Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla J. Smith-Hardy
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My love for social impact started during my college years. I attended Birmingham-Southern College. I majored in Human Rights and Justice, which was a self-contracted interdisciplinary major. My courses consisted of sociology, political science, religion, and history. While at BSC, I did service learning trips and started doing independent research. This would eventually lead me to divinity for grad school. I attended Harvard University and received a Master of Divinity.
At Harvard Divinity, I loved focusing on African American Religious and Cultural Studies with an emphasis on womanism and transformative justice. My senior thesis is titled “‘Something is Happening in Memphis’”: Black Spirituality and Culture of Resilience in Memphis, Tennessee. This thesis gave me my own personal blueprint for community organizing and relationship building through culture. Grad school showed me the possibility to make a career out of social impact. Additionally, Memphis has given me so many great examples of innovation. So, I was looking forward to returning home to put my training and theoretical knowledge to praxis.
Lilac Impact Services, LLC was founded after a few years working in the nonprofit and social impact sector. Services include project management, community engagement, capacity building, facilitation, and event coordination. This consultancy is rooted in womanism and relational community organizing. Effective change and results comes from intentional planning and commitment. Lilac Impact Services is dedicated to leading with purpose and empathy to create lasting social change.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This entrepreneurial journey is new, so I would say it is too early to declare how smooth or rocky this is. I will say I am learning a great deal about how to run a business. Additionally, I am learning to get more comfortable with networking and marketing myself as a brand. It is a good, necessary learning curve and adventure so far though.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Lilac Impact Services, LLC is a consulting business where social impact meets strategic goals. Services include project management, capacity building, community engagement, facilitation, and event coordination. All services are tailored to each client’s needs and will have thoughtful, inclusive strategies. Lilac stands out due to the profound comprehension of cultural and social impacts on organizations and communities, coupled with the ability to create actionable plans for fostering sustainable change. Additionally, I have experience in community organizing, project management, and facilitation with a womanist, relationship-driven approach. I know these processes work, and there is a great need to further this work especially in Memphis. To learn more and schedule a consultation with me, visit lilacimpactservices.com.
How do you define success?
Success to me is not having to always be in constant survival mode for the next opportunity, and you can also have a balanced life. Envisioning success for Lilac Impact Services, it will look like a solid client base, multiple completed projects and events with measured impact, significant increase with brand awareness, and growth in partnerships/collaborations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lilacimpactservices.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilacimpactservices/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilacimpactservices
Image Credits
Kristopher Tabor
