Rising Stars: Meet Karena Atkinson of Fayetteville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karena Atkinson.

Hi Karena, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve always had a love for the Arts and all things creativity. As a kid I would play pretend, performing songs & dancing. I loved writing and would always describe myself in multiple ways. I started singing at age 5 in the church choir, and acting in church plays. In school, I began writing poetry, played clarinet in band and sang in the chorus. I also had a love for community and service. Once I entered college, I had plenty of opportunities to explore, and these many avenues built the skills I use today. Now being multifaceted, it all makes sense.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When you’re young, you don’t feel incapable within the infinite possibilities you dream of. I definitely struggled with being different; it would come out as: “Why can’t I be like everyone else?”—noticing I didn’t fit in. As an adult, security and stability became the priority. I experienced frustration with being multifaceted—which came out as “Why can’t I just have one clear path or one passion”. Always changing career paths, going from one thing to the next. Sometimes it was poetry, writing and speaking. Other times, it was youth mentorship, activism and politics, and even music, media and marketing. Learning that all of these things are many parts of one big picture was the biggest struggle.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I took my passion for music and got my Music Business degree, teaching workshops on rehearsal strategy, musician and vocalist strategy and basic music theory. I am most known as “Rena Speaks”, which began as my stage name as a poet. Growing into motivational speaking, youth mentorship and advocacy; it is now a brand dedicated to empowering the voice and challenging perspective. This also solidified my role as a Community Engagement Specialist, helping people understand how to serve in and engage with their local community. I also work in Politics within this role and serve as a Campaign Consultant. Throughout this, my love for telling our stories and sharing the Arts through media led me to launch K For The Culture Productions; working in the role of Creative Director; creating short films, photography projects, and curating podcasts.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is going to my Granny’s house to spend time with her. She always cooked and baked pound cakes for us, and even sewed us dresses and toys. It was tradition to go to her house every Christmas Eve to open presents.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/_renaspeaks
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kfortheculture
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/@renaspeaks4u/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karena-atkinson-speaks