We were lucky to catch up with Cherie Animashaun recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cherie , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

Seeing eyes light up when a fresh idea comes to mind. That aha moment when the kid you’re tutoring finally understands the algorithm or seeing the eyes of your friends well up when your advice truly resonates with their situation. I am no stranger to the feeling myself, but helping others reach that point is the most fulfilling. Seeking ways to uplift those who have been overlooked and amplifying young voices that are often silenced is the heartbeat of my work. I grew up thinking of new ways to use my creative talents to pour into my community. How could I not when I was surrounded with altruistic leaders throughout my childhood? A family anchored to faith and compassion. The after school programs that poured into my creativity. The mentors and camp leaders whose words guided me, the myriad of women I could confide in.

Since I was a kid, I dreamed of creating something that helped multitudes. Books, poems, painting, teaching — but it wasn’t until 2020, when I witnessed so many issues dragging people down that I decided to create an organization that could help at least a few people up.

With the help of one of my favorite verses ( Isaiah 60:1), Maya Angelou’s poetry, and my obsession with the word “initiative”– my nonprofit organization, Her Rising Initiative, came to life. After reaching over 200+ kids through my nonprofit it became crystal clear. If we can help enough kids find their wings, then our generation will soar much farther than the people before us.
As President and founder of an organization named Her Rising Initiative, I am constantly asking myself, “What does this community need in order to rise?”. So far, I’ve answered that by creating mindfulness journals, statewide leadership workshops, scholarships, and panels discussions on building solidarity to mental health. However, as long as there are issues in our world– there will always be new ways to answer that question. If my organization can create and encourage more young leaders to answer that question while also spearheading more solutions ourselves — then I will truly believe it has lived up to its name.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an author, advocate, artist in the Illinois area. I find it difficult trying to summarize all the ideas on my heart and the work I do into exactly one label. However, the thread that holds it all together is my love for kids. At 12, I published a curriculum book to help teachers in ministry create more engaging lessons for their students. Just a few years later, I would publish a journal series where young readers could vent, learn, and move a step closer towards their goals. Now, I’m the President and Founder of Her Rising Initiative– a nonprofit organization that uplifts youth and women in different areas around the globe.

As a recent high school graduate, not a day went by without hearing questions along the lines of “how did you start..” or “what inspired you to do this..”. To many people’s surprise, I discovered my passion for working with kids when volunteering at my aunt’s church in 2015. I was the last person you would expect to be teaching at the time. I was the chatty student in class but public speaking was my worst nightmare. Yet, there I was. Standing in front of 15 little kids in a tiny classroom. I would have never guessed that the four walls of that classroom would be a catalyst for my career and advocacy work. I embraced my role as a teacher so fiercely at 11 years old. Lugging in bags of materials so I could lead science experiments, designing print outs and worksheets, carving out time to sit with each child individually and hear what they were going through at school. Soon enough, I saw the difference I could make on a kid. But you know what was even cooler? Seeing the kids I poured into, go into the world, and pour into another set of kids. It was a chain reaction, one that I set out to multiply.

I went on to volunteer and learn at about nine organizations before I founded Her Rising Initiative. I learned by serving and along that journey, I met the most incredible women who invested in my ideas. It’s only right I do the same for those around me. My non-profit focuses on three things: building community, providing resources, and encouraging youth. Our largest event, Girls Who Lead is my greatest achievement. It’s a space that teaches, unites, and celebrates hundreds of BIPOC girls. Growing up, I abandoned many ideas due to lack of confidence and resources. This universal experience for girls is why Girls Who Lead is so important, it revives dreams. Infusing the advice, environment, and role models I needed when I was younger. Free workshops in computer science, engineering, medicine, law, and more! In each girl, I see a piece of myself and with each conference, I am bringing them closer to their dreams. That will forever be my greatest achievement and I plan to bring this event across the world.

Aside from Girls Who Lead, we also provide scholarships and host panel discussions to empower women locally. Our most recent fundraisers have helped us donate to organizations helping women in Nigeria and Iran. I hope to enter teaching and government as a profession later on in order to further help marginalized communities. Rooted in love, my work centers around education, policymaking, and literature. I will be studying Public Policy at Cornell University starting in the fall.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

“If I were you, I would just cancel this event” advised one of my keynote speakers on a grueling Wednesday morning. She, like my five other speakers, had recently lost a family member or contracted COVID 19 and were now informing me that they wouldn’t be able to make it to one of the most important days of my life. I stared at my computer in disbelief. Two days remained until 100+ girls from all over my state would walk into Fleetwood Community Center in hopes of befriending new faces and enjoying free workshops in medicine, law, and photography. How in the world would I tell these precious girls of color that all the role models and leaders I had found for them would not be able to make it? Just thinking about the five months of planning, canvassing, and fundraising being thrown down the drain saddened me. Was I too ambitious for thinking that at 17 I was ready to pull off such a large event? Hoping to silence the spur of doubts creeping in, I reached for my notebook and made a chart. One side listing my fears and remorse, the other would be designated for planning- How can I move forward? During my school breaks and after school, I would send email after email, and dial leaders around the world repeatedly.

48 hours later, I stood in front of a crowd of glowing young women. Their faces all radiating a different skin tone and the varying dialects on each nametag alluded to different nations. United by their shared potential, ambition, and blue “Girls Who Lead” t-shirts. They buzzed joyfully after getting their first choice of workshops, securing hugs and autographs from women in government and media, and our impromptu dance parties.

After emceeing and coordinating all day, I wanted to leave them with one last word. I told them about my week of unfortunate news and how many suggested I give up. I admitted how close I was to canceling the event, but how that single strand of hope was enough to tie the event back up together. That day, young girls who had been torn down by the loss and isolation of a pandemic were able to confide in older highschoolers who endured it too. Aspiring lawyers inquired with senators, future engineers worked with women holding multiple degrees in the field. A multitude of girls went from online registrants to my beloved mentees. Middle schoolers who were anxious about returning to school headed back to the semester with newfound friends and confidence. If I had allowed Girls Who Lead to be canceled back in 2022, I would not be able to bring it to different states this year! Resilience has been such a huge part of my journey. I had to learn how to get back up after falling and to also understand that sometimes things aren’t falling apart, they are simply falling into place. I’m even launching a new podcast on Spotify, called Rising with Her, where I’ll be interviewing some of the most hardworking and accomplished women I know. My goal is that everyone who listens, especially the little girls, will gain some form of inspiration and realize that in order to rise we all have to overcome ( Check it out in August :)

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

Before my organization started receiving grants and donations, it was solely funded by my book series: Compass: Her Steps in the Right Direction. I was able to publish this book through the amazing editing and publishing company ( that I work as director at) 7th Seal Advantage Christian Editing and Publishing LLC. I sold my book on Amazon. Which was beneficial for customers who didn’t reside in my state or even country. It also made it convenient for readers to get the book shipped to their home. However, the royalty that authors receive from their book proceeds on Amazon is shockingly much lower than you would expect. I found the most success selling my books in person. Not only could customers look through the journal, flipping through the bright and interactive layout for themselves– they got to see the journaling prompts, affirmations, and advice I laced in each page. I partnered with Evanston Made, a nonprofit that had actually rented out a huge storefront at the time to host vendors in the area. I sold my book in-store and at different pop-ups and community events and was able to raise over $2,000 for my nonprofit. I advise all entrepreneurs, especially authors, to really look at their audience and immerse themselves in it. I centered most of my marketing strategy around parents and youth. Partnering with schools and teachers while bringing copies of the books to PTA meetings.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: her.risingg
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherieanimashaun/
• Other: Would you like to help hundreds of girls alongside Her Rising?! Check this out: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfOWTYDxtZFyMLJY-SmmxUslv-zTnkwTMSs8uUoSFtK0uGqpA/viewform

Image Credits
KSH Photography The headshot was taken by Kadyn Reid Photography