We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brittney Kilgore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Brittney , appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
Creating a non-profit without initial funding is the BIGGEST risk I have ever taken. I had no idea how much time, money, and effort went into creating this business. While I was creating this business, I was constantly thinking about the legacy I wanted to leave my children. What type of events I wanted to host? The purpose. The reason. The why. I soon began to realize how this nonprofit needed to be different than others. There needed to be a purpose, consistency, and benefit for several individuals. It was difficult trying to figure out who I wanted to benefit from this organization. But I finally found it.
Throughout my life, I always wanted to include everybody. I wanted everyone to be my friend. I wanted everyone to have the best parties, the best time, the best laughs, the best friends, and resources. I have always wanted the people I love to have the very best.
While I think about this memory, it reminds me of how I wanted to give all that I have in order for others to never go without. This was sometimes used against me in school and my community because others thought I was soft or I didn’t fit in the world would find a funny way to remind me that people in this world will shake me up and feed me cruelty for dessert.
But as I have gotten older, I realize that this is one of my strengths. It was important for me to share my huge heart with the world and to give to as many people as I can when I can.
This has been the BIGGEST and most SUCCESSFUL risk I have taken.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Brittney Kilgore and I am in my second year in my PhD program at the University of Georgia. This is my fourth year teaching fifth grade. In my spare time, I help individuals in the Metro Atlanta area by way of my non-profit foundation. The goal and mission are to be able to provide financial and educational support or assistance for those who are experiencing economic hardships or live in underserved communities that affect disparities in their educational system.
I want people in my community and other individuals to know that this organization is open to new and invigorating ideas that help enrich the community. Please feel free to reach out if you would like to have an event and would love to partner up!
We’d love to hear about how you met your business partner.
It is so amazing how God brings the right people in your life at the right time! While at Clark Atlanta University, I met a young lady who was an aspiring photographer, and was very open to taking pictures and getting her work out there! We have always stayed in contact and three years ago, she reached out to me and has been helping with the media portion of the organization ever since.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson that I had to unlearn while building this nonprofit is making sure that I understood how important it is to pay attention to my instincts instead of listening to what other people may feel or think about what I should do. I had to learn how to listen to my inner voice to make the best decisions.
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Image Credits
@m.wynn_