Meet Krista Durant | Founder & CEO, STAPLE The Community, LLC

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

Hi Krista, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind the success of STAPLE The Community, LLC has been trust — earned, not given — through consistent presence, community involvement, and lived experience. For the past three years, I’ve had the honor of walking alongside the very communities I serve. I’ve shown up — not just as a business owner or facilitator, but as a neighbor, a volunteer, and someone who understands firsthand what it feels like to be unheard, unseen, and underserved.

STAPLE The Community was born out of necessity — not just for programs, but for people who care. Having experienced the trauma of unfair housing conditions myself, I knew I couldn’t be silent. I created a tenant advocacy curriculum because I wanted others to have the knowledge I had to fight so hard to find — tools to navigate housing systems, understand their rights, and confidently advocate for themselves and their families.

Our work goes beyond checkboxes and check-ins — it’s rooted in real stories, real needs, and real change. The trust we’ve built and the hearts we’ve touched are the foundation of our brand’s success.

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?
STAPLE The Community, LLC was born out of lived experience, pain, passion, and purpose. STAPLE is an acronym for Strengthening Trust through Advocacy, Partnerships, Learning, and Empowerment, and that’s exactly what we do — we meet people where they are and help them rise. I didn’t wake up one day with a business plan and capital in hand. I woke up in the middle of a housing crisis, navigating broken systems as a mother, a tenant, and a community member. I knew that if I was going through it, others were too — and I couldn’t just survive it. I had to build something that could help others thrive.

What sets us apart is that it is not just a brand — it’s a movement grounded in service, relationship-building, and trust. For the last three years, I’ve immersed myself in the very communities I serve — volunteering, organizing, educating, and advocating. I’ve earned trust by showing up consistently, not just with resources, but with heart. STAPLE The Community was created as a response to real needs: financial instability, housing injustice, and educational inequity — all things I’ve personally experienced. That’s why the work hits different — because it’s rooted in real life, not just theory.

Our core work is focused in five areas:

Financial Literacy Education:
I’ve developed a three-tier curriculum to teach youth and adults how to budget, build credit, invest, and create generational wealth. I’ve seen young people’s eyes light up when they realize they can own a business, or families break cycles once they understand how to manage debt. Financial education isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity, especially in communities that have historically been excluded from wealth-building conversations.

Equitable Education Advocacy:
I advocate for financial education in schools, support parents through advocacy training, and work to ensure families are included in decisions that affect their children’s learning. Education equity is personal for me — as a mother, PTA President, and former student in a system that didn’t always see me.

Fair Housing Advocacy Training:
I teach tenants their rights, how to document and report unsafe conditions, and how to organize for change. After experiencing unjust housing firsthand, I developed a curriculum to equip others to advocate for themselves and their neighbors. Our tenants aren’t voiceless — they just need someone to amplify their voice until it’s heard.

Community Partnerships & Empowerment:
We actively build relationships with schools, nonprofits, and local businesses to extend our impact. We believe in collaborative change — the kind that uplifts everyone at the table and leaves no one behind.

Mobile Notary Services:
Sometimes, the smallest services make the biggest difference. We provide mobile notary services to families and organizations, ensuring people can access vital services right in their neighborhoods.

This journey hasn’t been easy — starting a community-focused business without funding or a traditional roadmap was incredibly challenging. But I stayed grounded in faith, vision, and service. I learned to be resourceful. I learned to ask for help. I learned to trust divine timing. And I learned that when you lead with love and purpose, the right people and opportunities will align.

Today, I serve as the Advocacy and Education Program Director at the Clarkston Community Center, where my advocacy journey began. I’m also a two-term PTA President, a member of the National Parents Union, and NSSA’s FACT (Family And Caregiver Tutoring) Advisory Council. I’ve taken every role, every training, and every challenge and poured it back into STAPLE The Community.

What I want the world to know is that STAPLE The Community isn’t just about programs — it’s about people. It’s about restoring dignity, building power, and creating access. We’re not just fighting for justice — we’re planting seeds of generational change.

If you want to know what hope looks like — come visit one of our workshops, listen to a parent advocate speak their truth, or watch a teen light up when they balance a budget for the first time. That’s STAPLE. That’s the work. And that’s the legacy I’m building — one empowered community at a time.

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 came to visit for a week, I’d make sure they felt the heart of the city — from the culture and community to the food and faith that makes Atlanta unforgettable. I’d curate an experience that shows off our resilience, rhythm, and richness. Here’s what our week would look like:

Day 1 – Welcome to the A!
Morning:

Pick them up from Hartsfield-Jackson with a mini welcome basket — think: local snacks, a peach-themed souvenir, and sea moss from It’s The Moss For Me, LLC of course!

Brunch at Toast on Lenox – A perfect vibe for good food and Black excellence. Shrimp & grits? Yes, please.

Afternoon:

Chill walk through Piedmont Park, grab some fresh juice at a nearby café, and catch up on life while people-watching.

Evening:

Skyline views at Ponce City Market rooftop for food, drinks, and games.

Cap the night with dessert from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream or Slutty Vegan if we’re still hungry.

Day 2 – History & Healing
Morning:

Breakfast at Le Petit Marche in Kirkwood. Cozy, Black-owned, and delicious.

Then over to The King Center and Ebenezer Baptist Church — we’re walking the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King.

Afternoon:

Visit The National Center for Civil and Human Rights — heavy, but necessary and powerful.

Grab lunch at Busy Bee Café – Southern comfort food with history in every bite.

Evening:

Wind down with a spiritual recharge at a midweek Bible study or worship night. (Depending on the church, we might catch a fire Word and some soul-stirring music.)

Day 3 – Community & Culture
Morning:

Coffee and pastries at Black Coffee ATL, a vibe for creatives and change-makers.

Stop by the Clarkston Community Center – where I work and where advocacy meets culture. They’d get a real feel for what community looks like.

Afternoon:

Tour Clarkston! Try local dishes from Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Burmese restaurants — like Refuge Coffee Co. or Kathmandu Kitchen & Grill — because diversity is the flavor here.

Evening:

Attend a local open mic night or community event — maybe even one hosted by STAPLE The Community, if it lines up!

Day 4 – Self-Care & Sisterhood
Morning:

Spa day! Massages, facials, and a detox sauna session. JeJu Sauna in Duluth is great for a full-day reset.

Smoothie stop with sea moss for the immune boost — you know I’m bringing health wherever we go.

Afternoon:

Shop at The Village Market ATL if they’re in season — an incredible marketplace of Black-owned businesses.

Visit The Trap Music Museum – fun, bold, and a different kind of art experience.

Evening:

Girl’s night dinner at Serena Pastificio in Midtown or Two Urban Licks — ambient lighting, fire food, and good energy.

Day 5 – Food & Faith
Morning:

Sunday best! Head to a local church — Purpose Fulfilled Community Outreach— where worship is an experience.

Brunch at Milk & Honey afterwards, because praising and eating go hand in hand.

Afternoon:

We’d volunteer with Purpose Fulfilled Community Outreach to serve the unhoused in downtown Atlanta — my heart is rooted in service, and I’d love to share that joy.

Evening:

Low-key night in — candles, good music, journaling, reflecting on the week, and probably some testimony sharing over hot tea.

Day 6 – ATL Adventures
Morning:

Breakfast at Flying Biscuit Café, then hit up the Atlanta BeltLine for biking, art spotting, and vendor shopping.

Afternoon:

Explore Little Five Points for vintage shopping, murals, and quirky Atlanta charm.

Try Fox Bros. BBQ if we’re in the mood for bold flavors and Southern classics.

Evening:

Drinks and dancing at Suite Lounge or a poetry night at Apache XLR – either way, we’re closing the trip with soul.

Day 7 – Goodbyes & Gratitude
Morning:

Final breakfast at Highland Bakery, followed by a walk through Cascade Springs Nature Preserve or a peaceful moment at Arabia Mountain.

Afternoon:

Drop-off with full hearts, full bellies, and a reminder that Atlanta is more than a city — it’s an experience of resilience, culture, and community.

What makes Atlanta special isn’t just the places — it’s the people. And I’d make sure my best friend leaves feeling the heartbeat of this city, with a suitcase full of memories and maybe a little sea moss in tow.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, all glory goes to God — for choosing me, for anointing me, and for calling me to be a chain breaker in my family and community. The road hasn’t been easy, but I believe wholeheartedly that every trial was preparation for purpose. Jeremiah 1:5 reminds us, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” That scripture has carried me through seasons of uncertainty, reminding me that I was called to this work. God placed me right where I needed to be — in rooms that refined me, in communities that inspired me, and in roles that gave me the platform to serve with both passion and purpose.

I also owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Clarkston Community Center, where my journey in advocacy formally began. Three years ago, I enrolled in their Parent Advocacy Training — not knowing it would plant the seeds for STAPLE The Community, LLC. That training gave me more than tools; it gave me a voice, direction, and the confidence to step into this work boldly. Today, as the Advocacy and Education Program Director at the CCC, I’ve come full circle — creating and facilitating financial literacy, education equity, and fair housing advocacy trainings across Metro Atlanta. I’ve watched what started as a passion turn into a curriculum — one that uplifts others who, like me, simply needed someone to say, “You are not alone, and your voice matters.”

To my family and friends — thank you for standing beside me through every late-night idea, community meeting, and kitchen-table brainstorm. Your unwavering support has been my anchor. Whether you’ve helped distribute flyers, proofread material, or just reminded me to rest — you’ve played a part in building this dream. Your belief in me has never wavered, even when I doubted myself. This shoutout is just as much yours as it is mine.

Success doesn’t happen in isolation — it’s built on faith, community, and love. And I’m blessed to be surrounded by all three.

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