Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chayla Cooper. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Chayla, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

During the 2020-2022 pandemic, I was laid off from my job of over a decade. During my tenure at my prior employment, I taught myself how to self-publish children’s books with my first book entitled, “Thank You God”. An homage to my African American family dynamic where gratefulness was instilled in me at an early age, I decided to tell MY story, something I rarely see in today’s children’s books. Continuing to practice my new skillset, I released my second book entitled, “You Belong”, to remind children that no matter the gifts of others, you are still valuable and needed. Thinking I found my “lane” with Christian based kid books, something, or should I say someone, ignited a fire in me to write about the one thing that children don’t receive adequate guidance on…how to deal with their emotions.

My oldest god daughter went through a lot of changes at a young age and in my attempt to try to help her understand the big feelings she was experiencing, I often struggled to find the right words. How do you explain to a 4-year-old what anxiety is? How the deep sadness they feel is called grief? How it’s ok to be yourself when others don’t understand? After educating myself through various google searches, I utilized my newfound creative outlet to create the Cool Kid Cason™ series.

8 books into a 10-book series to date, Cool Kid Cason™ observes how Cason and the Carter family navigate through the various emotions Cason experiences. Showcasing a strong African American family, Cool Kid Cason™ was created to help the next generation become more aware of their emotional intelligence, promote a growth mindset, cultivate self-confidence, and develop practical tools to help them communicate effectively and efficiently.

Thus far, Cool Kid Cason™ has been the most meaningful project I have worked on because not only am I teaching the next generation how to conduct themselves with more love, understanding, and emotional tools, I am helping my own generation breakdown their own trauma.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

As the eldest of two, raised by a single mom, you don’t have many options to learn and express the various emotions you’re experiencing at a young age. I turned to writing poetry and listening to music to rejoice in the notion that other people have felt the pain of their first high school heartbreak, losing a family member, or the joys of hanging with friends. Never letting go of my creative outlet, I attended Baylor University, where I earned my bachelor’s in Film and Digital media. Learning to showcase the human emotion in all the work I created, I honed in on my writing skills and learned to create music, scripts, film treatments, and more. It was here where I learned one valuable lesson, if I can imagine it in my head and write it down…I can see it in fruition.

After leaving school, I created a publishing company, entitled Sleeq Productions. Through this publishing company, I have released music under the stage name Chay CEO, created several children books, and released business books that showcased how Christian values can be practical in the corporate world. I am a Black-Lesbian-Christian-Woman who already has four strikes against her anytime I walk into a room. A walking conundrum to the world, I find that my intersectionality makes me that much more empathetic and knowledgeable on the plight of the underdog and misunderstood.

As an author, I’m currently focused on helping children navigate through their emotions, in hopes of seeing a future where self-regulation and understanding is abound. As a musician, I express the ups and downs of navigating through the tumultuous terrain that not only is the dating scene, but the black lesbian dating pool. A unique, yet small, microcosm where you feel like you’re on an episode of Cheers… “where everybody knows your name”. And as a public speaker, I have sat on various panels that discussed the intersection of faith and the LGBTQIA+ community, how to improve diversity in the workplace, how to help black LGBTQIA+ allies show up more for the community, and more. Finding my voice in writing helped me realize that not only do I have unique stories and perspectives to share, but there are people who are willing and wanting to hear what I have to say.

I want to create a more tolerant world where love flows more freely, and to be the change I wish to see, I have a three-tiered approach. For the children, teach them to love themselves and others and to build up their emotional intelligence through my books. For the Millennial and Z generations, music that not only provokes their minds and hearts, but to showcase that we all crave and want love around us…no matter the orientation. And for everyone in between, I convey thoughts of of equality, love, compassion, and understanding when I speak on panels. Sharing the raw and vulnerable parts of myself in all that I do.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

As I stated before, when I walk into a room, I not only have 3 strikes against me, but 4. I should be counted out, but as the world finds me, more and more people are enlightened, yet perplexed as to how I navigate this thing called life. How can I write children’s books, sing about my romantic experiences, and still make someone feel the love of God all at the same time? The creatives on TikTok would call me a “Multi-Hyphenate”, someone who pursues their multiple passions.

When you think of great writers, you may recall Dr. Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, and Lorraine Hansberry. All three of these individuals transformed literature as we know it by being black, queer, and multifaceted. Dr. Angelou was a madam for lesbian prostitutes, James Baldwin was an openly gay black man, and Lorraine Hansberry was noted as being attracted to women and yet, all fought for social activism, broke barriers, and spoke up for what this country…this world could be through their art, work, and interviews. When I think about my legacy and how I want to be remembered, I want to extend this legacy of boldness, curiosity, and living life to the fullest while encouraging a more peaceful and understanding society.

Overall, I want others to be open minded to the notion that I’m not just a musician or just an author…I’m a human being trying to spread one message. Love. I will continue to use all mediums of creativity to get my message out to the world. I am not confined by one medium.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Within the past year, I have taken a deeper dive into who I am as an individual, and who God has created me to be. Falling in line with the scripture, “Then the Lord replied, “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end – it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”” (Habakkuk 2:2-3), I have read such books as As a Man Thinketh by James Allen, The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale, and of course my Bible through a weekly bible study in addition to my going to church. All of these books, and the majority of “self-help” books, focus on the fact that if you first see it in your mind, write it down, and have faith then it will come to pass. Whether it comes fast or slow depends on your work ethic coupled with God’s timing, and when I sit back and look at the sum of my adult life, I have received everything that I asked of God. From the focus on learning to become a self-published author, to making over six figures a year doing what I love, if I didn’t tap into who I could be, despite how crazy it may sound, I wouldn’t be the bold, confident, accomplished and educated person that I am today.

For motivational purposes, the autobiography’s of 50 Cent (Hustle Harder) and Will Smith (Will), have given me a renewed sense of hustle to accomplish all that I have within me. 50 Cent showed me that being myself will open doors for me, no matter the circumstances that may arise and how different you are from those in the room. Will’s book reminded me that no matter how great you are and how many accomplishments you may have under your belt, if you don’t address your trauma, emotions, and relationships, you’ll never be happy.

I feel that through the various biblical principles and books that I’ve been reading, God has been saying to me that He created this vast world for me to explore and to be my authentic self. Through it all, He’ll be with me and will partner with me in creation… but don’t get too cocky because without a solid foundation, it all means nothing.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.Chaylacooper.com / www.chayceo.com
• Instagram: @chaylacooper / @thechayceo
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCDcYAhP_6fZ0ghswdIpx6Ng
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechayceo