Meet Kiva Williams

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kiva Williams. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kiva below.

Kiva, 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?
Wow! Such a great question. Honestly it took me a long time to find it and start walking in my purpose. For years I tried to pursue things that I felt would full the “status quo” and make people around me feel as if I was on the right track. When your primary goal is to make others happy it’s easy to lose track of what your purpose is. You’re so busy pleasing others that the real you gets forgotten about. At the height of the pandemic in 2021 after being trapped in the home for a year due to Covid-19 I made a decision to stop living for others and to finally live for myself!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
In 2021 I took a leap of faith and launched my non-profit after several years of procrastination. Coming out of a year of our world being turned upside down due to Covid-19 and racial unrest, I was reminded that time awaits no one and I could no longer sit idle with my God given talents and purpose. So, in March of 2021, Mahogany Kids Fine Arts Foundation was born! My passion since childhood has always been rooted in fine arts. I remember taking ballet classes as a little girl and immediately falling in love! My parents nurtured my love of the performing arts by immersing me in dance classes, museum visits and theater productions. So of course, my love of the arts grew which led me to pursue a Dance Degree when it was time for me to head off to college.
My overall goal with Mahogany Kids Fine Arts Foundation is to empower minority youth through music, art and dance. Creating safe spaces and opportunities for minority youth to feel seen and heard is a top priority for me. I’m excited about doing the work to get this off the ground and make an impact to the world.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three important qualities that have helped my entrepreneurial journey are dedication, tenacity and consistency. The sheer ability to “never give up” has afforded me many opportunities. If you consistently show up for yourself, your efforts will not be in vain. My best advice for folks who are early in their journey is to not discount the value of networking. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, make meaningful connections and put in the work.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I believe in collaboration over competition, and I would love to partner with organizations or fellow nonprofits that align with my mission of empowering minority youth. If you have any upcoming events or workshops that include the arts, I would love to connect with you. We have an annual event coming up in October to celebrate Hispanic Heritage month and we are always looking for sponsors to help elevate the experience. Please reach out to me via social media or email.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Yokie Empire (the last 4 photos)

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