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Akilah Butler, MSCED & MBE:

Akilah Watkins-Butler has spent the bulk of her professional career and life improving the conditions of “at-risk” children and communities.  In 1991, at the age of 13, Mrs. Watkins-Butler founded I AM Corporation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping low achieving youth self-actualize. By will, determination and skill Akilah built I AM’s annual budget to well over $400,000.  Through this organization she led a community organizing effort that resulted in her agency acquiring a building and creating a charter school for "at risk" youth in her community using the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).   

In 2000, Akilah coordinated two national political rallies parallel to the Democratic and Republic conventions. These conventions served as a platform for youth to express their questions, challenges, and ideas directly to the presidential candidates.  More than 5,000 youth attended and participated and the event was broadcasted on CNN.    

In September 2002, Akilah joined The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta as a Program Officer to lead their Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Opportunities Initiative, a three year initiative to ensure the success of youth transitioning out of foster care.  Akilah leveraged more than $250,000 in resources (funding and services) and created a state-wide policy which included Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) for all transitioning youth. In 2004, she directed the Community Foundation’s $1 million dollar community development fund which provided grants, technical assistance, and local and national resources to low-income neighborhood residents. 

Akilah has been featured in Black Enterprise Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Essence Magazine, and The New York Times for her outstanding community work. In addition, she has received the “Oscars of youth activism”, the “Do Something” Brick Award (1998) and an essence award (2001) for her accomplishments. Akilah has been featured on numerous television broadcasts such as CNN and Good Day Atlanta. Moreover, Akilah represented the US in 1995 during the 4^th World Women’s Conference in Beijing, China and in 2000 during the national activist international exchange program in Johannesburg, South Africa. An admitted child of the “Hip Hop Generation,” Akilah has also appeared on a project by the illustrious Hip Hop group Public Enemy, which she termed “one of the more amazing moments of my life.”     

Mrs. Watkins-Butler has earned her undergraduate degree at Empire State College in community and human services.  Also, she is an alumnus of Southern New Hampshire University earning two Masters degrees: community economic development and business education.  Presently, Mrs. Watkins-Butler attends the University of Illinois where she is completing a PhD in sociology. In 2009, Mrs. Watkins-Butler was awarded the prestigious Ford Fellowship for her outstanding academic work regarding African American families.

Kamau Butler, MSW:

Kamau Butler, originally from New York City and a former educator, has contributed over a decade of quality service delivery to various at-risk populations, including the homeless mentally ill, incarcerated men, teens and low-income families. Mr. Butler has worked extensively around the issues of training, non profit management, psychological assessment and testing, education and vocational development. 

Labeled “at-risk,” low achieving and told he would be nothing more than a “gang leader” by his high school guidance counselor, Kamau now holds an Associates degree in Mental Health and Human Services and a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Hunter College. In 2004, he received his Master’s degree in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University. Currently Kamau is completing his PhD in Social Service Administration from one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the country, the University of Chicago. He has gone from the streets of Brooklyn, NY to the halls of an elite university, which blesses him with a unique perspective not commonly found in academia. Kamau’s research interests are centered on various issues which affect African American Families and African American males such as, Hip- Hop, Black male incarceration, Black marriage and public education. Kamau’s journey is truly an example of the power, resiliency and determination of the human spirit.  

Mr. Butler is a member of the American Evaluation Association and the National Association of Social Workers. Kamau is a much sought after consultant and conducts various trainings locally and nationally on communication, volunteer recruitment, grammar and writing and conflict resolution. He is a certified leadership and cultural diversity trainer and also a certified group facilitator. Kamau also consults with various organizations to provide them with technical assistance in the forms of board development, budget management and fundraising. 

Mr. Butler’s personal mission statement is to provide opportunities for “at-risk populations to build social and economic capital as a way of achieving empowerment within their communities and lives.