We were lucky to catch up with Kerilè Gerald recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kerilè, appreciate you joining us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?
I truly believe in divine timing and alignment. I had the idea of starting a podcast four years before I actually started mine, But my message wouldn’t be the message I have today if I hadn’t gone through the things I have within these years. The only thing I do wish I did do was major in broadcasting or marketing when I was younger because it would’ve gotten me further in my career, but its still not too late to do those things!
Kerilè, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Kerilè. South Carolina born and raised. I am a domestic and sexual assault survivor. When I first started my organization MyCurlsSpeak it was because of a young lady I came into contact with in court. As I was waiting for the name of the person I was in court to hear plea’s name to be called, I remember hearing her abusers case being read. I had my head down because I was trying so hard to mind my business and also not to have any eye contact with my ex. But as they read her case and I heard the severity of it, and the judge asked if she had anything to say, I was blown away to hear her start sobbing and blaming herself for the abuse. I sat up then, and looked at her and I saw myself. Everyone else in the room seemed to be judging her but as a victim of abuse I knew that she really thought she deserved her mistreatment. I decided then I never wanted another woman to feel like that and that’s what birthed MyCurlsSpeak.
I started MyCurlsSpeak which is an outreach program for battered and abused women in November of 2016. I conduct workshops for women where we go over self esteem and learn more about loving ourselves . I also have a safe space I provide for them to vent and just be themselves and seek guidance . Together we can learn so much from each other and we can help another woman becomes free from the abuse of domestic violence .
MyCurlsSpeak With Key the podcast was created with MyCurlsSpeak the organization in mind. Your weekly dose of positivity mixed with sarcasm. I offer advice on life while being totally transparent . This podcast is real, unpolished, honest , and vulnerable . I discuss the real stuff minus the judgement. This podcast is a safe space … What started out as a podcast to empower women turned into a podcast that empowers everyone who listens! A new episode airs each and every Wednesday on all podcast streaming platforms.
Now on top of the organization and podcast I do social media management for several business owners and I also offer content strategy! It’s been an amazing two years…
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding part is reading the reviews or receiving emails telling me how much what I’m doing is helping someone else! Knowing that one less person feels alone and one more person feels seen makes it all worthwhile to me.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
That I need to know everything before starting. In business you will never one hundred percent be ready. You just have to take a step and as you take that step things start making more sense.
Contact Info:
- Website: MyCurlsSpeak.com
- Instagram: thediaryofkey & mcswithkey
- Facebook: Kerilè Gerald
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keril%C3%A8-gerald-28192519b
- Twitter: thediaryofkey & mcswithkey
Image Credits
I have the rights to all photos featured