Today we’d like to introduce you to Akeem Lloyd.
Akeem, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born Brooklyn, NY, where I lived in the Flatbush apartments until the age of three. I don’t remember much of that life. At the age of three, my grandmother on my dad’s side came to get me, I was moving to Atlantic City, NJ. Atlantic City is home for me. My mom, mom’s mom, my older brother, and other family members stayed in New York. The middle brother and I were now being raised by our grandparents in Atlantic City.
I believe my grandparents tried to give me everything that they could with everything that they had, they loved me, I know this for sure, but the one thing that was missing, was the social and emotional support that they could not provide. I grew up in a silent household. In my household, we didn’t talk about our emotions, our feelings, no one said I love you and I never received a hug. I didn’t know the importance of it then, but I understand it now.
Growing up without the kind of social and emotional support I needed during my childhood development has had a major impact on my ability to cope with the world around me, both positively and negatively. I grew up with anger, having been bullied for three years, I grew up with bottled up emotions. In fourth grade, I had a gun pointed in my face and was dared to move. I was hurting, these thoughts led to suicidal thoughts and actions. I didn’t realize how hurt I was until I got to college.
In 8th grade, I started writing poetry for class assignments, in college, I started writing poetry to heal. I used poetry as my outlet and my north star. My poetry transformed into journaling, and when it did, my life changed. I was beginning to find clarity, emotionally, I was beginning to become more aware of myself. Writing gave me permission to grow, to see myself for who I was, and for who I was becoming.
When I realized that I wasn’t the only young person who has experienced a lack of social and emotional support, I committed myself to do the work that would inspire, encourage, and challenge young boys and young girls of color to heal; to become aware of themselves; to find clarity; to grow; to see themselves for who they are, and for who they are becoming.
I have spent the last 12 years in youth development. I have focused my efforts, my learning, and my teaching to helping young people and adults alike, begin and or expand their practices of self-awareness/discovery, healing, and most importantly prioritizing mental health. As a facilitator, I host workshops geared toward getting my audience to begin the process of healing. As well as challenging students to take ownership in their education, providing them with the steps that helped me go from a 1.3 GPA to a 3.4 GPA in three years. As a speaker, I share testimonies that amplify the challenges I had as a young black boy, as well as the steps I took to create a powerful college and academic experience, a healthy mental and emotional state of mind.
As a child, achieving the level of academic success I achieved was interesting, because I did not talk much, and I could not read. Having a speech leach learning curve impacted my social development. I was very observant, even at a young age I was very much so glued to my surroundings.
Sports played a big part in my development. Luckily for me, there was a Police Athletic League across the street from my house. I grew up in the P.A.L building from K-8th grade. It was more like a safe haven. I also grew up in the Boys and Girls club, spent all four years of high school going there. It was at the boys and girls club where I allowed the first adult to serve as my mentor. His approach still impacts how I build relationships with students today in a positive way. He was the first person to tell me that there was nothing wrong with expressing yourself or sharing your emotions. He was the first adult I opened up to.
I started struggling academically in the 7th grade. I gave up on school in the 7th grade. I stopped trying as hard. This attitude rolled over into high school. I was blessed when I decided to run cross country during my junior year. The coach said that if I stuck with him, he would help get me into college. It was the first time anyone had ever said anything like to me THIS WAS LIFE CHANGING. I ran cross country during the fall, played basketball during the winter and ran track in the spring. When it came down to going to college, both my cross country coach, coach Grimes and my English teacher, Mr. Kearney stepped up. My coach kept his word and Mr. Kearney did the rest.
During my senior year, I shared with my Mr. Kearney that I did not know how I would be able to repay him, his words of choice, “when you have the opportunity to do for others like I have done for you, just do it”. I did not understand it then, but I think I am starting to understand it now. His ask, pay it forward when you can. My understanding of it; every day that I am given on this earth, is an opportunity to pay it forward. It is an opportunity to help a young person paint the world they wish to live. It is an opportunity to help a young person get a little closer to their goals, their aspirations, themselves. It is an opportunity to spread love, and to speak my truth, and so every day I wake up, I am working to accomplish all of these things.
To understand how AkeemSpeaks and A Leadership Journey started, you have to understand what birthed it. It wasn’t just an idea, it was a ripple that started years ago, the foundation for having a social responsibility to help someone else.
AkeemSpeaks started December 2015 and was launched January, 1st 2016. I was encouraged to share my story and to speak my truth. My supervisor said to me, “Akeem, I think you have a gift, find out how to utilize them.” I went home for Christmas break, and for two weeks I worked on creating my website, every day from 4:00 am to 12:00 am. When I believed that the website was ready to go, I launched it, and when I did, I set what I thought was an outrageous goal, to reach 50,000 students within that year. I didn’t reach 50,000 but the process changed my life. AkeemSpeaks was going to be the platform I leveraged as my social responsibility to pay it forward.
The very next year I went to South Africa to serve on a leadership team. While I was there, I kept asking myself, how powerful an experience would it be if there was a youth-centered travel experience. This is when I decided, I want to bring young people to South Africa. When I came back to the states I reached out to a couple friends who I knew cared about the future of our youth and they all said yes. 11 months later, after all of the fundraising, and monthly meetings, we raised enough to take four students to South Africa. We took two due to last minute changes academically for the other students. After what was a powerful experience for us all, the students asked me, is this a yearly thing? It was at the moment when it became one. Their desire to see this more, to want it more, inspired me to keep going.
11 months later, we were on our way back to South Africa, this time, with eight students. Three from Boston, MA, three from Providence, RI, one from Jacksonville, FL, and one from Hartford, CT. We did all of this without a 501 (1)(3), our support system is how we were able to make all of this happen.
We are year two three-year year pilot program, our goal is to take 15 students to Kenya, June 2019, and 15 to Ghana 2020.
Where are we now: We now have nonprofit status as a 501 (c)(3) entity and can accept tax write off donations. We are in the planning phases of building our local and global partnerships, sponsors, and supporters. We currently have one community partner in the Boston’s Chapter, Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) program under the National Black MBA Association.
How to get involved as a sponsor, partner, supporter: email aleadershipjourney@gmail.com to learn more. How to be a student leader as a participant, follow @Aleadershipjourney on Instagram, and visit our website www.
To bring an AkeemSpeaks experience into your youth space, nonprofit space, etc.: email AkeemSpeaks2@gmail.com. You can learn more by visiting www.AkeemSpeaks.com.
My social media handles are:
Twitter: AkeemLloyd06
Twitter: A_ljourney
IG: AkeemSpeaks2
IG: Aleadershipjourney
FB: A Leadership Journey
I want to say thank you to everyone who helped me become the man I am today. I am a reflection of many individuals who played a role in investing in me directly, and for a period of time. Teachers such as Mr. Greenidge, Ms. Bender, Dr. Williams, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Kearney, Ms. Tripp, Coach Mike, Coach Grimes, Coach Puleo, Coach Taiwan, Mr. Justin, Virgil Sheppard, Jeff Joseph, Bill Copeland, Nick Figueroa, Charlie Rose, Leila Bailey-Stewart, and Darla Pires DeGrace. This is not to mention or to overlook everyone else who has also played a role in supporting me, my self-discovery, and or providing advice and guidance.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The challenges that I have faced personally when I was younger, it was a lack of self-love, confidence. When I got older, it became self-doubt. Now, my personal challenge is balancing a healthy self-care schedule and work. It is not as bad as I think but I know that I can always do better.
It is not easy, but it is the life that I have been blessed to live, every day I do my best to practice grace, perspective, patience, and understanding. I pray, I meditate, I workout, and I am trying to do more yoga!
Challenges with A Leadership Journey:
-Fundraising larger amounts.
-Getting the attention of potential sponsors and donors, individually and corporate/business that is more than just a one time donation, but a commitment (yearly).
-Identifying grants or gaining access to grant platforms.
-Hosting larger fundraising events
Challenges with AkeemSpeaks:because it has given young people the space and opportunity to share their stories, and to tell their tru
-Building my brand on a national scale
-Getting the attention of other colleges/universities, high schools, nonprofits who are not locally based.
-Getting grants to help me fund my travels, and workshop needs
-Not having a team to help with marketing, videos, etc.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the A Leadership Journey story. Tell us more about it.
What sets AkeemSpeaks apart from the others in the field, is that an AkeemSpeaks workshop is not just a workshop, it is an experience. Holistically, my audience gets a full body experience. We just don’t begin the work, we have fun while doing it.
What sets A Leadership Journey apart, there aren’t many youth-centered travel nonprofits that focus specifically on young people ages 13-18. Students are growing through the journey on an emotional, physical, and educational experience.
I am most proud of AkeemSpeaks, because it has given young people the space and opportunity to share their stories, and to tell their truths’. Thousands of students have started to do the work of healing, prioritizing their mental health, and I could not be happier.
We are only three years into A Leadership Journey but I am most proud of the support we have received without having nonprofit status. Raising money is hard, raising over $40,000 in two years was extremely hard without it. It is a sign of hope, now that we do nonprofit status, we are hoping for more opportunities.
ALJ: To inspire young people to embody the essence of global citizenship, self awareness, leadership and ubuntu through cultural exploration. By providing travel opportunities for students ages 13-18, we strengthening their self-awareness, expanding their goals, building a growth mindset, strengthening their cultural awareness on both the similarities and differences alike, building an understanding of global citizenship, building an understanding of their leadership skills/compass, bridging the cultural gap, and strengthening their understanding and connection to others through ubuntu.
AkeemSpeaks: My speaking platform that allows me to serve as a consultant in the field of education as a speaker and a workshop facilitator.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe things happen for a reason if I did not struggle academically, personally, socially, and emotionally, I would not have the same story that I am able to confidently and unapologetically share today. If not for the challenges, I would not have been able to understand the importance of giving back, service. I would not have been able to understand empathy, ubuntu, patience, and understanding.
If I did not get into Rutgers-Camden, I would not have my passion and love for youth work. If I did not fail my first semester I would not have taken African American history with Dr. Glasker, who, redefined my understanding of education and inspired me to learn more.
If my family structure did not allow me to be the first person in my family to go to college and graduate, I do not know if I would have had something to fight for in college.
I am still learning how to operate it all, this is happening for a reason, for when I meet another young person who wants to grow and build, I will be able to share with them my experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.AkeemSpeaks.com www.Aleadershipjourney.org
- Phone: 4018677551
- Email: aleadershipjourney@gmail.com akeemspeaks2@gmail.com
- Instagram: @aleadershipjourney @AkeemSpeaks2
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ALeadershipJourney
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/a_ljourney
- Other: https://www.aleadershipjourney.org/
Image Credit:
Dwawna Speaks, Sinenhlanhla Ngubane, Greg Gaffney
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