Episode 98: Kate Kennedy
Join Lori for an inspiring chat with Kate Kennedy, a writer and nonprofit consultant who founded a school in Atlanta for children without housing in 2018. With no prior experience, Kate's determination turned her vision into a reality, changing countless children's and their families' lives. This episode is a testament to the power of perseverance and the difference one person can make!
Here are the things to expect in this episode:
Kate's journey from being a stay-at-home mom to establishing a tuition-free private school.
The foundation of the school and initial challenges.
The importance of conducting community research and stakeholder interviews before starting a nonprofit initiative.
Implementing a family philanthropy tradition to teach children about responsible giving.
And much more!
Kate’s Website: https://www.katekennedywrites.com/
Kate’s Book, Once Upon a School: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/once-upon-a-school-kate-kennedy/1145807910
Boyce L. Ansley School: https://theansleyschool.org/
Episode Transcript
00:11
You're listening to the positive impact philanthropy podcast where we share the journeys of everyday philanthropists as they incorporate philanthropy into their lives. Philanthropy is a personal journey, and through the stories we'll share here, we hope that it sparked something in you and how you can make your own philanthropic impact in the world. I'm your host. Lori kranzer, attorney, philanthropic advisor and legacy even strategist. Together, we're going to explore what it looks like to be an everyday philanthropist and make a positive impact in the world. Before we get started, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a new episode posted on Wednesdays. So today, I'm really excited to have our guest with us. Today we have Kate Kennedy, and she's a writer and nonprofit consultant, and I just got her book. I have to admit, I want to hear all about it. I haven't had a chance to read it, so we're going to explore that a bit and her background as well. So Kate, welcome.
01:03
Thank you. It's nice to be here. So why don't we
01:08
start off? Kate, go ahead and just share more to our audience about what you do and a little bit about your journey.
01:18
I would love to so it's funny, you you asked me not to expose behind the scenes, but you asked me what my title was, and I said earlier, and I said, I don't, I don't really know, and that's something that I've, I've really struggled with. I work, I am now call myself a writer and a nonprofit consultant, because at this moment, that is what I'm doing. But the journey definitely did not start that way. The the big, I guess, the biggest catalyst that people want to talk about with me is I founded a school for children without housing in Atlanta in 2018 and I did that because, not because I was an educator, not because I was an expert on starting schools. I had been a stay at home mom for 20 years, and I have a son who's neurodivergent, and I had worked in the unhoused population as a board member and a volunteer and a philanthropist, just because I had always felt drawn to to people and people's stories, and finding and respecting the dignity and all people. And I think people that are unhoused often don't get that level of of respect from the community. And so I just had always really been drawn to that. And so you put that together with my son, who is neurodivergent and really needed an advocate through school, and I just started to realize, what do all these moms do who don't have any place to live, don't know what they're going to feed their children? They have all these children, they don't know where to take them to school, they don't have all the paperwork. And then what if, when I was neurodivergent like my son, what in the world do they do? And so I just started taking steps, and before I knew it, I had opened up a tuition, free private school for children in the Atlanta area without housing. And you roll on from that, and I wrote a book about the journey, which was, you know, kind of all over the place. And so now I really have been doing a lot of consulting from that, because as as women, I think we have the power do anything that we want to do. We just have to have the courage to take the first step and kind of keep going. So there's so much in
03:44
here. Kate, yes, I know
03:48
about you. It's amazing. So yeah. So, and you also mentioned the the journey is not a straight up journey for anything in life, right? It's an end. So why don't you share a little bit about your experience that you had? Because, you know, you just, you had an idea, and then you mentioned, then you set the school. There is a lot in between. So can you share, yes, how that happened? Sure,
04:11
yeah. So, you know, I have always, I feel like we're born with these kind of just cores of who we are and no matter what you do or how you live it out, it's the core of who you are. You can call it a holy calling, or, you know, your threat of being. And for me, that was always kind of service in the community. I just wanted to do what I could to to, you know, be with other people, to serve people who didn't have as much privilege as I did. And so that's kind of always been my, my thing and and so as I've lived that out in many, many, many ways in my life, the school just happens to be the big, the biggest, most public one that I did. But I think it's important to remember that it is a journey. It's just kind of how you live your life, day to day, and you can do it in tiny ways, or you can do it in big ways. And so this big thing that I did, really was was just not, not anything that I ever expected was going to happen. It truly was. I really do call it a holy calling, because I I once, once the kind of idea set into my head, I couldn't let it go. I just couldn't let it go. And so I literally just started taking steps. And I think it's really important for people to know when you kind of have one of those feelings, you just need to be curious and you just need to explore it. Because I didn't have the except for that, my superpowers, I get stuff done. I had no other expertise for how you would create a school. I just really felt deep down inside that this was a way forward for these children and and so I talked to community members. I talked to funders. I gathered people who wanted to help. I made sure that there was a need for it. I talked to moms who were were unhoused, who had, you know, were struggling with their children. And so I did a lot of research, and I really leaned into the community and to the art of collaboration. And we just kept going. And there were times when we, you know, hit a dead end, but instead of stopping, we were like, Okay, we're gonna pivot. And we did a lot of pivoting. And so, you know, I think that it's important to know that wanting to do good in your community, it can be done in small ways, and it can be done in big ways. You just have to keep keep going. You know, people said it couldn't be done,
06:49
but we did it, yeah, and you did it. And so this is so we're gonna post in the show notes a link to your book, so people can get the full story. But can you share some of your experiences? We love to hear stories here about some of the ways you had to pivot, like, what are the obstacles that you ran into that you need to pivot and also share some of the successes?
07:11
Yes, yes. So I, as I've said, I kind of went into this kicking and screaming. I was like, Who about to think that I can do this? And other people told me that too. Who are you to think that you can do this? And in fact, the title thing came up a lot, which was interesting. I had a city councilwoman asked me, what my who I, who I was, and why I thought I could do this. And I said, I'm a concerned citizen. And she said, Oh, you're in way over your head. So, you know, I, I that was kind of when I talk about, what was my struggle to figure out what my what my title is. But when we, when I first started this program, I started it too small. I started a parents morning out, one day a week for children who were were homeless. We met on Tuesdays from nine to one, and we serve breakfast and lunch, and we were completely volunteer run. And we had one girl who was 12 years old who came to our program every single Tuesday from nine to one. Why was she not in school? What her mom couldn't figure out where to get the paperwork. They didn't know what their neighborhood school was. She was embarrassed. They didn't have internet at their house, and all these assignments were online. And so she just, she just gave up on it. And so it was at that point where I was like, Okay, I think that what, what I need to do is actually start a school like, not just a parent's morning out, like, I think that it's got to be the whole big thing. And so we closed down the parents morning out, and I put a team of educators together, and we started working towards this big school. So it's hard when you get started in something, not just to keep on rolling along, but it was, it was important that we really were filling the need and not just, you know, kind of putting a band aid over something that wasn't really what we needed to do. So that was big thing. And then, and then, you know, success. There were so many of them. And I think the fact that we did our research, we knew what we what was needed, and we believed in the dream were really, really huge. People didn't want to fund this in the beginning. And I, I knew a man who liked to fund as an angel philanthropist, you know, he would fund startups. And so I took him out to lunch, and I said, Look, I have put a budget together. I think it's going to cost, you know, $200,000 $250,000 I'm Yeah, I should be able to do this math in my head. But he I said, if I put up a third, and you put up the third, and we can raise a third for the community, does that work? And he said, Yes. And once I went to my community and said, Okay, I've got two thirds of this money, they were like, We're in we can do this. And literally, we raised money, dollar by dollar by dollar. By the time we opened the doors, we had $350,000
10:12
later, we were raising $2 million a year. So
10:15
amazing. Share a little bit about the growth of the school. Like, what does it look like now? Yeah, so,
10:22
so, and that's, you know, that's another big interesting point, this in the book, I am no longer at the school. The school, we started with a pre K program. We served 11 young scholars in our pre K program. The The goal was to add a grade every year, and now they serve up to the fifth grade, where the plan is to go to the eighth grade, they serve up to the fifth grade, and there's over 100 students there and and the majority, I think eight, of the 11 that started in pre K are still there in the fifth grade. So the second half of the book talks about how I had to walk away from the school, and it was probably one of the most things I've ever done in my life. It was one of those things where it just got complicated. People are complicated. Situations are complicated. We had been through COVID it, you know, it was, it was really complicated and and it was my decision, but it wasn't my decision, and it took me a long time to realize, and I think this is an important part point to, that I didn't start the school to be at a school, working 100 hours a week, running every single bit of the school, raising all the money. I mean, I know how to run a school, but I was doing it, but it was not I didn't do this to be operate, you know, to be the head of a school. I did it to start a movement. And it took me a long time to realize that that was my role, not the day to day. And so I left it behind, and now I'm consulting with other groups in the community, in the in the in the country, who want to start similar programs. So that's really exciting. It is really exciting,
12:06
and it is something a lot of founders struggle with. Yeah, their nonprofit grows as their movement grows, and to how to then understand what their new role takes right as the as a group was, so, yeah, it's it's a little painful to go through it and but it's necessary. And then now you get to help lots more around the country. So are you working all like the other nonprofits that you're assisting? Is that all supporting them through their efforts to grow a program very similar to yours?
12:38
You know, it started out as several of them wanted to start schools. And so I'm working with some some different organizations who want to start schools with with the model, which was my original plan, if we can create a model, then then we can start this in a lot of different places. And so that's been, that's been a lot of the work. But then slowly, I've been getting calls from people who really just say, I have this idea to start, to start something else, and I don't know how to I don't know how to do it. I don't know how to what the first step should be. And so walking people through what's the first step? If you have a dream, if you see the need in your community and you want to be the spearhead to get it that you know, the catalyst, the change maker, we can, you can do that. And so I've been walking people through all different kinds of, you know, areas of impact, to to find ways to really be change
13:34
makers. Okay, I love that you mentioned taking the first steps. That is a lot of times where people get stuck that yes, I will say, Dan, I just don't know what to do. So what are some of the first steps that you recommend
13:47
people to do? I think the very first step is to talk to people. Talk to all kinds of people, people that are in that are passionate about what you're passionate and people that are looking for assistance or support in that area. You know, people that have been and in that area, your friends, your family, funders in the community. I just think it's important to talk to people, because I'm a big believer if, if you can collaborate with somebody, you need to collaborate with them. Rather, I think a lot of people try to start their own thing when they really could have just collaborated with, you know, help to grow another, another thing that was already going. So that's the first step, I think. So, you
14:32
know, you mentioned before we talked about
14:34
title, before we even write
14:36
onto this. And it's so interesting. But I wonder as you've gone through this experience. Because I do think that people that go through something like this, it's not only do you transform something within your community, but yourself as well. Can you identify anything about yourself, any skills or new traits or abilities that you now have, that you've gone through that?
14:59
Oh, yeah, definitely. I think for me, what I've discovered is the biggest thing is that I now trust myself and my abilities and my instincts much more than I did before. I think a lot of times, a lot of times, women don't support other women. I think, I think especially sometimes, there is some competition between women who work outside the home and women who stay home with their kids. And you know, that is a privilege, and it is a choice, and I think that we don't do a good job of supporting each other, and I fell into the trap of letting people who had more degrees, more corporate experience, more titles, tell me that I didn't know what I was doing, and I believed them, when, in actuality, I built a school that is now serving, you know, over 100 young scholars and and doing really well. And so I've really learned to trust myself, and I've learned to to to know who I am, and, you know, kind of better idea of what I would and would not like to do, and what I'm, what I am and am not called to do,
16:12
right? And I wonder, do you have because I feel like when people go through this type of experience and and giving in different ways that a lot of this is family values. It comes up various times in our upbringing and through the our lives. Can you think about, you know, looking back in your life? Is there anything that, whether there is a moment in time or someone inspirational that influenced you?
16:41
Oh, yeah, yeah, definitely. I mean, I would say, Well, my mom, my mom was my parents, but my mom was a big one. It was so interesting. My mom and I didn't always get along, and I think it's because we were so very, very similar. And I guess that happens a lot, but when my mom passed away in 2019 and I can't tell you how many people have read her obituary, which she wrote herself and said, it's like I'm reading, I mean, not to be morbid, but it's like I'm reading a description of you know me, because, because of her love of of community service and philanthropy and connecting with people. So I think without even realizing it, she was a tremendous, a tremendous influence on me and and I will say too that my kids have been a tremendous influence on me as well, especially my son, Crawford, who I talk about in the book, who is neurodivergent, and he's 25 years old now, and just to watch him navigate life in such a unique and exciting way is is just thrilling to me. And I've you know, he's been a real inspiration to me.
17:58
That's great. So are there any family traditions that you have around giving or Okay, so what are they? Yes,
18:06
yes, we do. So So several, several years ago, it's been a long time, my mother in law passed away and and she left a tiny bit of money to our to our children, and so we actually would get they were really young. We would give them the money. It was like, it was like $200 every year. We would give them. And we would say, okay, you can pick a stock to invest a third of this in. You can find a third of it to give away, and then a third of it, you have to treat some yourself to something, and think of grandma when you do it. And so Thanksgiving is kind of when we come together and say, Okay, here's what you have this year. Here's what you can do. And so this year, we actually just had the conversation the night, because the whole family was together, and we're gonna, you know, they each get a little bit more money because they're all in their 20s now, they get a little more money, and they can pick a nonprofit that they want to give it to. We want them to really look into it. Why are you passionate about it? Tell us what you love about it. And slowly, we're teaching them to really do their due diligence. But that's something that we we we always do. And then, of course, we like to talk about what we're grateful for for the year, because, you know, I just think that's seems silly, but that's always a more important thing than we think
19:31
absolutely. And so I love that tradition. Just off the top of your head, were there any really interesting projects that any of your children wanted to fund that you were maybe a little surprised. Well, you know, it's, it's interesting. When
19:45
they were little, they didn't really, um, they, they just were like, Oh, I like this. Oh, I like that, you know, like, kind of just things that they knew about my daughter. My youngest is a freshman in college this year, and she has come up with all she's become a real volunteer. Well, she's passionate volunteer in in Auburn. She's at Auburn, and she has come up with, oh, all these, these little, tiny organizations that she's been working with every day, that she wants to support. And I just that makes me so happy to see her out in the community, really, you know,
20:23
plugging in and with her, with her time and her talents, and now wanting to take money and back it up with that. So, you know, that's just really exciting. And so we're getting up to the point that I'm going to ask about your legacy, Kate, but it sounds to me that very much your value system, from your mother to you and now to your daughter. I'm seeing this pattern here as I don't know if you recognize it, but I think it's absolutely lovely at this point. You know, we always ask everyone that comes on the show, how do you envision your legacy?
20:59
Yeah, I, you know, when I it's funny when I and I'll share this, and I write about this in the book too. When I left the school for a long time, and I would my husband and I had sort of a joke, I would say that on on my my tombstone, although it wasn't really a joke, he should put, you know, she tried, and just because I felt like I had just tried and failed and tried and failed. But I can look over my life now and say that, you know, it's a journey, right? It's a journey. It's not one, one ultimate APAC pecs of something, and it's all the little things that you do, the big things, but it's also all the little things that you do. So to see my children out in the world, wanting to give back in all kinds of philanthropic ways. You know, no matter what the you know, money, no money, but their time and their passion, I just want to see that. That's the legacy I want to leave. Yeah,
21:59
that's wonderful. Thanks for sharing that. So where can people find out more information about you? The school, your book, everything, right? So I have a website,
22:09
Kate kennedywrites.com and on the website, you can see information of how to link to my book. It's called, once upon a school, a story of dreaming big, falling hard and bouncing back. And also, you can link to a lot of my writings and my essays. But I can, I can be booked to speak to consult all on the website, so there's lots of information on there. I would, you know, love for people to to go on there and find me in all those ways.
22:41
Great. Well, thanks so much, Kate. Thanks for joining us today, sharing your story. It was very special. It's a perfect story for this time of the year. We're recording this around things, but I think for any time of the year, it's a special story, and I think a lot of people can relate to what you've gone through and what starting with an idea and following through, and then as a vendor, the next yes of our philanthropic journey, your journey, any resources or anything else you would like to state,
23:14
no, I know. I think that's it. This has been great, so much. And you know, I don't, I don't know when people will be listening to this, but I hope everybody has a wonderful holiday season. It is just beginning. Yes,
23:27
thank you. All right, so thank you everyone for joining us. We hope we provided some insights and inspiration that you could use with your own philanthropic journey.