Meet Kate Kennedy: Founder/President The Boyce L Ansley School

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

Hi Kate, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
Women are amazing, powerful, and resilient. My mother’s generation truly broke the glass ceiling making it possible for women to “have it all.” I grew up being told that I could do and be anything I desired. I simply needed to work hard and stay strong. I still believe this to be mostly true, but I have also come to believe that this expectation is overwhelming an entire generation of women. I spent years staying home full-time to raise my 4 children. For me, this was an intentional choice, but I constantly felt guilty for putting my career aspirations on the back burner. Now that I have returned to my career full-time, I feel guilty for not always being as available to my children as I once was and for not having the same number of years of professional experience that those who stayed in the workforce have. When I first founded The Ansley School, I thought I was just going to add a career without sacrificing my current role. I thought I was supposed to be able to make it all work. After all, that is what I was seeing on social media. Women who were baking homemade goods for the school bake sales, putting healthy gourmet meals on the table every night, having a clean and organized home, being involved in the community, breaking more glass ceilings in the workplace, and having plenty of time for self-care, friends and date nights. This is an impossible goal — even for a woman, and this expectation is wearing us down and causing tremendous anxiety. No matter what social media tells us, there is always sacrifice required. The beauty of being a woman is the ability to make those choices. The responsibility of being a woman is to support and respect our friends in and for their choices. My advice to women is to always ask and answer these 2 questions honestly: What did you have to say “no” to in order for this to be your “yes”? and What new “yes” will be possible in saying “no”? An understanding of and respect for the journeys, the successes, and the sacrifices of each other will help us to grow, be, and prosper in the most balanced, healthy, and successful way.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I always lead with my heart and my passion. I am a risk-taker and a change-maker. I have lived a life of privilege – never wondering where I would sleep at night or where my next meal would be found. That was just the circumstance I was dealt. I did not ask for it or deserve it, but I also cannot apologize for it. Instead, I use all the opportunity I have been given to uphold and empower those to whom society has dealt an unfair or difficult circumstance. This is the life’s work I have chosen. In 2018, I founded a school for children who were experiencing homelessness. These young scholars were being left behind by our mainline educational system simply because of their circumstance. The families who come to the school are strong and courageous and deserve every opportunity to succeed. It has been hard work and required much sacrifice, but the young scholars and families of The Boyce L Ansley School are thriving. Together, we have created a community of love, support, and strength where there is no judgment. From the beginning, people have doubted our ability to succeed at this crazy and complex project, but I always dream big. This is the difference between doing good and making change – the ability to withstand the storm of opinion and struggle. I was very intentional about creating a program to fill a true need. We are always ready to pivot if the need shifts. We hold our structure loosely, constantly evaluating and re-evaluating the success of and demand for our services. I believe this is why we are successful. We are filling a need that has not been met. We are staying true to our mission and always scanning the environment for shifts. Every day is a challenge, but every day brings a group of our most vulnerable children one step closer to being able to write their own story of success beyond circumstance.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am going to pretend there is no pandemic during this visit. I am a huge Braves fan, and although I still miss Turner Field, we would definitely make time to go to the Battery and Truist Park to experience baseball in Atlanta. I would also want to make time to visit The Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke, Civil Rights Museum, and The College Football Hall of Fame. That excursion would be capped off with a ride on the Ferris wheel and lunch at the Varsity-because you have to! I live in downtown Decatur which has so much to offer. We could eat our way through Decatur. Sapori di Napoli, Iberian Pig, Taqueria del Sol, Pastries A-Go-Go, and Siam are some of my favorite restaurants in walking distance. There is always something going on in Decatur. The outdoor concerts, festivals, farmers markets and organized outdoor recreation could fill an entire week alone. The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate this to my amazing and steadfast children and husband who support my ambitions, dreams, and calling — and to the incredibly strong, resilient, inspirational girls and women at The Boyce L Ansley School.

Website: theansleyschool.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theansleyschool/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theansleyschool/?viewAsMember=true

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

Image Credits
Courtesy of The Boyce L Ansley School