Today we’d like to introduce you to Kibbs Fortilus.
Hi Kibbs, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Kibbs Fortilus.
I was born in Haiti and escaped to America as a refugee when I was four years old.
After college, I lived in India for one year and studied and lived in Germany for seven years. This journey was transformative and when I returned to the States, I began a grassroots organization, “An Ocean Away”, that sends under-privileged youth abroad.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey has always, and will always be, beautiful.
I am deeply inspired by Paulo Coelho’s, “The Alchemist”, and believe that out trauma also holds our treasures. Thus, I remain grateful for the difficulties that God provides because I know there are blessings hidden.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
By trade, I am an educator.
I work as a Special Education teacher as a full time job and on Saturdays, and over the summer, I teach gifted students for the non-profit organization, “Hartford Youth Scholars”.
The dream to be manifested is to set up a hybrid organization called, “An Ocean Away”. This organization will have a nonprofit mission of sending underprivileged students abroad. However, it will have a for-profit endeavor that will utilize my licenses in Real Estate and Home and Auto Insurance.
The reason why I believe that this organization must be a hybrid organization is that I would not solely rely on grants and donation. Depending on the economy, being heavily reliant on grants and donations can cause difficulties. Having a for-profit source of funding allow the organization to be sustainable.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
As a mentor, this is often what I tell my mentees and my students.
These are the simple steps :
1. Find someone in your future profession that you admire.
2. Ask them if you can shadow them and tell them that you are willing to work for free.
Very often, you’ll be brought in to do boring tasks. However, you’ll be “In The Room Where It Happens” and have the opportunity to learn about the culture, language, and nuances of the trade.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humanityinpoetry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/k.s.forti/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnOceanAway413
