As a native of the Vandeventer and Penrose neighborhoods in North St. Louis City, Missouri, Nakesia Chanté Daugherty is an educator and poet who enjoys passionately mentoring youth and centering their voices. Nakesia has partnered with local poets and organizations to create and host poetry workshops and spoken word events, showcasing the beauty and brilliance of Black Americans. Her mission is to shepherd the next generation of speakers, writers, and performers by promoting healing, channeling passion, and honing their talents and skills. With her lifelong legacy as an educator, performer, mother, and wife, she hopes to love people and honor God. Her family and marriage to her husband James is a testament of their spiritual and mental growth and evidence of God’s love and faithfulness. Her fun-loving, active, talented children are Camden, Brooklyn, and Amani. Nakesia enjoys singing, reading, playing piano, cooking, spending time with family, playing sports and games, learning and trying new things, and traveling. Of her creative outlets, Nakesia enjoys writing most; her first children’s book Black Curl Power expresses the beauty, struggle, power, and triumph of Black hair experiences.