Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Hunt.
Hi Kim, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The tenet of leadership through service was taught in my home and lived out by my parents, Morris & Flossie Hunt. The progeny of true servant leaders, I was set on a path of service long before I knew it was happening. In 2009, God gave me a vision for a non-profit organization. While I began developing it, I still needed to establish it. It rested on my heart for years, but I wasn’t moved to action. On December 2, 2015, after years of preparation, the federal government officially recognized us, and Saving Black Minds was born. Saving Black Minds is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports communities striving for a brighter future! Our goal is to empower and equip communities with the knowledge and tools necessary to become more financially and vocationally independent. Growing up, I had a fantastic village, and by offering youth and adult programming that reinforces the importance of education, Saving Black Minds is my attempt to revive communities and restore the village. Education has always been and will always be the goal. The world is our classroom, and we can learn from every experience, so I set out to create experiences that allow us to teach while we serve. Our inaugural event was a small vision-casting session that challenged participants to revisit their dormant dreams and formulate a revival plan. From there, we introduced one of our signature events to the community.
A single conversation between friends that was the birthplace of Off 2 A Great Start, our annual Fresh Start Kit giveaway, we discussed supporting a few students in need by providing back-to-school kits that would contain five school uniforms and family-sized hygiene supplies (soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, lip balm, comb/brush set, and feminine hygiene products). What started as 2 students grew to 75! In our first year, we provided 375 uniforms to 52 needy families! Since then, we’ve gone on to lessen the financial burden of starting a new school year for 539 families (1,205 students) by providing 6,025 school uniforms and much-needed hygiene supplies. Over the years, our offerings have expanded to include additional hygiene and much-needed PPE/COVID supplies. In 2017, we developed this initiative by organizing welcome back lines for the first day of school to encourage the students of East St. Louis to get “Off 2 A Great Start.” We also facilitate a girl’s mentoring program, It’s a Queen Thing, that allows us to mentor young ladies as they journey into adulthood consistently. As we continue to increase our community footprint, we are preparing for the January launch of our latest program, Now What? By working with community partners, we will help high school seniors develop action plans and equip them with the tools needed for success post-graduation. As an organization, we continue fostering relationships that help us uphold our motto, “Reviving Communities, Restoring the Village.”
Can you tell us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth?
A smooth road? Not. While the journey has been rewarding, there have been plenty of hiccups. From establishing Saving Black Minds as a reputable organization to garnering funding for our initiatives, we’ve managed every challenge gracefully. With a strong desire to work with students from the same school system that raised me, I had to tackle the apprehension of being the new kid on the block. Introducing our youth-based programs to my home school district was no easy feat. I’m grateful that our administrators carefully consider who they expose our students to. While those doors took a few years to open, we remained committed to serving the students and families through our school uniform initiative. Our commitment is what paved the way for other programming. Our flourishing partnership with School District 189 is dear to my heart, and I pray it is well maintained for years to come. As for financing our endeavors, until this year, everything we’ve done has been possible solely through the benevolence of people who believe in us. Sometimes, I’ve had to fund things from my finances, but it’s always been worth it. We’ve applied for grants to no avail, but I’ve been blessed. We’ve received some generous donations and this year we initiated tiered partnerships, highlighting local business and organizations who sponsor us. We also received our first corporate sponsorship this year! We’re growing, and our work is speaking for itself. I’m a firm believer that everything we need will always be supplied.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
With my educational and professional background and a beautiful mosaic, thousands of glass shards in THEE masterful artists’ hands come to mind. As a 2004 graduate of Eastern Illinois University, I secured a degree in Administrative Information Systems and became a software developer for AT&T. My 15-year tenure with them brought opportunities for Release/UAT/Business Management, community engagement, and years of honing business acumen. While there, I also managed to tuck two master’s degrees under my belt (an MBA – from Lindenwood University MA in Education and Innovation – from Webster University). In 2019, I transitioned to the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, serving as a Project Director, partnering with local schools and organizations to help more than 125 young people develop the power skills necessary for their success in the workforce. At the close of that experience, I transitioned to Inspired Solutions, a Value-Added Reseller specializing in procurement services. I now serve as the Lead TAP Supervisor for a training program we offer to one of our largest clients.
Since starting with Inspir, I have onboarded, trained, and prepared more than 400 new hires for our client. It has been a fantastic experience. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and impact so many people. While supervising a wide range of personalities is indeed a task, it has helped me to grow as a person. Leadership requires self-awareness and self-evaluation, and because I desire to effect change in every atmosphere I enter, I’ve accepted every lesson that my technicians have provided as an opportunity to learn and grow. What sets me apart? My leadership style. I believe in leading from the front, the middle, and the back. First, I teach, then we collaborate, and then I let my students fly. I’m always preparing for the next leg of my journey. In addition to working towards completing several certifications that will allow me to support both Inspired Solutions Better and Saving Black Minds, I am a PhD student at Saint Louis University. Although Saving Black Minds has been helping families for the past eight years, I am clear that my ability to support my community in a way that allows it to emerge from poverty and sustain its growth lies in a shift in the policies that currently shackle it. Through all I gain from the Public and Social Policy doctoral program, I plan to work with those who create and implement the policies of urban America. While many roads lead to progress for my community, my calling is among those within the policy ecosystem. Through evaluation, elimination, reconstruction, and new development, policies that have long plagued my community and others like it can instead be used to elevate it. How this will all unfold remains to be seen, but I’m looking forward to it!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking.
Professionally speaking, risk management was once part of my assigned duties; however, it didn’t translate so easily into my personal life. As a creature of habit who found great comfort in stability, I was risk averse. I deplored anything that disrupted the familiar. While I am keenly aware that stepping out despite the unknown is how change and growth are manifested, it’s only in the last few years that I’ve embraced the unavoidability of risk, choosing instead to manage it. In 2017, after losing a dear friend, I decided to abandon the safety of my comfort zone and embarked on a journey into instant motherhood. This massive shift in my life, becoming the sole provider for two little lives, is the most significant risk I’ve ever taken. While it’s been quite scary at times, my children and I have been traversing life’s challenges and learning to handle each risk as it comes. The adage is true: No Risk, No Reward. I am not the biggest risk taker, but I truly believe risk is an essential component of success.
Pricing:
- Donations are tax deductible and always accepted!
- CashApp: $SavingBlackMinds
- Zelle: savingblackminds@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://savingblackminds.org/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/savingblackminds?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011351387953
