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

Trinessa, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

The journey that I am experiencing in this moment is the risk that I am gladly taking. After years of working for others, I branched out in the world of cosmetology. As a entrepreneur business owner I have been taking small risks for the last 7 years. I had taken time off as an acting creative to learn more about the actual function of the theater. As I found myself getting back into my element It dawned on me during covid that I could be doing more for myself and the world of children around me. I started substitute teaching many years ago and found my way back to it after covid to offset some of the loses. After losing several opportunities through other entities, I decided to take my creation further than my living room and thus TT Readz was born.

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.

My name is Trinessa Kirby.
I am a creative artist that has been working with elementary and junior high students for over 30 years as a substitute teacher, theater instructor and entrepreneur.
Most recently I have created a character that aims to change the world all while allowing readers to use their imagination to be creative build character and use their real life ability to interact socially.
I am a verified Teaching Artist with the SCAC and Auntie Karen Foundation that travels rural South Carolina to assist in the literacy needs of our children. I introduce them to theatre arts. I have been using donated books and those from the library to read to the the children and allow them to use their creative minds to retell a story or create one of their own.

I have recently introduced my character T.T Readz and her mission is to encourage creatives to use their imagination to fashoin a world of their own and know that it is a safe space. T.T Readz was created to also give away as many books as she (T.T. Readz) possesses so long as the reader “promises” to read it and make it come alive (using examples from theater such as pantomime, statue, tableaux and storytelling or playwriting) I am using this character to bring back the joy of reading and to many introduce them to theater arts. Our children stand a better chance in life knowing how to read.
At the end of the day I want our children to be better readers and to accomplish that I use my theater experience as an actress, director, producer and playwright and I use my creative accomplishments to instill a creative mindset for their future.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

one of the main goals is to encourage children of all ages to read and have fun.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is getting the reader involved or enthusiastic about continuing to read. Using books as a tool for the reader to use their imagination to recreate or retell the story being told. I am aware that our children are behind in literacy skills as well as social interactions I believe by applying theatre skills such as statue, pantomime and storytelling the student is able to reenact or create from books that have been read to them, gain knowledge and are encouraged to use their local libraries.

Contact Info:

• Other: [email protected]
  I have not established a social media presence for this character yet.

Image Credits

Nora Williams Photography
DK Turner Photography