Jerusha Kananu Marete

I attribute my journey and the milestones I have reached to a combination of purpose, resilience, and the communities that have shaped me. From early in my career as an educator and theatre practitioner, I realized that art could be more than performance—it could be a tool for dialogue, healing, and social transformation. That understanding gave my work direction and continues to guide my choices.

Working with women, children, and vulnerable communities in Kenya deeply influenced my perspective. Their strength and courage constantly reminded me that education and creativity can empower people to confront difficult realities and imagine better futures. My work in forum theatre grew from this belief: that when people are invited to participate in storytelling, they also begin to see themselves as agents of change.

I also attribute my growth to a willingness to keep learning and evolving. Moving to the United States opened a new chapter for me, one where I am expanding my advocacy through financial literacy and pursuing licensing in life and health insurance while training with World Financial Group. My goal is to combine creative advocacy with practical knowledge that helps families protect their futures.

Equally important has been the support of mentors, collaborators, and family who believed in my work and encouraged me to keep pushing forward. Success, for me, is not a single achievement but an ongoing journey of service—using education, theatre, poetry, and now financial awareness to empower others. If my work has had any impact, it is because it has always been rooted in community, empathy, and the belief that knowledge and creativity can transform lives.

One of the most meaningful pieces of advice I ever received came from my late mother, Nunzia Gaturia—may her soul rest in peace. She taught me that whenever I am tempted to speak negatively about someone, I should always try to find at least one good thing to say about them. She reminded me that in life, people will ultimately judge me not by how others treat me, but by how I choose to treat them. That lesson has stayed with me and continues to guide the way I approach both my personal and professional relationships.

Working in education, theatre, and community advocacy has reinforced this principle many times. When you work with diverse communities and difficult social issues, empathy becomes essential. I have learned that every person carries a story, and often the most powerful change begins when people feel seen, heard, and respected.

Another lesson I have embraced is that sometimes the very people or circumstances that oppress or challenge us can become the unexpected force that pushes us toward our greatest growth. Pain can either make us bitter or better. I choose to believe that our struggles can be transformed into the drive to improve ourselves, to rise higher, and to create something meaningful from difficult experiences.

Another piece of advice that has shaped my path is to never separate purpose from profession. Whether I am teaching, writing poetry, facilitating forum theatre, or now pursuing work in financial literacy, I try to remember that a career is not only about success but about service. When the work you do improves someone else's understanding, dignity, or opportunity, it becomes meaningful beyond titles or achievements.

Finally, I have learned that growth requires courage and humility. Being willing to learn new skills, step into unfamiliar spaces, and listen to others has allowed me to continue evolving. For me, the best career advice is simple but powerful: treat people with dignity, stay rooted in purpose, transform pain into purpose, and let your work contribute positively to the lives of others.

I normally tell them, to go into my field, you need more of passion and personal interest in transforming lives before anything else. The pain and the glamour will come later, but you must have a drive of sharing the pain of the people you're trying to help get rid of oppression. If you share that pain, if that fire lights inside you feeling like women have been oppressed in this field for a long time, or children are going through something, and that fire burns, that is what you should follow before following it just as a career or because you want to appear on cameras. I think that fire is the most important, because it pushes you beyond the limitations that you will meet, because you'll meet many limitations, patriarchy being one of them, and also the societal constructions where people have been construed this is how things should be done. And you believe something should not be done like that, so you must have that fire to transform within you for the sake of others.

One of the biggest challenges today is access to practical knowledge that can help people improve their lives. Many communities, both locally and globally, still lack accessible education on important issues such as financial literacy, social empowerment, and personal protection. This is particularly true for women and young families who may not always receive guidance on long term financial planning.

However, I also see this as a powerful opportunity. Innovative approaches such as participatory theatre, storytelling, media platforms, and community based education can make complex topics easier to understand and more engaging. By combining creative advocacy with practical education, we can reach audiences who might otherwise be excluded from these conversations.

My current work is exploring these intersections. I am developing initiatives that use forum theatre to promote financial literacy and financial protection, while also working on the launch of The Hair Advocate Magazine, a platform that will highlight conversations around identity, empowerment, culture, and social awareness.

Because of this vision, I am very interested in collaborations, partnerships, and brand ambassador opportunities with organizations, educators, financial professionals, and socially conscious brands that share similar goals. I am particularly open to partnerships that support community education, women's empowerment, and innovative approaches to financial literacy.

There are also exciting opportunities to work with schools, community groups, cultural institutions, and organizations interested in hosting financial literacy workshops and educational programs that combine storytelling, theatre, and practical financial knowledge.

I believe the future of advocacy lies in collaboration. By bringing together creative voices, educational institutions, socially responsible brands, and community organizations, we can develop programs and platforms that not only raise awareness but also equip people with tools that help them build more secure and empowered lives.

The values that guide both my work and my personal life are integrity, compassion, service, and empowerment. I believe that any meaningful work should ultimately improve the dignity, knowledge, and opportunities of others. Whether I am working in education, theatre, writing, or financial literacy advocacy, my focus is always on creating spaces where people feel respected, heard, and empowered.

Integrity is especially important to me. When working with communities, particularly women, young people, and vulnerable groups, trust becomes the foundation for any real change. I strive to ensure that the work I do is not only creative but also responsible and purposeful.

Compassion is another core value. My background in forum theatre has taught me that behind every social issue are human stories. Listening carefully, creating dialogue, and encouraging participation are essential if we want to inspire meaningful transformation.

I also deeply value collaboration. I believe that the most impactful initiatives happen when people from different disciplines such as artists, educators, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations come together to address shared challenges. Much of my current work is built around creating such collaborative spaces.