Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenneth Davis.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kenneth. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Growing up in a Nigerian household had its ripe and rotten fruits, being that my grandparents migrated from Nigeria to America in the 1970’s in hope for a better life in America with six children, four girls and two boys being my aunts and uncles. With a family like mine, you learn a lot. But, all the parables in the world could not stop the world around me. I grew up around extremely detrimental activity. On both sides of the spectrum, the majority of my family and friends have fallen victim to either gun violence or gang violence. Being surrounded by this experience over time from an early age to even now can be quite traumatizing and indeed change individuals, with “individuals” including me. This is why I always vowed from the very beginning to make a difference in underrepresented communities to inspire and encourage others that you can beat the odds and not become a statistic regardless of race and ethnicity. I am a product of beating the odds and using the community I grew up in as a way to help others and myself to achieve greatness beyond imagination. During my time at the University of Houston, I have been involved in numerous organizations and programs and held a number of leadership roles such as Cub Camp (Camp Counselor), Orientation Team Leader, Metropolitan Volunteer Program (Volunteer), Collegiate 100 (Director of Communications and Mentor), Urban Experience Program (B.E.S.T. Scholar), Black Student Union (Director of Programming), African Student Union (Secretary), NAACP Unit #6806 (2nd Vice President), Black Business Student Association (Internal Marketing Director), and Challenger Program (Member). Some may call it crazy; some may call it strategic as I added another organization or program to my repertoire. In the process in each and, every past and current executive position presents itself in an intersectional way.
Each organization and program are a way to make a difference which includes, enhancing college life for students through promoting student success programming and hosting educational and social events, mentoring underrepresented youth in the Third-Ward community, and bringing awareness to issues areas of advocacy plaguing the University of Houston and universities alike. My leadership roles and community work are a testimony to helping youth and young adults achieve and imagine much more than the normality. My involvement even inspired me to create and launch a live social media broadcast titled, “Kenneth Goes Live” giving students a chance to peak into my experience at the University of Houston regarding social, political, and cultural aspects to serve as a survival guide to maneuver through college for years to come.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the struggles I endured along the way of creating “Kenneth Goes Live” is being personal. It’s difficult opening up to an audience and I didn’t know how to prepare for it especially since the internet is here forever, imagine if I mess up or say the wrong things. My audience is mainly college students, some of which I know and some of which I don’t. While I was developing topics and talking points, the majority of the content was very surface level. My friends were telling me that I had to dive deeper and that was a challenge for me to tell my story. So, I took a step back and reflected: I am a first-generation college student. I am a young black man at a predominantly white institution and as a college student, I’m at the front lines of various student organizations and programs that comprise campus life for 9% of Afro-American students providing a home away from home. Once I realized that a new realm was open and I scrapped my previous content and started over.
Please tell us about your work.
“Kenneth Goes Live” is a live event broadcast on Twitter via Periscope. The show is here for college students looking to get involved, mentorship for first-generation college students, current news and events happening on and off-campus, a platform for student creatives and entrepreneurs, etc. “Kenneth Goes Live” is not like anything else because this is an interactive event happening in real-time on social media for college students to tune in with the comfortability of being in their dorms or at home. You don’t see anything like that happening right now!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I was 6 or 7 years old and my cousins and I were playing on the playground in our apartments, and out of nowhere, the laws (police) raided the whole vicinity. My cousins and I ran straight back home. This was my favorite memory because my grandparents always kept me locked up in the house and this was one of those days, I was let out and I ended up getting chased by the laws. Also, I had an adrenaline rush while running so fast trying to get back home, I was scared and excited at the same time.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 8329931611
- Email: kennethdavis135@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/higherthanmany
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/kennethdavisiii
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