Honoring Kenya Atwater

Kenya Adiva Atwater is the founder of Breaking the Silence Mental Health Organization and founder of the Black Mental Health and Wellness Expo in Chicago IL. She is also an Author of “I am with You” 24 week Mental Wellness affirmation coloring book.

Kenya is a 30 year old single mother of 2 children (ages 5 and 12). In the past, she lived a life without boundaries. In high school, she was a smoker, drinker, sold drugs, and she became a teen mom. After having her first daughter, Kenya stopped selling drugs. At age 18, she graduated from Corliss High School and later received her college Associates degree at Olive Harvey in Childhood Education. She immediately started teaching Preschool straight out of college and she lived a luxurious life. She drove a foreign car, ate at expensive restaurants, and took trips with friends. While in her career, she noticed that she was hurt and broken. She would smoke and drink to hide the pain she was feeling inside.

At age 25 after having her second child, Kenya was diagnosed with Postpartum Depression along with pain she was experiencing from her childhood. Once she discovered she was in depression, she was embarrassed. Eventually, she started seeking professional help to help her with her mental health condition.

At age 27, Kenya started her organization, Women with Vision. She wanted to empower women and be an example for them that they can overcome any obstacle in life. She had the desire to support women on their journey. Kenya began Women with Vision off of a promise she made to God. She told God that if he heals her, she will walk in her purpose.

A year and a half later, Kenya launched Breaking the Silence. She wanted to be more specific in what she wanted to help women with. This idea helped narrow it down to mental wellness and helping women practice wellness and supporting their journey.

Breaking the Silence has multimonthly mental wellness events, funds mental health services, and connect women with quality mental health services. Also Breaking the Silence Organization is building a community to bridge the gap between mental health resources, which are being spreaded all over the city of Chicago. Kenya is passionate about Breaking the Silence because she started her organization off of her struggles while in her wellness journey. One of her struggles were finding mental health services. Then it was finding quality services. Her other struggle was being able to afford mental health services while being on public aid. She realized she didn’t get the best services she needed while on public aid. She had to purchase private

insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield) out of pocket in order to receive the best quality mental health services.

Kenya started Breaking the Silence with her own money to help women on their wellness journey by receiving services that they needed. She specified that healing comes from God. Also in order to receive proper healing, you need help from therapy professionals. She said you can’t have one without the other. Kenya is passionate about women reaching to the higher version of themselves through wellness and healing. She wants women to admit their struggles and be able to receive help without feeling ashamed. Currently, Kenya is partnering with therapists to put them in Breaking the Silence Network.

I chose Kenya because not only she is a friend and sister to me, she is also a strong woman pursuing her dreams. I love that no matter what obstacles she faced, she is still able and willing to walk in her purpose. I also can relate to her somewhat when it comes to education. Kenya stated that although she received her Associates degree in her career and living her life to the fullest, she was still unhappy. She realized that God had a bigger plan for her than she did for herself. Before, she wanted to own a daycare, but God lead her to having ownership of her adversities and every struggle she went through.

We can learn that although Kenya was saling drugs, smoking, drinking, being a mom at an early age, and facing depression, she was able to come out of every obstacle victoriously. Her story will help women understand that no matter what you go through, you will still succeed. However, in order to succeed, you must be transparent. We live in a society where we are looked at being weak when we tell someone about our struggles.

The truth is if you are not willing to admit your struggles, you will be bound. No man, job, career, degree, etc will make you happy. Be honest with yourselves and walk in a new improved you.

Syreeta R. Fields

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