Meet Chenoah Porter-blount | CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chenoah Porter-blount and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chenoah, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY. For me, Brownsville is a resilient area characterized by its strong sense of identity and community and that concept is what led me to my Non-Profit Organization. Growing up in a marginalized neighborhood, everyone was very close-knit to one another despite not being related. I witnessed firsthand the power of collective effort and unwavering support. These experiences taught me the value of perseverance and the importance of giving back. They shaped my belief that positive change starts at the grassroots level and that every challenge can be met with strength and compassion. I think when you have a challenging upbringing but have experienced having a tribe in your corner, it’s gratifying to know that the difficulties you are facing, you aren’t alone. My upbringing instilled in me a deep commitment to community service and inspired me to dedicate my efforts to creating meaningful impact through my organization.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Stacey Blount’s Rising Stars Organization. A non-profit organization dedicated to the empowerment of young women through education and leadership, especially within areas that face heavy adversity, in honor of my late mother, Stacey Porter Blount. I focus on building powerful young women through curated workshops and conferences so they may develop their own voice and strengthen their leadership abilities. What sets us apart is our deep personal connection to our mission, which is infused with the legacy of Stacey Porter Blount’s vision and values. We tailor our programs specifically to the needs of underserved communities, ensuring that our efforts are both relevant and impactful. Staying on course of my mother’s legacy and how she viewed community is what I am most proud of. She always reminded me to pay everything forward. Of course, building anything you want to be proud of is never “easy” but it is worth the effort when you are passionate about the outcome and changing lives. Some of the lessons I am learning along the way is to have grace with myself and to be present and patient within each moment. Often too many times I will find myself rushing through to get to my “goal” often forgetting the journey that allowed me the opportunity in the first place. I want the world to know that I am hopeful to bring a beautiful Organization to empower as many young women as I can within my lifetime.

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?
From my perspective, my bestfriend and I recently had the best little itinerary ever when we decided to return to our hometown of Brooklyn, NY and just went with the flow. We started with an amazing rooftop party invitation that had the most amazing views, music, and cool people. After, we decided to hit some Citi bikes and bike around Greenwich Village enjoying the night sounds, weather, childhood memories, and good laughs. Finally, we decided to hit up a late night pizza spot and enjoy our last moments before heading back to her childhood home. The best part about home to me is that you can never get bored. Getting “lost” in New York sometimes holds the most excitement and creates the best experiences.

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?
There are so many different people who have played a part in the book of “Chenoah’s Little Life” but when I reflect back and see the concept of each word: support, mentorship, love, and encouragement. I think of Chastity Manning. Chastity came into my life at a crucial and pivotal moment in my life. I had lost my mom approx. 7 months prior, moved to a new state, started a new school, and had to make new friends. I was 13 starting a new life. Transformations like this are never easy and I believe Chastity made an extraordinary impact during my most tumultuous period. Her unwavering support and genuine mentorship provided hope and stability when I needed it most. Her kindness and encouragement, and yes discipline helped me navigate this challenging transition with a sense of resilience and optimism. I didn’t know it at the time, and I think actually taking the time to write this reminds me to continue to do better each day to spread light the same way she does. Her presence in my life was guiding, helping me to adapt and grow through an incredibly difficult time. For all these reasons and more, I am deeply grateful and dedicate this shoutout to her.

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chenoahporterblount

Image Credits
Jessielyn Palumbo (headshot)