Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenny Henry.
Hi Kenny, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I begin my journey attaining my Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications with a focus on Broadcast Journalism and Sociology. After graduating, I moved to Southern California to continue my higher education and earned a degree in Fashion Merchandising. I completed my degree with honors and was named Merchandising student of the year and I won the National Honor Society Alpha Beta Gamma Robert E. Litro Most Outstanding Chapter president in the nation. After graduating I begin working producing Los Angeles Fashion Weeks, Working in fashion buying offices, styling for celebrity photo shoots, and creative directing for magazines. In 2006 I got married and soon had my daughter. Being a devoted husband and dad is my greatest joy. Yes, I have been PTA dad. LOL. I started contracting from 2012 to 2018 designing A-List music tour dressing rooms and VIP parties for Live Nation/AEG for artist like Beyonce, Jay-Z, Pink, Adele, Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw, KISS, Andrea Bocelli, Bruno Mars, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Jay-Lo, and many others.
The blessing is that I was able to do this work while still working in my calling of human services. My day job was managing foster homes for neglected and abused boys in Orange County, CA. From there, I worked as Facilitator for at-risk families to prevent their children from losing their placement at home. This was accomplished through my partnership with county social workers, therapists, and probation officers. When I moved on from there, I begin managing an Emancipated Foster program for those young adults who have aged out of the foster care system. This experience exposed me to knowledge of a dark industry where human beings were being placed in physical, emotional, and psychological bondage through labor and s*x trafficking. Once I was awakened to this disheartening reality, I could not sit back do nothing. As a descendent of the Atlantic Slave Trade, I refused to not take a stand and work to eradicate human trafficking. I begin working in the anti-human trafficking movement case managing survivors of human trafficking. During this time, I learned how underrepresented women of color were in the movement, so I banned together with other stakeholders in Southern California to found and establish the Compton Human Trafficking Task Force in 2017. At this time, I was accepted into the first class of the federal government’s Human Trafficking Leadership Academy. Soon after I co-founded my own anti-human trafficking non-profit called Tik Tok Services based in Southern California. After three years, I dissolved Tik Tok Services and relocated to Houston, Texas in 2020. In 2021, I begin working for United Against Human Trafficking where I currently serve as Director of Collaboration and Strategy. This role allows me help lead the collaboration efforts of the organization with outside entities and resources to include expansion efforts in other states. My most favorite part about this role is being able to identify key stakeholders and bring them together and help guide effective collaboration for the mission of preventing human trafficking as well as providing treatment. It is about being unified, organized, and innovative in approach that allows me to bring all my worlds together to include my creative skills.
I have learned the key to life is not balance but rhythm. Rhythm allows us to consistently do those things necessary to life while being able to give attention to those things that breathe life into us. Creativity is my breath. In two days, I travel to Los Angeles, CA to star in the Limited-Edition Performing Arts stage production called, Adorh, written and directed by Lady Y. Smith. This play is about how many innocent men are in prisoned for being falsely accused by unhealed women from a woman’s perspective. It is living life out loud and in authenticity that promotes the inspiration required for a fulfilling and purposeful life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My journey has not been without struggle or bumps. Leaving the southern United States right after college and moving to the West Coast with no community and support was a major challenge. There were many things I had to overcome including struggling financially. I wasn’t prepared for how much more expensive the West Coast was compared to the South. There were many times I contemplated leaving, but the magical moments that sporadically occurred gave me the inspiration I needed to build the resilience that ultimately allowed me to see things positively turnaround and allow me to remain in Southern California for 20 years.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am known for my dedication and work in the anti-human trafficking movement. I am part of national faith coalition and men group against human trafficking. Majority of my anti-human trafficking work is done in Houston where the organization (United Against Human Trafficking) is based here. My role within the organization requires me to also lead our expansion efforts building anti-human trafficking coalitions in other states. I am often called to speak and train in human trafficking.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
As Director of Collaboration and Strategy for my organization, support and collaboration are key components. People support through giving resources, money, and time through volunteerism, Collaboration opportunities are available in several different ways, and I am consistently creating new innovative opportunities. People and entities can collaborate through our coalition, panels, events, creative outlets like fashion shows, open-mic nights, fundraisers, life-skills workshops, educational presentation opportunities, etc…
Contact Info:
- Website: uaht.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100073380581163
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnIEwd3j3Xe7nllG5xCSLzQ
Image Credits
Jack Urban
