Hi! I'm Zaakirah (zaa-key-ra) I help you Go from where you are (stuck, stagnant, scared) and where you want to go in your business and life (freedom). I provide Black and Indigenous creatives with strategies that empower them to achieve their goals through branding and storytelling, and marketing.For the last 20 years, I've been storytelling by any creative means necessary; photography, writing, film, and podcasting.I check all the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility boxes.I’m a visually impaired, hard of hearing, cancer survivor, chronically ill Muslim Woman. Knowing your history helps you propel and prepare for your future. Entrepreneurship is ownership, and flexibility is key. Sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter!
What ableism and disability pride actually costs
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Reader, I'm at Essence Festival this week — moderating a panel, doing a Soft Stories segment, and leading a workshop on inclusive entrepreneurship. Three activations in one day, which honestly is its own kind of access challenge nobody talks about: the cost of showing up fully in spaces that weren't designed for how your body or brain works. I'll have more to say about that next week. Social Media Day is June 30th — a reminder that the platforms we've built our voices, speaking opportunities, our stories, since the awareness day was established in 2010, were never designed with everyone in mind. And yet here we are, showing up, creating, pivoting, trailblazing, and building community anyway. But for now, here's what I want to leave you with going into the month of July: July is Disability Pride Month. It commemorates the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990 and works to dismantle stigma and challenge ableism. Disability Pride Month is only meaningful if it changes something. A mindset, a practice, a product you build, a story you finally decide to tell. On July 16th at 7pm EST, I'm hosting a free webinar/Ask Me Anything — See Your Content Different: Accessibility as Creative Power. I want you to have something concrete to do with this month. Not awareness. Action. We'll cover: Register here. I'd love to see you there. I wrote about Symone Griffin and George Stern in my Substack — two advocates whose work sits at the intersection of deafblindness, culture, and identity. Read it here. I was a guest on the Maverick Show Podcast. In this engaging hour long episode, I shared insights on sports, accessibility, cultural immersion, music, and entrepreneurship. Listen Here. Until Next Time,
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Your Branding and Marketing Therapist
Hi! I'm Zaakirah (zaa-key-ra) I help you Go from where you are (stuck, stagnant, scared) and where you want to go in your business and life (freedom). I provide Black and Indigenous creatives with strategies that empower them to achieve their goals through branding and storytelling, and marketing.For the last 20 years, I've been storytelling by any creative means necessary; photography, writing, film, and podcasting.I check all the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility boxes.I’m a visually impaired, hard of hearing, cancer survivor, chronically ill Muslim Woman. Knowing your history helps you propel and prepare for your future. Entrepreneurship is ownership, and flexibility is key. Sign up for my semi-weekly newsletter!
Reader, At Essence Fest over the holiday weekend, I moderated a panel, had a founder feature, and hosted a Soft Stories sensory session all in one day. In between, I kept noticing people wanted to be inclusive but almost nobody had a framework for actually doing it, especially in their content. Most of the attendees I spoke with, particularly other New Voices founders, admitted they hadn't considered captions or image descriptions yet, but they were very appreciative of the insight. That's...
Reader, I just got back from Essence Festival — and I’m still processing. I spoke at two activations, both filled with people who showed up ready to listen and talk about disability, inclusion, and what it truly means to be empathetic to other communities. It was powerful. And in both rooms, I kept hearing the same thought echo in my mind: we need more of this. We need spaces to belong, to rediscover ourselves, and to feel empowered to keep going. Here is the link to watch the 3 minute recap:...
Reader, ✨ BIG NEWS FIRST I'll be speaking at Essence Festival of Culture 2026 in New Orleans on July 4th!I am my ancestor’s wildest dreams and my blessings come in two folds. I have not one but TWO activations: 🖤 We Love Us Marketplace Stage — I'll be moderating the See Life Differently Panel at 10:20am CT. This is the room for conversation about representation, storytelling, and what it means to see yourself centered in spaces that weren't always built for you. Panelists are: Lisa C. Willis,...