Kifani Kids Charitable Organization

08/24/2026

Each week, we are highlighting our dedicated board members at Kifani Kids. Next, we want to highlight Michael Davis!

Michael Davis Jr. is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment, with a proven track record of leadership and service. As a motivational speaker, mentor, and entrepreneur, Michael has dedicated his career to helping young people realize their potential and overcome obstacles.

For more than 8 years, Michael coached entrepreneurs — helping them grow, lead, and scale their businesses. Along the way, he noticed a consistent challenge: many struggled with their business finances. This realization led him to his next role as a financial advisor.

Michael now serves as an Associate at Vantage Financial Alliance where he helps everyday families and individuals build personal financial strategies that work. Vantage is a financial services firm focused on helping individuals and families protect their future and build long-term financial stability. They specialize in life insurance, retirement planning, wealth-building strategies, and financial education.

Thank you for all that you do!

08/24/2026

Thank you to all of the incredible authors and artists who have applied. We are still in need of few more artists! If you or an artist you know can visually tell the stories of Memphis, encourage them to apply!

08/24/2026

Help Us Tell the Story of Memphis! Complete a 5-min survey for a chance to win a $100 gift card.

Please take our 5-minute community survey and help us shape our next literacy project! At Kifani Kids, our mission is to engage early readers through place-based learning. Simply put, we create books about the community for the community.

Thanks to the support from Literacy Mid-South, we are developing a nonfiction series of All About Books featuring five neighborhoods in Shelby County.

Complete the survey here: https://forms.gle/vowngPyQHNeSZxpGA

If you have questions or need more information, email us at [email protected] or visit www.kifanikids.org.

08/22/2026

There is still time to catch Shelby County A to Z at the Storybook Trail in Tom Lee Park. The Storybook Trail is an interactive literacy experience presented by Literacy Mid-South and Memphis River Parks.

Walk the trail and then enjoy the slide 🛝 down at the end! See what new things you can learn about the largest county in Tennessee!

08/21/2026

08/21/2026

August is Black Philanthropy Month and Kifani Kids is participating in the Give 8/28 Campaign! Join the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis and invest in hundreds of black-led nonprofits. On 8/28, support Kifani Kids Charitable Organization and help us to continue to engage early readers through place-based learning.

08/16/2026

Ellie's Laundry hosted not one but two free wash days! The team at Ellie's exhibited two of our core values today: kindness and compassion. We were thrilled to provide books and activities for the kids and families at the Pauline Street location. Thank you to the dedicated volunteers from FedEx Cares who jumped right in and made the day a success! Every space is a literacy space.

08/14/2026

We had an excellent time at the Powered By Us Black Generational Wealth Symposium. The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis put together a dynamic day for the diverse givers, philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, and community organizers in Memphis.

The sessions were inspiring. The vibe was celebratory. The atmosphere was intentional -- from the sips from Cxffeeblack to the scoops from Kaye's.

We left with new contacts we want to engage with, books we want to read, and actionable tools that will help us serve our communities better.

08/14/2026

Help students learn the art of creativity! We're looking for part-time instructors for our 901KidsCreate after-school enrichment program. Ideal candidates have experience working in the creative arts, education or youth programs. To see the full job description, click here: https://bit.ly/901Kidsinstructor

08/13/2026

Every week, we're highlighting our dedicated board members at Kifani Kids. This week we're shouting out Dr. Darlisha Beard.

Darlisha Beard, Ed.D., is a dynamic educator, nonprofit leader, and consultant with a passion for empowering individuals and strengthening communities. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Memphis, a Master of Arts in Education with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix, and a Doctorate of Education in Teacher Leadership from Walden University.

Dr. Beard is the co-founder of the NOW Foundation (Northwest Outreach and Wellness), an organization dedicated to delivering hope, healing, and help to families and communities so they can thrive. The foundation focuses on supporting seniors, promoting mental health, advancing education, empowering youth, enhancing community wellness, and assisting first responders.

In addition to her work with The NOW Foundation, Dr. Beard co-founded Beard Leadership Solutions, a consulting firm specializing in leadership development and strategic growth for organizations and individuals. Through this work, she helps leaders and teams unlock their full potential by equipping them with tools for success and transformation.

She works alongside her husband, Tradanius “Tra” Beard, minister of the Northwest Church of Christ in Southaven, Mississippi, where they are dedicated to fostering spiritual growth and building a thriving congregation. Married for 17 years, they are proud parents to two daughters, Madison Grace and Kelsey Faith.

As a seasoned educator, Dr. Beard also serves as a Foundational Literacy Coach with Memphis-Shelby County Schools, where she combines her expertise and passion to support educators and improve student outcomes.

Deeply inspired by her faith and committed to making a difference, Dr. Beard focuses her efforts on empowering individuals and communities to thrive and achieve their highest potential.