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

Hi Neffer, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
We live in a society that celebrates and encourages always being on the ‘grind’, having a side-husting, and constantly chasing the next thing. I am a former workaholic. At one point in my life, there was no balance whatsoever, and it took a hospital visit due to exhaustion for me to realize, something needed to change. And it needed to happen quickly. Now, I prioritize self-care and work-life balance.

The pandemic actually made prioritizing self care a reality for me. Working remotely gave me me a certain level of flexibility to manage my workload in a more balanced way. One thing I incorporated was to make actual appointments with myself on my calendar— and to never cancel my appointments with myself. Too often, especially as black women, we go above and beyond for everyone else. Then when it’s time for us to pour into ourselves ( be it the gym, something recreational, or even a personal goal), we are too tired or too busy and we end up not doing it at all, pushing it further and further away. Until it just becomes something we say we wish did. I did that for years. I no longer do that. I now put my joy first and prioritize the appointments I make with myself for self-care. My scheduled time for reading or writing goes on my calendar like any other important thing that has to be done. I have found that this small hack helps remind me that my mental health and self-care are just as important as any meeting.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about.

I do a lot. I am a writer, an artist, a professional in the cannabis industry, as well as an aspiring competitor for rodeo competitions. Those things couldn’t be more different from each other. And yet, they all make up who I am and how I show up in the world. When you’re a highly functioning individual who does many different things well, sometimes people assume you’re all over the place or ‘don’t know what you want to do’, but the truth is, some of us are just very passionate and good at multiple things. This is the case with many creatives. One of the things I am most proud of is that I learned to tune out naysayers. Many people can’t comprehend why or how I am able to do things that I do, simply because they don’t operate at the same frequency and level of productivity. And that is something I wish to impart to your readers. There is no age limitation for talent or creativity. Ignore what others may think or say, if you have an interest in something, gift, something to say, and a desire to share it with the world. DO IT.

How did you get to where you are today professionally?

In terms of writing, I started blogging about 8 years ago. My audience grew pretty quickly and I was then presented with multiple opportunities to write for some well known publications. This resulted in eventually contributing to the book Black Millennials, which is a psychology book on racial and ethnic studies as it pertains to Black identifying millennials. I am currently working on my own book. Music has always been my passion. I used to sing professionally, but stepped away to focus on work, school, and raising my son. The love for it never left though and I now have music on all streaming platforms and am working on my first EP.

In terms of my journey in the legal cannabis space, it started out of curiosity after discovering cannabis was a healthier way for me to manage my mental health. What started as me attending a Medical Marijuana 101 class has snowballed into full immersion in the cannabis industry. I am the ED of NorthStar Minority Cannabis Association, which focuses on education and workforce development within the industry. I have moderated and participated in various panels, conferences, educational, and networking events and created and taught cannabis curriculum for City Colleges of Chicago (Olive-Harvey College). I regularly partner with multiple cannabis equity, advocacy, and policy-working groups on the local and national level and am the Professional Development & Education Committee Chair for Illinois Women in Cannabis.

None of it was easy. And what I have learned is that sometimes you have to put things you love on hold and come back to them when you can, which for me, was music. Another is that if you are a creative, and decide to put anything in the world, you better have tough skin. I learned that early on when my blog and articles for Ebony and Jet started going viral. Never read the comments. It can get pretty ugly in there. And lastly, accountability of self is key in everything that we do. It is okay to admit when you are uninformed or incorrect about something and to learn from your mistakes. If you have a platform and people listen to the things you say, being authentic and accountable will only add credibility to your brand.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I were to show someone the things I love about the city, it would have to be during the spring or summer because Chicago is absolutely beautiful. There are days when the lake resembles an ocean, so taking them downtown for an architectural tour on the water or visiting the museums downtown would definitely be on the list. I’d probably take them out to the stables to see the horses as well. As far as food, one of my favorite places is a hidden gem called the 3Arts Cafe. I’d take them there for a light lunch and for the exquisite ambiance, but later for some serious comfort food, Provaré would be my go-to. It offers Creole and Italian fusion cuisine that is absolutely delicious and the drinks are good too. We’d probably round the night off  with dancehall music at a reggae spot.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am very grateful for my mentors but also colleagues in this industry. It’s rare to be able to not only have a friend, but also someone who you can work with professionally. Dr. Mila Marshall is my friend, business-partner and a woman of indomitable spirit, drive, and intelligence. She is an Ecologist who has helped move forward efforts of cannabis legalization in Illinois, created opportunities in the industry for countless people, and has been at the forefront of environmental justice efforts. If a person’s net worth is really their network, then I am truly wealthy to have her in my corner.

Website: https://www.itstheboomshow.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itstheboomshow/?hl=en

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/public/Neffer-Oduntunde-Osunbunmi-Adesanya-Kerr

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0q43mCnGieYDjUVDB9eC17?si=jtKK_TlVS8eDyvLXbeh4CA

Image Credits
Peter Corey

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