, the same needs I felt personally, and realized I could help meet them.
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?
When I share my story, it’s impossible not to start with the life-changing experiences that have defined my journey. About seven years ago, I nearly lost my life due to a severe lupus flare that caused heart failure. Through faith, resilience, and a plant-based lifestyle focused on holistic health, I recovered. I still have some challenges, but I am very much alive and grateful for a second chance at life. But before that, about a year earlier, my life took another dramatic turn.
Eight years ago, my home was intentionally firebombed in the middle of the night. My husband and I were rescued from the burning roof of our front porch, but we lost everything. Our house had to be gutted and rebuilt. At the time, we were known for being unapologetically outspoken advocates for our people and our community. My husband, a national recording and performing artist, uses his music to speak truth to power, delivering revolutionary, honest lyrics that call out the systems of oppression that shape our everyday lives. His words hold a mirror to the injustices we face, and together, we have never been afraid to challenge those in power. It’s no secret that our voices, both in the community and through his art, made some people uncomfortable. So, while the assailant was never caught, it is plausible to connect the attack to the boldness with which we lived and spoke.
That experience was devastating, but it clarified my purpose. I was in the process of officially founding our nonprofit at the time, and while I always knew it would focus on cultural education, the fire sharpened my vision and deepened my commitment to uplifting my community. That same year, we gained 501(c)(3) status, and within three years, we were operating programs in multiple schools and community centers throughout Wilmington.
To add to the challenge, just one week after the fire, I underwent a major surgery where I was told I might never be able to have children. It was an incredibly trying time—losing my home, my belongings, and facing uncertainty about my health and future all at once. But the surgery was successful, and a year and a half later, I gave birth to my first daughter, followed by my second daughter five years later. These experiences have shaped me in every way possible, both personally and professionally.
Today, I’m the founder and Executive Director of an African-centered nonprofit in Wilmington, Delaware, providing culturally relevant and enriching programs for youth across the city. We serve grades K-12 in schools and community centers, offering spaces that affirm their identities and experiences. I’ve built my career challenging the status quo, particularly (but not exclusively) in advocating for Black and brown communities, especially the underserved.
My spiritual practices, deeply rooted in honoring my ancestors, guide everything I do. My brand is centered on self-pride, holistic health, self-determination, and liberation for oppressed peoples. Each initiative I take on is about creating opportunities for empowerment, self-expression, and resilience, just as I’ve had to rebuild and reclaim my life. I aim to inspire others to do the same—by standing in their truth, honoring their roots, and overcoming the challenges that life presents. In the face of so much adversity, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t just about surviving—it’s about thriving, rebuilding, and continuing to fight for what you believe in. And that’s what I want to pass on to the communities I serve.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, the three qualities that have been most pivotal in my journey are resilience, self-determination, and honesty. Resilience has been key—whether it was bouncing back from being on life support due to lupus, losing my home in an arson attack, or facing challenges because of my unapologetic stance for my community, the ability to keep going has shaped my path. It’s not easy, but I stay grounded in the fact that everything I do comes from a place of love, with the intention to uplift and liberate my people.
Self-determination has kept me moving forward even when the odds felt stacked against me. I define who I am, I refuse to allow anyone or anything control my personhood. And honesty—though it’s not always the easy route—has always proven to be the best approach. When you’re honest, even if it’s difficult in the moment, it saves you from confusion and inauthenticity down the road.
For those who are just starting out on their own journey, my advice is to first take time to really know yourself. Understand your values, your likes and dislikes, and the principles that guide your life. Sit with who you are in the present moment and get comfortable with that. Because you can’t be resilient, self-determined, or truly honest with the world if you don’t first understand how those qualities show up in you. Once you’re grounded in yourself and accept who you are, that’s when you can start moving authentically in your purpose. That’s when you’re free.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Many books have played a significant role in my development, but The Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou stands out. Even though the book focuses on just five years of her life, it is rich with a lifetime’s worth of experience. Angelou’s involvement in the Black Arts Movement, her time spent in Africa, and her touching reflections on the challenges facing Black life in the 50s and 60s are profoundly insightful. She navigated motherhood, civil rights activism, and the global fight against oppression with a grace that displayed immense strength, intelligence, and love. What I found most impactful was the breadth of her experiences in such a short period and how she poured herself into each endeavor while remaining unapologetically herself. Angelou’s resilience and her commitment to moving forward with purpose, no matter the obstacles, inspire me to approach my own life with that same unwavering strength and determination.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.crpde.org
- Instagram: ShahJannele
- Facebook: Shah Jannele
Image Credits
Joe del Tufo
Strikingly Odd Media
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