Check Out Ken Blair’s Story

All right, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
At a very early age, my late grandmother, Bettie Blair, introduced me to leadership characteristics. As her eldest grandchild, she instilled the value of education, hard work, integrity, self-awareness, courage, respect, and gratitude. During my childhood, she taught me always to put God first. I was the lead singer for my family’s gospel group, The Blair’s Children. My grandmother was a Pastor, and we often traveled with her on Saturdays throughout other neighboring cities to minister God’s word through songs in community members’ homes. This is where my love for serving the community developed. On Sundays, my family and I would lead worship at my grandmother’s church through songs and instruments. I played the drums and occasionally the keyboard. In addition, to my family and religious background, I was the president of several school clubs and organizations such as 4-H, Literary Club, and Yearbook Club. As a young leader, I always wanted to inspire others to reach their full potential.

During my educational stages, I excelled as a student and local talent. As a young leader, I recognized my gifts and talents as a solution to make an impact in my community, or as my grandmother would say, “Your gifts will make room for you, my boy.” I would always sing for talent shows, literary competitions, and school events such as Black History programs, honors and awards day, football games, fairs, and my high school graduation. In the community, I would sing for special events such as weddings, funerals, church programs, Dr. MLK Jr. Day, and Veterans Day. One of my most honored musical moments to sing was “God Bless the USA” as a tribute to the soldiers and 911 victims.

As my leadership style developed, I knew I wanted to be a community change agent. Many community service opportunities sharpened my leadership style and helped me prepare for college. I was accepted to Mercer University after graduating from Warren County High School. I earned my Bachelor of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership at Mercer University. I continued my education and earned my Master of Business Administration from Brenau University. Currently, I am in the last year of my doctoral program. I began my career in higher education at Mercer University as an Associate Director in the Office of Student Financial Planning. I am the inaugural Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Office of the President at Wesleyan College. As a focused and intentional leader, I strive daily to inspire today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders.

As a native of Warren County, I still hold ties to my hometown by participating in several community initiatives. Each year, I participate in the annual Dr. MLK Jr. Day. Recently, with the support of the Mayor, Commissioner, and the MLK committee of Warren County, I was instrumental in renaming a local park and street named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the first in my hometown’s history. As a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the work of Brother Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr inspires me. In addition, I have served as the homecoming chair for my alma mater. In this role, I increased post-secondary ambitions and community unity through themed and educational events. I am the founder of the Greeks of Warren County-an organization created for Greek-affiliated alumni of Warren County Schools who give back and support through a yearly contribution of school supplies, mentorship, and an annual scholarship for college-bound graduating seniors. In 2020, I organized a peaceful protest in my hometown to pay tribute to African Americans killed by police brutality. In 2021, I received a proclamation from the Mayor in my hometown of Warrenton, GA, where October 10, 2021, is known as Ken Blair Appreciation Day. Currently, I host Gospel on the Green as an event to give back to the community through local gospel performers, food vendors, and other black-owned businesses while honoring the First African American of Warren County pioneers -an award honoring hometown leaders who were the first African Americans to serve in a leadership role. This event has become an annual event where the community is eager to learn more about the hometown’s history. I’ve had the honor to recognize the first black Mayor, Police Officer, City Mail Carrier, and the Elected Official Clerk of the Superior Court while bringing awareness to the disease of cancer through the Warren County Circle of Care Cancer Walk. In 2023, with the support of the Warren County Chamber of Commerce, I organized the First African-American Special Exhibit digital curation in the Warren County Museum of Cultural Heritage to highlight hometown heroes. In my career and community efforts, I am a dedicated community advocate committed to post-secondary awareness, social justice, equity-mindedness, and inclusive leadership.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
As a young man, I struggled with my father’s death. As a result of gun violence, my father was murdered when I was two years of age. I grew up in a single-parent home for the majority of my childhood. I am the older of two siblings and have always wanted to be an example. Although very intelligent and academically driven, I struggled with the absence of my father and other positive male role models. I often acted out at school through classroom behavior and fights with my peers. In addition, I was from a small hometown. The statistics for a black male in my hometown were either you would go to jail or die. However, I wanted more for my life. I was the first in my family to graduate from college as a first-generation graduate.