Meet Nakaelah Boyd

We were lucky to catch up with Nakaelah Boyd recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nakaelah, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I keep my creativity alive by finding new ways to incorporate it into my everyday life. I have always been a creative person from making up dances for talent shows in elementary to creating a modeling org on my college campus. For me, creativity is a form of expression. That is one of the drives for creating Creative Safe Haven. Everyone deserves a safe space to express and learn themselves. What better way to learn about yourself and more than in a creative, educational, and empowering environment? Creative Safe Haven can spark creativity in the youth while sparking it in the older generations as well all in one spot. I feel that creativity never goes away but can dwindle when it is not in use. Creativity will be kept alive when you don’t take everything so seriously. Every so often you should just step outside your comfort zone and do something innovative and creative. Doing this will heal your inner child and allow your creativity to stay alive.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a Senior Social Work major attending Jackson State University. I’m originally from Cleveland, Ohio home to some of the most creative hard-working people. I am always looking for ways to help others which is why for the majority of the things I do. I am the founder and vice president of Creative Safe Haven (CSH). CSH is a nonprofit determined to uplift, inspire, and empower youth, young adults, and families. We solve the problem of family dynamics, sense of community, and overall development with events that provoke creative thinking, family bonding, and community education opportunities. You can follow CSH on Instagram and TikTok @creativesafehaven to stay updated with all the exciting things to come. We will be giving out scholarships, internships, and innovative events. Our first event will be on April 7th at Jackson State University sponsored by NAMI, Latasha Norman Center, and Adobe. It will be a mental health fashion show with models from Haus of Eminence ( a modeling organization I founded in 2022 at Jackson State). This show will shed light on mental health disorders that are not often mentioned as well as gain the attention of youth, young adults, and families interested in fashion. At each CSH event there will be donations accepted for a cause for this mental health show the donations will be clothes for the local community,

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Ambition, Empathy, and Perseverance are the three things that were most impactful on my journey and made me unapologetically myself. When I have an idea I don’t give up on it no matter how impossible it may seem. I am in tune with my own emotions which allows me to be receptive to others and their views and emotions. In my life I have had many hardships however I have not let any of them define me. They may have happened to me but I feel those things have given me empathy as others. I am a firm believer that you may not know what others are going through so everyone deserves to be treated fairly. With that mindset, the janitor and CEO should be treated with the same respect which is something my dad always told me which is the first piece of advice I will give. Secondly, no matter the circumstances or size of the room take up space and be you unapologetically. With this networking and confidence tip, you will be halfway there. The other half would be to push yourself out of your comfort zone, put in the work, have faith, and believe in yourself.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am currently looking for businesses, companies, foundations, etc. that would like to sponsor, donate, or partner with Creative Safe Haven. If you are interested in helping your communities in creative ways we can host one (or more) events in your area. As previously stated we have a plethora of events falling under the categories of: mental health, art, education, sexual health, fashion, and mentorship. I am also looking to do public speaking and presentations on different topics. if you would like me to present my email is [email protected] and my Instagram is @itz.kae. If you are looking to partner, sponsor, or donate to CSH the email is [email protected],m and Instagram is @creativesafehaven.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @itz.kae @creativesafehaven
• Linkedin: Nakaelah Boyd
• Youtube: Kae’s Diary
• Other: TikTok: @kae.fitz