One does not have to search far to find where the roads for passion and poise meet. In a quest to uncover a combination of the rare attributes, you will find Kara P. Simmons standing at the intersection--gracefully painting a picture of what hard work and a charitable spirit looks like. The Charleston, South Carolina native has spent over a decade with her feet on the ground, looking to be the illustration of community change she envisioned as a young girl. As a child, Kara always challenged societal norms and questioned systems that disproportionately affected minority and marginalized communities. Knowing that she had the ability to “be the change”, she landed at Columbia College in South Carolina as a Communication student. Earning her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and later her Masters of Arts in Management and Leadership, Kara was ready to use the acquired knowledge to lead change in South Carolina’s nonprofit and government realm. Since 2010, Kara has served in roles that allowed her to further her insight of underserved populations and broaden her experience with providing resources to overlooked and forgotten communities. Over her career, she served in roles such as: Career Development Instructor for Remington College; Vita Program Tax Site Manager at The Cooperative Ministry; Special Projects Coordinator and Senior Project Manager of the Summer Leadership Institute for Columbia College. She recently finalized her assignment as a National Advancer on the Biden-Harris campaign for presidency. Today, Kara maintains her roles as Adjunct Professor at her alma mater and Executive Director of the Bethlehem Community Center. It would be optimistic to believe that Kara’s time and professional efforts are only split between Columbia College and the community center only. However, holding firm to her position as a mover and shaker, Kara does not limit herself to the two agencies. In 2010, she birthed the consulting firm, KP Connects. Her list of esteemed clients and projects include, but are not limited to: The Honorable Mayor Steve Benjamin, Senator Vincent Sheheen, The Barack Obama Foundation, Dominion Energy, Avah’s Closet and the USC Black Alumni Association and Affiliates. As the Founder and CEO of KP Connects, Kara maintains a reputation for premier brand management, streamlined and simplified strategic planning techniques, project management and event coordination. The powerhouse possesses a niche for helping others address and eliminate static from concepts. While she remains focused on her work, community will always be her primary area of dedication. With a servant’s heart, she was appointed as a board member for the Columbia Housing Authority, member of the Junior League of Columbia and co-founded the No Boys Allowed College Tour- a comprehensive experience that exposes high school girls of color to HBCUs. For her impact in the community, Kara has received numerous recognitions and awards. Named one of the region’s ‘Best & Brightest 35 and Under’ by Columbia Business Monthly Magazine in 2016, a ‘Top 20 Under 40’ by the State Newspaper in 2018, one of 2020’s Top 20 Under 40 for Black Pages SC and a member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Columbia Class of 2015, Kara is unstoppable. Though she wears her accolades humbly, there is one role she boasts about unapologetically any chance she can. She is a proud servant of God and knows that her faith is the catalyst for all of her experiences and blessings. The late Maya Angelou once said, “If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can transform one million realities.” Simply put, Kara Simmons is a dreamer and deliverer of the change she wishes to see in the world.