Help Me Start Over in Oakland: A Leap of Faith & Freedom

Hi, my name is Ki’Ara LaFitte, and I’m asking for your support as I take the biggest leap of my life: leaving everything I know behind in Louisiana to start fresh in Oakland, California — with no job lined up, no savings, and no safety net. Just faith, heart, and hustle. I’m raising $25,000 to help me relocate by the end of August and give myself a real chance to build a life where I can finally breathe, grow, and be seen.

Why I’m Leaving

I’ve lived in Louisiana my whole life. I earned my degree in Broadcast Communications from Northwestern State, and I’ve spent the past three years working at an NPR affiliate in Shreveport — where I’m the only Black woman on staff. I’ve learned a lot, but I’ve hit a ceiling. There’s beauty here, but there’s also closed-mindedness, stagnancy, and deep loneliness — especially as a Black, queer woman in the South. I feel overlooked and underappreciated. I’ve done everything “right”: worked hard, stayed grounded, played it safe. But safety isn’t the same as freedom. And I want to live freely.

Why Oakland?

When I visited Oakland, something opened in me. My partner teaches in the Bay, and I saw what the city has done for her. And when I came, the community welcomed me like I was already part of it. They didn’t treat me like a tourist — they treated me like a regular. Like I belonged. That kind of love — that sense of being truly seen and embraced, even as an outsider — is something I’ve never experienced where I’m from. And for the first time, I thought: Maybe I could call this place home.

Why I’m Taking This Leap

At 26, with no kids and everything to gain, I’m quitting my job with no plan in place. That’s not like me — I’m usually the one with everything mapped out. But this time, I’m choosing hope. I’m choosing growth. I’m choosing faith over fear. I’m quitting my job without anything lined up. I have no savings because every paycheck goes to bills. But I’m doing this anyway — because I know I need to. I’m walking away from the weight of a life that’s slowly draining me. I’m still paying off student debt. I’m recovering from a car accident that injured my knee and left me with medical bills I’m still managing. And while some family believes in me, my elders don’t support this decision. They think I’m being reckless. But I know what’s at stake if I stay: I’ll lose myself.

What I Don’t Have

I don’t have a job waiting.

I don’t have savings.

I don’t have a car to sell or a financial safety net.

I don’t have the support of everyone I love.

But I do have talent.

I do have faith.

And I do have the guts to believe that something better is possible.

I knowI’m not meant to settlewhenI was made to soar!

What This Fund Will Do

This GoFundMe isn’t about luxury. It’s about survival, stability, and freedom. I’m asking for help covering:

If you believe in the power of fresh starts — if you believe young Black women deserve to thrive, not just survive — I hope you’ll support me. Every donation matters. And if you can’t give, please share this with someone who can. Thank you for helping me fight for my future and thank you for helping me call Oakland home.

With love and faith,

Ki’Ara LaFitte