Life & Work with Ashanti McKenney of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashanti McKenney.

Hi Ashanti, 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?
Started out at a young age being involved in dance, karate, drill team because of my grandma getting me involved in things with her temple she was apart of. Later on joined a singing group and started attending church right after a major oratorical and immediately got involved with T. A. G which stood for (Teens after God) from there I started writing and writing a lot created 2 whole books at the age of 15 (unpublished)! Wrote poetry and started performing at events within the church. While in high school I worked a summer job at Michael J Zone who later gave me the opportunity to join the mayors youth council where we had classes and PDs of life, if you will and public speaking became a weekly thing with me always being voted to speak for our team. Wrote a few skits and a production play that was later performed by the members of my church at the time. There is where I started paining and people started asking to commission me for my artwork. I recognized that helping others was a desire that grew deeply and started school majoring in sociology and psychology finished a few classes but not enough to get my degree as school became expensive beyond what I could afford. I stopped for a year and later went to Brown Aveda Institute where I received my cosmetology certificate in Sept 22 and later Oct 4th received my license! But that wasn’t enough. I went back to teaching at an Accel school and decided I’d like to do one on one with those who were behind because of a learning disability or and disability that may have delayed growth. That’s when I found ABA in 2025 and today I am still working with children with autism where I am able to use my arts in theatre and creativity to teach and do with the children I work with!

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?
Super hard. Lol I’ve run into incidents with those who swore I wasn’t enough or hated the dedication and commitment I’ve had in the things I’ve done and honestly just taught me to go harder for myself

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Painting, drawing (sketching mainly and specialize in creative writing. Poetry! I am most proud of the pieces I’ve done that focused on my growth and healing from all the things I’ve been through. What sets me apart is I am genuinely and unapologetically me. Not to say others aren’t, but for me, I create based on pain and sometimes the most excruciating feelings is when I write and most of the times those are the greatest.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I have. I would say it’s 50/50 for me. I believe in taking risks when necessary when it comes to standing alone, I’ll stand in a room full of people who are disagreeing with me but if it’s what I believe in, I’ll stand firm. There was a time when I wasn’t this person. I’ve allowed others thoughts and feelings even perceptions about me dictate who I was and the biggest risk I’ve taken in that, is letting it go and standing alone if I have to.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Beautifullyme._