'21' Series: Union County woman's life of resiliency

tonight we're posting the final episode in our 21 digital film series The Project examines the simple question of does where you live in the state affect how you live 21 profiles one person in each of our 21 counties and looks at the social determinant that affect that person's life this last film introduces us to Union County's kashonda Marche Kash is living with HIV she's struggled with mental health issues but along the way she discovered her authentic self this fueled her mission to combat the stigma and ignite her passion for community outreach in rawe empowering others through daily affirmations and self-belief proving that resiliency defines us not always the challenges we face I had the pleasure to meet her and hear her story Kash I'm so honored to get to talk to you you have lived quite a life how do you go from I've heard you describe it as being uh confused scared mad uh about some of the health issues that you've gone through to becoming a voice of empowerment it was quite what is quite the um the journey one that I never really could have imagined for my life um there was a moment where I felt I had no future and so that was a pretty dark place and so to go from all the things that go along with living in such a dark place because that I can go on and on about that but that transition that moment when you begin to see yourself as worthy and you get to start believing in yourself that you can be biger you can be better you can do better and when you finally see yourself as being more than any diagnosis or any illness or any stigma when you could begin to see yourself as more than that your whole world changes the whole world around you changes and so for me I feel like to have experienced such a gift even with all the bad things that you know happened I I owe it to the next person that may be living in such a dark place or not have that belief in themselves or feel like they are worthy to be loved I owe it to them to be an example that no you are worthy you are enough you are beautiful you know you deserve love and you can be better and you do that now for other women and girls you give them these mental Wellness tools you call them which I I really like it's not mental health tools mental Wellness tools yes what do you do in the nonprofit um that you created and how do you see that really giving this generation of folks who have challenges in front of them the ability to not just overcome but to live their best life yes yes well first of all you have to recognize that the creation of creative on purpose that's your non that's the name of the nonprofit creative with the K on purpose right and you you said it we we we provide mental Wellness tools um mental Wellness is so much more than just your you know mental capacity it is the link to every other part of life and so we feel like by creatively offering different tools that can help you you know build your self-esteem learn about self-esteem find your own voice going down a road of self-discovery um self-awareness if we can help build your confidence and your strength in these areas then you become Unstoppable and so affirmations are a part of it a big part of it is just leading by example just kind of demonstrating and and owning my story in a way to where I'm not ashamed of it anymore yeah you know and I think that that is the best way to kind of show people themselves it's like life changing for them and that that's the best thing that I can do and put forward is is just living the life that that that God has purpose for me because I mean there's been countless times where I mean I fa death so many occasions you were diagnosed with HIV as a new mom yes you went through multiple brain surgeries yes you lost your ability to walk you use a wheelchair yes uh now for for quite a few years yeah since 2019 it was official that my legs just totally was like okay that's it you know um a couple years prior to that I had a little slow walk I was using Mobility AIDS a walker and a cane and and I mean that adjustment it's just it just has been um starting over Readjustment realignment like one after another after another after another a lot of people would have just been like I'm down I'm out yeah I I mean I've been there I've been there multiple times but something deep inside of me kept Lifting me up because I know I I didn't have the strength to do it and I used to be one that spoke more than I listened sometimes you can't tell but I do you know and that's something that you give a person like people that feel unheard when you finally give them a moment to be heard it is lifechanging and so I have to ask then how did Growing Up in Union County shape how you pursued your life to get to this point I received services from from from Union County because I there were times in my life where I had to live with my parents you know these Health ups and downs there's so many resources and things available and I just I appreciate you know just for me it's a blessing you know when you get to experience um different ways of life not one not necessarily that one is better than the other you know we just have different ways of life Kanda you are a blessing uh and to everyone who you've been able to help thank you for sharing your story and thank you so much for being part of this 21 series oh thank you it's been a wonderful experience I appreciate it and thank you for having [Music] me