Our Story

Born out of the creativity and ingenuity

of our Founder, Kisha Howell, The Harambee Collective was conceived on April 10, 2020. What started out as a tweet and desire for restoration has since expanded into a thriving community of Womxn of color pulling together for collective growth, healing, and upliftment.

Our Commitment To You

Harambee is a Swahili word that means “let’s pull together,”

and a Kenyan tradition for community self-help. The Harambee Collective is committed to continuing this tradition. As we begin this journey, we want to uplift you through curated experiences, events, and networking. In time, we hope to offer even more and we will listen to and honor your feedback as we expand. We are committed to consistently outgrowing ourselves. We are committed to creating a space where you feel seen, loved, and inspired. Let us see you shine, serve as your support system, and walk with you on your journey to healing.

A special message for you…

By becoming a member of The Harambee Collective you commit to:

+ Be your sisters’ keeper

Everyone in this community will uplift each other. Participate in having your sisters’ backs by cheering them on when they’re headed in the right direction and affirming them when self-doubt creeps in.

When it’s time, check your sister in light and love. If sis is out of line, you are obligated to say something: promote their growth and maintain the safety of others.

+ Maintain zero tolerance for -ism, -ists, or -phobias

This is a space where not even a fragment of hatred will be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, homophobia, transphobia, and any other types of discrimination.

+ Consistently work to outgrow yourself and support others as they outgrow themselves

This is a space where growth is both the destination and the journey. You will never ‘arrive’ in your quest to be your best self, but a better self will be built at every step along the way. Start by acknowledging what you don’t know, so that you can create space to learn from others. Ask questions and maintain openness as you listen to the answers, even if they’re different from your perspective. Stay vulnerable; know that this is a safe space of love and support and your sisters are here to help you evolve if you’ll let them.

+ Come as you are

This is not a space where you have to perform. If you are exhausted, enraged, or even depleted lean into it. This is a space of restoration and healing.

+ Bolster our community in love

Say hello, show love, share inspiration, put people on, practice Harambee!

+ Listen and honor

Womxnhood is vast; we cannot make assumptions about someone else’s pronouns. To honor everyone in our community, ask about and use your sisters’ pronouns. All of our experiences are different and we celebrate the myriad identities that the Womxn of The Harambee Collective represent.