Her Story
About Keirah
Keirah Jones serves as CEO of Next Wave Youth, the nonprofit she founded in April of this year in Oakland, California. The organization focuses on young people in underserved communities, aiming to equip them with resources, mentorship, and opportunities to break cycles of generational trauma and systemic barriers. Jones recently graduated from the University of California, Merced with a bachelor's degree in political science and cognitive science along with a minor in psychology. Her path was shaped by growing up on the west side of Fresno, where she observed disparities in resources and opportunities, as well as her involvement in the Merced Schools Advisory Board and a Black Student Success internship at her college, where she advocated for policy changes to support Black students. She attributes her success to her faith in God and her mother, and she values communication, diligence, attention to detail, and intentionality in her professional life. Jones plans to integrate her nonprofit efforts with deeper work in the legal field, ultimately aiming to become a criminal defense attorney offering pro bono representation to those who are falsely accused or cannot afford quality legal services.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Keirah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success completely to both God as well as my mom. I genuinely don't think I would have been able to get through as much as I have been without God. ... my mom as well, because I can genuinely say my mom is, like, a motivation. She's, like, one of my biggest motivators, in the sense of just looking at the way I was raised despite where I lived, and just seeing how she kind of held it all together.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
A professor in college advised that there would be people coming against you but to always refer back to your passion. It got deeper than goals, referring to deep-rooted passion from childhood that shaped who you are today.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Make sure you know who you're looking at in the mirror and don't lose that person. Shut out all the noise from people who don't understand your vision. Remember your why and your roots so you can wake up proud of who you are.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Professionally: communication, diligence, 100% attention to detail, being intentional. Personally: morals around God, peace, and the quote 'smile anyways' because it can bring you back to peace. Bring peace and joy to people and be the reason they know it's going to be okay.
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