Latoria Kenniebrew is not a historical figure, but she is an inspiration to me and hundreds of black teenage girls in Birmingham, Alabama. Ms. Kenniebrew is the advisor of Alpha Kappa Omega Hearts High School Service Organization (AKO Hearts). This organization was founded on March 12, 2007, when Ms. Kenniebrew agreed to mentor a small group of high school females at Fairfield Preparatory High School. Fourteen years and hundreds of girls later, Ms. Kenniebrew is still mentoring and changing the lives of teenage girls in the greater Birmingham and metropolitan area. AKO Hearts was established with the intent to create and foster a positive and uplifting environment for high school females whose community initiatives, academic achievements, talents strengths, and abilities could be individually utilized and socially recognized as a powerful entity in the educational and public sectors of the community. AKO Hearts participate in mandatory monthly community service projects and Ms. Kenniebrew requires that each member maintains a 2.75 or higher GPA and be in good standing in the community and school.
I became a member of AKO Hearts in the second semester of my freshman year of high school in 2018. Ms. Kenniebrew joined forces with my mother and has been a driving force in my life ever since. Under her tutelage, I have developed leadership skills that I will carry with me throughout my life. I am currently the President of AKO Hearts, Ms. Kenniebrew allows me to coordinate and conduct our business meetings. I am responsible for making sure the members participate in our community service projects and that they are following the guidelines of the organization. As President of AKO Hearts and an Ambassador to Jefferson County Commissioner Lashaunda Scales, I was selected to be one of the keynote speakers for the announcement of Commissioner Scales 2021 Mayoral Campaign which was aired on several local news affiliates in Birmingham, Alabama.
Ms. Kenniebrew has contributed to my growth as a young lady striving to be a leader in every area of my life. She inspired me and other young ladies to honor ourselves in all we do and stay true to who we are. She instilled in me the importance of loyalty and being a person of good character. These are all things my mother taught me but talking with her just reaffirmed to me the power of hope and never giving up on your dreams. These contributions from Ms. Kenniebrew have helped shape me into the person I am today. The leadership, poise, patience, drive, and compassion that I received from her will serve me well as I pursue a career in Nursing at her Alma Mater, Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Ms. Kenniebrew is not a historical figure but she is defiantly an iconic figure in my life.