We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Chinua Joi Ivey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Chinua Joi below.

Chinua Joi, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.

When we seek to serve the underserved, I think it is essential that they feel like equals. We cannot come into a situation and presume to know all the answers and “save” those in crisis. Instead, we should honestly come with an intent to serve and listen. When we have the heart to help others, we should also want to understand their experiences and let them know that their voices matter. In having the intent to listen to their concerns and experiences, we can better fine-tune our services or products to meet their needs. In addition, we now have the opportunity to amplify their voices with the hopes of leading to meaningful change that can help them advance. Outreach is not rocket science, but it does take heart – whether at the grassroots level or as a part of a corporate social responsibility initiative. I know because I am a former foster child, and I witnessed, first-hand, the impact of those who care.

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

Many look to specific career paths repeating among family members like musicians, attorneys, doctors, or educators. In my family, it was communication. I grew up seeing my birth mom at the typewriter writing editorials or articles as a freelance writer and my birth father excelling in film and photographic arts. They were creatives through and through, enjoying museums, art galleries, jazz and classical music, watercolors, and more. Consequently, I followed suit. Growing up in Washington, DC, I garnered a love for writing in elementary school, turning to creative writing and journaling to help me through difficult situations. I lived just blocks from the Smithsonian museums, providing great outlets for my creativity and curiosity. As I grew older, this perspective merged with a strong sense of advocacy. Today, I am the Founder and President of Ivey Media Agency, a public relations consultancy that focuses on developing brand narratives. My organizational philosophy is “Every cause, person, or brand has a story, and every story can spark change!”

I am the author of a book series on intimate partner violence and teen dating violence awareness and prevention. IRIS Diary for teen girls and IRIS Devotional for women are both in their second editions. IRIS is an acronym for Incredible Resilience and Inner Strength. Additionally, I am an adjunct instructor in the School of Performing Arts and Communication at Bethune-Cookman University.

The path to societal change begins with storytelling! As a doctoral candidate, my research is centered on the power of storytelling to advance social change. Whether in the office, classroom or as a speaker at an event, I seek to show how the power of sharing a compelling story can change lives. We all have this power; it brings diverse points of view to the forefront and helps us understand, advocate for, and sincerely engage with our neighbors.

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

My book series is titled IRIS – Incredible Resilience and Inner Strength. I believe resilience is a bounce-back quality, where we bend but do not break. Being a small business owner throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is an exercise of resilience. With so many unknowns in the air and the lasting shift that the lockdown has made globally, it is easy to question the viability of certain offerings. However, I give myself grace. I regularly step back and analyze situations that may present red flags to ensure that (1) I am a good fit for it and (2) it is a good fit for me. So, when the only thing constant in our lives is the evolution of change, we can meet it with an open mind that is flexible and open to what’s next.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

As a former foster child, I grew up in an abusive environment until I was in 10th grade. These formative years as an adolescent exposed me to many unhealthy behaviors and attitudes that I had to replace with healthy versions. For instance, I became a people pleaser and had loose boundaries as I sought acceptance from others. I am thankful for my foster families, friends, pastors, and therapists who showed me a different way of life. They encouraged me to be my best and to identify red flags in relationships holding me back. In addition, they supported me as I navigated life as a young adult – making many mistakes but keeping my center and always returning to what brings me joy. The backstory is that my childhood was filled with violence, abuse, and neglect, but the good news is that I did not become a statistic. This is the importance of surrounding yourself with loved ones and environments that support your dreams; you may fall but will always fall up. Learn from setbacks and improve so that you can lift as you climb.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.iveymediaagency.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iveymediaagency/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chinuajoiivey/

Image Credits
Kreed Celisse Photography