Support Black Youth in Tech

Greetings All!

I am Kayann Comeaux. I am a single mother, a working artist, an educator, and a community minded visionary. I was born and raised in Minneapolis, and have been working in the community my whole life, following in the footsteps of my mother, who is also an educator and community activist. I was raised with the love of art and to be in service to community. I have often brought these two together in my work. I wrote and directed a play, You Took Me With You, centered around generational addiction, which was performed at the Lab Theatre, formerly part of the Guthrie Theatre. I also wrote the book Piece of Mine, focused on health, healing and self-identity, and followed it with a national tour. I've starred in two short films: The Avenue, focusing on mental heath; and Breakfast, a romantic comedy about dating as a single successful woman. I have also served as supporting cast or crew on three other short films in Minnesota: the award-winning Sundance film, New Neighbors, about a mother protecting her children in the face of police brutality; A Walk in My Life, about interracial dating in Minnesota; and Scarred, dealing with the complexities of mother/daughter relationships. I was also a founding columnist for Six Brown Chicks, a collective of Black women, who were featured on Oprah's OWN TV; and was also part of Life Class: Iyanla Fix My Life. In addition, I also created a creative writing circle at the Boys & Girls Club of Minneapolis, to inspire other youth with the power of writing and to tell their own stories. But my most proudest work is as the Executive Director of the AfroBot Youth Collective, a robotics initiative to inspire Black youth in coding and engineering. AfroBot Youth Collective was founded by my visionary and award-winning son, now 13 years old and CEO of the company, who's vision is to expand opportunities for young Black boys and girls in the tech field. AfroBot Youth Collective also provides free classes in partnership with other organizations and companies, including Apple and Lego League; and provides free catered lunch weekly for the youth.

All of this has not been easy to balance, especially as a single mother. But it is my passion and my life, and allows me to bring my artistry, my work, my family and my love of community together. However, in order to continue to grow, as a person, an artist and community leader, it is important to seek opportunities to strengthen my foundation and support in order to do this work, and yet still be a strong mother and an example to my young son. I have such an opportunity to be part of a leadership program that will provide the tools and support system to build to the next level in my development and our work with the AfroBot Youth Collective. It will give me the much needed grounding as I work to develop my next creative work, Peace in Pieces, a multidisciplinary work that includes a book, a theatrical production, creative healing circles, and panels around mental wellness for youth, to combat suicide and addiction.

It is my vision to continue to be advocate for youth, through the work with AfroBot Youth Collective, but also to create support systems for their mental wellness, and how to use art and their passions to thrive and gain self-liberation. I know this leadership program will support me in that vision. That is why I am asking for your support to bring this vision to life.

My goal is to raise $1800 to complete the leadership program, and cover travel and lodging. Your support will help me continue to be leader in the community and for the youth. Join me in raising up our youth to understand the wealth of knowledge, creativity and power they have in themselves, and be empowered to know they can be engineers of the future.

With Love and Blessings,
Kayann Comeaux