Meet Kristen Johnson | HBCU Scholarship Nonprofit Founder & IT Professional

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristen Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristen, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
After the Nation was rattled by the tragic death of George Floyd, I took a hard and introspective look at what I could do to make an actionable change for my community and those around me. As graduates of Historically Black Colleges (HBCU), my husband and I have both benefitted personally and professionally from the rich heritage of HBCU institutions. Historically, HBCUs played a critical role in the success of newly freed Black people as they navigated towards a better life after slavery. Today, HBCUs still serve the purpose of empowering people to achieve a better life through education. Understanding that many students attending HBCUs are often first-generation college students who may have financial hardship, our desire was to help bridge the wealth gap by lessening the burden of student loan debt and empowering our scholars with tools like stock investing and other wealth building tools at an early stage in their young adult lives. Passion and purpose were ignited within, which allowed me to birth Kreative Solutions HBCU Scholarship Foundation (KR Scholars), during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Becoming a nonprofit founder was never a personal dream or ambition. However, when God placed the idea in my heart to support HBCU students through scholarships, I wanted to quickly obey. My husband and I began the scholarship foundation with our own personal funds and donations from other family members, and we were able to award three students with a $500 scholarship award each. However, after receiving more applications than we could support alone, I recognized the need to grow the scholarship fund and award more scholarships on a yearly basis. It was at this point that I worked to make KR Scholars a 501c3 recognized nonprofit organization. The journey has been amazing and extremely fulfilling. We are delighted to see great progress in a brief time span. To date, we have awarded over $15,000 in scholarships. Although entering the nonprofit sector was never a goal, I realized that experiences like obtaining my master’s degree in Business Administration long before I founded KR Scholars was preparing me for this destiny all along.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The journey to success in any field or endeavor requires a consistent, determined, and passionate pursuit to obtain the desired goal. The understanding of this key principle has created within me a strong vision to achieve the personal and professional goals that I have set for my life. I have developed a work ethic that has helped me to maximize my abilities, talents and gifts, and potential. I was also blessed with great parents who possessed a rich cultural heritage and understood and instilled the value of academic success. The importance of education has been a prominent theme within the Black community since the tragedy of slavery. The pursuit of obtaining a better life through education led me to attend Winston Salem State University, where I excelled as an Undergraduate student within the Computer Science Department, graduating with a 3.5 GPA. During my undergraduate studies I worked diligently to maximize my ability for success, which provided me with numerous internships and research experiences at organizations such as NASA and Altria (Philip Morris).

After completing a successful internship with Altria in Richmond, I was offered a full-time position with the company and started my career as an IT Professional. This journey has certainly not been easy as an underrepresented minority group within the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). However, my ancestors fought for the freedoms and rights for people like me to excel and achieve beyond our wildest dreams. I feel an obligation to those that came before me to also continue pursuing excellence in my personal and professional life.

As I continue to navigate through the paths of Corporate America and excel in my career, I absolutely desire to reach back and help others to find their unique paths. I want to be known as a person that “made it” and helped others to make it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When I envision an amazing time, it includes food and fellowship! Whether it’s a staple Soul Food restaurant of the city, a fresh seafood spot, or trendy place with amazing appetizers and dessert options, I love exploring restaurants.

Additionally, exploring a city’s culture including museums and historic landmarks always does the trick as well.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All the glory of my story and journey belongs to God! I am thankful for God’s supernatural power, favor, and love in my life that has opened amazing doors that are only possible through Christ. For anyone that knows me closely, they will tell you that I credit Christ as the sole source of every idea, every campaign, and for every success. One of the first gifts I received in life was my incredible and nurturing parents, Kenneth and Genola Dunlap. They instilled faith, values, and determination in me that were truly the launching pad that allows me to achieve anything I set my mind to. My parents have always been extremely encouraging, supportive, and engaged in helping me accomplish my goals and dreams. I am forever grateful!

Then in 2019, God saw fit to allow me to come into Holy Matrimony with the man of my dreams, Mr. Rufus J. Johnson III. Not only has he come alongside me as a partner in love and life, but very much a partner in purpose and business as well. I am so appreciative of his amazing skillset that has helped our nonprofit to establish a growing brand that shows up extremely strong.

There are countless friends, family members, teachers, and mentors who have made significant contributions in my story. I am so grateful for my tribe!

Website: www.krscholars.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/krscholars

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/krscholars

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krscholars

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiORXRzFvAD6QeSYyMD_Qkw

Image Credits
Rufus Johnson Sean King