Today we’d like to introduce you to KeAndre’ Jordan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us KeAndre’. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m a southern guy through and through! In fact, I’m extremely proud of my southern roots and from where I come. I’m from a small town in the Black Belt region of Alabama called Eutaw, which is about 30 minutes southwest of Tuscaloosa. Raised mostly by my maternal grandma with added rearing by my aunts, my mom, and my paternal grandparents, I was nurtured into a southern gentleman with Christian values and morals. Growing up in the country, my childhood was average. I was a geek and loved studying maps and researching. I was very passionate and intuitive, which led to successful grade school years; I was the Valedictorian of my high school class and attended college on an academic scholarship. Also, thanks to family, I didn’t want for anything, but I definitely dreamed big and had every plan to move away from my small hometown.
I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Alabama A&M University, the best HBCU in the land, with an engineering degree. Then after, I moved to Houston, the best city in the world besides my hometown, and started my career as an engineer in oil and gas. However, the oil industry had not been the best to me; I’d transitioned from job to job due to the oil downturn. As a result, I’d found myself dealing with a lot of depression and anxiety; my emotional issues initially started to take a toll on my spirit after losing 15 family members within an 8-year time-frame. During my down times, I channeled my feelings into writing, and I began to focus on my passion: FOOD; not only did I focus on one passion, but I had also discovered another one: HELPING OTHERS.
Through it all, I’ve found happy places in my life. One of these happy places includes creating my website, which is meant to be authentic and transparent.
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?
Lord, the road hasn’t been easy at all! My engineering career has been filled with five layoffs, sabotage from professionals, financial woes, and backstabbing, which have caused depression! The beauty of my struggles allowed me to tap into my soul to recognize my passion and to realize where I naturally excel, which is connecting with people. I have learned that it takes hardship and pain to discover the soul. What God has for me, no one can take from me; I’m walking into my destiny, and I’m working on my personal brand.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the My SOUTHERN Brand story. Tell us more about it.
My SOUTHERN Brand is a new food blog that focuses on exposing the world to food in Houston’s black community.
I’m proud that my website and content are getting the exposure that it’s getting, thus far; people literally send messages, telling how my content guides them to authentic foods, especially in the black community.
My food blog/content/website makes me different, since I focus on black-owned restaurants. These types of restaurants get lost in sauce overall, and it hurts me; they have so much authenticity that we see duplicated in restaurants from other cultures, but since a lot of black-owned restaurants are located in undesirable areas and people don’t value the black community as they should, these entities don’t get the support they need.
I’m not only affected by this situation because I’m black, but I see myself in the respective organizations, especially professionally. I’m a dope young engineer with so much to give, if given the chance, but I’m always overlooked and not given the opportunities I’ve worked hard to get!
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m actually having good luck so far! The traction that my content is getting is organic and genuine. People are recognizing my passion for what I do, which is causing many restaurants and food entities to reach out to me to help them advertise their food.
God has blessed me with the vision to start a YouTube channel, where I interview black restauranters and chefs about their brand in efforts to bring more exposure! I’m taking my time with my business ventures so that all can be done correctly and organically! I’m striving to be meaningful and intentional because my community needs it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mysouthernbrand.com
- Phone: (205) 393-4172
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @mysouthernbrand
- Facebook: My SOUTHERN Brand
- Twitter: @mysouthernbrand
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
