Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Anne Keke.
Hi Dr. Keke, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a Native of Cote D’Ivoire, now a US Citizen living in Aurora, Colorado since 2001 with my family. My first language is French. I did all of my elementary, middle, and high school in Ivory Coast under the French education system. My father is an architect by trade, but we never got the chance to know him as we were raised by my mother. and my mother is a nurse. My parents instilled in me the value of resiliency, persistence, and education. My mother, especially believed that education is one way to beat poverty, and quite frankly I am now a firm believer of that as well. I am the second child of a family of five children. Our youngest sibling lives in Rimouski, Quebec, Canada (the French part of the country), where he is finishing is studies in Human Services.
I am a single mother of a 13 years old who is in 8th grade currently in the Aurora Public Schools district. My daughter keeps me on my toes, she is my biggest critic and my biggest cheerleader.
I currently work in education at Colorado Early Colleges, where I teach Career Technical Education, and also at the Community College of Denver where I teach criminal justice as an Adjunct instructor in the Department of Public Affairs. I Colorado Early Colleges, I am also the Restorative Justice Coordinator I am a member of the African Leadership Group (ALG) Education committee. At ALG, I volunteer in the education committee where we offer tutoring to our students and public speaking classes to adult immigrants, all at no cost for them. I co facilitate the public speaking class and I lead the tutoring pod. I work hand in hand with the Director of Education there at ALG.
My professional training is in all aspects of criminal justice, including the management, administration, continuous review and analysis, planning, development, and general effectiveness of social programs.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No road to success is easy. I have faced many obstacles and hurdles throughout my life, which have made me the woman I am today, strong, unapologetic, and ready to face any challenges unflinching. One of the many obstacles would be becoming a single mother in the US. I had underestimated how difficult I could be to working full time, being a mother in my 30s, still wanting to finish my education and being a black woman in America. This has caused me to have a lot of respect for any single mother out there who is fighting to keep her home together and raise children.
Navigating the K- 12 education for my daughter while pursuing my own higher education was another obstacle that has made me become an advocate for immigrants right here in our beautiful Aurora.
My philosophy in life is this “every no you receive, gets you closer to your life-changing YES” so giving up and throwing the towel is not an option. I had to quickly “grow up” and change from a naïve young woman to a strong and objective woman with uncompromising principles and values.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Education is where I thrive the most, I am a teacher by heart. I love my students. In my classroom, every student is a “leader” even if it means they are leading themselves. I inculcate in them self-confidence and self-pride. Borrowing the words of Dr. Nathaniel Branden,I strive to make them understand who they are and begin their self-identity journey.
I am known for “pushing” people to discover themselves and walk into their identities. This is a journey I had to take, and I can tell you it is worth it. Self-discovery and self-identity is the primary step to success. People in my community will describe me as loving, but direct. Everyone who has an encounter with me quickly discovers how deeply passionate I am about education especially for BIPOC people.
I have testified at the capitol on many bills pertaining to education for BIPOC communities, I have made and continue to make my voice loud using the ALG platform about many issues affecting our community any opportunity I get.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I do not forcibly believe in luck, rather I believe in hard work, integrity, ethic, and faith. Success does not occur by luck. Every successful individual we know about or see will tell you that they had to work hard to be where they are.
They almost all come from a dark place, but never gave up, instead they continue through the storms of life, through blood, tears, and sweat to be where they are. This concept still applies, no one who is not ready to sacrifice can have lasting success. Thank you for the opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Business phone number: 720-939-0654
- Website: http://annekeke.com/
- Email: anne@annekeke.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnneKeke4APS/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anne.keke4aps/
