A Curly Me! Parent Spotlight; Keisha Shelton
Keisha with her daughter who is a member of Curly Me!
Hey, Hey Curly Fam! You are in for a treat with this one - Angelyn has gone behind the scenes and interviewed a Curly Me! Parent, Keisha Shelton. Please enjoy as we shine a light on an amazing community member!!
How did you originally hear about Curly Me!?
“I originally heard about Curly Me! around 2016. It was something new [to] Utah, [that] I don’t recall, as a native having had before. I was excited at the thought that [there was] a program specifically designed for black girls.”
What is your favorite thing about Curly Me!? (ex. event, program, etc)
“One of my favorite things about Curly Me! has been watching the growth of the BRAID’d program. It’s been amazing to see my daughter step outside of her comfort zone, explore new activities, and unlock skills and talents we didn’t even know she had.
As she transitions into the Loc’d In program, I’m excited for what’s ahead. I know the strong foundation will continue giving her, and other young women, a space to grow, explore who they are, and discover even more about themselves.”
Why would you recommend Curly Me! to other folks?
“As a Utah native, I didn’t have anything like Curly Me! growing up. Having a space like this for girls as young as 5 all the way through 18 creates a safe, affirming environment where they can be surrounded by other girls and young women who not only look like them, but also share similar dreams, thoughts, and goals.
The intentional representation—especially through staff and guest presenters who often reflect the girls themselves— [it] gives them a powerful glimpse into what’s possible. It’s inspiring for them to see successful Black women, and know that with hard work and dedication, they can achieve greatness too.
Curly Me! is truly doing the work—making sure that young Black girls know, feel, and believe they can become anything they set their minds to. That kind of empowerment is vital, especially in today’s world.”
What does Curly Me! mean to you? Not only as a parent, but as an individual?
“To me, Curly Me! represents opportunity and exposure—showing young Black girls what’s possible and what they can aspire to be. It’s about building connections to the community and accessing resources that support their future goals. It also means creating meaningful friendships that can last well beyond the programs. Most importantly, it’s a chance to help shift the narrative and expand the perception of who these young change-makers are becoming.
As a parent, I see Curly Me! as a gift. It provides valuable opportunities for my daughter at no cost, and I’m more than happy to share it with others who could benefit. It costs me nothing to spread the word about a resource that can make such a powerful impact in a young girl’s life.”