Today we’d like to introduce you to Kijuan Paige.
Hi Kijuan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
“Hope 4 Men” was created and designed by Founder and CEO Kijuan I. Paige. A West PHILLY native who grew up in the 80’s around the era that society called the ‘Crack Baby times’’. Growing up in a small row home in West Philly, where every one of my neighbors was like family. April 13th, 1996 was a day I could have never have forgotten. A friend of the family son that my grandmother and mom paid to walk me home from school had molested me. That was a piece of my life that taunted me, as a kid growing up I used to be teased, my entire neighborhood found out about the Molestation. I used to get called The Faggots, Bundled of sticks, a fairy, and the list goes on. There were times when I got chased home and jumped because of my upbringing and people used to do horrible to me. There were times when I sat down and try to kill myself.
These things I’ve never told my mom about and I wanted to try to overcome them but they kept coming back. I went to therapy as a kid due to the events that happened to me. They finally caught the person that molested me. Served him with 7 /12 years. I was able to go to therapy and try to continue to heal myself as a kid. Then once I got older I was molested again this time was by my pastor this was going on for about two years. I was afraid to even say something to my mom because I knew for sure something was gonna happen. The only person that knew was my best friend and it later came out to my mom after he was no longer there. I looked up to this man not only as a pastor but also like a dad. After that I really had shut down I felt like no one wanted to hear what I had to say. As I was transitioning over from high school, getting ready to graduate to attend The 1st black Historical university “Lincoln University”. the most important person that cared for me, but also had my back even if I was wrong transitioned over my grandmother. I took care of my grandmother’s hand n foot. I knew she would have done that for me. When she passed I became very cold heartless and not care about life. I started acting out it was a cry out for help. I needed her and she was my piece to my puzzle. That was very traumatizing for me know someone I knew and talked to every day is no longer here really crushed me. I tried to hide fact that I liked guys I was still messing around with females but once I went to college I came out to my mom.
Coming from a black family it was important to go to school graduate get a good job and start a family. I was that one that did not start my family I was the one to become openly gay. My family used to talk about Sexuality to other people, cracked jokes and even broadcast my business to other people. I moved to Atlanta, Ga August 17, 2019, I was traveling back and forth from Philly to Atlanta for job interviews or trying to find a place. My mom was crushed because her roll dog was leaving. To move to a city where I did not know anyone besides my one side that lives here in Atlanta and two cousins and an uncle the owns a funeral home. I moved to ATL to start my personal shopping business. My passion was to be a shopper. That was not my planned purpose. I was dating and getting to know people, that’s when COVID happened. I was no longer working the church was closed and I was not able to go and visit my mom. During the pandemic, I met my partner. We met we kicked it off well that was in December 2020. January 2021 we already moved together, March we officially got a place we did everything thing together. You would have thought we have been dating for five years. Communication started going downhill. Then comes my trauma started to come out and then his. Then that time it has gotten very toxic. To the point the law was involved he was arrested. I had cuts and scratches on my face. I had to leave the place we had together which lead me to become homeless. There was a local agency that helps with the LGBTQ community. They placed me in a hotel in Buckhead called Quality Suites, August 30, 2021 changed my entire way of life. My life was placed in harm’s way.
From all of the trauma, I was dealing with then turned into a very mental state, the front desk attendant, made a copy to my room without my consent to a group of guys that entered my room and left with all of my personal belongings. I was in the room sleeping, I’m a person that sleeps very hard and will not hear a pin drop. I felt like I was in a dream and I could not get out due to everything that was about to happen to me. It was a domino effect I lost my job lost family friends and I lost myself. I slept in the Parks some nights, the list goes on. I never gave up I always remember positive. Some nights I would cry trying to figure things out. Not know how I’m going to survive. When I say my mom Myrtle Elaine Braxton stood by me never walked away made away to make sure I had a roof over my head and money etc. I had a praying mom and her still praying for me. My mom who is 71 took her last out of savings to make sure I was okay really hurt me. I had a cousin that moved here and found out what was going on. She packed my stuff up from the hotel and made me stay with her. She felt like that the best she could do. I felt like I would have been a burden. In conclusion, I was thinking about what I wanted to do with my career. I sat my cousin down and brought some ideas to her and then I brought up a nonprofit. I discussed it with my mom, and she loved the idea. It took me days hours and much prayer but guidance. HOPE is what my mom always wanted. And then came Hope 4 Men. It stands for Helping, Others, Prosper, Effectively.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The obstacles that was placed against me was very challenging. I managed to Come out covered with the god on my side. Challenges start today as I’m continuing to build my nonprofit, there are times I wanna give up but I can not. It’s no longer about me. My job is now to help all men to be able to step up and talk about the trauma they went thru. It’s time to hear about men’s Domestic Violence. Also, I want to be able to steam a little on the gun violence as well.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Hope 4 Men?
Provided services: 1on1 counseling, transitional housing. Weekly group meetings, 90-day follow-ups, Workforce (partnering up with local companies), Education ( helping them to either obtain a GED or high school Diploma, Life Coaching, Case management.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
In order to prosper you have to learn how to heal yourself before you can love someone else. If you find yourself bringing back your trauma seek some guidance and lay everything out. Self-care is what’s important.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/west_philly_ki
