Meet Kiswanna Battle | Executive Director & Inclusion Specialist

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

Hi Kiswanna, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Currently, Ruth’s Promises 4 Youth, Inc. (RP4Y) is currently providing private sessions for mentoring and tutoring for youth in the RDU and surrounding areas. More specifically, we are branching out and providing services to agencies and small-groups in the form of consultancy services that focus on special education and inclusion. Since starting in 2018, we have had our share of pivotal moments in order to best fit the needs of our community and the world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Wow! Just thinking about this brings me to a full circle moment. So, my career has literally been stair steps or a ladder if you will. Every job that I’ve had, brought me to where I am now. I started out as a full-time Head Start teacher working with children and families of migrant workers. I was obtaining my masters at the same time. Later, I went on to work for a childcare center through Easter Seals UCP where I was able to get a taste of private childcare and public education for children with special needs. Both of these jobs were my first experiences with inclusive education where a percentage of students with special needs had opportunities to be in mainstream education classrooms while having their needs met through individualized education planning. During this period, I had an opportunity to have my summers off like the students and I was trying to find a way to still reach the children. I was a volunteer for numerous organizations and although it was a good experience, I wanted to add my own touch to things. While RP4Y was in the ideation stage, I was also in transition with my job which also happened to be the longest part of my career in the states. I started working for the North Carolina Infant-Toddler Program as an Early Intervention Service Coordinator assisting families and children with medically established conditions and developmental delays. I loved that job! I loved it so much–I was able to meet families where they were. For example, I would meet them at the hospital, at their home, childcare centers, shelters; where ever that child’s natural environment was for that time frame or what was convenient for the family. I met them on good days and some times in tough situations. We were able to work together with therapists and agencies to provide assistance to families for housing, meals, or bills. I was able to make connections with families and build relationships so well and later received emails of pictures of their child(ren) thriving and doing so well. While doing this by day, RP4Y later came into fruition with working countless nights just to piece final stages together with my team of partners to develop programs and services for children after school and weekends. We were able to create the “Free Me” series for children to express themselves on first Fridays. We would do weekend events that led up to our leadership conference bringing in other organizations fro RDU and Eastern North Carolina to join. Unfortunately, the pandemic took a lot away and slowed down our progress in that area. However, that also allowed us to pivot into online services where we not only started online mentoring and tutoring services, but later added educational consulting services to the table. For a short time, I ended up going back into an elementary school working in a self-contained classroom. I enjoyed every opportunity to be able to pour into such a vulnerable population of students each day. It tugged my heart to have to walk away that year, however, I knew there was something more. Currently, I am the Head of Inclusion for one of the largest educational companies in the United Arab Emirates. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to connect with teachers and other professionals that support inclusive education across the emirates. It’s exciting to be able to not only provide services but to also collaborate with educators and specialists across the world. None of these roles are just a job for me. I get to work in both places at the same time by way of technology when I’m not in the area. None of it easy especially when you have so many expectations from other people. There will be good days, months, years, and there will be not so good ones. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you just have to keep going. No matter how many twists and turns, remember why you started and just keep going. This is truly my passion. I just keep moving forward.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, we are definitely going the extra mile for the food! For Raleigh, we’re going to Big Ed’s for breakfast and Shaba Shabu for lunch. In Durham, we’re going to Zweli’s for dinner and East Durham Sweet Shoppe for dessert. On the way to mom’s house for a home-cooked meal, we are stopping by Patty Cake’s Littlest Cupcake Shop in Clayton for some dessert on the way. Our hangout spots will definitely be near anything with music and possibly the art museum. For a little fun, maybe some Drive Shack and the food halls. There’s so much to do, but nothing compares to quality time catching up.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In many interviews I’ve mentioned the meaning behind the name or the brand and it involved my family that have the name, Ruth. They all inspired me in many ways and for many reasons. Now, I’m able to pass the baton and inspire others. With that said, this shoutout is dedicated to every person no matter young or older that desires to make a difference, inspire others, or even start their own business. Get to know yourself and what drives you, your passion, and aim for everything that is meant for you.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruthspromises4youth

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kbattle

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ruthspromises4youth

Other: info@ruthspromises4youth.com