SAKILÉ™ is an African Word for "Peace & Beauty"

When I was in the ninth grade, I made a list of all the things I wanted to do in life. Going to Africa was on my list. Many years later, as a graduate student at Florida A&M University, I was selected to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity- an internship in the bush of Cameroon, Africa.

I spent an entire summer there, and was divinely inspired by the gentle, fragrant breezes in Limbe, the lush greens and vibrantly colored flora in Bareko, and the warm, exciting welcome we received from the wise mothers as soon as we stepped off the plane in Douala. To me, Africa is the most peaceful and beautiful place on the planet.

During my trip, I learned about some of the healing and curative botanicals that are indigenous to the Continent and saw first hand how the wise mothers combined peaceful, simplistic living with natural and organic beauty. I wanted to share what I learned, so I created SAKILÉ™.

SAKILÉ™ began as an all natural and organic body care company that honored my experience in Africa. After a few years of owning and operating the brick and mortar storefront, I decided to end SAKILÉ™ and turn my focus to what really mattered: being an example of what I learned on the Continent and sharing the true essence of my journey there. Having taught in the public school system and worked for many children's advocacy agencies, I knew that the best way to make my journey most impacting, was to reach out to our youth, particularly our girls.

The Peace & Beauty Project blossomed.