Original Story Published by: BlackNews.com
Nationwide — Thinking about starting a business as a youth these days reaches farther into the creative realm than a lemonade stand or mowing lawns. Children today are discovering ways to educate and make a difference in how the story is told and sold.
Meet Kalimah McKeaver, 13, founder & CEO of Dinkra Stylez, LLC and The Kid Griot. Dinkra Stylez is the world’s first craft design firm with the mission of educating its clients about African Heritage through the creation of fun, colorful, and engaging products. The idea and inception of starting this business arose when Kalimah couldn’t find engaging resources to complete a school project on the Ancient Empires of Ghana. The research materials were very dull and boring and did not peak her interest at all. She was however very fascinated with the content she read and discovered. She wanted to ensure others would have access to the rich and inspirational history she was uncovering, but in a more fun, colorful, and engaging manner. At that moment Dinkra Stylez was born.
As a kid entrepreneur, clay sculptor, and teen historian, Kalimah started her trek as a young artisan entrepreneur at the age of 6, with a lemonade stand. Growing in thought and creativity with Dinkra Stylez, she was commissioned by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art to conduct a workshop on how to make her handcrafted bowties. As a youth entrepreneur Ambassador for the Baltimore Children’s Business Fair, she presented her business and showed the correlation between science and the sculpting process of her craft.
“It motivates me when I help other kids rise and realize their amazing potential.” says Kalimah McKeaver.
The entrepreneurial journey has been fruitful for this young business visionary. She was accepted into the YEA (Young Entrepreneur Academy), a nation academy geared towards helping young entrepreneurs succeed, featured on WUSA9 DC News for the success of her entrepreneurial endeavors and aspirations, has a Pop Up shop at the Congress Heights Arts & Culture Center in Washington, D.C. and ranked as a TOP 5 finalists, at the TOFI International HERs Ownly Pitch Contest in Atlanta, GA. With a strong pitch game, Kalimah had the distinct honor of being selected to work with The Home Shopping Network (HSN), after she pitched her products during the American Dreams Academy in Washington, DC.
Kalimah’s future aspirations include, helping other young entrepreneurs fulfill their goals and dreams.
To read the full article, visit BlackNews.com.
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Wow! That was really inspirational! Great to know about such little entrepreneur who believes in working for making world a better place to live. This article really helps a lots of youngster to believe in making a world a better place to live. Alongwith this, for the better future of Africa, I have read here http://www.mission-humanitaire-afrique.org/ that many NGO’s are also working hard to provide proper help to African people.