My Story

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Growing up as a Black, African American girl in Minneapolis, MN I was bright, curious, and creative. I played in band, read constantly, and carried big dreams. But I was raised by a single father who gave me an arsenal of knowledge and wisdom, but didn’t have a creative bone in his body, which meant I had to figure out that part of me on my own. There weren’t mentors or intergenerational spaces to guide me, so while my mind was alive with ideas, I didn’t know how to shape them until I went off to college.

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As I moved into adulthood, I thought the community would finally meet me. I imagined finding circles where I could belong and be nurtured. Instead, my 20s became a blur of work and networking; opportunities and impressive rooms that looked good on paper but left me feeling unrooted. I rarely found spaces where connection was genuine or lasting. My ambition carried me forward, but inside, I was still searching.

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Then life tested me in even harder ways. A sudden health challenge left me relearning how to walk. Without a strong support system, recovery was isolating and disorienting. Not long after, I became a mother and lost my father within months of each other. The absence of community was undeniable. My child entered the world without grandparents to guide her, without elders to pass down their stories and wisdom.

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Now, in my 30s, I understand the deeper truth: these struggles aren’t just personal. They are shaped by interconnected systems of oppression. Structural racism, gender inequity, and economic pressures, compounded by the erosion of cultural roots and ecological wisdom, create barriers that prevent many of us from living slow, calm, and grounded lives. What should be simple—community, stability, belonging—has been made complicated, even impossible, by systems designed to keep us scattered.

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I created KIJIJI because I refuse to accept the way of living we’ve been handed. We’ve become less communal and more isolated. Technology has replaced togetherness. Fear tactics and mistrust have replaced neighborliness. Individualism has replaced interdependence. Capitalism has stolen our time. Communities have been disrupted, mental health struggles ignored, and colonialism has disconnected us from land and ritual.

Isolation isn’t natural. It’s a byproduct of systems that separate us from ourselves, each other, and the earth. Not everyone feels this struggle, but for those who do, the loss is real and heavy.

 

 

Why KIJIJI Exists

 

KIJIJI means “village” in Swahili, and its foundation centers African and Indigenous knowledge. At its core, KIJIJI is about unlearning harmful cultural norms, reclaiming community care, and remembering the wisdom of our ancestors and the land. This foundation directly combats isolation, culture loss, and the toll on our health by bringing people back into relationship—with themselves, each other, and the earth.

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Right now, KIJIJI lives online. We host monthly Rooted Conversations and Mingles to give adults a space to reflect, connect, and grow together. For young people, the Akademi provides a virtual space to learn, explore creativity, and be part of a community that values them.

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The goal is to grow into in-person intergenerational gatherings where elders, parents, and children learn and create side by side. Build a knowledge database where culture, health, and collective wisdom are accessible to all. And to create an economic ecosystem where ideas and businesses can grow without leaving the community behind.

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KIJIJI is not just a program. It is a practice of rebuilding the village mindset so we can move beyond survival into a future where connection, culture, and care are once again the center of our lives.

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KIJIJI is a village for people who want to slow down, reconnect, and grow in community. We create space for reflection and clarity through our Greenhouse programs, where ideas and people take root. We sustain momentum through our Ecosystem, a living network that circulates resources and nurtures vision. And we come alive through our Gatherings—seasonal events, conversations, and sessions that remind us growth is stronger when shared. KIJIJI is not just a set of offerings—it’s a rhythm, a place where gathering and growing happen side by side.