Meet Dr. Kala Jordan | Founder of Im.P.A.C.T for Advancement

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Kala Jordan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Kala, as a parent, what have you done for your children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
Growing up, my parents always made sure I was able to experience different things. From going different places, trying different foods, participating in different activites, etc. Now that I am a parent, I’ve taken what has been instilled in me and I strive to ensure my children have different experiences in life. They love to travel and go different places and I’m thankful that I am able to take them, in addition to having the ability to help them navigate through new or challenging experiences. That was the ultimate goal/mission behind launching Im.P.A.C.T for Advancement to help strengthen the family structure and bring families closer together while creating memories and fostering success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For the last 15 years, I have worked in education, and most recently for the last 5 years I have worked as an Instructional Coach. The short version of what I do professionally is “teach the teachers”. It extends well beyond that to creating and fostering trust, developing skills, creating leaders, etc. As I have journeyed to the point where I am today, it was not always a clear path. Graduating from high school and going to college was a non-negotiable from my parents; however, the mindset that I went with was to secure the bag. I pursued a major in Business Management and Business Information Systems to set me on the path to obtaining a high salary upon graduation..I was WRONG! Having experience through internships and a degree did not put me in the right place where I wanted to be financially. I went further to obtain a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management, still chasing the bag. Upon graduation, the careers I wanted to pursue required years of experience that I didn’t have. I stayed in the corporate sector for a few years, but it was truly unfulfilling. My heart and my mind were at odds. As a child, I always wanted to be a teacher. I would go home and reteach the things I had learned that day and I specfically looked up to Ms. Dorothy Fouch. After school, my best friend and I would fill up her board with all our “teaching stuff”. My goal was to be a teacher like her and make an impact on the students I taught. As I began to follow my heart, I was led to teaching 15 years ago. As an educator, I always look at the big picture. It is more than the student, the textbook, the school hours. Those components are only a portion of what creates and fosters success in a student. Within our meetings and planning for Im.P.A.C.T, we are always thinking through what the kids and adults need, activities to bring families together to bond and make memories, and how to help parents support their children in and out of school. My father told me when I had my first child that parenting doesn’t come with a handbook. With that understanding, my goal for Im.P.A.C.T is to be a part of families’ villages to ensure widespread achievement and success within the community and ultimately the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting this area, we would definitely visit the Hybar (rooftop at the Hyatt) and enjoy good vibes and views of the city. We would have to check out Hook & Reel for some great seafood. We would also check out Marker Seven Coastal Grill and Sakura for some great food, along with J. Christopher’s and the Waffle House for breakfast. For the nightlife entertainment, we would go to the Office and LiveWire for some entertainment. I’m a foodie as you can see, but one final food stop would be Kelly’s Jamaican Food. During football season, we would definitely attend one of the packed, high energy games at UGA. We would drive to Atlanta for some shopping, more dining, and visit a few lounges. The most fun and exciting people are those that are adventurous and are open to trying new things and meeting new people.

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?
My parents, Annie Rucker and the late William Rucker, molded and shaped me into the woman that I am today. They set the bar high and everytime I reached it, they set it even higher. I didn’t understand and see the value at all times growing up, but now I appreciate and see it clearly as an adult. It has been said that it takes a village, and my parents had just that. From family to friends to church family, there were several people along the way that poured into me. As an adult, my continued support from my village still exists. I am surrounded by friends and family who provide unwavering encouragement, motovation, and support. A special thanks to my college mentor, Dr. Kathaleena Monds who put me in postions to be successful early on and ensured I stayed on track. A huge thank you to the Allen, Lewis, Partlow, Rucker, and Osoh families in addition to my BP day-ones, P.A.D members, and my sisters in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Website: Impactforadvancement.com

Instagram: im_pactinc

Facebook: Impact Advancement

Image Credits
DSI Photography, Deidra Ivery Pinnacle Cinema, Harold Faison