Meet Kimberly Griffin- Murray | Wife ,Mother, Educator, leader, entrepreneur, and Founder of The Shaylee Foundation

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kimberly Griffin- Murray and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kimberly, what principle do you value most?
I grew up in a single-parent household where my mother instilled the values of family, honesty, respect, and integrity in me and my siblings. Despite not being religious, she sent us to a local Christian community church every Sunday, where I learned the importance of having my own values and building upon the ones my mother and grandmother taught me. As an African American family with roots in the South, I hold integrity, respect, servitude, family, and community as my core values. These values inspire me to be kinder, more understanding, and to reflect on my interactions and behaviors to ensure they align with my values. I believe it’s essential to help others and show grace at every opportunity and always act with integrity and respect for others.

I also advocate for social issues such as child maltreatment and kinship care supportive resources. I started a non-profit organization to give back to the community, and my grandmother’s mantra, “Don’t follow the fools when you know what’s right to do, don’t be a fool and follow the fools,” has stayed with me throughout my life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
More about your work. What sets you apart from others? What are you most proud of or excited about? How did you get to where you are today professionally? Was it easy? I understand that nothing in life is easy when you are pursuing your purpose. Thus, you must build resilience, an innate human capacity that can be learned and developed in anyone. All people have the ability to develop the skills that will put them on the path to resilience. If not, how did you overcome the challenges? Keeping my faith and my lord and savior Jesus Christ as my foundation, not giving up when times got tough, and leaning on supportive friends and family. What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way? What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story? I want people to know that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome. Booker T. Washington.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My friend has children, so it’s all about hanging out with the kids. Our first stop would be to get pizza at TNT Pizza and Wings located in Parker, CO. Then we would head to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science for dinner and visit Denver Biscuit Company. The night would have to end with a movie, my favorite being “The Princess and the Frog”.

For my own personal grown-up time, I enjoy going to the mountains. Blackhawk is the perfect place to be, with its many restaurants and a way to get away from the city life. However, Sunday mornings are reserved for church and worship. As a Christian woman, that is my foundation. It’s where I get regenerated and encouraged to continue on in my everyday life and work week.

If it were a week-long trip, some of the places I would suggest visiting are the Rocky Mountain National Park, the Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater, and the Colorado State Capitol. For food and drinks, I would recommend visiting the Cherry Creek neighborhood, which has a wide variety of restaurants and bars. Overall, Colorado has a lot of fun, interesting, and exciting places to check out.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
AGreat! The Shoutout series is a wonderful way to recognize that our accomplishments and current life situations are due in great part to the support, mentorship, love, and encouragement of others. So, is there a person, group, organization, book, or anything else that you would like to give a shoutout to? Who else deserves recognition and credit in your story?

As for me, I would first like to acknowledge my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the foundation of my life. I am grateful to worship with my church family at Prince of Peace Temple Church in Aurora, Colorado, under the guidance of Pastor and First Lady Coburn. Their leadership and guidance have been instrumental in my spiritual growth.

I also want to give a special shoutout to T. D. Jakes and his book “God’s Leading Lady: Out of the Shadows and Into the Light.” This book has been my go-to source of encouragement and boldness. It has challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and live a life of purpose.

Lastly, I want to recognize Dr. Ashley Simpson, who has been an incredible mentor to me. Dr. Simpson is an education professor and chair of the Education and World Languages program at the Community College of Aurora in Colorado. Her wisdom, guidance, and encouragement have been invaluable to me as I pursue my own career in education.

I would also like to acknowledge my mother and grandmother, who have instilled in me the importance of helping others. They have taught me that true success comes from lifting others up and making a positive impact on the world around us.

Website: https://theshayleefoundation.info

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Shaylee-Foundation-107435141070823/?view_public_for=107435141070823