How We Started
Keep Empowering Youth Achievements K.E.Y.A is a nonprofit performing arts organization based in the Saint Albans area of Jamaica Queens New York it is held under the direction of current CEO and founder Zakiya Kaalund-Moreira.
The organization was born out of a high school club named Dance Ensemble in 2003. It was created initially to address the lack of artistic programs for teenagers and young adults in Jamaica NY. It was made up of alumni members from Dance Ensemble, but quickly grew into so much more, by its third year K.E.Y.A morphed from a club into a dance school which started with only eight students ranging from two to eight years old. The change afforded K.E.Y.A an opportunity to employ some of those original alumni members. Which eventually ended up being one of the best decisions we could make.
K.E.Y.A also started a mentorship program with educational and life-skills workshops for young adults. These workshops taught both personal and professional life skills such as time management, proper job interviewing skills, and other helpful life skills that are sometimes overlooked when growing up.
Throughout the years K.E.Y.A has grown in both size and maturity. They have called church basements, school cafeterias, community centers, living rooms, and even backyards their home.
The thought of quitting never entered their minds they kept pushing forward, even at times when circumstances demanded they quit.
In the summer of 2015 K.E.Y.A secured a lease for its first and current building located at: 187-19 Linden Blvd Saint Albans, NY 11412. Securing this property allowed them the opportunity to expand and offer their services to more of the Jamaica NY community and to reach more children.
In the summer of 2018 another opportunity arises, when the building next door to K.E.Y.A became available to lease. We took this opportunity to partner with another CBO named (LEC) The Learning Enrichment Center which offers after school homework and study help to school age children. Now KEYA has over 2500 square feet of space and offers services such as:
Dance
(Hip Hop/Jazz – Ballet/Modern – Tap – African – Jumps/Leaps & Turns- Technique)
Musical Theater/Acting
Gymnastics
African Drum
&
Homework Help
Today K.E.Y.A has expanded throughout the years to offer Musical Theater, African Drum, Pointe, Jumps/Leaps, and Turns, Gymnastics, Homework Help and a robust full-service all day summer performing arts program.
K.E.Y.A’s mission is a simple:
Keep Empowering Youth Achievements (K.E.Y.A) is a nonprofit performing arts organization that services children and adults, we offer an outlet for free artistic expression and create a platform for socially responsible artists wherever they are in their journey.
Just like anything worth fighting for it has not been an easy journey, but it has been worth it!!!! Filed with great stories, life changing moments and the satisfaction that “We…. Keep Empowering Youth Achievements and are positively affecting the people and the culture in our community. We believe the “Youth” that is in our name does not just include children; it describes the inner creative child in all of us. So, we will continue to create and show the beauty of this world through our talents.
Thank you for reading,
Zakiya Kaalund-Moreira
Please remember to always….
Keep Empowering Youth Achievements