How to Help Your Community & Foster Growth

If you’ve been keeping up with the Kwanza-verse, then you know that Kwanza Jones, the Queen of Energy is all about making an impact. She believes in the importance of uplifting others and her goal in life is to boost a billion lives. That’s why her music, philanthropy, investments, and every step she takes are filled with the commitment to create a positive impact and provide service to humanity. For Kwanza, that is her love language and she lives for it.

In line with her acts of love towards humanity, on January 26th, Kwanza gave a keynote address to inspire and celebrate the sixth cohort of the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP) LA Fellows Program. She brought the energy and gave an enthusiastic speech on the power of building up your community.

If you’re ready to ignite change in your community, pave the way for future generations, and leave your mark on the world, then read on as we discuss the significant perspectives Kwanza shared with her audience.

Ask the Right Questions

"How can I help my community?" This is the question you had when you decided to read this article, right? So, let’s start here. Even if you’re struggling to find answers, asking questions gets the juices flowing. It's like turning on a curiosity switch, sparking fresh perspectives. It pushes you to find creative ways to tackle challenges. If this question seems intimidating, start smaller. If your city seems too big, think of your neighborhood. If your neighborhood seems too big, start with your street. Simply asking questions and getting curious can lead to helpful solutions for all.

"What are you building?" This is another important question to ask yourself. It helps you to reflect not only on your immediate goals and ambitions but also on the broader legacy you’re creating with every decision you make. This question urges you to consider the long-term consequences of your actions and to be intentional about the mark you leave on the world.

With these questions in mind, our visionary leader, Kwanza, along with José, her partner in business and life, made history at Princeton. They provided programs and created dormitories to enhance belonging and to create opportunities for the Black community and people of color.

You can also contribute to the success of your community by asking the right questions and aligning your actions with your values.

Fill Others' Cups

Whether you’re mentoring, sharing resources, or speaking at community events, you're making a difference. Every little thing you do has the power to inspire, boost, and help those who need it most. By uplifting individuals, you strengthen entire communities. Something as simple as hooking someone up with resources to help their career can change that person’s entire life. Think about it – when you give someone a helping hand, it impacts the entire community. This impact can bring about some benefits for you in the future.

Unity in Community

Kwanza always says, “No one succeeds alone.” When you lean on the support, guidance, and encouragement of your community, you can achieve so much more. We can all achieve so much more when we build each other up. Think of it this way, a one-legged table can only hold so much weight, it’s not as strong as a table with four legs.

Working together is the fastest way to increase your impact. With collaboration, you can tackle complex challenges and implement meaningful transformations faster and easier than if you work alone. So, join forces with like-minded motivated people, set goals, and tackle those challenges head-on.

Acts of Kindness

Ever heard the phrase, “Small steps, big moves?” Whether it's a smile, a helping hand, or a thoughtful gesture, these little acts can kickstart a wave of positivity that ripples across time, making a difference for ages to come.

A random act of kindness has the power to break down barriers and build bridges between individuals from different backgrounds.

By lending a hand where it's needed most, you're not just solving today's problems, you're paving the way for a brighter tomorrow. Remember, your actions extend far beyond yourself. If done right, they’ll leave a lasting legacy for generations to come, just like Kwanza’s efforts at Princeton.