Meet Dr. Kem

From Dropout to Doctor. From Single Mom to State Representative. From Survivor to Storyteller

The Moment Everything Changed

In 1993, the levees broke in St. Louis, and in my life. I was 19 years old, far from home, a college sophomore, and newly pregnant. In one moment, I went from excellent grades and participation to praying for a way out. I remember lying on the hallway floor, holding a pregnancy test in one hand and the shattered pieces of my future in the other. I didn’t know it then, but what felt like the end was, in fact, the beginning of my most extraordinary story.

Let’s be clear—I didn’t bounce back. I clawed my way back.

I dropped out of college. I raised my daughter with no car, no degree, and no roadmap. I worked jobs that didn’t honor my potential and cried over two-cheeseburger meals we had to split. But I also went back to school, with two kids in tow. I earned one degree, then two.
I taught thousands of students who reminded me of home. I became an author, a teaching artist, and eventually, a Missouri State Representative. Every chapter I’ve lived has been about one thing: moving in power, even when it feels like you’re stuck.

I believe...

Black women deserve more than survival—we deserve legacy.
Our stories are sacred. Our voices are power.
Education is a healing tool and a liberation weapon.
You don’t need permission to become who you’re meant to be.
Power isn’t given. It’s practiced.

The Journey Wasn’t Pretty, But It Was Powerful

So, Why Work With Me?

You’ve got ambition. You’ve got talent. You’ve made it this far doing what you had to do. Now it’s time to move intentionally—with tools, mentorship, and support from someone who gets it. Through my speaking, workshops, books, and coaching:
I help women: